You open Settings to set up Family Sharing on iPhone, and the menu names do not always match older instructions. The right starting point is the Family area in Settings, where you create the group, invite people, add a child account, and turn on sharing. Start with the setup flow, then finish the invite and sharing options that match your family.
Start the family group from Settings
Open Settings on your iPhone. Tap your name at the top of the screen, then tap Family and Continue.
Follow the Family setup prompts to create your family group. Use the invite prompts to invite family members when they appear. The organizer must be signed in with an Apple Account and must be an eligible adult.
Invite people after setup
This fixes a family group that exists but still has no members. Open Settings, tap Family, then tap Add Member.
Follow the onscreen instructions to send the invitation. Choose Messages, Mail, or AirDrop if one of those delivery options appears, then send the invitation.
If the person is with you, choose the in-person invitation option when it appears. Have them enter their Apple Account email address or phone number and password on your device.
Accept the invitation on the invited iPhone
The invited person joins only after accepting. On iPhone, they open Settings, tap [your name], tap Invitations, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Another route is to open the invitation from Messages or Mail, then follow the onscreen instructions to join. An Apple Account belongs to only one family at a time.
If acceptance fails, use Settings > [your name] > Invitations first, then ask the organizer to send a fresh invitation from Settings > Family > Add Member.
Create a child account
Open Settings on the organizer’s iPhone. Tap Family, tap Add Member, then tap Create Child Account.
Follow the onscreen instructions to enter the child’s details, then complete the parental consent prompts. Child account consent and age rules depend on country or region, so complete every prompt shown on the iPhone.
Share purchases, subscriptions, and iCloud+
Eligible subscriptions are shared with the family automatically after setup. Purchase Sharing and iCloud+ sharing each have their own screen in Family, and you can check individual subscriptions there too.
Open Settings, tap Family, then tap Purchase Sharing. Follow the onscreen instructions to turn on shared purchases, then confirm the payment method.
Return to Family and tap Subscriptions. Select an eligible subscription, then turn on Share with Family if the option appears.
If a family member still can’t access an eligible subscription, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, tap Manage Family Access, then turn on Share Eligible Subscriptions. Tap iCloud+ under Subscriptions, then follow the onscreen instructions to share the iCloud+ plan.
Find the right Family menu
The menu name depends on your iOS version. On iOS 18 and later, Family sits below your name in Settings. On iOS 17 and earlier, go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing instead.
For creating a new group, use Settings > [your name] > Family > Continue. For family management and membership changes, open Settings and tap Family. If you don’t see Family, tap your name, then tap Family.
Do not look for a separate Family Sharing app or download. Family Sharing lives inside Apple Account and Settings surfaces.
Set child controls after everyone joins
Open Settings, tap Family, then tap the child’s name. On iOS 27, tap Apps & Websites, tap Restrictions, tap Ask to Buy, then turn on Require Purchase Approval. On iOS 26, tap Ask to Buy, then tap Turn on Ask to Buy.
Open Settings. On iOS 27, tap Family, tap the child’s name, tap Screen Time, then follow the onscreen instructions to set up parental controls. On iOS 26, tap Screen Time, scroll to the Family section, tap the child’s name, then follow the onscreen instructions to set up Screen Time controls.
Open Settings, tap Family, then tap the adult family member’s name. Tap Parent/Guardian, then turn on or turn off Set as Parent/Guardian. Parent/guardian status controls who can help manage child features such as Ask to Buy approvals.
Change members or leave the family
Family Sharing membership changes happen from Settings > Family. The organizer removes an eligible member by tapping the person’s name, then tapping Remove [name] from Sharing Group.
To leave as a member, open Settings > Family, tap your name, and tap Stop Using Family Sharing. If the organizer uses Stop Using Family Sharing, the family group is disbanded when family and child-account rules allow it.
For a child Apple Account that cannot be removed directly, the new family organizer invites the child to another family group, the current organizer approves the transfer request, and both follow the onscreen instructions.
If changing membership fails on iPhone, use Settings > Family first, then use account.apple.com only to remove yourself: sign in, choose Family Sharing, choose Disconnect Account, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Use a personal Apple Account
If setup fails on a school or work account, check whether it is a Managed Apple Account. Apple states that Managed Apple Accounts can’t use iCloud Family Sharing.
Sign in with a personal Apple Account before setting up Family Sharing on iPhone. Managed Apple Accounts are administered by an organization, and consumer Family Sharing uses personal Apple Accounts. Managed Apple Accounts do not have a consumer Family Sharing setup path.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can be in a Family Sharing group?
A Family Sharing group supports up to six members total.
Can I set up Family Sharing from a Mac?
Yes. On Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click your name, click Family, click Set Up or Set up Family, whichever appears, and follow the onscreen instructions. On macOS 12 or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Family Sharing.
Do family members share one iCloud+ storage space?
Yes. When an iCloud+ plan is shared, everyone uses the same pool of iCloud+ storage, while each person keeps their own Apple Account and their photos, documents, and other data stay private.
Can I set up Family Sharing with Siri or a hardware shortcut?
Apple’s setup steps use Settings on iPhone or System Settings on Mac. Use those instead of Siri, Apple Intelligence, hardware buttons, or shortcut key combinations.