Why can't I login to Family Sharing on a Mac or download free apps on an iPhone?

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Why can't I login to Family Sharing on a Mac or download free apps on an iPhone?

There are so many different annoyances that Apple caused me on multiple devices. Here they are along with a few solutions in a response. Please excuse any incorrect terminology. I am no longer a regular Apple product user and after this experience, as soon as Google gets its Air Tag competitor off the ground I'm migrating the remaining Mac/iPhone user away from Apple products.

Context and problems:

I am the "owner" of the Family group but I don't use any Apple product on a regular basis.

First, a Family Sharing adult member could not download a free app on an iPhone SE 2022 running the current version of iOS. The error was something like 'there was a problem completing this purchase. Please have the family organizer fix things'.

Second, I couldn't login to Apple Music on a Pixel because I couldn't get the verification code.

Third, I couldn't access the Family Sharing control panel in Mac settings, despite being logged in to Apple Music.

Fourth, there was a pending sale in Apple Music for the one adult Family member. Attempting to buy $10 credit only added to the pending mess.

Fifth, my credit card number was changed because of fraud.

iPhone 4s, iOS 9

Posted on Jul 5, 2024 10:36 AM

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Answer 1

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Eric_D_T.O. Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 5, 2024 10:59 AM in response to Eric_D_T.O.

The reason the free app could not be downloaded was because there was a pending purchase in the account of the Family member. This was because my credit card number as Family organizer had to be changed after fraudulent activity. I hadn't done that because Apple accounts don't ever cross my mind as being important so I'd forgotten to update it.

On the Pixel I could not force Apple Music to send a verification code to my registered cell phone despite it saying it would. I had to login to a Mac and login to Apple Music on it (which i never use).

On the Mac I could update the credit card in Accounts on Apple Music and remove the family member (because after updating the family member still couldn't download).

But, to add I needed to access the Family Sharing control panel in Settings. There I got some cryptic message that told me the control panel was unavailable. A web search showed that the solution offered by Apple support was to reset the whole computer... Not something I was prepared to do.

Luckily I went with my gut and logged into iCloud. THAT was the problem that prevented Family Sharing from being available/visible.

Who knows? Maybe I just discovered something that tech support from a multi billion company didn't know?

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Why can't I login to Family Sharing on a Mac or download free apps on an iPhone?

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