iCloud Family Sharing Not Working | 7 Ways and 1 Tip to Fix

• The Case: iCloud Family Sharing Not Working!
• Why is iCloud Storage Shared with Family Not Working?
• How to Set Up iCloud Family Sharing Correctly?
• 7 Ways to Fix iCloud Family Sharing Not Working
• Bonus Tip. Share iCloud Content with Family Members in Better Way
• How to Leave iCloud Family Sharing?
• iCloud Family Sharing FAQs
• Wrapping Things Up

The Case: iCloud Family Sharing Not Working!

If you encounter this problem or other errors, like iCloud family sharing not working, how do you fix it and use iCloud family sharing normally?

Generally, you are able to share an iCloud+ subscription with your family members using iCloud Family Sharing, which is up to 5 members. That is to say, you can share iCloud storage and its features with your family members, including 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB of iCloud storage and features like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Hide My Email, HomeKit Secure Video support, and more.

If you are stuck in this problem, don’t panic, you will find the reasons and effective ways to fix it and share iCloud content with family members back to normal.

Why is iCloud Storage Shared with Family Not Working?

iCloud Family Sharing may encounter issues due to various reasons. Here are some possible reasons why iCloud Family Sharing might not be working:

First of all, you have to check that your iCloud Family Sharing is set up correctly.

How to Set Up iCloud Family Sharing Correctly?

To share iCloud+ with your family members, please ensure you have these minimum requirements on your family members’ devices: iOS 11 or later, iPadOS or macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later.

If you have invited family members already, please go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, and then you can check all the family members that you have invited.

If they were not added to your iCloud+ plan, click Add Member > Invite People to invite them again. Then they will receive a message, asking them to check and accept the invitation to join your family sharing.

By the way, you might want to know how many devices can share with iCloud? Can family members access my iCloud Storage? Click the hyperlink to find answers. Now, you can try the following ways to fix the iCloud Storage Family Sharing not working problem if you set up iCloud Family Sharing properly.

7 Ways to Fix iCloud Family Sharing Not Working

What to do if iCloud Family sharing isn't working? Try the following proven solutions to fix.

• Way 1. Keep Your iOS Updated
• Way 2. Re-Sign In to Your iCloud Account
• Way 3. Unsubscribe and Subscribe to the Shared iCloud Storage Plan
• Way 4. Force Restart Your iPhone
• Way 5. Ensure a Valid Payment Method is Added
• Way 6. Manually Access the Family Storage
• Way 7. Resend the iCloud Family Sharing Invitation

Way 1. Keep Your iOS Updated

To ensure smooth functionality and avoid software glitches that may affect Family Sharing iCloud storage, it is crucial to keep your iOS devices up-to-date. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap on "General" > select "Software Update" to check for any available updates.

3. Hit Download and Install if the new update is available.

4. If an update is available, follow the onscreen instructions to install it.

By regularly updating your iOS devices, you can enjoy all the features offered by Apple while minimizing potential issues.

Way 2. Re-Sign In to Your iCloud Account

If you are still experiencing the problem after updating iOS, try signing out of your Apple ID on the device that is unable to access the iCloud storage plan. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.

2. Tap on your profile (located at the top of the Settings menu).

3. Scroll down and select "Sign Out".

4. Sign back in using your Apple ID and password.

Allow a few minutes for the device to refresh, and then check if your family member can now access the iCloud storage plan.

Way 3. Unsubscribe and Subscribe to the Shared iCloud Storage Plan

Another solution is to have your family member unsubscribe and subscribe again to the shared iCloud storage plan by leaving the family group. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.

2. Tap on your name.

3. Choose "Family Sharing".

4. Tap on your name and select "Stop Using Family Sharing".

To invite your family member again, perform the following steps on your iPhone:

1. Go to "Family Sharing" in the Settings app.

2. Select "Add Member".

3. Enter your family member's email address.

This process may resolve the issue of Family Sharing iCloud storage not working.

Way 4. Force Restart Your iPhone

Performing a force restart on your family member's iPhone can often solve various problems on iOS devices. Here's how to do it:

For iPhone 8 and later:

Press and release both the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons and hold down the Side button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:

Simultaneously press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Down button. Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears. Once the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

For iPhone 6 and earlier:

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button (located on the top or right side of the device). Simultaneously, press and hold the Home button. Release until the Apple logo appears.

Performing a force restart can resolve various software-related issues, potentially resolving the problem with iCloud storage access.

Way 5. Ensure a Valid Payment Method is Added

If your iCloud storage family sharing is not functioning due to an expired payment method, make sure to add a valid payment method by following these steps:

• On an iOS device: Open the "Settings" app > tap on your name > select "Payment & Shipping", then choose "Add Payment Method" and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
• On a Mac: Open the "System Preferences" app > click on your name > select "Payment & Shipping" > click on "Add Payment Method" and follow the provided instructions to add a valid payment method.

By adding a valid payment method, you can resolve any issues related to iCloud storage family sharing not working.

Way 6. Manually Access the iCloud Storage

How to use shared iCloud family storage? If your Apple account has been added to a Family group but you're still seeing only your personal iCloud storage (which might be full) instead of the shared family storage, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing (or simply search "family" in the Settings search bar).

2. Under the section labeled "Shared with your family", tap on iCloud+.

3. Then select the family iCloud storage option.

Being added to a Family group does not automatically switch you to the shared storage. You must manually opt in by following the steps above. Once you do, your device will start using the family plan.

Way 7. Resend the iCloud Family Sharing Invitation

What to do if the iCloud family sharing link is not working? Typically, the iCloud family sharing link can expire within 7 days. If the invitation is not accepted within this period, it will become invalid, and the family organizer will need to send a new invitation. Here is how to resend the iCloud family sharing invitation on iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap your name, then tap Family.

3. Tap the name of the family member who has a pending invitation.

4. Select Resend Invitation.

If the invitation has expired or is not working, you can remove the person and re-add them using the "Invite People" or "Add Member"  option via Messages, Mail, or in person.

Bonus Tip. Share iCloud Content with Family Members in Better Way

After fixing the iCloud Family Sharing not working problem, you can use the features to share photos and videos with your family. Or you can share iCloud content more easily. The powerful web-based cloud file manager - MultCloud allows you to share iCloud files with password encryption, and share files in flexible ways, like private share and public share. Migrating iCloud Drive/Photos to OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud directly is quite easy if your iCloud 2TB storage is full. Or find solutions if you encounter that there is not enough iCloud space, but there is.

Here is how to privately share iCloud files with MultCloud:

1. Please create a MultCloud account and sign in.

2. Click Add Cloud under My Online Services on the left, then choose iCloud Drive to add.

3. Right-click the file or folder in iCloud Drive to share, then choose Share > Share with MultCloud.

4. Tick Private Share, and hit Create Share.

5. It shows the message “Shared Link Created”, and click Copy behind the link to copy. The password is listed under the link.

6. Send the link to your other family-sharing members, including the link and the password to access the iCloud files.

7. Then, your family members open the link with the password and save it to their iCloud storage, or directly download the iCloud Drive files.

Other tips for iCloud Family Sharing not working:

• Sync iCloud Photos to another account to share photos and videos among family members.
• Migrate iCloud to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or other clouds you’re currently using to free up space for iCloud storage.
• Backup iCloud Drive to keep all files safe and restore data anytime and anywhere.

• Smart Share: Share cloud files via public, private, or source mode.
• One-key Move: Quick data transfer, sync, and backup among clouds.
• Email Archive: Protect emails to other clouds or local disks.
• Remote upload: Effectively save web files to clouds via URL.
• Safe: Full-time 256-bit AES and OAuth authorization protections.
• Easy: Access and manage all clouds in one place with one login.
• Extensive: 30+ clouds and on-premise services are supported.

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How to Leave iCloud Family Sharing?

Leaving an iCloud Family group is a straightforward process, but the steps differ slightly depending on whether you are a standard member or the family organizer. Here is how to leave iCloud Family on different roles and platforms:

If You Are a Member (Age 13 or Older)

If you are a standard member of a family group and are over the age of 13, you have the option to leave the group at any time on your own. Here's how:

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > Family (or tap your name > Family Sharing) >Tap your name > Stop Using Family Sharing and confirm your choice.
• On your Mac: Choose the Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) > Family (or Family Sharing) > Click your name > Stop Using Family Sharing.
• On the web: Go to account.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Tap a dropdown arrow, choose Family Sharing > Disconnect Account.

If You Are the Family Organizer

As the organizer, you cannot simply "leave" the group. Instead, you must disband the entire family group. This action will remove all members at once.

On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Family >Tap your name (which will have "Organizer" next to it) > Stop Using Family Sharing and confirm.

Important note: If there are children under the age of 13 (or the age of digital consent in your region) in the group, you will need to transfer them to another family group before you can disband the group.

What Happens After You Leave The Family Sharing

What happens if I stop sharing iCloud storage with Family? Once you leave or are removed from a Family Sharing group, a few changes will take effect immediately :

• Subscriptions: You will lose access to shared subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and the shared iCloud storage plan. Your iCloud storage will revert to the free 5GB plan unless you subscribe to your own plan.
• Past Purchases: You will no longer have access to apps, music, movies, or books purchased by other family members. You will keep the purchases you made with your own Apple ID.
• Location Sharing: Your devices will be removed from the family's list in the Find My app, and you will stop sharing locations with them.
• Apple Cash: If you have an Apple Cash Family account, the account will be closed, and any remaining balance will be transferred to the family organizer.

iCloud Family Sharing FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions related to iCloud Family Sharing, along with their answers based on user feedback:

Q1: How do I set up iCloud Family Sharing?

A1: To set up iCloud Family Sharing, go to Settings on your device, tap on your name, select "Set Up Family Sharing", and follow the prompts to invite family members and share content.

Q2: Why can't my family members access shared purchases?

A2: Ensure that you've enabled Family Sharing for the specific purchase category (such as apps, music, or books). Also, check that all family members are signed in with the correct Apple IDs and have Family Sharing properly set up.

Q3: Why am I unable to share iCloud storage with my family?

A3: Confirm that you have an eligible iCloud storage plan and that you've set up Family Sharing for iCloud storage. Ensure all family members are using compatible devices and are signed in with their Apple IDs.

Q4: How can I troubleshoot iCloud Family Sharing invitations not being received?

A4: Verify that you've entered the correct email addresses for family members, check spam or junk folders in their email accounts, and ensure their email accounts are set up correctly. Additionally, make sure your device has a stable internet connection.

Q5: Can I remove a family member from iCloud Family Sharing?

A5: Yes, as the Family Organizer, you can remove a family member by going to Settings, tapping on your name, selecting "Family Sharing", choosing the family member, and selecting "Remove [Name] from Family".

Q6: Why are shared calendars not syncing across family members' devices?

A6: Ensure that all family members have enabled calendar sharing within iCloud Family Sharing settings. Check that the Calendar app is correctly configured to display shared calendars on each device.

Q7: How can I manage app purchases made by my family members?

A7: As the Family Organizer, you have the option to enable "Ask to Buy" for family members, which requires your approval for app purchases. You can manage these requests through your own device or the "Screen Time" settings.

Wrapping Things Up

Now, just check the above solutions to fix iCloud family Sharing problems, and make it run normally to share iCloud storage, Apple Music, or other services between your family members.