Family Sharing for App Store Subscriptions Now Available - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Family Sharing for App Store Subscriptions Now Available

iPhone and iPad users who share apps with their families through Apple's Family Sharing feature can now share subscription apps as well.

share new subscriptions family sharing
In the App Store settings under "Subscriptions," there's a "Share New Subscriptions" setting that appears to be enabled automatically, allowing subscription apps to be shared among family members. The new option is available on the current release version of iOS, iOS 14.2.

Apple announced subscription sharing options as part of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur. Developers are able to decide whether subscriptions should be available to members of a Family Sharing group. Some apps have been implementing the feature, as noted by Ryan Jones on Twitter.


Prior to today, if one member of a family purchased an app that included a subscription benefit, there was no built-in way for those subscription features to be shared with other family members.

Popular Stories

Apple Creator Studio iWork suite

Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]

Thursday October 22, 2026 11:01 am PDT by
Apple has temporarily removed Keynote, Pages, and Numbers from the App Store, just after releasing an update that added iPhone Duo support and a new Intelligent Assistant. It is not clear if the apps were removed intentionally, or if it is a bug. Apple has not said when the apps will be reinstated, but if it was in error, they should return soon. Update: The Mac versions are back without...
iPhone Duo Apps feature

Apple Reveals More Than 50 Apps That Will Be Updated for iPhone Duo

Thursday October 22, 2026 6:04 am PDT by
Apple today highlighted more than 50 third-party App Store apps that are or will soon be fully optimized for the iPhone Duo and its various layouts and poses. You can hold the iPhone Duo and set it down in a number of ways, such as partially folded like a book, placed down on a surface, or standing on its edges: With the Netflix app, for example, Apple said iPhone Duo users can scroll...
Apple Says Over 100000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo But These Are Still Missing Feature 1

Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing

Friday November 6, 2026 9:18 am PST by
Apple today announced that more than 100,000 apps have been optimized for the iPhone Duo, released two weeks ago. We confirmed that this figure refers to apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later, meaning these apps fill the full width of the iPhone Duo's inner and outer displays and have vertical controls in the status bar. A statement from Susan Prescott, Apple's Vice President of...

Top Rated Comments

motm95 Avatar
78 months ago
I wonder how many significant others will be surprised to see a Tinder subscription suddenly show up.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78 months ago
A few notes from a developer who has been eagerly looking forward to this.
[LIST=1]
* Both subscriptions and in-app purchases are supported
* Developers need to explicitly enable sharing for each subscription/IAP
* The 'Share New Subscriptions' allows newly started subscriptions to automatically be shared with family members
* Existing subscriptions can also be shared, but these need to be enabled individually under each subscription (see attached). If a sub isn't shareable, then this option won't appear.

PS - If you're an Infuse user you can take advantage of this right now. :)

Attachment Image
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mike MA Avatar
78 months ago
Let’s keep it short: Thanks Apple!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78 months ago

Good to see it's happening for subscriptions, but what about family sharing for in-app purchases? Family sharing for in-app purchases and subscriptions were announced at the same time but since the announcement I haven't been able to find any info about either one.
IAP is the big one for me, given that lots of apps seem to use IAP as a demo mode (rather than just to cynically do an end run around family sharing).
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78 months ago
Good to see it's happening for subscriptions, but what about family sharing for in-app purchases? Family sharing for in-app purchases and subscriptions were announced at the same time but since the announcement I haven't been able to find any info about either one.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LeadingHeat Avatar
78 months ago
I just wonder how many developers will intentionally block this, to squeeze out more money from subscriptions.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Is It Worth Buying a Ceramic Apple Watch?
Is It Worth Buying a Ceramic Apple Watch?
3 hours ago
Samsung Early Black Friday Event Brings Major Sales to Frame TVs and More
Samsung Early Black Friday Event Brings Major Sales to Frame TVs and More
4 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
4 hours ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits Record Low $69.99 Price Ahead of Black Friday
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits Record Low $69.99 Price Ahead of Black Friday
6 hours ago
Rumored Apple Smart Glasses Mentioned in Supplier's Earnings Briefing
Rumored Apple Smart Glasses Mentioned in Supplier's Earnings Briefing
6 hours ago
Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment
Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment
8 hours ago
Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell
Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell
10 hours ago
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
16 hours ago
Apple's Holiday Gift Guide Highlights iPhone Duo and More
Apple's Holiday Gift Guide Highlights iPhone Duo and More
19 hours ago
Three Workers Die at Tata iPhone Parts Plant in India
Three Workers Die at Tata iPhone Parts Plant in India
19 hours ago
iCloud Mail, Calendar, Contacts and More Experiencing Outage [Updated]
iCloud Mail, Calendar, Contacts and More Experiencing Outage [Updated]
20 hours ago
Apple's Claris Testing 'Harbor' App for Local AI on Macs
Apple's Claris Testing 'Harbor' App for Local AI on Macs
20 hours ago
iFixit's PROLED MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Logo LEDs
iFixit's PROLED MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Logo LEDs
22 hours ago
10 Free iPhone Duo Apps Worth Downloading
10 Free iPhone Duo Apps Worth Downloading
23 hours ago
Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware
Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware
23 hours ago
Amazon Begins Early Black Friday Sale, Featuring Sitewide Discounts on Tech and Decor
Amazon Begins Early Black Friday Sale, Featuring Sitewide Discounts on Tech and Decor
1 day ago
Apple Announces Swift Student Challenge Ahead of WWDC 2027
Apple Announces Swift Student Challenge Ahead of WWDC 2027
1 day ago
Next iPad Air Likely to Have These 10 New Features
Next iPad Air Likely to Have These 10 New Features
1 day ago
iPad Mini 2021 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
iPad Mini 2021 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
1 day ago
New Apple TV Sign Language Feature Announced
New Apple TV Sign Language Feature Announced
1 day ago
Disable Touch on MacBook Pro PROLED XDR and When Using Sidecar
Disable Touch on MacBook Pro PROLED XDR and When Using Sidecar
1 day ago
Anker's Early Black Friday Sale Surprises With Mystery Boxes and Big Discounts
Anker's Early Black Friday Sale Surprises With Mystery Boxes and Big Discounts
1 day ago
Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in December
Apple Arcade Adding These Four Games in December
1 day ago
OLED iPad Air Rumored to Launch in Two Sizes in Early 2027
OLED iPad Air Rumored to Launch in Two Sizes in Early 2027
1 day ago
The Original iPod Went on Sale 25 Years Ago Today
The Original iPod Went on Sale 25 Years Ago Today
1 day ago
Apple Maps Could Factor Parking Into Your Arrival Time
Apple Maps Could Factor Parking Into Your Arrival Time
1 day ago
Waze Now Alerts Drivers to Nearby Cyclists Using Garmin LiveTrack
Waze Now Alerts Drivers to Nearby Cyclists Using Garmin LiveTrack
1 day ago
iPhone 20 Pro: Ten Big Changes That Could Redefine Apple's Flagship
iPhone 20 Pro: Ten Big Changes That Could Redefine Apple's Flagship
1 day ago
Here's What Apple Fixed in iOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1
Here's What Apple Fixed in iOS 27.2.1 and macOS 27.2.1
2 days ago
Webex Gets iPhone Duo Support
Webex Gets iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago