Google Family lets you share services and content with your family while also giving you parental supervision over children's accounts. In this article we explain how to set up and manage a Google family group so you get the most out of it.

What is Google Family?

Google Family is a free Google service that lets you create a family group. Within this group you can share content, use subscriptions together and, as a parent, supervise your children's digital activity through Family Link.

What you can do with Google Family

  • Share purchases from the Google Play Store (apps, movies, books)
  • Share subscriptions such as YouTube Premium and Google One
  • Shared calendar and notes with Google Keep
  • Parental controls through Family Link for children's accounts
  • Shared Google Photos library
  • Location sharing through Google Maps
  • Up to five additional family members (six in total)

Creating a Google family group

As the family manager, you create the group and invite the other family members.

Step 1: Start a family group

Go to families.google.com and sign in with your Google Account. Click 'Create a family group' or 'Get started'. Follow the instructions to configure the family group. You automatically become the family manager.

Step 2: Invite family members

Once the group is created, you can invite family members. Click 'Invite family member' and enter the email address of the person you want to add. The family member receives an email with an invitation. After they accept, they are added to your family group.

Step 3: Add children

For children under 13, you create a special child account through Family Link. Go to families.google.com, click 'Add child' and follow the steps to create a Google Account for your child. This account is automatically managed with parental controls.

Sharing content through Google Play

A major benefit of Google Family is sharing purchases from the Google Play Store.

Turning on Family Library

Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device. Tap your profile picture and select 'Settings'. Go to 'Family' and tap 'Family Library'. Turn it on by following the instructions. Purchases now become available to your family automatically.

What can be shared?

Family Library shares:

  • Apps you have bought (not free apps)
  • Purchased movies and TV shows
  • E-books and audiobooks
  • In-app purchases (only if the developer allows it)

Not all content can be shared. The developer decides whether an app is shareable. In-app subscriptions are usually not shared.

Accessing shared content

Family members find shared content in the Google Play Store under 'Library' and then 'Family Library'. Select the family member whose purchases you want to view and download the content you want.

Sharing Google subscriptions

Several Google subscriptions can be shared with your family.

YouTube Premium Family plan

With the YouTube Premium Family plan, up to six family members can enjoy ad-free videos, background play and YouTube Music. The family manager pays and all members must live in the same household.

Google One

Google One provides extra storage for Google Drive, Gmail and Photos. With plans of 200 GB and up, you can share the storage with five family members. Each member keeps their own privacy; you share the space, not the files.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV can be shared with your family group. Each member gets their own profile with personal recommendations and recordings. The family manager decides who has access.

Google Family integrates seamlessly with Family Link for parental supervision of children's accounts.

When you create a child account through Google Family, it is automatically linked to Family Link. You can manage screen time, approve apps, view location and set content filters, as described in our detailed Family Link article.

App approval

For children's accounts you receive a notification when your child wants to download an app. You can approve or deny the download in the Family Link app on your phone. This applies to both paid and free apps.

Screen time and bedtime

With Family Link you set daily screen time limits and configure bedtimes. When the limit is reached or bedtime starts, your child's device is locked.

Managing the payment method and purchases

As the family manager, you manage the payment method for family purchases.

Setting up the family payment method

You can designate a payment method for family purchases. Go to families.google.com and select 'Payment method'. Add a credit card or another payment method. Family members can use this method for purchases, depending on your settings.

Setting purchase limits

For adult family members, you can give permission to use the family payment method. For children's accounts, 'Ask to buy' is active by default; you must approve every purchase first.

Viewing purchase history

You can view the family's purchase history through Google Pay. Go to pay.google.com and sign in with your account. Here you see all transactions made with the family payment method.

Shared calendar and other features

Besides sharing content, Google Family also offers practical family features.

Google Calendar family calendar

You can automatically create a shared family calendar. All family members can add and view events. Open Google Calendar and look for the calendar with the name of your family group. This helps coordinate everyone's schedule.

Google Keep shared lists

Create shopping lists or to-do lists in Google Keep and share them with your family. Everyone can add items or check them off. Handy for household chores or vacation plans.

Google Photos partner library

With Google Photos you can automatically share photos with your partner or family. Choose which photos are shared (all of them, or only those with certain people) and your family members see them automatically in their own library.

Sharing your location with your family

With Google Maps you can share your location with family members, which is handy for knowing where everyone is.

Turning on location sharing

Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture. Select 'Location sharing' and choose 'New share'. Select the family members you want to share your location with and choose the duration (for example 'Until you turn this off').

For children with a Family Link account, you can view their location in the Family Link app. This works automatically once location sharing is turned on. You see where your child is on a map and can set up notifications for when they arrive at or leave certain places.

Tips for effective use

Get the most out of Google Family with these practical tips.

Check shareability in advance

Not all apps and content can be shared. Check in the Google Play Store whether an item supports 'Family Library' before you buy it with the idea of sharing it.

Talk about purchases

Agree on how the family payment method is used. Adult family members can make purchases without permission, so discuss what is and is not acceptable.

As your children get older, the settings can be adjusted. Set aside a moment now and then to review whether the screen time limits and content filters are still appropriate.

Use the family calendar actively

The shared calendar only works if everyone uses it. Encourage family members to add their events. This prevents double bookings and keeps everyone informed.

Google Family offers a complete solution for managing digital content and supervision within your family. By setting up your family group properly and using it actively, you benefit from shared content, save on subscription costs and, as a parent, keep an overview of what your children do online.

Frequently asked questions

Google Family is the overarching family group within which you share content and subscriptions. Family Link is the parental control app you use to manage children's accounts within your Google Family. Family Link only works for children, while Google Family includes all family members.

Can all apps from the Play Store be shared?

No, not all apps support Family Library. The developer decides whether an app is shareable. Paid apps are shared more often than free apps. In-app subscriptions are usually not shared. Check the app description to see whether 'Family Library' is mentioned.

Do family members have to live in the same house?

For most features, family members do not need to live in the same house. However, some subscriptions such as the YouTube Premium Family plan require members to live in the same household. Google may check this based on location data.

Can I transfer the family manager role?

Yes, you can transfer the family manager role to another adult family member. Go to families.google.com, select the member who should become manager and assign the role. You then remain a regular family member but no longer have manager rights.

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