How to Family Share Apple Music (Step-by-Step)

Part 1. What Is the Apple Music Family Plan?

Sharing one Apple Music account with your family can get messy. Playlists get mixed up, and everyone's music tastes can clash. For example, if you try to stream on several devices at the same time with the same Apple ID, it won't work because Apple only lets one device play at a time. That's why the Apple Music Family Plan is a great option. For one monthly price, up to six people get their own Apple Music accounts. Each person can listen to their own music, keep their own playlists, library, and get their own recommendations—no mixing, no confusion.

How Does Family Sharing Work with Apple Music Family Plan?

The Family Plan works with Apple's Family Sharing feature. This comes with Apple's family plans like Apple Music Family, Apple One Family, and Premiere plans. Family Sharing lets you share more than music—you can also share apps, iCloud storage, and even help find each other's lost devices. And don't worry, everyone's personal information stays private.

To start, all you need is an Apple ID and a device that supports Apple Music. It doesn't have to be an iPhone; Android devices work too. The family organizer sets up the plan and invites family members. It's one plan for the whole family to enjoy.

Part 2. Is the Apple Music Family Plan Worth It?

The Apple Music Family Plan is a smart money-saver. Instead of paying $10.99 a month per person, one $16.99 plan covers up to six people — and everyone gets their own account. That means no shared playlists, no mixed-up recommendations, and no streaming limits between devices.

Let's break it down:

The value only goes up as more people join. And it works across Apple and Android devices, so it's flexible for different households. If you're already using Apple TV+ or Apple Arcade, the Apple One Family Plan might be worth a look. It costs $25.95/month and bundles those services along with Apple Music and 200GB of iCloud storage — all shareable with up to six people.

Bottom line? If your home has more than one Apple Music listener, the Family Plan is a simple way to save money and make streaming easier for everyone.

Part 3. How to Set Up the Apple Music Family Plan

1. Subscribe to the Family Plan

• On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions, tap Apple Music, then choose Family Plan and follow the on-screen instructions.
• On Mac: Open the App Store, click your name (or sign in), select View Information at the top, scroll to Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and switch to the Family Plan.
• On Android: Open the Apple Music app, go to Listen Now > More (⋯) > Account, then select and confirm the Family Plan.

2. Set Up iCloud

• On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then enable iCloud Drive.
• On Mac: Open System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud, and make sure iCloud Drive is turned on and you're signed in.
• On Android: No iCloud setup required.

3. Set Up Family Sharing

• On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing, tap Set Up Your Family, then invite up to 5 people by entering their Apple IDs.



• On Mac: Open System Settings > Family Sharing, click Set Up Family, and send invitations using Apple IDs.



• On Android: Family Sharing setup must be done on an Apple device. Android users can only join a Family Group via invitation.

4. Use Family Sharing to Share Apple Music

• On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Family Sharing to manage members and subscriptions. Open the Apple Music app to access shared content and playlists.
• On Mac: Open System Settings > Family Sharing to view and manage family members. Use the Music app to access shared content.
• On Android: Open the Apple Music app, go to Listen Now to see playlists and content shared through your Family Plan.

Part 4. How to Manage Your Apple Music Family Group

1. Adding Family Members

1. Go to Settings > Family Sharing, then tap Add Member.
2. Enter the person's Apple ID. They will receive an invitation to join your family group.

2. Removing Family Members

1. In Family Sharing, select the member you want to remove.
2. Tap Remove [Name] from Family.
3. Use this when someone no longer needs access or has switched to their own subscription.

Note: Removing a member will revoke their access to Apple Music and other shared subscriptions immediately.

Part 5. How to Share Apple Music with Family Using Family Sharing

1. Accessing Shared iTunes Purchases

• On Mac: Open the Music app > Account > Family Purchases, select a family member, and download their purchases.
• On Windows PC: Open iTunes > Account > Family Purchases, then select and download items from another family member.

Example: If your partner buys an album, you can download it too at no additional cost.

2. Hiding iTunes Purchases

1. In the Music app or iTunes, go to Family Purchases, select your name, tap the More button (⋯) next to an item, then choose Hide Purchase.
2. To unhide purchases, go to Account > View My Account > Hidden Purchases and manage your hidden items.

Part 6. How to Cancel Your Apple Music Family Plan

• On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions > Apple Music, then select Cancel Subscription.
• On Mac: Open the App Store > View Information > Subscriptions > click Manage next to Apple Music, then cancel your plan.
• On Android: Open the Apple Music app, go to Account > Manage Subscription, then tap Cancel.

Note: Your Family Plan remains active until the end of the billing cycle. After that, all members lose access unless they switch to individual plans.

Part 7. How to Fix Apple Music Family Sharing Not Working

Part 8. Best Alternatives for Sharing Apple Music with Friends and Family

ViWizard Apple Music Converter gives you a way to keep your Apple Music library forever, even if you cancel your subscription. Unlike Apple's Family Sharing, which requires everyone to stay connected under one plan, ViWizard converts your songs into files you can keep and play offline without needing a subscription.

How Does ViWizard Apple Music Converter Work for Family?

It works with your Apple Music web player and iTunes library, letting you pick songs, playlists, or albums and convert them quickly—up to 15 times faster than normal. You can save your music as MP3, FLAC, WAV, or other popular formats, all while preserving album art and song info. ViWizard runs on both Windows and Mac, making it easy to create a personal music library that's truly yours.

Remember, ViWizard is for personal use only and isn't a substitute for sharing music under Apple's official terms. But if you want freedom to listen anytime without worrying about active subscriptions or Family Sharing limits, it's a solid alternative.

Apple Music Converter

A full-featured Apple Music converter that easily converts Apple Music songs, albums, playlists—including iCloud Music Library content, personalized recommendations, and curated playlists—into MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC so you can keep your Apple Music forever or transfer it to any device without restrictions.

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Step 1Download and Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter

First, download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Mac or Windows computer. Launch the app and sign in to your Apple Music account using the built-in player. This connects the converter to your full music library, so you can easily pick which songs or playlists to save.

Step 2Choose Your Output Format and Settings

Head to the Preferences or Settings menu to pick your output format. MP3 is the most versatile choice since it works on nearly all devices. You can also adjust sound quality settings like bit rate and sample rate to suit your preferences. For a richer experience, enable options to keep lyrics and song metadata intact.

Step 3Select Songs, Albums, or Playlists to Convert

Browse your Apple Music library inside ViWizard and select the songs or playlists you want to keep forever. Add them to your conversion list by clicking the "+" icon. When ready, hit the Convert button to start creating DRM-free audio files you can share freely with your family.

Step 4Find and Manage Your Converted Music

Once the process finishes, check the History tab or your chosen output folder for the converted files. These DRM-free tracks are yours to keep — you can copy, share, and play them on any device without subscription limits. Album artwork and track info stay preserved, helping you keep your collection organized and ready to enjoy with family anytime.