App Store Listings Gain Family Sharing Info Ahead of iOS 8 Launch

Apps in the iOS and Mac App Stores have begun displaying details on Family Sharing, letting users know whether or not the feature is enabled for specific apps ahead of the launch of iOS 8 and Yosemite.

A new Family Sharing listing has appeared in the Information section for each app, as noted by German site iFun.de [Google Translate]. For developers that have turned on Family Sharing, the section displays a "Yes" under the Family Sharing heading, while apps from developers that have opted not to allow Family Sharing or have yet to turn the setting on display "Not Available."

Certain apps, like Sketchbook Mobile display a "Yes" for purchases after a set date, indicating that developers have the option to only allow Family Sharing for new purchases.

familysharing
First announced during June's Worldwide Developers Conference, Family Sharing for iOS 8 and Yosemite lets families of up to six people share content like apps, iBooks, music, movies, and more, across all of their iOS devices, provided their iTunes accounts use the same credit card. Family Sharing also lets families share photos, videos, a calendar, reminders, and more, to keep everyone in the family connected.

Though Family Sharing is not yet fully functional, Apple has made steps towards implementing the service throughout the iOS 8 and Yosemite beta testing period. Shortly after WWDC, Apple began asking developers to enable the feature in their apps.

Early iOS 8 betas saw the addition of Family Sharing in the iCloud section of the settings app, and iOS 8 beta 2 and an Apple TV beta laid significant groundwork for Family Sharing, adding a new section for "Family Purchases" to the iOS App Store's purchased tab and a new iCloud Family setting for the Apple TV.

Family Sharing is expected to be implemented and fully functional ahead of the public release of iOS 8, which will be available in September after the upcoming iPhone event.

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 purple

New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

Tuesday January 20, 2026 9:05 am PST by
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest. Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
smaller dynamic island iphone 18 pro Filip Vabrous%CC%8Cek

iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout

Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely. Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday January 18, 2026 3:51 pm PST by
iOS 27 is still many months away, but there are already plenty of rumors about new features that will be included in the software update. The first beta of iOS 27 will be released during WWDC 2026 in June, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

MacBook Pro Buyers Now Facing Up to a Two-Month Wait Ahead of New Models

Sunday January 18, 2026 6:50 pm PST by
MacBook Pro availability is tightening on Apple's online store, with select configurations facing up to a two-month delivery timeframe in the United States. A few 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations with an M4 Pro chip are not facing any shipping delay, but estimated delivery dates for many configurations with an M4 Max chip range from February 6 to February 24 or even later. At...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Expected to Unveil Five All-New Products This Year

Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses. Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product. Smart Home Hub Apple home hub (concept) Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...

Top Rated Comments

GeneralChang Avatar
150 months ago
I am ridiculously excited for this feature.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Parasprite Avatar
150 months ago
I feel like some people are going to harass developers about this, knocking off stars just because they don't allow it/have it set up.
Everything about this...

★★☆☆☆
"This app is one of the best on the App Store, I use it almost every day. However, a recent update moved a button I use from the top left corner to the top right corner and completely broke my workflow. Please fix it and I'll give you back your stars (I would rate it five if it wasn't for this inconvenience).

★★★☆☆
"i liek the app but if yiu could add the option to change windmow colour i woudl givem it five stars"

★☆☆☆☆
"I can't figure out how to make it default browser or open from Safari! FIX SOON OR I DELETE APP FOREVER!"

★★★★☆
"Hey I just found this in emoji! �������� LOL"
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CrazyForApple Avatar
150 months ago
Family sharing is a really nice feature though.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
newagemac Avatar
150 months ago
One of the best new features of iOS8 in my opinion. And MacRumors might need to recheck their sources because it looks to me like Family Sharing is not optional for new apps submitted to the App Store. It's only optional if you want to also apply it to past purchases of your app.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Agent OrangeZ Avatar
150 months ago
"Valid for purchases after June 13th, 2014."

And.... THAT is the money grab for devs. People who have already purchased apps a long time ago... will have to pay again to share with family?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
150 months ago
You could already share the same Apple ID for the App Store on multiple devices and use different Apple IDs for everything else. Most people I know are already doing this.
Yup. Hopefully that option doesn't go away in the future. I could see "Family Sharing" being a back door way for app developers - including Apple - to start tightening down on their apps being installed on multiple devices.

As to why I'm even entertaining that notion... I can't otherwise see why app developers should even have the option to not allow Family Sharing - yet they apparently do. It's not adding a new feature; it's simply making an something we can already do somewhat easier to manage. So why allow developers to opt out?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)