Not sure if anyone was aware, but you can share purchased apps, games, movies, TV shows, and books from Google Play with up to 5 family members using Google Play Family Library. Hit the link for details on how to get signed up.
Family manager requirements
If you are not part of a family already, you'll become the family manager when you sign up for Family Library. Family managers must meet all these requirements:
Be 18 or older (20 in Japan).
Have a valid credit card to use as the family payment method.
Live in one of the countries listed under "supported countries" below.
Not be part of another family group on Google.
Family member requirements
To join a family group, you must meet these requirements:
Have a Google Account.
Live in the same country as the family manager.
Not be part of another family group on Google.
Eligible purchases can be automatically added to the Family Library, or you can add them yourself after you buy them.
When you remove purchases from Family Library or leave your family group, your family members lose access to the purchases you added to Family Library.
All comments (40)
CraigT
8 Sep 17#1
Always wanted to know more info about this because the idea sounds great. But what if I don't want to share some of my apps with my kids? Can the kids purchase apps or add-ons using my card details?
Mark43 to CraigT
8 Sep 17#11
You can pick which apps, movies etc. you share and which you don't. You can tell it to automatically share all purchases or enable them individually. Also as far as I could work out when I was reading up on it you can set it so people under 18 need permission before using the family payment method, the only person I have added is over 18 so I can't check that out.
g8ryj to CraigT
9 Sep 17#28
There's a 'family library' toggle for each app, so you can enable/disable sharing of each app
alcot33uk to CraigT
9 Sep 17#31
Grindr?
licenced
8 Sep 17#2
Last time I tried this it was a complete failure as Google didn't recognise that my kids accounts are in the same country as me - as far as I can see in the account profiles they all show as UK
darthvader666uk
8 Sep 17#3
Can the other family members see my payment method?
tek-monkey to darthvader666uk
8 Sep 17#4
Not just see, use! Can stop in app purchases but not actual purchases, I set up using a pre pay card instead.
darthvader666uk to tek-monkey
8 Sep 17#5
ah damn! wish it was more like the amazon household where its kept seperate....
ncd
8 Sep 17#6
I was all excited about this until I saw my family members can use my card to make purchases. It would be better if the card or payment holder had to approve/decline purchases first. Heat for posting it though.
jameswalker457 to ncd
8 Sep 17#7
Can't you set it to require your password prior to purchase?
ncd to jameswalker457
8 Sep 17#10
Not from what I could see. It would be a simple thing for Google to do, so not sure why it is not implemented.
grillnun to ncd
8 Sep 17#14
Yes you can set a password I have, I'm sure you get asked in the set up process.
ncd to grillnun
9 Sep 17#23
Ah right, thanks. I didn't go through the whole process, as stopped as soon as a saw that the others could use my card for payment. Thanks again
ian18
8 Sep 17#8
Nothing new. Cold
ivadeal to ian18
8 Sep 17#20
Thanks for your input Ian
Mark43
8 Sep 17#9
Not new sure, but good to make people aware. I only discovered it recently and set it up so my sister could share my movie library. Its a shame you can't stop them from being able to purchase, but fortunately I trust my family.
pedroruigomes1986
8 Sep 17#12
Is there a list of purchases that are part of this. wonder are the football manager series part of this
damadgeruk to pedroruigomes1986
9 Sep 17#25
Family icon shows on Google Play if app is eligible.
polarbaba
8 Sep 17#13
I top up with Google play cards to avoid having any cc details. Will this still work?
grillnun to polarbaba
8 Sep 17#15
No
grillnun
8 Sep 17#16
If google ever ask always say your child is 13 or over! Had issue in the past making a purchase from my daughter's device for her and telling the truth about her age! Had her account suspended and thought I was going to lose all her purchases from before joining the family library. Cost $1 to unlock and you only get one opportunity straight after the suspension to do this.
lanceuppercut to grillnun
17 Sep 17#38
We had people at work doing this, they didn't want to put their real age in for whatever reason, lied and ended up putting a random age which was below the limit.
Quite amusing as we'd know exactly what it was and always ask them if they put their age is as below 13...
Gavin01
8 Sep 17#17
it also says add the play music family plan? isnt that 9.99 a month?
e4kenndr to Gavin01
12 Sep 17#36
You can subscribe to a Family plan Google Play Music account for £15 per month. So divided between 6 of you is only £2.50 per month! :smile:
Donna80
8 Sep 17#18
Sounds like the Amazon version.
There seems to be no option for me to set it up (UK) though? It says "You are not in a family", with no options.
ssc1
8 Sep 17#19
No thx.
amour3k
9 Sep 17#21
Good show this Google. :-)
But no Credit Card Protection, and/or some kind of Credit Card Authorization in any way for otherwise 'third-party' Family Member's? (bad show there too Google ... )
Personally speaking, that would seriously worry me still though (Family, or no Family). :-(
Not too sure as to whether to bother with this one or not, or what etc? (I'll see).
But decent freebie from Google though ... :-)
tek-monkey
9 Sep 17#22
Do you have a revolut card? Set up on that then disable online transactions, it's what I've done although I've not actually tested it yet as youngests phone is being repaired.
muton
9 Sep 17#24
Have been sharing apps for the past year or so, never any problems.
jamiemagee
9 Sep 17#26
I'm sure family members can see payment options but need the password for the account to use it. My kids don't have the password for the account in their device. Simple
Donna80
9 Sep 17#27
Ah, GSuite Google accounts aren't supported :disappointed:
Swayeee
9 Sep 17#29
I wanted to share libraries but I didn't like the idea that anyone could use my card without me being able to control it. So I got a 'Pockit' card and loaded it with a couple of quid and then set that as the family payment method. Voila!
LaurenceGough
9 Sep 17#30
G Suite accounts not supported, poor show Google!! Many people use G Suite for their family accounts! Remove this mad restriction...
chrispele
10 Sep 17#32
I have mine set up so I have to approve purchases using my password. Not all apps get shared either!
Swayeee to chrispele
10 Sep 17#33
I have a feeling that they only need to enter the password for their account in order to use the family payment method.
chrispele to Swayeee
10 Sep 17#34
It has to be my password, I get regularly mithered! As the owner it specifically asks for mine in the pop up box.
Andyzxyk
10 Sep 17#35
I don't think all purchased apps are shared, eg my Nova launcher does not get shared out.
waz12345
12 Sep 17#37
Does this include in app purchases? Ie if I've paid for something extra in an app will family members get that benefit too?
sy281184
18 Sep 17#39
Great deal!
DingIs
7 Oct 17#40
Can you set it up with a credit card at the start then remove the credit card after? Similar to getting the free subscriptions? Or will that cancel the Family Plan?
Opening post
Family manager requirements
If you are not part of a family already, you'll become the family manager when you sign up for Family Library. Family managers must meet all these requirements:
Family member requirements
To join a family group, you must meet these requirements:
Eligible purchases can be automatically added to the Family Library, or you can add them yourself after you buy them.
When you remove purchases from Family Library or leave your family group, your family members lose access to the purchases you added to Family Library.
All comments (40)
Quite amusing as we'd know exactly what it was and always ask them if they put their age is as below 13...
There seems to be no option for me to set it up (UK) though? It says "You are not in a family", with no options.
But no Credit Card Protection, and/or some kind of Credit Card Authorization in any way for otherwise 'third-party' Family Member's? (bad show there too Google ... )
Personally speaking, that would seriously worry me still though (Family, or no Family). :-(
Not too sure as to whether to bother with this one or not, or what etc? (I'll see).
But decent freebie from Google though ... :-)