Apple Family Sharing allows you to share apps, subscriptions, music, movies and photo albums with up to five family members from a single Apple Account. Until software update 26.3, all members were required to use the main user’s payment method, but this is no longer the case.
With Family Sharing, each family member retains his or her own iCloud storage, Apple account, and privacy. From 26.4 they can also add their own payment method to their account, so they can make purchases with their own credit card.
Family sharing: payment method disconnected
Until iOS 26.3, it was pretty simple: when using family sharing, the family organizer’s payment method was used for all purchases for all family members. All subscriptions, in-app purchases and apps purchased were paid for by the main user, which could lead to unexpected costs and discussions.
With the introduction of iOS 26.4, Apple has changed its approach. Adult members of a Family Sharing group can now use their own payment method, while sharing apps, media and subscriptions remains simple. The head of household still acts as a safety net when users are unable to make the payment.
Set up payment method
- Open Institutions on your iPhone or iPad
- Tap you name
- Navigate to ‘Payment and shipping‘
- Add one payment method to
On a Mac you can set this up via  ▸ System settings ▸ your name ▸ Payment and delivery ▸ add a payment method.
In concrete terms, this means that adult members can add their own credit card, debit card or other supported payment method to their Apple account. New purchases and subscriptions are then paid directly via their own payment method. The head of the household acts as a backup: if the personal payment method fails, the shared payment method can still be used.
Share purchases remains active
Purchase and subscription sharing will continue to work actively in Family Sharing, even when you make those purchases or subscriptions with your own payment method instead of the family’s joint credit card. This means that apps, games and subscriptions that you purchase at your own expense are available to other family members, provided they have been added to their account.
In-app purchases, on the other hand, are only shared if the developer has explicitly chosen to support Family Sharing, so not every little extra is automatically rolled out to all family members.
Consult Family Sharing
Do you want to view or manage your family’s settings? Then go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name and select ‘Family’. On a Mac you can find this via  â–¸ System Settings â–¸ your name â–¸ Family.