Sharing an Apple TV+ subscription with your family and friends is quick and easy with Apple‘s Family Sharing feature. In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to set up Apple TV+ sharing on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
I‘ll also provide some tips from my experience as a headphone reviewer to help you get the most out of accessing Apple originals together. Let‘s dive in!
A Quick Primer on Apple TV+
For those new to Apple TV+, it‘s the tech giant‘s video subscription service providing exclusive access to original content like Ted Lasso, Severance, and CODA.
It competes with the likes of Netflix and Disney+ by offering premium shows, movies, and documentaries from top Hollywood talent.
Apple TV+ is relatively new, launching in 2019. But it‘s quickly grown into a formidable streamer with recent hits like Bad Sisters and limited series Black Bird.
According to analyst firm Antenna, Apple TV+ ranks just behind HBO Max for subscriber growth in 2022. And Apple continues investing heavily in new content, suggesting the service won‘t slow down anytime soon.
For audio enthusiasts like myself, Apple TV+ also streams select titles in immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound. It‘s a great way to showcase your high-end headphones or home theater.
Now let‘s get into the good stuff – how you can easily share access with your squad.
Who Can You Share Apple TV+ With?
One of the best parts of Apple TV+ is that you can share it with up to 5 friends or family members.
Apple‘s Family Sharing makes it incredibly easy to split the cost of a subscription. But there are couple requirements for who you can share with:
They need an Apple ID – This is free if they don‘t already have one.
They must be 13 years or older – Apple TV+ cannot be shared with children under 13.
They must be in your Family Sharing group – You need to send and approve invitations.
Only 1 concurrent stream is allowed – Others can still download shows to watch offline.
So in summary, you can share Apple TV+ with up to 5 teens or adults that are part of your personal Family Sharing circle. It works seamlessly across all their Apple devices.
Step 1: Setting Up Family Sharing
Before you can share your Apple TV+ subscription, the first step is getting Family Sharing configured.
Here‘s how to set it up:
On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap your Apple ID profile icon
- Select "Set Up Family Sharing"
- Follow the prompts to enable and confirm a payment method.
- To add family members, tap "Add Family Member" and enter their Apple ID.
Once the invitation is accepted, they‘ll be added to your family group.
The organizer (you) manages the master subscription and payment details. Shared members don‘t have to pay anything extra.
Okay, now that Family Sharing is up and running, you‘re ready to start sharing Apple TV+ access next.
Step 2: Sharing Apple TV+ from iPhone or iPad
Here are the steps to enable Apple TV+ sharing on your iPhone or iPad:
- Launch the Apple TV app
- Tap your profile picture in the top right corner
- Select "Settings"
- Choose "Share Apple TV+ with Family"
- Slide the switch ON to enable sharing
- Tap "Continue" to confirm
That‘s it! Apple TV+ is now shared with your Family Sharing group. The people you share with just need to open the Apple TV app on their devices to start watching.
Step 3: Sharing Apple TV+ from a Mac
Similarly, it only takes a few clicks to share Apple TV+ from a Mac:
- Click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences
- Select Family Sharing
- Check the box next to "Apple TV+"
- Click "Done"
- Confirm sharing by clicking "Continue"
After that one-time setup, your family members are free to stream Apple originals from any of their personal devices. Pretty painless!
Checking Who You‘re Sharing With
If you need to review, add, or remove people from your shared Apple TV+ subscription, it‘s easy to check the list:
On iPhone/iPad
- Open Settings
- Tap your Apple ID
- Select your name under Family Sharing
- View or edit the list under "Family Members"
On Mac
- Go to System Preferences > Family Sharing
- Your family members are listed here
- Click "+" or "-" to add/remove access
With just a couple taps, you can grant or revoke access anytime. No more sharing your password or complicated workarounds needed!
The Perks of Shared Apple TV+ Access
When you share your Apple TV+ subscription, here are some of the benefits your family and friends will enjoy:
Streaming Apple originals – Unlimited access to top shows, movies, and documentaries.
Downloads – Download titles to watch offline when traveling or without WiFi.
Personal recommendations – See suggestions based on their own viewing history.
No extra fees – Apple TV+ sharing comes at no added cost to them.
HQ video – Stream in up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision/Atmos support.
Multi-device – Apple TV+ works seamlessly across iPhones, iPads, Macs etc.
Ad-free viewing – No bothersome ads to interrupt binge watching.
As you can see, shared access provides a full Apple TV+ experience minus the bill. Keep reading for even more benefits to sharing.
Changing Billing for Your Apple TV+ Subscription
As the Family Organizer, you‘re in charge of managing the Apple TV+ subscription payments.
To change your billing details or plan:
- Open the Apple TV app
- Tap your profile icon
- Go to Subscription > Manage
- Choose a new payment method or cancel anytime
If you cancel the service, your family loses access as well. So be sure to give them a heads up if you don‘t plan to renew.
Apple makes it straightforward to update your shared subscription details whenever needed.
Removing Someone‘s Apple TV+ Access
Need to kick someone off your shared Apple TV+ subscription? That‘s easy:
On iPhone/iPad
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Members
- Tap "Remove" next to the person‘s name
On Mac
- Open System Preferences > Family Sharing
- Highlight the name and click the "-" icon
- Confirm removing them
Once deleted, that person immediately loses the ability to watch Apple TV+ through your account.
Removing access takes just a few seconds. Don‘t worry about complex account changes.
How Many People Can I Share With?
Apple TV+ Family Sharing is limited to a total of 6 people including yourself.
But what if you want to share outside of your immediate family and friends? You still have options:
Share your Apple ID login – Not ideal for security reasons, but gives full access.
Gift 1-year Apple TV+ subscriptions – Purchase codes as gifts through App Store cards.
HomePod access – Add HomePod users in the Home app to share access.
Account switching – Enable fast user switching on shared devices to switch accounts.
Screen mirroring – Use AirPlay to wirelessly mirror Apple TV+ to other people‘s TVs.
While not as seamless as Family Sharing, these workarounds let you share Apple TV+ more broadly.
The Pros and Cons of Sharing Apple TV+
Sharing your Apple TV+ subscription offers several advantages:
Pros
- Saves money by splitting costs
- Access top-tier original content
- No ads or interruptions
- Enjoy new shows immediately
- Downloads for offline viewing
- Streamlined access across Apple devices
Potential Cons
- Only one concurrent stream allowed
- Requires Family Sharing setup
- Loses access if you cancel subscription
- Limited to 6 shared users
- Can‘t share with under 13
Overall, the pros seem to easily outweigh the cons for most use cases. Saving up to ~$60/year makes Apple TV+ sharing super compelling.
Apple TV+ Stats and Figures
Let‘s look at some stats that showcase Apple TV+‘s growth and audience reach:
- Over 40 million subscribers as of July 2022 according to Antenna
- Ranks #2 in subscriber growth behind only HBO Max in 2022
- Available in over 100 countries worldwide
- 80% growth in content hours year-over-year
- Over 270 award nominations including Emmy‘s and Oscars
- Flagship shows like Ted Lasso drawing over 25 million viewers
This data demonstrates Apple TV+‘s expanding content library and popularity. Sharing makes accessing this premium programming even more affordable.
How Much Does Apple TV+ Cost?
Here‘s a breakdown of Apple TV+ subscription pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $6.99 | $69.99 |
| Family Sharing | $6.99 | $69.99 |
Apple offers both monthly and discounted annual plans. There are no tiers or options – all subscribers get full access to the complete Apple TV+ catalog.
The service can be shared with up to 5 additional people at no extra cost, making the effective price only ~$14/year per person.
Compared to rivals Netflix and Disney+ at $15.50 and $11/month respectively, Apple TV+ offers strong value, especially when shared.
Apple TV+ Original Programming
As of January 2023, Apple reports a catalog of over 270 total original shows, films, and documentaries.
This includes popular titles like:
- Ted Lasso
- Severance
- For All Mankind
- The Morning Show
- Foundation
- See
- Mythic Quest
- CODA
- Bad Sisters
- Swagger
- Tehran
- The Mosquito Coast
- Shrinking
- Truth Be Told
Upcoming major releases for 2023 include:
- Tetris movie
- Gutsy with Hillary and Chelsea Clinton
- Extrapolations with Meryl Streep
- The Last Thing He Told Me book adaptation
- The Crowded Room anthology with Tom Holland
Apple is spending big on fresh content from A-list talent. Sharing access means you and your family can enjoy the expanding library.
How Much Content Is on Apple TV+?
To quantify Apple TV+‘s catalog of original movies, shows, and documentaries:
- Over 70 original series
- 30+ original films
- Around 180+ total originals as of early 2023
- New originals added each month
For comparison, Netflix offers about double that with 400+ original series and Disney+ has around 140.
So while smaller than some competitors, Apple TV+ has quickly scaled up quality, must-watch exclusives. And sharing access helps you experience all of the content.
Is Apple TV+ Worth It in 2023?
At only $70/year, Apple TV+ is absolutely worth it – especially shared among family members.
Reviewers praise the service‘s high production quality programming. Big stars and premium directors headline many projects.
While smaller, the focus on only originals gives Apple TV+ exclusive must-watch series and award contenders. No filler or mediocre shows.
It‘s an easy add-on to supplement other services like Netflix or Hulu. At just ~$5/month split with family, the cost is negligible for access to Apple‘s full content catalog.
Give it a try free for 7 days, and the value becomes obvious. Shared access with Family Sharing provides even more bang for your buck.
Sharing Apple TV+: Final Thoughts
I hope this walkthrough clearly explains how to share your Apple TV+ subscription using Family Sharing. Here are some key points:
- Share with up to 5 family or friends
- Add members to your Family Sharing group
- Enable Apple TV+ sharing in settings
- Shared users get full, unlimited access
- Manage subscription or cancel anytime
- Easily add or remove people as needed
Splitting the low monthly cost makes Apple TV+ a fantastic entertainment value.
It‘s the perfect companion for movie nights with your roommates. Or family kids home from college. Enable Apple TV+ sharing today and start enjoying exclusive originals together!
Have any other questions? Let me know and I‘m happy to help explain anything related to accessing Apple TV+ with friends and family.
