How to use Apple Card Family to share a credit card with your spouse or children

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How to use Apple Card Family to share a credit card with your spouse or children
The Apple Card Family plan lets you share your credit account with family and friends.Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
  • Apple Card Family lets you add up to four other people to your Apple Card credit account.
  • Two people will be named co-owners of the Apple Card, but everyone can make purchases with it.
  • Everyone in the Apple Card Family needs to be over the age of 13 and part of the same Family Sharing group.
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Credit card experts agree that adding authorized users to your card - in other words, users who can use your card and receive all the same benefits - is a great way to earn rewards and build credit.

If you use the Apple Card, you're probably used to the cashback rewards it gives you. If it's your main card, you should consider signing up for Apple Card Family.

Apple Card Family is a new program that lets you add a co-owner to your card, along with three other "participants." Every authorized user added gets access to the Apple Card, and everyone's expenses get counted towards one bill. And if that bill is paid off on time, everyone's credit score gets a boost.

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Here's how to sign up for Apple Card Family and add your family members.

Important: You can't sign up for Apple Card Family unless you've already applied and been approved for an Apple Card.

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How Apple Card Family works

The Apple Card Family plan works similarly to other authorized user plans.

Up to five people (including yourself) can use one Apple Card account. Two people can be named as co-owners, and three people can become participants.

  • Co-owners are equally responsible for the Card - this means paying the bills, and setting up spending limits and other Card preferences.
  • Participants can spend within the limits set by co-owners, and if they're over 18, can build credit from their purchases.

How to use Apple Card Family to share a credit card with your spouse or children
There are two types of Apple Card Family accounts.Apple

Anyone in the Family plan can use the card via Apple Pay, or with the physical credit card.

Participants have to be at least 13 years old. And everyone involved in the Apple Card Family plan needs to be on the same Family Sharing plan.

How to set up Apple Card Family

To set up an Apple Card Family plan, you'll need to have already been approved for an Apple Card, and have set up a Family Sharing plan.

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1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and select your Apple Card.

2. Tap the ellipsis icon in the top-right corner, then tap Share My Card.

How to use Apple Card Family to share a credit card with your spouse or children
Select the "Share My Card" option.Apple; skitching by William Antonelli/Insider

Note: On an iPad, these first steps are a bit different. Instead of Wallet, open the Settings app and tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then Apple Card, and then Info. Once there, find the Share My Card option and tap it.

3. Tap Continue to accept the Family Sharing terms, then select whether you'd like to add a co-owner or participant. If you pick Co-Owners, you'll have to provide your shared income amount; if you pick Participant, you'll also have to set a spending limit for the new member.

How to use Apple Card Family to share a credit card with your spouse or children
Pick which account type you'd like the new user to have.Apple

4. Tap Send Invitation.

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This will send an invite to the new Family plan member, in the form of a Wallet notification. They'll have to accept the invitation and enter their personal information (including their social security number if they're over 18).

How to use Apple Card Family to share a credit card with your spouse or children
The person you invited will receive a Wallet notification.Apple

Repeat these steps for each member you'd like to add to the Apple Card Family plan. Just remember that you can only have one other co-owner, and three participants.

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