Not being able to use own credit card in family sharing

It seems to me that you are already established as a family member, so why can’t you use your own credit card. It would track that Apple knows your device and your login, so you should be able to use your own credit card. Why must it be the family organizer? I just had to call my wife to get a verification code for an app purchase, even though I had a balance of $235.00 on my iTunes account. Ludicrous.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 17

Posted on Jul 7, 2025 8:16 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 7, 2025 9:48 AM

  1. When in Family Sharing, and with Purchase Sharing turned on, only the Organizer's payment method is charged. This is specifically outlined in the Family sharing setup process as it's designed for under age children first and foremost that have no payment method. Adult usage is secondary.
    1. click here ➜ How to share apps and purchases with your family - Apple Support
  2. If a family member has gift card credit balance on their Apple Account, that will be used for purchases automatically before charging the organizer's payment method, but it may still require verification of the Organizer's payment method first if there is some issue with it, before using the balance in the family member's account. Once it's verified, the account balance should always be used before charging the Family Organizer's payment method.
  3. Purchase Sharing can be turned off as shown in the link above so each member can use their own payment methods, but it is turned off globally for all members of the family sharing group.
  4. If you don't like the way Apple has this set up, you can offer Apple Feedback at the following website. If enough people do, they may consider changing it.
    1. click here ➜ Product Feedback - Apple



3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 7, 2025 9:48 AM in response to junoandkeisha

  1. When in Family Sharing, and with Purchase Sharing turned on, only the Organizer's payment method is charged. This is specifically outlined in the Family sharing setup process as it's designed for under age children first and foremost that have no payment method. Adult usage is secondary.
    1. click here ➜ How to share apps and purchases with your family - Apple Support
  2. If a family member has gift card credit balance on their Apple Account, that will be used for purchases automatically before charging the organizer's payment method, but it may still require verification of the Organizer's payment method first if there is some issue with it, before using the balance in the family member's account. Once it's verified, the account balance should always be used before charging the Family Organizer's payment method.
  3. Purchase Sharing can be turned off as shown in the link above so each member can use their own payment methods, but it is turned off globally for all members of the family sharing group.
  4. If you don't like the way Apple has this set up, you can offer Apple Feedback at the following website. If enough people do, they may consider changing it.
    1. click here ➜ Product Feedback - Apple



Jul 7, 2025 2:14 PM in response to junoandkeisha

You are free to have the family organizer turn it off, for the specific purchase, and then turn it on again if you want.


Outside of that, as said, it will use your account balance first always, regardless of of wether its turned on or off, so should not be an issue if you have enough Apple account balance to cover the purchase.


The only time the organizer's payment method would need to be verified is if there is a specific issue with it.


It should nor require verification or a code of any kind as long as its active and verified.

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Not being able to use own credit card in family sharing

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