Create a family on Google

When you create a group, you become the family manager. You can create a family group with up to 6 people when you:

Create a family with Google Assistant

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings" or go to Assistant settings.
  2. Tap You and then Your People and then  Create family group.
  3. Follow the steps on screen to create your family group and add family members.

 

I got an error when creating my family group

Age requirement not met

To manage a family group, you must be above the age of majority in your country. A family manager can invite you to join their family group.

You're already in a family group

You can only be part of one family group at a time. To create a new family group, delete your current family group and then create a new one.

Account not supported

You can't create a family with a Google Account from your work, school, or other organization.

Trouble creating family group (Changed family group)

You can only change family groups once every 12 months. You may need to wait 12 months until you can create or join a new family.

Country not supported or family not supported

Make sure that the family manager and family members all have the same Google Play country.

I got an error when adding family members

Check with the family members you tried to add to find out what’s causing the error, and fix it if possible.  Email address not associated with a Google Account

If you’re using Google Assistant to create your family group, only email addresses associated with Google Accounts can be part of your family. To include an email address not associated with a Google Account, create a family group using a different product.

You can’t add an account that’s used through work, school, or another group.

Family member is already in a family group

Your family member can only be part of one family group at a time. Your family member can leave their current family group and join your family group.

Family member already changed family groups

You can only change family groups once every 12 months. Your family member may need to wait up to 12 months until they can leave their current family group and join yours.

Country not supported or family not supported

Make sure you and family members all have the same Google Play country.

I get a CVN challenge when I invite family members

If you set up a family payment method, you may be asked to verify the CVN number for your credit card when you invite people to your family.

As part of this verification, you might see a pending authorization on your credit card statement.

These authorizations happen so Google can make sure the card is valid. These aren't actual charges and you don’t pay for them.

Authorizations might stay in your account for 1-14 business days. If you still see the pending authorization after 14 business days, contact your bank for more information.

Family member roles

Family manager

The family manager is the person who creates the family group.

The family manager is the only person who can:

Any adult in your family can subscribe to Google One. The Google One plan manager doesn't need to be the same person as the family manager. 

Parent

Anyone the family manager designates as a parent must be above the age of majority in their country.

Parents will be able to:

  • Approve Google Play purchases
  • Change parental controls and family members' purchase approval settings
  • Use Family Link to help supervise Google Accounts for children
Family member

A family member can join a family group when they're invited by the family manager.

If someone invited you to their family group, learn more about joining a family group.

Family member (limited access)

A family member in this state has limited access to family services. They get full access to family services once they accept their invitation to join the family. For example, a pending family member receives emails sent to the Family group, but they can’t use the Assistant to send family emails until they accept their invitation.
Family members with limited access can accept their invitation on families.google.com.

Invited family member

An invited family member doesn’t have access to family services until they accept their invitation to join the family.

An invited member can join the family by accepting the invitation sent to their email address or phone number.

To resend an invitation, remove the invited member from the family and add them again.
 

Google products you can use as a family

Once you've created a family group, you can:

  • Use the family payment method: If you set one up, your family can make purchases on Google Play with the family payment method.
  • Use family services: Use or subscribe to family services like Google One, Google Play Family Library, and YouTube TV family plan. To check out all the services available for your family, visit families.google.com.
Was this helpful?
How can we improve it?