To share Apple Arcade, first create a Family Sharing group, then subscribe through the organizer’s account or use an existing family subscription. Each member—including a child—uses their own Apple Account. Set child access separately with Ask to Buy for eligible downloads and purchases and Screen Time for broader app, content, communication, and device-use limits.
What you need before you start
- An adult organizer and a Family Sharing group. Apple allows an organizer plus up to five other family members, each using an individual Apple Account. See Apple’s Family Sharing overview.
- A child’s own Apple Account in the family group. The organizer can create or add a child account and manage child settings through the group; a child should not use an adult’s account.
- A supported Apple device and an Apple Arcade subscription, either purchased by someone in the group or included through Apple One. Availability and game compatibility vary by region and device.
You do not need to buy a new device or controller to set up family access. A controller may be useful with some games, but it is not a setup requirement.
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Set up Family Sharing and share Apple Arcade
1. Create or check your family group
On the organizer’s iPhone or iPad, open Settings and go to Family. Follow the prompts to set up Family Sharing and invite family members, or check that the intended members are already listed. Family members should accept invitations and use their own Apple Accounts.
If a child does not yet have an Apple Account, the organizer can create or add the child’s account through Family Sharing. This account is separate from the Arcade subscription: subscribing does not create a child account or turn on parental controls.
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2. Subscribe if the family does not already have access
On a current iPhone, open the Apple Games app, tap Arcade, tap the subscription button, and follow the prompts. Apple may ask you to sign in, confirm billing details, and agree to the terms. On supported devices, Apple also describes subscribing from the Arcade tab in the App Store. See Apple’s Apple Arcade subscription instructions and the iPhone user guide.
3. Let family members open Arcade
An Apple Arcade or Apple One subscriber can share Arcade through Family Sharing with up to five additional family members. There is no separate opt-in setting for each member: after the subscription starts, each person can open the Games app using their own Apple Account to access the shared subscription. Apple says a member joining a family group with an Arcade subscription will not have their individual subscription renewed at its next billing date; they use the group subscription instead.
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Choose the right controls for a child
Subscription sharing and parental controls do different jobs. Use Ask to Buy when you want approval for eligible downloads or purchases. Use Screen Time for broader rules on apps, websites, content, communication, and device-use times. Neither setting replaces the other.
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| Setting | What it does | Where to manage it |
|---|---|---|
| Ask to Buy | Requests approval for eligible downloads and purchases; it does not set play-time limits or control all game content. | On current iPhone or iPad software: Settings > Family > child’s name > Apps & Websites > Restrictions > Ask to Buy > Require Purchase Approval. Labels and locations can vary. |
| Screen Time | Provides broader controls, including app and website limits, communication rules, device-use times, and content and privacy restrictions. | Configure Screen Time for the child’s device and account. Available controls and labels depend on software version. |
Turn on Ask to Buy
- On the organizer’s or designated parent/guardian’s iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Family.
- Tap the child’s name, then open Apps & Websites > Restrictions > Ask to Buy.
- Turn on Require Purchase Approval.
Ask to Buy age rules and defaults vary by country or region, and the feature applies to eligible transactions rather than every possible in-game or content restriction. Check Apple’s Ask to Buy guidance for current regional rules and instructions.
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Set broader Screen Time rules
Use Screen Time separately to decide what the child can access and when. Apple lists controls for apps and websites, communication, device-use times, and content and privacy restrictions. Choose rules that fit the child’s device and your family’s needs; the exact options and menu labels can vary with software version. Apple’s Screen Time parental-control guide explains the available controls.
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Check which subscription is being shared
On iPhone, review family subscriptions at Settings > Family > Subscriptions. To manage your own Apple Arcade or Apple One subscription, use Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions, then select the relevant subscription. Apple’s subscription-sharing instructions cover family access.
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If a family member cannot open Arcade
- Confirm that the person is in the correct Family Sharing group and that the group has an active Apple Arcade or Apple One subscription.
- Check that the person opened Games or the App Store while signed in with their own Apple Account.
- Update family devices if settings or access are not syncing. Apple’s instructions recommend current software for family settings.
- Consider regional availability, device and game compatibility, and Screen Time content restrictions, which can affect what appears or can be played.
If the family subscription ends
When Arcade access is inactive, downloaded Arcade games cannot be played. Apple says a user may resubscribe to regain access to gameplay data, but that data may not be supported if too much time passes. Do not assume downloaded games remain playable without an active subscription.
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Apple Arcade and some features are not available everywhere. Ask to Buy age requirements and defaults, content restrictions, and the exact Settings labels can also differ by country or region and software version. If a path above does not match your device, check Apple’s current support pages for your country and update family devices before changing the account setup.
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