For my money, Family Sharing is one of the best features of iCloud. It allows every member of a family to share their purchases of apps, movies, books, TV shows, and music with other family members. There are other benefits, too: pooled iCloud storage, a shared family calendar and photo album, and an easy way to know the location of all family members — and their devices.

How to share photos with Family Sharing and iCloud

Usually, only people 13 and older can have an Apple ID. But kids under 13 can be added to a family sharing account with their own Apple ID. It's simple; here's how to do it.

Adding a child account to Family Sharing on a Mac

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

  2. Click iCloud.

    Select System Preferences, then click on iCloud

  3. Click Manage Family.

  4. At the bottom of the list of family members click the + button.

    Click on Manage Family, then click on the add button

  5. Select Create an Apple ID....
  6. Click Continue.

  7. Enter the child's information, including creating a new Apple ID, and click Continue. If the Apple ID you want to create is already in use by someone else, you'll be notified so you can make another attempt.

    Click on Create an Apple ID, then click Continue, then enter the child's info, then click Continue

  8. Click OK.
  9. Enter the CVV from your credit card.

  10. Click Agree.

    Click OK, then enter your CVV, then click Agree

  11. Enter security questions and answers.
  12. Click Continue.
  13. Agree to iCloud and Game Center Terms and Conditions.

  14. Click Agree.

    Enter your security questions and answers, then click continue, then agree to Apple's T&C, then click Continue

  15. Agree to iTunes Terms and Conditions.
  16. Click Agree.
  17. Enter your password to view account details.

  18. Click Continue.

    Agree to iCloud T&C, then click Agree, then agree to Game Center, then click agree

  19. Click Done.

Adding a child account to Family Sharing on an iOS device

  1. Tap Settings.
  2. Tap your name.

  3. Tap Family Sharing.

    Launch Settings, then tap your Apple ID, then tap Family Sharing

  4. Tap Add Family Member....
  5. Tap Create a Child Account.

  6. Tap Next.

    Tap Add Family Member, then tap Create a Child account, then tap Next

  7. Enter the child's birthday.
  8. Tap Next.

  9. Tap Agree.

    Enter the child's birthday, then tap Next, then tap Agree

  10. Enter your credit card security code.
  11. Tap Next.
  12. Enter the child's First Name and Last Name.
  13. Tap Next.
  14. Create an Apple ID.

  15. Tap Next.

    Enter your credit card security code, then tap Next, Enter your Child's name, then tap Next, Enter an Apple ID address, then tap Next

  16. Tap Create.
  17. Enter a password for the account and verify it.
  18. Tap Next.
  19. Enter a security question and answer.

  20. Tap Next.

    Tap Create, then enter the password for the account an tap Next, Enter a security question and answer and then tap Next

  21. Repeat Steps 19 and 20 for two more security questions and answers.
  22. Choose whether or not to turn on Ask to Buy. (Hint: There's a reason why it's on by default).
  23. Tap Next.
  24. Choose whether or not to share location with your family.

  25. Tap Agree for the iCloud and Game Center Terms and Conditions.

    Turn on Ask to Buy, Tap Share Location, and Agree to the iCloud and Game Center T&C

  26. Tap Agree.
  27. Tap Agree for the iTunes Terms and Conditions.

  28. Tap Agree.

    Tap Agree, Tap Agree again, and tap Agree again

One big happy family

There are significant benefits to having everyone in your family under one iCloud roof. For me, Ask to Buy is the killer feature. What's yours? Tell us in the comments below.

iCloud Photo Library: The Ultimate Guide

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