Ready to bring your iPad into the family circle? It's a fantastic way to share purchases, subscriptions, and even screen time controls. Let's get started right away!
Step 1: Open Your Settings App and Find Family Sharing
First things first, grab your iPhone or iPad that's already part of the Family Sharing group (or the organizer's device).
- Tap the Settings App: Look for the grey gear icon on your home screen and give it a tap.
- Navigate to Your Apple ID Profile: At the very top of the Settings menu, you'll see your name and Apple ID photo (if you've set one). Tap on it.
- Locate "Family Sharing": On the subsequent screen, scroll down a bit until you find the option labeled "Family Sharing". Tap on it.
Step 2: Invite the New iPad to Your Family
Now that you're in the Family Sharing settings, let's add that iPad!
- Tap "Add Member": You'll see a list of current family members (if any). At the bottom of this list, tap on the "Add Member" option.
- Choose How to Invite: You'll be presented with a few options:
- Invite People: This is the most common method. You can invite someone using their Apple ID (usually their email address or phone number).
- Create a Child Account: Use this if the person who will be using the iPad is under 13 (age may vary by region). This option will guide you through setting up a dedicated child account with parental controls.
- Invite in Person: If the person with the iPad is physically with you, you can tap this and they can enter their Apple ID and password directly on your device.
Sub-step 2.1: Inviting via Apple ID
If you chose "Invite People":
- Enter the Apple ID: Type in the email address or phone number associated with the Apple ID that's signed in on the iPad you want to add.
- Tap "Send": Once you've entered the Apple ID, tap the "Send" button. This will send an invitation to that Apple ID.
Sub-step 2.2: Creating a Child Account
If you chose "Create a Child Account":
- Follow the On-Screen Instructions: Apple will guide you through the process of setting up the child's name, date of birth, and other necessary information.
- Set Up Parental Controls: You'll have the opportunity to set up Screen Time limits, Ask to Buy restrictions, and more to manage the child's iPad usage.
Sub-step 2.3: Inviting in Person
If you chose "Invite in Person":
- The Other Person Enters Their Credentials: The person with the iPad will need to enter their Apple ID and password on your device.
- Follow the Prompts: Both of you will follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
Step 3: Accept the Invitation on the iPad
Now, let's switch over to the iPad that's being added to Family Sharing.
- Open the Settings App: Just like before, tap the grey gear icon.
- Look for the Invitation: You should see a notification badge on the Settings app icon or a prominent notification at the top of the Settings menu indicating a Family Sharing invitation. Tap on it.
- Review the Invitation: You'll see who sent the invitation and what it entails.
- Tap "Join": To accept the invitation and add the iPad to the Family Sharing group, tap the "Join" button.
- Confirm Your Apple ID: You might be asked to confirm the Apple ID associated with the iPad. Enter your password if prompted.
Step 4: Verify Family Sharing on the iPad
Once you've accepted the invitation, it's a good idea to double-check that the iPad is now part of the family.
- Open the Settings App: Tap the grey gear icon.
- Tap Your Apple ID Profile: Tap your name and photo at the top.
- Check for "Family Sharing": You should now see the "Family Sharing" option listed. Tap on it.
- View Family Members: You should see the names of all the members in your Family Sharing group, including the organizer and any other members.
Congratulations! You've successfully added your iPad to Family Sharing. Now you can enjoy sharing App Store and iTunes purchases, Apple subscriptions (like Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+), location sharing (if enabled), and more! The Family Organizer will also be able to manage Screen Time and Ask to Buy requests for the iPad if it belongs to a child account.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to...
How to check if an iPad is already part of a Family Sharing group?
Quick Answer: Open the Settings app, tap on your Apple ID profile at the top, and look for the "Family Sharing" option. If it's there and lists family members, the iPad is part of a group.
How to remove an iPad from Family Sharing?
Quick Answer: On the organizer's device, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap on the member's name associated with the iPad, and then tap "Remove [Member Name] from Family." On the iPad itself, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > [Your Name], then tap "Leave Family."
How to share purchases with Family Sharing on an iPad?
Quick Answer: Ensure "Share My Purchases" is turned on in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > Purchase Sharing. Then, family members can access each other's eligible purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple Books without buying them again.
How to manage Screen Time for an iPad in Family Sharing?
Quick Answer: On the organizer's device, go to Settings > Screen Time, scroll down to "Family," and select the family member associated with the iPad. From there, you can set limits and restrictions.
How to use "Ask to Buy" for an iPad in Family Sharing?
Quick Answer: On the organizer's device, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap on the child's name associated with the iPad, and toggle "Ask to Buy" on. When the child tries to make a purchase, the organizer will receive a notification to approve or decline.
How to share Apple subscriptions with an iPad in Family Sharing?
Quick Answer: Many Apple subscriptions (like Apple Music Family, Apple TV+, iCloud+) are automatically shared with family members once Family Sharing is set up. Check the details of each subscription to confirm.
How to share location with Family Sharing on an iPad?
Quick Answer: In Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > Location Sharing, you can choose to share your location with family members, and they can choose to share theirs back.
How to invite someone to Family Sharing if they don't have an iPad?
Quick Answer: The process is the same as outlined in Step 2. You invite them using their Apple ID, regardless of the device they primarily use. They can accept the invitation on any Apple device.
How to change the Family Sharing organizer?
Quick Answer: This is a more involved process. The current organizer needs to transfer the role to another adult family member. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap on your name (if you're the organizer), then tap "Organize My Family" and follow the prompts to choose a new organizer.
How to troubleshoot if an iPad isn't joining Family Sharing?
Quick Answer: Ensure both devices are signed in with iCloud, check for any pending invitations, make sure the person being invited isn't already part of another Family Sharing group, and verify that your Apple ID region settings are the same. Restarting both devices can also sometimes help.
