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Google Play allows you to set up a family sharing group

by Mark Tyson on 14 July 2016, 09:31

Tags: Google (NASDAQ:GOOG)

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It's nice to be able to share and with this in mind Google has readied a 'family plan' which allows a group of up to six people to share content bought via Google's Play Store. The group members will be able to access all the same paid-for apps, movies and TV shows, games, books and magazines. However, Google Play Music cannot be shared.

In order to participate in this program a family group needs one family manager who must be 18 years old or over, have a Google account that isn't from work or school, have a valid credit card and live in either Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, or the United States. One thing that could become a problem for the family manager is that his/her credit card will be the sole payment method for the shared purchases/library. Only certain things, such as in-app purchases can be auto-blocked for other family member purchasing.

Family members have to be 13 years or older, live in the same country as the family manager, have a Google account that isn't from work or school and can't be part of any other Google Play family group. Interestingly both family managers and family members can switch family groups once per year.

As noted by SlashGear, there's only one way to set up a family group right now. Those interested must install the Play Music app on an Android device, go to the app hamburger menu and touch Subscribe > Family > Set up family > Get started > Continue. Follow the prompts from then on, inviting family members (inviting up to five others), and in ending with the Subscribe button. As new people join your family group the family manager will receive notifications.

As mentioned in the intro, all Google digital content such as paid-for apps, movies and TV shows, games, books and magazines will be sharable between family members – just not any Google Play Music content. Lastly and rather importantly, while this family sharing is enabled by the Play Music app on Android, no music subscription needs to be bought, the family library sharing feature is free.



HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Just stick to both signing in with Google on shared devices any only syncing apps. Nice and easy, purchases are password protected in case you have the wrong account connected. Can't say we've bought anything else from Google except a few small applications/games.
When I first read about this I hoped it would help keep my account away from snooping apps on kid's tablets. You know, those games that want to know account information and other stuff, and happen to be the most popular games. Limiting to 13+ flies in the face of this. At 13+ the kids already have their own Facebook etc. accounts, so these apps can snoop on them.

Of course I don't have to follow the letter of the law in this respect, but it's still annoying.
I set this up before reading the “must be in the same country” part of the clause. Bit of bummer really as my sister, mother and father are all in different countries!
Just an FYI, the little article blurb on the front screen says county, not country. :)
The idea is good, but I'm not sure I like the idea of my family being able to buy stuff on my card…