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Locked out of Family Sharing for 364 days

I setup Family Sharing following the directions exactly. It didn't work. So I stopped family sharing, followed the directions and still no success. So, I figured I just did something wrong during setup. So, I repeated the process. When I went to setup family sharing the 3rd time, I received the message that I can not join or create a family sharing account for 364 more days because I am limited to 2 times per year.


Now I can't use the 1 service I was excited about in iOS 8. Apple support says they have no idea how to help me.


Any suggestions?

iPhone 5s, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 17, 2014 4:30 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 17, 2014 7:40 PM

not only is it totally ridiculous, but why is there no warning about this? "Hey, I see you're about to unjoin family share, just so you know you will be blocked for an entire year because apple rocks if you do this again!"


How hard is that to have that as a warning?

149 replies

Sep 18, 2014 5:22 PM in response to sjthone

I have also been locked out for 364 days... Was trying to ensure my wife's calendar shows our family entries but, instead, I got this totally unexpected message after removing her and adding her back twice.


I have to admit I feel a bit better that this seems to be an issue with many people, though... 😊 It should hopefully drive the message home at Apple: disabling family sharing for people who are trying to make something work –that should be working in the first place– is counterproductive. I normally buy lots of movies, apps and songs from the Apple Store but I will now stop until this gets fixed.


Hopefully, Apple will listen.

Sep 18, 2014 6:53 PM in response to sjthone

I am having the same issue. Set up family sharing with my wife with me as the originator, would not work. So I removed her, and followed the instructions again. Still no luck with family sharing working. So I removed her again and when trying to add the third time, blam, locked out for 364 days. This was one of my most anticipated features of iOS 8 and the fact that I can't use it, for no fault of my own, is ridiculous. I am a huge supporter of Apple products, everything that can be Apple in my home, is Apple, but this is very disappointing. Currently waiting to connect in a chat, but the "2 minute" wait time has already exceeded 10. Come on Apple...

Sep 18, 2014 7:25 PM in response to sjthone

I'm going to get on record as well as I bought an album today for the sole purpose of sharing it with my girlfriend and didn't get it set up the right way and locked HER out for a year.


This is such a bad way to be introduced to a new feature of iOS 8. I'm agreeing with everyone as a warning would have been great OR better instruction on how to get other people added. Had I sent her an invitation vs. putting in her iTunes account info, I have a feeling it would have worked correctly the first time vs. locking her out.


Oh well, here's hoping Apple gets on the ball and gets this figured out ASAP.

Locked out of Family Sharing for 364 days

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