Family Sharing in iOS 26.4 No Longer Forces Adults to Share a Payment Method

[MacRumors]

With iOS 26.4, Apple has made a small but useful change to the way that Family Sharing works. Each adult member of the family can now use their own payment method for purchases, rather than being forced to share a payment method.

Apple has long required all of the members of a Family Sharing group to use a single shared payment method for app and content purchases when purchase sharing is turned on, with no option for family members to use separate payment methods.

The shared payment restriction is changing in iOS 26.4, and now Family Sharing members can share their content without having to share a payment method. Apple's release notes mention the change, and Apple has also updated its purchase sharing support document.

Old wording:

When the family organizer turns on purchase sharing and other family members in the group also turn on purchase sharing, they get access to each other's shared content, such as apps, music, movies, and more. The family organizer pays for everyone's purchases unless they turn off purchase sharing.

New wording:

When the family organizer turns on Purchase Sharing and the members enable the feature for their devices, they get access to each other's shared content. The family organizer pays for everyone's purchases unless they turn off Purchase Sharing or other adult family members use their own payment method to make purchases.

Other adults in a Family Sharing group can still opt to use the organizer's payment method, but they can also input a separate payment method. The change will make it easier for people to share Apple content and subscriptions like Apple TV with friends, siblings, and others without having to pay for that person's purchases.

There was an option to maintain an Apple Account balance to pay for purchases without having the Family Sharing organizer pay, but that required each Family Sharing member to make sure to reload their purchase balance. The option to add a separate payment method is much more convenient.

Family Sharing accounts for children will continue to use the organizer's payment method for any purchases.

iOS 26.4 is likely to see a public launch next week.

Article Link: Family Sharing in iOS 26.4 No Longer Forces Adults to Share a Payment Method

 

[cjsuk]

About time. This one is screwing me hard.

 

[Rickjames7454]

INCREDIBLE NEWS. I've bitched about this at least once a week for the past idk how long. Glad they fixed this.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

The change will make it easier for people to share Apple content and subscriptions like Apple TV with friends, siblings, and others without having to pay for that person's purchases

That’s good - My Dad currently has to message & Venmo me to buy a book each time he wants to read a book on the Apple Books app

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

I’ve been doing this for like a year with everyone on my plan.

Edit:
Ah I see… this is when purchase sharing is enabled, rather than specific subscriptions (like Apple One) are shared.

 

[Edgecrusherr]

Finally! I had to remove my mother-in-law from our family plan, because she was spending around $100 month on in-app purchases lol.

 

[woj027]

They must have ran out of emojis to create. althoguh, I'm still waiting for my "Pet Pickle"
Now that they got that one figured out. How about allowing me to change names of group texts or the background of them without changing everyone else's? Why can't my text group name be "My 3 Sisters" instead of the "Siblings" my sisters titled it?

 

[sbuntin]

About effing time.

 

[Futhark]

About time. Now they need to sort out this mess of removing a child’s account that’s linked to an expired credit or debit card. I’ve been on with senior support still without success.

 

[jz0309]

That alone is worth the upgrade to 26.4, for me

 

[Sydnxt]

F***ing finally. I had been paying for AppleCare for like 5+ people, such a headache.

 

[MilaM]

This is one reason I haven't bought any content from Apple for the last two years. Guess I need a different excuse now 🤭.

 

[AlphaTeam]

Why wasn't this a thing from the beginning?

 

[AusMness]

Dude FINALLY, I’m getting sick of verifying and using a card I don’t own over and over

 

[Zenman12]

THANK GOD.

God I thought it was so stupid they did this. As if children never grow up and everyone uses daddy’s credit card. Probably the biggest improvement besides music app.

Now if they only allowed gifting Apple TV purchases and add ability to add more banks to Apple Cash than just 1.

 

[Will Co]

It's beyond comprehension that it took so long to fix this. FINALLY!

 

[NazgulRR]

Unclear why this needs to be behind an iOS upgrade.

Anyhow, question:

So if each family buys some iCloud storage and has purchase sharing enabled, is the total amount of GB pooled and shared amongst all?

 

[Zenman12]

F***ing finally. I had been paying for AppleCare for like 5+ people, such a headache.

I thought Apple care is a separate purchase and not tied to family sharing due to it being tied to the phone, no?

 

[furbzv1]

This is the best release from the day!

 

[mangomind]

Not sure how helpful this is, I guess it’s helpful between when my kids get credit cards until they are off supporting themselves

 

[DotCom2]

FINALLY! I often wondered how this could be abused.

 

[Zenman12]

Not sure how helpful this is, I guess it’s helpful between when my kids get credit cards until they are off supporting themselves

Because children don’t stay 12 forever, yet still want the benefits of family sharing, without having to rely on one card?

 

[DotCom2]

Not sure how helpful this is, I guess it’s helpful between when my kids get credit cards until they are off supporting themselves

It's very helpful if your family members are mostly adults. The Family Organizer has to pay for all their purchases, and then send them an Apple Cash request for reimbursement of their purchases. It's a bit of a bookkeeping hassle. With this update, now an adult in the family can pay for their own purchases and still share. AWESOME!

 

[ForkHandles]

Account vacated.

 

[kirky29]

This is handy, Ive been spending a fortune apparently 🤣