If you use an iPhone and are thinking about organizing your family to share purchases, subscriptions, photos or even locations, you've probably heard about the feature Family from Apple. You've probably also noticed that many families aren't fully aware of the full potential of this system, nor the important details on how to add new members, set up child accounts, or customize permissions and restrictions for children and teens.
In this guide, we are going to explain to you Clearly, simply, and comprehensively, how to add members to your Family Sharing group on iPhone, covering all the available options and settings, including helpful tips to avoid the most common issues. You'll learn not only how to invite family members, but also how to manage children's accounts, understand how expense sharing works, and what options you have to adjust privacy and permissions for each member.
What is “In Family” and what is it really for?
Before you rush into adding your loved ones to the group, it's important to be clear What does Apple's "Family Sharing" feature entail and what benefits does it bring?This system allows up to six people to share different services and resources without having to use the same Apple account, perfect for keeping purchases and personal privacy separate.
Among the main features of Family Sharing are:
- Share purchases of apps, music, movies, books, and subscriptions from the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+, Apple Arcade, and more.
- Share additional iCloud storage, allowing the whole family to enjoy the space hired by the organizer.
- Use of a single payment method centralized, which facilitates the management of expenses and purchases.
- Management and approval of children's purchases through the "Request Purchase" tool, which allows the organizer to authorize any purchase made by minors in the group.
- Parental controls, usage limits, and device location through the “Screen Time” settings.
- Share calendars, locations, and family photo albums.
The main condition is that all members use iOS 8 or later, or macOS Yosemite onwards.Additionally, each person must have their own Apple ID, or in the case of minors, the organizer can create a specific child account tailored to their age and needs.
If this article is not enough and you have more questions about "In Family" we leave you this other one about How to set up Family Sharing on your iPhone.
Who can create and manage a family group?
The “In family” system revolves around the figure of the family organizer, the person who creates the group and whose account is used as a reference for the payment method and general settings. In addition to the organizer, responsible adults can be appointed, who will have certain management powers, especially regarding parental controls.
Once the group is structured, the remaining members are added as adults, teens, or children. The main differences center on the permissions and controls the organizer can exercise over minors.
How to set up Family Sharing on your iPhone
Setting up Family Sharing is very quick and can be done from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here's how. the steps to follow to create your group and start enjoying the advantages of the system:
- Access the Settings from your iPhone.
- Tap your name (Apple ID) at the top to enter your personal settings.
- Look for the option Family o "In family" and select Set up your family o Set up family.
- Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to create the group and send invitations to the members you want to add.
During this process, you can define whether you want to share purchases, iCloud storage, location sharing, and other options. The system will guide you step by step, showing you a brief summary of what each setting means before you activate it.
How to add members to your family group
Once the group is created, Adding new members is as simple as sending them an invitationYou can do this either at the initial setup stage or later:
- Open the Settings and access the section Family.
- Push the button Add member o Add member (depending on the iOS version).
- Select whether you want to add an adult or create a child account (for minors who don't have an Apple ID).
- Enter the name or email address associated with the person's Apple ID, or proceed to create the new child account.
- Send the invitation, which will arrive via iMessage, email, or directly in person to the family member's device.
The new member simply accepts the invitation from their device. For child accounts, you'll need to set their birth date and appropriate permissions. The system will automatically adjust content restrictions based on their age, but these limits can be customized later.
Create and add child accounts (minors)
One of the strong points of In Family is the possibility of creating specific accounts for children under 13 years of age (or the age allowed in your country), which is essential for controlling access to content and setting usage limits.
The process is simple:
- From the Family section, select “Create a child account”.
- Enter the child's name and date of birth, which will automatically adjust parental controls.
- Follow the steps to set restrictions, communication limits, downtime, and decide whether your child can share their location.
- Set the option Request Purchase so that any expense or download requires your approval.
- Complete account creation by following the on-screen instructions.
These accounts can be modified, updated, and even deleted at any time through family settings. Parental controls and time restrictions can be edited later from the Family Settings section. Use time of the iPhone settings.
Personalization and management of permissions for each member
As an organizer or responsible adult, you can Customize the level of permissions and access for each group member:
- Contents and purchases: Decide whether adults can purchase directly or whether minors must request approval.
- Share location: Choose whether members can see the location of everyone or only some group members.
- parental control: Set device usage time limits, restrict inappropriate content, and manage who minors can communicate with.
These settings aren't fixed; you can change them at any time. Go to iPhone Settings, select the Family section, and select the member you want to edit to access all the control options.
How to accept, decline, or check the status of an invitation
When you invite someone to your family group, the process is quick and transparent. The guest will receive a message that they can accept or reject.If you don't respond or can't find the message, you can follow these steps:
- Sign in Settings and access Invitations (within your Apple ID section).
- From here you can accept or reject the request.
- If the invitation status doesn't update, as an organizer, you can resend it directly from your Family dashboard.
Remember Each person can only belong to one family group at a time, and you are only allowed to change groups once a year, so it is important to manage invitations well.
What to do if you have multiple Apple accounts?
If you have multiple Apple accounts (for example, personal and work accounts), you can add them all to the family groupThis way, all purchases and subscriptions will be centralized and accessible to group members, although each person will maintain their own space and privacy.
To do this, repeat the invitation process for each additional account, following the same steps detailed above.
How to connect children's devices and manage their settings
If you buy a New iPhone or iPad for a child or teenYou can associate it with the family group during initial setup. The system will automatically apply age-appropriate limits, allowing your child to use their device safely from the very beginning.
If you want to activate advanced capabilities such as Download apps, share storage, modify parental controls or to further customize the experience, you'll need to associate the device with your family group using the "Connect with Family" option in settings, and create an Apple account for the child if they don't already have one.
Frequently asked questions and common problems
Can I remove a member from the group?
Yes, both the organizer and the member can leave the family group from the settings. Just select the member and tap the option to remove or leave the family.
What happens to purchases when someone leaves the group?
Purchases made with the family group are no longer shared, but the person who made the purchase at the time will still have it available in their own account.
Is there a limit on family group changes?
Yes, you can only change groups once a year to prevent misuse of the system.
What happens if someone loses the invitation?
They can accept the invitation from Settings > Invitations or ask you to resend it. If the problem persists, check that the account isn't already part of another family group.
Apple Family Group Benefits and Considerations
The structure of En familia is specifically designed for families who share expenses and live under the same roof, since the payment method is unique and all purchases go through the organizer. This offers clear benefits in terms of budget and parental control, but it limits the use of the group by friends or people outside the family, as it won't be possible to choose individual payment methods. Before inviting, make sure all members agree to the terms and conditions.
Regarding iCloud storage, each member keeps their free 5 GB, but the organizer can purchase additional space and decide whether or not to share it. Major subscriptions like Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, Apple News, and others can be shared at no additional cost, while Apple Music has a dedicated family plan with a special price.
Permission management allows you to control absolutely all aspects related to security, privacy, access to content and use of minors' devices, all in a simple and intuitive way from the settings of the iPhone.
Having a well-managed family group makes life at home easier, avoids surprises on the bill, and ensures that the little ones navigate and enjoy the Apple ecosystem in the safest and most personalized way. We hope you now know how to add members to Family Sharing on your iPhone.
