Connect your family digitally with iCloud sharing
Your iPhone. Your iPad. Your family. All these isolated islands in the digital ocean. Vacation photos are on Dad's phone, the family calendar is only on Mom's, and the kids are constantly asking for access to that one app. Sound familiar? But here's what no one tells you: Apple solved this years ago with iCloud sharing—but almost no one uses it properly. Most people think it's complicated, that you sacrifice privacy, or that it only works if everyone has the same AirPods . Wrong. With five simple steps, you'll soon be able to share not only photos and calendars, but also purchases, storage space, and even accessories like AirTags to track your teenager's keychain. No hassle, no privacy worries.
Useful links
- Refurbished iPhone collection - perfect for every family member
- Refurbished iPad collection - ideal for shared family use
- Accessories - AirTags and more for the whole family
Why sharing iCloud with your family is so convenient
iCloud Family Sharing transforms individual Apple devices into a single, cohesive ecosystem. You share not only photos and calendars, but also App Store purchases, Apple Music subscriptions, and even your iCloud storage. The best part? Everyone gets their own private space. Your kids won't automatically see all your photos, and you won't have to scroll through their TikTok screenshots.
Step 1: Activate family sharing
Open the settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name at the top. Scroll to "Set Up Family Sharing" and tap it. You'll now be designated as the family organizer. This means you're in charge of who can join and which services are shared.
First, choose which features you want to share. Start small, for example, by just sharing purchases, and expand later to photos and locations. You can add up to five other family members, so there's plenty of room for the whole family, including grandparents.
Step 2: Invite family members
Tap "Invite Family Members" and choose how you want to add them. You can send an invitation via iMessage or AirDrop if they're nearby. For children under 13, create a child account. This gives you instant parental controls without any extra steps.
Each family member needs their own Apple ID. Don't have an Apple ID? Create one before sending the invitation. The recipient will receive a notification and can accept with a single tap. From that moment on, you're all digitally connected.
Step 3: Share storage space smartly
One of the biggest advantages is sharing iCloud storage. Why should everyone pay €0.99 per month for 50 GB when you can share a 200 GB plan for €2.99? Go to "iCloud+" in your family settings and enable "Family Sharing."
Everyone gets their own private space within the shared storage. No one can see each other's files, but you share the entire space. Perfect for families where one person takes thousands of photos and the other only stores a few documents.
Step 4: Share purchases and subscriptions
All apps, music, movies, and books purchased by family members are automatically available to everyone. This also works retroactively. That expensive editing app your partner bought three years ago? Now it's yours too.
Go to "Purchase Sharing" in your family settings and enable it. For children, you can set permission for purchases. You'll then receive a notification on your phone and can approve or decline them immediately.
Step 5: Sync photos and calendars
Create a shared photo album for vacation snaps or everyday moments. Open the Photos app, tap the plus sign, and select "New Shared Album." Invite your family members, and everyone can add and view photos.
For the family calendar, open the Calendar app and create a new calendar. Select "Share with family," and everyone will instantly see when soccer practice is or when Grandma is coming to visit. Conveniently, you can set different colors so you can see at a glance who's doing what.
Maintaining privacy within family sharing
Many people are hesitant about family sharing due to privacy concerns. And rightly so, but Apple has handled this well. By default, everything remains private. You have to explicitly choose what you share. Photos, notes, reminders, and Safari bookmarks remain yours alone.
Do you still want to hide certain purchases? Go to the App Store, tap your profile picture, then "Purchased," and swipe left on the app you want to hide. It will continue to work on your devices, but will be invisible to family members.
Share locations for safety
Location sharing might sound awkward, but it's incredibly practical. You can see when your partner is on their way home, or where your teenager is. Enable it via "Location Sharing" in family settings.
For devices like AirTags, this works automatically. Attach an AirTag to your child's keychain and you can always see where their keys (and likely your child) are. This also works with other Apple devices. Lost your phone? Any family member can help find it via the Find My app.
Troubleshooting family sharing
Are you getting a message that a family member can't be added? First, check that everyone has iOS 8 or later. Older software doesn't support Family Sharing. Also important: everyone must be set up in the same country or region in their Apple ID.
Is purchase sharing not working? Check that "Purchase Sharing" is enabled for both the organizer and the family member. You may need to log out and back in to the App Store to see the shared apps appear.
Tips for parents
Set screen time for your children right from family settings. You'll see how much time they spend on which apps and can set limits. Also handy: you can schedule bedtimes, so only certain apps remain accessible.
Use "Ask to Buy" for children under eighteen. They can browse the App Store, but you decide what they actually download. You'll receive a notification with information about the app, including its price and age rating.
Getting the most out of family sharing
Think beyond the standard features. For example, share a collaborative grocery list via the Reminders app. Everyone can add and check off items. Or create a shared note for friends and family's Wi-Fi passwords.
Use the shared calendar intelligently by creating different categories. A work calendar for parents, a school calendar for children, and a family calendar for joint activities. Color coding lets you see at a glance what belongs to whom.
Consider a refurbished iPad as a family tablet. It sits centrally in the living room, and everyone can log in with their own account. Perfect for viewing shared photos, checking the family calendar, or playing shared games.
Conclusion
With these five steps, you'll have mastered iCloud sharing with your family. It might seem like a lot of information, but just start with step one and gradually expand. Before you know it, you'll be effortlessly sharing photos, calendars, and purchases without compromising anyone's privacy. The digital divide in your family will be a thing of the past.
Conclusion: easy sharing without hassle
Sharing iCloud with your family isn't rocket science. In five simple steps, you can share photos, calendars, purchases, and storage space without compromising anyone's privacy. Start small, just sharing purchases, and expand as you go. A refurbished iPhone for your teenager or a shared iPad for the kitchen becomes a seamless extension of your digital family life. It not only saves money, but also hassle. Those isolated islands in the digital ocean? They'll soon be connected by a solid bridge .
