What the Apple Music Family Plan includes

The Apple Music Family Plan lets up to six people listen to Apple Music on their own devices using one subscription. Each person gets their own account, their own music library, and their own recommendations — they don't share a queue or see each other's listening history unless they choose to. The plan costs $16.99 per month in the United States, though the price varies by country.

Everyone on the plan can download songs to listen offline, skip unlimited tracks, and listen ad-free. If someone in the family already pays for an individual Apple Music subscription at $10.99 per month, switching to the family plan saves money once you add a second person. The plan works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV, and Android devices.

Key Takeaways

  • The family plan covers up to six people, each with separate accounts and music libraries, for $16.99 per month in the US.
  • You set up the plan through iCloud Family Sharing, which also shares photos, calendars, and purchases — you can turn music sharing off if you want.
  • The person who pays for the subscription is the organizer, and they can remove or add family members at any time.
  • Each person needs their own Apple ID, and they must be in the same country as the organizer to join the plan.
  • If a family member leaves the plan, they lose access to shared music but can keep their personal library if they switch to an individual subscription.

How to set up the family plan

Start by opening Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click your name at the top, then select "Family Sharing." If you haven't set up Family Sharing yet, choose "Create a Family" and follow the prompts. You'll need to confirm your payment method — this is where the $16.99 monthly charge will appear.

Once Family Sharing is active, go to the Apple Music app and look for the account menu (usually a profile icon). Select "Upgrade to Family Plan" or "Set Up Family Sharing." The system will show you who is already in your Family Sharing group. Anyone you've already invited to Family Sharing will automatically have access to Apple Music once you upgrade. If you want to add new family members, do that through the Family Sharing settings, and they'll receive an invitation to join.

New family members need to accept the invitation and sign in with their own Apple ID on their device. They don't need to enter payment information — the organizer's payment method covers everyone. Once they're added, they can start using Apple Music immediately.

Who can join and location requirements

Anyone with an Apple ID can join the family plan, but there are two important limits. First, all family members must be in the same country as the organizer. If you live in the United States and a family member moves to Canada, they'll need to either return to the US region or set up their own subscription in Canada. Apple doesn't allow the plan to span multiple countries.

Second, the organizer (the person paying) must be at least 18 years old. Children under 18 can be added to the plan, and parents can use Screen Time to control what they listen to. There's no limit on how many children you can add, as long as the total doesn't exceed six people.

What happens to music libraries when someone leaves

If a family member leaves the plan, they lose access to Apple Music immediately — they can't play songs, download new tracks, or use any Apple Music features. However, any songs they personally purchased through the iTunes Store remain in their library and stay playable. Downloaded songs they saved for offline listening will also stay on their device, but they won't be able to download new ones.

If someone wants to keep listening after leaving the family plan, they can switch to an individual Apple Music subscription for $10.99 per month. Their personal music library and playlists will still be there, and they can pick up where they left off. The organizer can remove someone from the plan at any time through Family Sharing settings, and the person will be notified.

Controlling what family members can access

The organizer can use Screen Time to set restrictions on what children see and listen to in Apple Music. You can block explicit content, restrict purchases, and set time limits for how long someone can use the app. These controls are set per person and managed through the Family Sharing settings on the organizer's device.

By default, family members can see each other's listening activity and shared playlists. If you want privacy, you can turn off sharing for individual people through Family Sharing settings — this hides your listening history and playlists from them, though you'll still share the same subscription. You can also create a separate iCloud account just for Apple Music if you want complete separation, though this requires a second subscription.

Switching from individual to family plan

If you already pay for an individual Apple Music subscription, you don't lose anything by upgrading to the family plan. Your music library, playlists, and listening history stay exactly as they are. The upgrade happens immediately when you choose "Upgrade to Family Plan" in the Apple Music app, and your billing changes to $16.99 per month on your next renewal date.

You'll get a prorated credit for any remaining time on your individual subscription, so you won't pay twice. If you're part of a family plan and want to go back to an individual subscription, you can downgrade through the same menu. The family plan will end for everyone, so make sure other family members know before you make the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the family plan if we don't live in the same house?

Yes. The family plan doesn't require people to live together — only that they're in the same country as the organizer. You can add family members who live in different cities or states as long as you're all in the same country.

What if someone on the family plan cancels their Apple ID?

If a family member deletes their Apple ID, they're automatically removed from the family plan and lose access to Apple Music. Any songs they purchased through iTunes remain in their account if they recover it later, but they won't have access to the shared family subscription anymore.

Can I have multiple family plans?

No. One Apple ID can only organize one family plan at a time. If you want to switch organizers, the current organizer must remove themselves from Family Sharing first, which ends the plan for everyone.

Does the family plan include Apple Music Classical?

No. Apple Music Classical is a separate subscription at $10.99 per month and doesn't include the family plan option. You would need to pay for it individually in addition to the family plan if you want access to that app.

Can family members use the same device at the same time?

Yes, but they need to be signed in with different Apple IDs. If two people try to play music from the same account simultaneously, the second person's playback will stop the first person's. Using separate Apple IDs lets multiple people listen at the same time on the same device.