I have several children. Our family sharing is full. I bought cellular Apple Watches for my younger kids who do not have phones. I need to get them iCloud accounts to setup family watch usage. But… I cannot get them iCloud accounts because our family sharing is full. Am I doing something wrong? How do you get iCloud accounts for your children when you have a ‘full’ family?
Apple Watch Series 6, watchOS 26
Family Sharing can only accommodate 6 people total, which includes the Organizer. If you have more than 6 there isn't an ideal solution. For some of the youngest they may have to share an account until they really need their own, by which time hopefully some of the oldest ones can leave the Family to be independent. Either that or have another responsible person set up a second Family Group and take on some of the new children. Note that you can only belong to one group at a time though, and there is a limit to the number of times per year that you can switch to another group.
You are welcome to provide feedback to Apple about this but I have seen posts like yours regularly for the past decade or so and I would guess Apple is aware of this issue. It probably isn't just up to Apple to decide what makes a family since it is the media companies and other content owners who want to place limits on sharing. Actually 6 is fairly large for a nuclear family in the 21st century. It used to be there was no Family Sharing at all and everybody had to buy their own copy of everything, so Family Sharing was a big step forward. ;-)
Apple may not respond but your comment will be read.
Family Sharing can only accommodate 6 people total, which includes the Organizer. If you have more than 6 there isn't an ideal solution. For some of the youngest they may have to share an account until they really need their own, by which time hopefully some of the oldest ones can leave the Family to be independent. Either that or have another responsible person set up a second Family Group and take on some of the new children. Note that you can only belong to one group at a time though, and there is a limit to the number of times per year that you can switch to another group.
You are welcome to provide feedback to Apple about this but I have seen posts like yours regularly for the past decade or so and I would guess Apple is aware of this issue. It probably isn't just up to Apple to decide what makes a family since it is the media companies and other content owners who want to place limits on sharing. Actually 6 is fairly large for a nuclear family in the 21st century. It used to be there was no Family Sharing at all and everybody had to buy their own copy of everything, so Family Sharing was a big step forward. ;-)
Apple may not respond but your comment will be read.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I do agree that it likely has something to do with royalties to media outlets. And I have no interest in ‘stealing’ from artists. But also, adding watches for calling and tracking isn’t exactly that and I hope Apple finds a way around it for the safety and security of younger family members.
Family full but need iCloud for young children
