How to Remove a Child From Family Sharing

This article explains how to remove kids 13 and older from Family Sharing on iOS 10.2 and newer and Mac devices, as well as workarounds for children under 13.

How to Remove Kids 13 and Older From Family Sharing on iOS

You can easily remove kids who are 13 years and older from your Family Sharing group. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app on any iOS device signed in to the Apple ID you use for Family Sharing.

2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.

3. Tap Family Sharing.

4. Select the name of the person you want to remove from Family Sharing.

5. Tap Remove and then follow any other onscreen instructions.

How to Remove a Kid 13 and Older from Family Sharing on Mac

You can also remove family members on your Mac. Here's how:

1. Go to the Apple menu and open System Preferences.

2. Click Family Sharing (on older versions of the macOS, click iCloud).

3. Click Details on the person you want to remove (on older versions, you'll need to click Manage Family first).

4. Click Remove from Family Sharing and follow any additional onscreen instructions.

   How to Remove Kids 13 and Under From Family Sharing

   Apple doesn't allow you to remove a child under 13 from your Family Sharing (in the U.S., at least; the age is different in other countries). When you add a child that young to your Family Sharing group, they're there to stay until they turn 13.

   If you started Family Sharing and added a child under 13, you can't remove them independently. However, you have a few ways you can potentially get out of this situation:

   • Disband the family: You can disband the entire Family Sharing group and start again. When you create the new group, don't add the child under 13. If you and the child are the only people on your Family Sharing list, you need to transfer them before you can stop Family Sharing.
   • Transfer the child to another family: When you add a child under 13 to Family Sharing, you can't delete them, but you can transfer them to another Family Sharing group. To do that, another Family Sharing group's organizer needs to invite the child to join their group. In this case, the child's Family Sharing account won't be deleted, but it won't be your responsibility any longer.
   • Call Apple: If transferring a child to another Family Sharing group isn't an option, call Apple. While the company doesn't give you a way to remove a child from Family Sharing, it has other tools that can help. Call 1-800-MY-APPLE and talk to someone who can provide support for iCloud and Family Sharing.

   When you call Apple, make sure you have all of the relevant information handy. The customer service representative will need the email address for the account of the child you want to remove. You'll also need a device handy so that you can access your own Apple ID. Apple Support will walk you through the process of removing the child. Official removal can take up to 7 days. 

   After the Child Is Removed From Family Sharing

   Once the child is removed from your Family Sharing group, they won't have access to the content they downloaded to their device from other Family Sharing members. Any content the child shared with the family group that they're no longer part of becomes inaccessible to other people in the same way.