Apple Music - Family Plan question re: Max Devices.
I have read everything on the Apple Website re: the limitations / features of the Apple Music Family Plan - can't find a clear answer. What is the maximum device limit on a Family plan? I understand there is a limit of 5 family members (including me - a total of 6). But if each of my 6 family members (I want to add my parents to the plan) has their own Apple ID and their own personal iPhone, iPad, Laptop, and iWatch - does that mean I can have a total of 24 devices? In other words, theoretically if 6 family members X 4 devices = 24 devices?
In short, music can be streamed among all devices owned by all family members within the Apple Music app but you cannot download and extract the music out from the Apple Music app provided that you have done the setup properly.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
Create a free account to see this answer
Signing up is free and takes 30 seconds. No credit card required.
ASKER
Great - thanks @Jackie Man!
The songs uploaded via iTunesMatch to one's iCloud library cannot be shared or streamed by other family members.
Even for songs that are purchased from iTunes, each family member has to "download" the songs from the "purchased" tab to their individual device before they can play it. In other words, they cannot just "stream" without "downloading". This is a big problem if the device has lower storage capacity.
On the other hand, the biggest pros of "Apple Family Share" are:
Each family member can use their own iCloud account AND iTunes account on their individual devices.
Sharing photos between the family members is very easy.
While sharing the "Apple Music Family subscription" along with "Apple Family Share", each member of the family can have their own play lists, likes etc. In other words, there will not be any cross-contamination between the choices of individual family members.
So, after a lot of trail and error, this is what I found to be the best settings:
Do all purchases using a single iTunes Account (Parent Account). Subscribe to Apple Music Family Subscription Plan using the Parent Account (Note: if you do not subscribe to the family subscription plan, you won't be able to stream Apple music from the parent device and the child device at the same time)
Set up the parent device using the Parent Account for both iCloud and iTunes. Further, in the "Music" App settings, use the Parent Account for Home Sharing, if enabled. Enable iCloud Music Library.
Set up the child device using a Child Account for iCloud and the Parent Account for iTunes. Further, in the "Music" App settings, use the Parent account for Home Sharing, if enabled. Enable iCloud Music Library
Setup Apple Family Share with child as a family member. Done!
What you will achieve:
Photos can be shared between parent and child just the way Apple Family Share works.
Find Friends, Find iPhone etc. works exactly the same way as Apple Family share works.
Child will be able to "stream" all songs of the parent's iTunes library (irrespective of if the music was uploaded via iTunes match or purchase from Apple store). No need to "download" the song to the child's device.
Child gets access to all purchases of the parent, including the in-app purchases.
Using Apple Music Family Subscription Plan, both the parent and the child will be able play Apple Music at the same time (either the same song or different songs).
The email, contact, messages etc. of the parent and the child does not get mixed up.
Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7108530?start=0&tstart=0