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Family Sharing for App Store Subscriptions Now Available

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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.

Tag: App Store

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Top Rated Comments

motm95 Avatar
motm95
76 months ago
I wonder how many significant others will be surprised to see a Tinder subscription suddenly show up.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F
firecore
76 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
Mike MA
76 months ago
Let’s keep it short: Thanks Apple!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
adbe
76 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)
N
nerdherdster
76 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
LeadingHeat
76 months ago
I just wonder how many developers will intentionally block this, to squeeze out more money from subscriptions.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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