Share iCloud Storage: Invite Family Members Now!

Preface

These days, families share a vast variety of digital content, including images, music, and apps in addition to games. iCloud Family Sharing makes this process easier by allowing you to share subscriptions to Apple Arcade, iCloud storage, and purchases made on the App Store and iTunes with your family. Let's dive into iCloud Family Sharing and learn how to easily include everyone, even if your child doesn't have an iPhone.

Benefits of iCloud Family Sharing

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, let's take a moment to appreciate the advantages of iCloud Family Sharing. Here are some key benefits:

Set Up Family Sharing

The good news is that setting up Family Sharing is a breeze. You can initiate it from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here's a quick overview:

1. On your iPhone or iPad: Open the Settings app, tap your name at the top, and select "Family Sharing." If this is your first time setting it up, choose "Set Up Your Family."
2. On your Mac: Click on the Apple menu, then select "System Preferences" followed by "Family Sharing." Here, you can choose "Create Family" if you're the organizer.

Add a Child to iCloud Family Sharing

The main event is about to happen: without an iPhone, adding a child to iCloud Family Sharing. This is where adding adult family members is slightly different. You must use a web browser to create a kid account for children under the age of 13, as they are unable to create their own Apple IDs.

Create a Child Account

1. Head over to Apple Support using a web browser on your computer.
2. Enter your own Apple ID credentials to sign in.
3. Take a look at "Create a Child Account" and proceed as instructed by the page. This involves supplying the details of your child, establishing parental restrictions, and coming up with a strong password for their account.

Add Your Child to Family Sharing

Once the child account is created, you can easily add them to your Family Sharing group:

1. Go back to the Family Sharing settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. If your child is close by, tap or click "Add Member" and select "Invite in Person". If not, choose "Invite by Email" or "Invite by Message."
3. Once your child receives and accepts the invitation, they'll be officially part of your Family Sharing group.

Important Considerations for Adding a Child

When adding a child, remember these key points:

• Parental Controls: Use the integrated parental controls to limit your child's access to websites, apps, and screen time. This guarantees them a secure and regulated online space.
• Age Restrictions: Be advised that there may be age restrictions on some Family Sharing services. For example, minors under a specific age may need parental authorization before disclosing their whereabouts.

Expand Your iCloud Storage

As your family grows digitally, you might find yourselves needing more iCloud storage space. Thankfully, iCloud offers various storage plans to accommodate your needs. Here's a breakdown of the current iCloud storage options (as of May 2024):

• Free: 5GB - This free tier might suffice for basic needs, but it can fill up quickly with photos, videos, and app backups.
• 50GB: $0.99 per month - This plan offers a decent amount of storage for a small family or individual with moderate storage requirements.
• 200GB: $2.99 per month - This is a popular choice for families who want to share photos, videos, and app backups without worrying about running out of space.
• 2TB: $9.99 per month - This plan caters to large families with extensive storage needs. It also provides ample space for creative professionals who deal with large files like video editors or photographers.

Upgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan

Upgrading your iCloud storage plan is a straightforward process:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top and select "iCloud."
3. Choose "Manage Storage" and then "Change Storage Plan."
4. Select the desired storage plan and confirm your purchase.

Share iTunes and App Store Purchases with New Family Members

Following the addition of a new family member, the organizer's (or any other adult in the group's) subsequent purchases from the iTunes and App Store will be automatically shared with all members of the Family Sharing group. This saves you money over time by removing the need for each family member to buy games and apps separately.

Manage Family Member Permissions

The organizer of the Family Sharing group has the ability to manage permissions for each member. This includes:

• Purchase Sharing: Decide whether to share App Store and iTunes purchases or disable it for specific family members.
• Screen Time: Set screen time limits and restrictions on app usage, content access, and communication for children in the group.
• Find My: Enable or disable location sharing for individual family members through Find My iPhone.

Navigating to the Family Sharing section in your device's settings and selecting the name of the family member whose permissions you wish to control will give you access to these options.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Adding Family Members

Occasionally, you might encounter hiccups when adding a family member. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Verification Failure: When inviting someone, make sure you're typing their Apple ID credentials correctly. Check for errors again, and make sure the invitee's Apple ID is up to date.
• Invitation Rejection: The recipient of your invitation may need to log out of their iCloud account and back in again to reset the system if it is denied.
• Age Restrictions: Keep in mind that Family Sharing may have age restrictions on some functions. For instance, minors under a specific age may need parental approval before disclosing their whereabouts.