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

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

Apple has long required all Family Sharing group members to use one shared payment method for app and content purchases when purchase sharing is turned on, without the option for family members to use different payment methods.

The shared payment limit changes in iOS 26.4, and now Family Sharing members can share their content without sharing a payment method. Apple’s release notes address this change, and Apple has also updated the document for support for sharing purchases.

Old words:

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

New words:

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

Some adults in the Family Sharing group may choose to use the planner’s payment method, but they can also enter a different 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 paying for that person’s purchase.

There was an option to save an Apple Account balance to pay for purchases without the Family Sharing organizer paying, but that required each Family Sharing member to be sure to reload their purchase balance. The option to add a different payment method is very simple.

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

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