Apple TV+ lets you share your subscription with up to five other people through Family Sharing, a built-in feature that keeps everyone's viewing separate

Apple TV+ subscriptions come with Family Sharing, which means you can add up to five family members to your account at no extra cost. Each person gets their own profile, their own watch list, and their own recommendations — so your kids' cartoons won't clutter your feed, and your partner's documentaries won't show up in your suggestions.

The process takes about five minutes and works on any device where you sign in to Apple TV+. Once family members are added, they can watch on their own phones, tablets, computers, or Apple TV devices using their own Apple ID.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Sharing lets you add up to five people to your Apple TV+ subscription at no additional cost, and each person keeps a separate profile and watch history.
  • You must set up Family Sharing through your Apple ID settings, not through the Apple TV+ app itself.
  • Family members watch using their own Apple ID on their own devices, so they do not need to know your password.
  • You can remove someone from Family Sharing at any time, and their access to Apple TV+ stops when ready.
  • If a family member has their own Apple TV+ subscription, they should cancel it before joining your Family Sharing group to avoid paying twice.

How to set up Family Sharing on your Apple device

Family Sharing lives in your Apple ID settings, not in the Apple TV+ app. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > tap your name at the top > tap Family Sharing > tap get your free guide (or Add Family Member if you already have Family Sharing set up). On a Mac, open System Settings > click your name in the sidebar > click Family > click the plus button to add someone.

When you add a family member, you will see two options: Invite or Add Child. Use Invite for adults and teenagers who have their own Apple ID. They will receive an invitation on their device and can accept it themselves. Use Add Child only if you want to create a new Apple ID for a child and manage parental controls — this is separate from just sharing the subscription.

The person you invite does not need to be in the same house or on the same Wi-Fi network. They just need to have an Apple ID and be able to receive the invitation on their device.

What family members need to do on their end

Once you send an invitation, the other person will see a notification on their Apple device asking them to join your Family Sharing group. They tap Accept, and that is it — they are now part of your family and can open Apple TV+ on any of their devices.

They do not need to enter your password or your Apple ID. They sign in with their own Apple ID on their own device, and Apple TV+ recognizes them as part of your family group. If they already had an Apple TV+ subscription under their own Apple ID, they should cancel it first to avoid being charged twice.

How to manage who is in your Family Sharing group

You can see everyone in your Family Sharing group and remove people whenever you want. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing. You will see a list of all family members. Tap anyone's name to see options for managing their access or removing them from the group.

If you remove someone, their access to Apple TV+ stops right away. They will no longer be able to watch on any of their devices. If they want to keep watching, they will need to buy their own Apple TV+ subscription.

You can also change who is the organizer of Family Sharing — the person who pays for the subscription and controls the group. To do this, go to Family Sharing settings and look for the option to transfer organizer status. The new organizer will need to confirm the change on their device.

Streaming limits and what happens when too many people watch at once

Apple TV+ allows four simultaneous streams on different devices at the same time. This means four family members can watch different shows or movies at the same time. If a fifth person tries to start watching while four streams are already active, they will see a message saying the limit has been reached and will need to wait for someone else to stop watching.

This is different from some other streaming services that allow only two simultaneous streams on a standard plan. If your family often watches at the same time, keep this limit in mind when deciding how many people to add.

Parental controls and content restrictions

If you added a child through the Add Child option, you can set up parental controls to restrict what they can watch based on age ratings. You manage these controls from your device in Family Sharing settings.

For adults and teenagers you invited to your Family Sharing group, there are no built-in restrictions — they can watch anything on Apple TV+. If you want to restrict content for a teenager, you would need to set up Screen Time on their device instead, which is a separate Apple feature that controls access across all apps and services.

Troubleshooting common Family Sharing problems

If someone you invited is not seeing the invitation, ask them to check their notifications or sign out and back into their Apple ID on their device. Sometimes the invitation takes a few minutes to arrive. You can also resend an invitation from your Family Sharing settings if the first one did not go through.

If a family member can see Apple TV+ in the app store but cannot open the app or watch content, they may not be signed in with the Apple ID that is part of your Family Sharing group. Have them check Settings > their name to confirm they are signed in with the correct Apple ID.

If you are still seeing a payment prompt when you try to watch, make sure you are signed in with your own Apple ID on your device, not someone else's. Each person needs to use their own Apple ID to access the shared subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share my Apple TV+ subscription with friends who are not family?

Family Sharing is designed for people in your household or family, but Apple does not verify relationships. Technically, you can add anyone to your Family Sharing group as long as they have an Apple ID. However, Apple's terms of service state that Family Sharing is for family members, so sharing with unrelated people may violate the terms.

What happens to my family member's watch history and recommendations if I remove them?

When you remove someone from Family Sharing, their access to Apple TV+ stops when ready, but their profile and watch history remain on your account. If you add them back later, their old profile and history will still be there. If you want to permanently delete their profile, you can do that from Family Sharing settings.

Do family members need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to use the shared subscription?

No. Family members can watch Apple TV+ from anywhere — at home, at work, traveling, or anywhere else with an internet connection. They just need to be signed in with their own Apple ID on their device.

Can I change my Apple TV+ password without affecting my family members?

Yes. Your family members do not use your password — they sign in with their own Apple ID. Changing your Apple ID password will not affect their access to Apple TV+ or any other shared services.

What if someone in my family has their own Apple TV+ subscription and I want to add them to mine?

They should cancel their individual subscription first to avoid being charged twice. Once it is canceled, you can add them to your Family Sharing group, and they will have access to your subscription instead.