Set Up Family Sharing to Let Others Watch on Their Own Devices
The fastest way to share Apple TV+ with family is through Family Sharing, Apple's system that lets up to six people watch on their own devices using a single subscription. When you turn on Family Sharing, each family member gets their own Apple ID, their own profile on your account, and their own watch list and recommendations—they are not watching under your name.
Family Sharing works across iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, and Apple TV boxes. Each person signs into their own device with their own Apple ID, and the subscription follows them. You pay for one Apple TV+ subscription, but six people can stream at the same time on different devices in different rooms.
Key Takeaways
- Family Sharing lets up to six people watch Apple TV+ on separate devices at the same time using one subscription.
- You set up Family Sharing on your Apple ID in Settings, then invite family members by their email address or phone number.
- Each family member needs their own Apple ID and must be added to your Family Sharing group before they can access the subscription.
- Family members can watch on their own iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV box without needing your password.
- You can remove someone from Family Sharing at any time, and they lose access to Apple TV+ when ready.
How to Start Family Sharing on Your Apple ID
Open Settings on the device where you pay for Apple TV+. Tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. If you have not set up Family Sharing before, you will see a button to "Create a Family Group" or "Set Up Family Sharing"—tap it. Apple will confirm your payment method and your location, then ask you to set a screen time code if you want parental controls.
Once Family Sharing is on, you are the organizer. This means you manage who is in the group, handle the payment, and can remove people if needed. The organizer role cannot be transferred to someone else without deleting the entire Family Sharing group and starting over, so choose carefully if you plan to hand off the subscription later.
Invite Family Members by Email or Phone Number
After Family Sharing is active, tap "Add Family Member" in the Family Sharing settings. You can invite people in two ways: send them an invitation through iCloud (if they have an Apple ID), or add them in person if they are with you and have their device nearby.
For a remote invitation, enter their email address or phone number associated with their Apple ID. Apple sends them a notification asking them to join your Family Sharing group. They tap Accept, and within a few minutes they can open Apple TV+ on their own device and start watching. They do not need your password, and you do not see their watch history.
If someone is with you, hand them your device, tap "Add Family Member," and choose "Invite in Person." They scan a code with their device, confirm their Apple ID, and they are added when ready.
What Family Members Can and Cannot Do
Family members can watch any show or movie on Apple TV+, create their own watch list, and get personalized recommendations based on what they watch. They cannot change the subscription plan, add or remove other family members, or see your payment information. If you set up parental controls, you can restrict content by age rating for younger family members.
One important limit: only six people total can be in a Family Sharing group, and only four of those six can stream Apple TV+ at the exact same time. If a fifth person tries to start watching while four others are already streaming, they will see a message that the limit has been reached and will have to wait for someone else to stop.
Remove Someone From Family Sharing
If a family member moves out, you break up, or you straightforward want to stop sharing, open Family Sharing settings, find their name in the family list, tap it, and select "Remove from Family." They lose access to Apple TV+ when ready—any show they were watching stops playing.
Removing someone does not delete their Apple ID or affect anything else on their device. They can still use iCloud, Messages, and other Apple services with their own account. They just cannot watch Apple TV+ unless they pay for their own subscription.
Share Your Apple TV Box Without Family Sharing
If you have an Apple TV box (the hardware device that connects to your TV), you can let someone watch without adding them to Family Sharing. Sign into the Apple TV box with your Apple ID, and anyone in your home can pick up the remote and start watching—they do not need to sign in.
This works well for roommates or guests who do not need their own profile or watch list. However, everyone watching on that one box shares the same watch history and recommendations, and you cannot set parental controls for specific people. If you want separate profiles and controls, Family Sharing is the better choice.
Troubleshoot Common Sharing Problems
If someone you invited has not received the notification, ask them to check their email spam folder or the Notifications section of their Apple ID settings. Sometimes the invitation takes a few minutes to arrive. If it has been more than an hour, try removing them from the Family Sharing list and inviting them again.
If a family member can see Apple TV+ in the App Store but cannot open it or watch anything, make sure they are signed into their device with their own Apple ID, not yours. Then ask them to open the Apple TV app, go to the Account tab, and check that their name appears under "Family Sharing." If it does not, they may not have accepted the invitation yet.
If you hit the four-person streaming limit, the person trying to watch will see a message on their screen. They can wait for someone else to stop watching, or you can remove someone from Family Sharing if you no longer want to share with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share Apple TV+ with someone who does not have an Apple ID?
No. Everyone in your Family Sharing group must have their own Apple ID. If someone does not have one, they can create it free at appleid.apple.com or through Settings on any Apple device. It takes about five minutes and only requires an email address.
What happens to a family member's watch list if I remove them?
Their watch list disappears when they are removed from Family Sharing. If you add them back later, they start with a blank list. Their Apple ID and other data are not affected—only their access to Apple TV+ ends.
Can two people in the same house have their own Family Sharing groups?
No. Each Apple ID can only belong to one Family Sharing group at a time. If you want to switch groups, you have to be removed from the current one first, which takes up to 30 days to process.
Do family members need Wi-Fi to watch, or can they use cellular data?
They can use either. Apple TV+ streams over any internet connection—Wi-Fi or cellular. Streaming uses about 3 GB per hour on high quality, so cellular users should watch their data limits.
Can I see what shows my family members are watching?
No. Each person's watch history is private to their own profile. You can see that they are in your Family Sharing group, but not what they watch or when they watch it.