Share Mac App Store Apps with Family on macOS 13

Yes, you can share purchased Mac App Store apps with family members in macOS 13 Ventura by using Apple’s Family Sharing feature. By enabling Purchase Sharing, up to six family members can download and use each other’s eligible paid apps on their own Mac devices at no additional cost. This guide outlines how to enable the feature, how family members can access shared apps, and key limitations to keep in mind.

How to Turn on Purchase Sharing in macOS 13

To share purchases, a Family Sharing group must be active, and a family organizer must enable Purchase Sharing.

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
  2. Click Family at the top of the sidebar.
  3. Select Purchase Sharing from the list of sharing options.
  4. Click Continue and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on Share Purchases with Family.

Once enabled, any eligible app purchased by one member becomes available to everyone in the group.

How Family Members Download Shared Apps

Family members do not automatically receive shared apps; they must manually download them from their own Mac App Store accounts.

  1. Open the App Store on the family member's Mac.
  2. Click the user's name or profile picture in the bottom-left corner.
  3. Look for the Purchased by section and select the name of the family member who bought the app.
  4. Locate the desired app from the list.
  5. Click the Download button (cloud icon with a downward arrow) to install it.

Limitations and Exceptions

While most standard Mac App Store purchases support Family Sharing, a few exceptions apply:

  • In-App Purchases and Subscriptions: Not all in-app purchases or subscriptions support Family Sharing. Developers must explicitly opt into the feature. Consumable items (such as in-game currency) cannot be shared.
  • Developer Opt-Out: Some developers opt out of Family Sharing for their paid apps. You can check an app’s product page on the App Store under the "Information" section to confirm if Family Sharing is supported.
  • Payment Method: All future purchases made by family members will be billed to the family organizer's payment method, unless an individual member has store credit on their Apple ID.