Since its launch in 2005, YouTube has changed the game. Feeling blue? You can listen to your favorite artist on YouTube or watch cute puppy videos. Want to bake a cake? YouTube’s at your service! It has anything and everything you possibly need. There’s just one problem: ads! But YouTube has a solution for that, too — YouTube Premium. And if you want your household to escape ads along with you, then the YouTube Premium family plan is the perfect option!
So you’ve decided to go for the YouTube Premium family plan. But you’re unsure how to go about it? That’s what this guide is here to help you with!
What Is a YouTube Family Plan?
A YouTube family membership plan allows you to share YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium and YouTube TV membership with your family members. As a family group member, you’ll continue to use your personal Google Account to access the Premium membership. You can also share other Google services with your family.
Before you purchase the family plan, there are a few pointers to keep in mind:
- If you’ve already purchased a family plan with another YouTube or Google product, you’ll have the same family group for your YouTube Premium family membership.
- Whoever sets up the family plan will become the family manager.
- The other members of the household must be 13 years or older.
- The YouTube Premium family plan is shareable with up to five members in your house.
- Only the family manager can invite or remove other members.
- The family manager and other members should reside in the same residential address.
- You are only allowed to change your family group once in 12 months.
- Every member’s name, picture as well as email address are visible within the family group.
- You can’t buy a family plan if you’re already a member of an existing Google family group. However, you can ask your family manager to purchase it instead.
- You can view only your personal library, subscriptions and recommendations.
How To Setup Your Family Plan
Here’s how you sign up for a family membership via Android, iPhone and on a computer:
Android
Follow these steps to sign up for a Premium membership on an Android device:
Step 1: Open the YouTube app and tap on your profile picture.
Go to the YouTube app and tap on your profile icon.
Step 2: Click “Purchases and Memberships.”
Tap “Purchases and Memberships’ on the sidebar.
Step 3: You’ll see options for paid memberships. Select “Learn More.”
Step 4: Next, click “Or save money with a family or student plan.” It could also be listed as “Or buy a family or individual plan.”
Select “Or save money with a family plan.”
Step 5: Choose the family plan. You’ll see a “Try it for free” option in case you qualify for a free trial.
Click “Try it for free.”
Step 6: Once you click on the free trial option, you’ll reach the subscription page. (Note: YouTube charges a nominal payment verification fee that will get refunded within 10 days.)
Step 7: Click “Subscribe.” Enter your card details for verification, and voila!
Desktop
Follow these steps to sign up and create a family group on a computer:
Step 1: Open a web browser and visit Paid Memberships.
Open YouTube Paid Memberships via the link given on your web browser.
Step 2: Select “Learn More” under the Premium membership.
Step 3: Next, click “Or save money with an annual, family or student membership.”
Select “Or save money with an annual, family or student membership.
Step 4: If you see an option for a free trial, click on the “Try it for free” tab next to the family plan option.
Click “Try it for free” if you’re eligible for it.
Step 5: Enter your card details to subscribe, and you’ll be hearing ad-free music in no time!
iOS Devices
Here’s how you can set up the family plan on your Apple devices:
Step 1: Open the YouTube app and tap on your profile picture.
Go to the YouTube app and tap on your profile avatar.
Step 2: Next, click “Purchases and Memberships.”
Click “Purchases and Memberships’ on the sidebar.
Step 3: You might see two options for paid memberships: one for YouTube Music Premium and another for YouTube Premium. Tap “Learn More” for the subscription you’re interested in.
Tap “Learn More’ to purchase the Premium family membership.
Step 4: Next, select “Or save money with a family membership.”
Select “Or save money with a family plan.”
Step 5: Tap “Get family plan.” In case you’re eligible for a trial, you may see the “Try it for free” option.
If you’re eligible for a free trial, tap “Try it for free.”
Step 6: Enter your payment details for verification, and you’re good to go!
For Current Premium Members
Do you already have an individual Premium membership and wish to convert it into a family membership? Follow these quick steps:
- Go to “Paid Memberships”.
- Click on “Get family plan” twice.
- Select “Upgrade.”
- Create a Google family group.
- If you’re already a family manager of a pre-existing Google family group, click “Continue.”
- Share the plan with your current family group.
How to Create a Family Group
Now that you’ve purchased or upgraded to the family plan, it’s time to create a family group:
- Invite no more than five family members. You can send invites through email or text.
- Once family members receive your invitation, they can tap on “Get started” to validate their membership.
- Household members can join the group and access the family plan upon accepting the invitation.
Managing the Family Plan
Through the powers vested in you (the family manager) by YouTube, there are a few functions only you can perform, like adding or removing family members. Quite like lifting Thor’s hammer, right?
Here’s how you do it:
Adding Members
- Log in to your Google Account connected with your Premium membership.
- Go to “Paid Memberships”. Or, tap “Paid memberships” in the dropdown menu on the YouTube app.
- Click “Manage membership.”
- Select the “Edit” test you see besides family sharing settings.
- Click “Invite family member.”
- Type in the phone number or email address of the family member you wish to invite.
- Press “Send.” You’ll receive a notification when any member joins the family plan.
Removing Members
- Follow steps 1-4 listed above.
- Click on the name of the family member that needs to be removed.
- Select “Remove member.”
Points to Note
- Upon removal, they will be denied access to the family plan. They also won’t be able to access other services that are shared amongst your family group anymore.
- The removed party and other family group members will receive an email informing them about the removed member.
- Any content added by them to the family library will be deleted.
- It’s only possible to change your YouTube Premium family members once per year (for each family member).
Family Manager Requirements
The family manager is the captain of the ship. They’re the only people who can buy the plan or make membership decisions for the group. As a family manager, you’ll also need to set the household location.
To set up the family plan, you must:
- Be 18 years or older.
- Already have a Google account.
- Live in a country where YouTube Premium is available.
- Not signed up with a Google Workspace account.
- Not switched family groups in the previous 12 months.
- Not be a part of another family plan.
Family Member Requirements
If the family manager is the ship’s captain, think of other members as passengers enjoying the cruise. However, there are still a few stipulations to joining a family plan:
- You should have a Google account (a Google Workspace account doesn’t count).
- You and the family manager must be residents of the same address.
- You shouldn’t be a part of any other family group.
- You shouldn’t have switched family groups in the past 12 months.
FAQs
How much does the YouTube family plan cost?
The family subscription is currently priced at $17.99 a month with a one-month free trial.
Can you use it in different houses?
No. Only members of a household sharing an address with the family manager can share the family plan. This stipulation is confirmed every month through an electronic check-in.
Can my family members see my YouTube history?
YouTube doesn’t share your personal library or watch history with other family group members.
What can a family manager or other members see?
Other members of your family plan can see your name, picture and email address. Your family manager can see content added to the family library but not your personal library. Personal data like browsing and search history remains hidden from others.
Conclusion
With a Premium family membership, all household members can enjoy ad-free, offline music and even download videos to watch later. Were you able to create a family group, or did you encounter any problems? Do you and your family enjoy the ad-free YouTube experience? Or do you think it isn’t worth the cost? Let us know in the comments!