During the Google I/O event, the tech giant had mentioned bringing a new feature to the Google Play Store, dubbed the Google Play Family Library. Essentially bringing to Google’s platform what Netflix and Amazon already did, using a single account to share content amongst multiple devices and multiple users. For the Google Play Family Sharing feature, launched yesterday, this will extend to apps, games as well as other purchases.

Currently this feature is only available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, U.K and U.S.A., with plans to expand that list over time. The family manager can also purchase features such as the Google Play Music family plan.

Setting up a Family Library is not that difficult. You need to first meet some pre-requisites for the same:

• Be 18 or older
• Have a valid credit card
• Live in one of the countries below
• Can’t be part of another family group on Google Play
• Have a Google Account that isn’t through your work or school

A family manager (main account holder for the Family Library) can then invite up to 5 additional family members. These members also need to meet a criteria:

• Be 13 years or older
• Have a Google Account that isn’t through their work or school
• Live in the same country as the family manager
• Can’t be part of another family group on Google Play

You may switch family groups only once a year. So if you are planning a divorce or moving in with a new family after a wedding, avoid joining a family group for now.

Once these conditions have been met, you may proceed to start a family group

Setting up a family group

1. Open the Play Music app on your Android device . You can’t set up a family from an iOS device or a browser.
2. In the top left corner, touch the Menu icon .
3. Touch Subscribe > Family > Set up family > Get started > Continue.
4. To continue, you need to add a family payment method which family members can use to make purchases. You can either select an existing credit card, or add a new one.
5. Touch Accept.
6. Invite members to your family. Make sure you only invite trusted family members since you’ll be responsible for purchases they make with the family payment method.
7. Touch Invite > Continue > Continue > Subscribe.
8. Touch Continue > Continue music purchase.
9. Select the payment method you want to use for your family’s subscription.
10. Touch Subscribe.
11. When new people join your family, you’ll get an email confirmation.

Adding members to the family group

As a manager of a family group you are allowed to add an additional 5 family members tot he group. To do this:

1. Open the Play Store app .
2. In the top left, touch the Menu icon  > Account.
3. In the “Family” section, touch Manage family members > Invite family members.
4. Type the email address or phone number of the person you want to invite.
5. Touch Send.
6. You’ll get an email notification when someone joins your family.

Removing someone from the family group

In the event you have disowned your son or daughter, left your wife or abandoned your family, you can choose to throw them out from the family group to make an additional statement. If they made a purchase for which payment is still pending, you will be charged for that purchase. However, you may request a refund for unwanted or accidental purchases.

Do note, that removing a member from a family group will still allow that person to retain content they already purchased through the family payment method and their Google Account will still be active. So if you do not wish that imbecile to enjoy your hard earned cash, think twice before adding them to the family group.

To remove someone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Play Store app .
2. In the top left, touch the Menu icon  > Account.
3. In the “Family” section, touch Manage family members.
4. Touch the name of the family member you want to remove.
5. In the top right corner, touch the Menu icon > Remove member > Remove.

Note: This only removes them from the family group. To remove the pain of their memory or remove them completely from your life, we recommend you seek a professional.

Deleting a family group

In the last ditch event, or if you wish to re-start life all over again, you might wish to delete your family group completely. Google understands this and has given you the option of the same. Deleting a family group however, is similar to removing someone from a family group, the purchases made using the family payment method will remain and so will the Google Accounts. You will also be charged for pending payments, however, you may contest unwanted or accidental purchases and request a refund.

To delete your family group:

1. Open the Play Store app .
2. In the top left, touch the the Menu icon  > Account > Manage family group.
3. In the top right, touch the Menu icon > Delete family group > Delete.

Points to note

1. A family manager has to delete the original family group before being able to join a new one.
2. A family manager s responsible for all purchases made using the family payment method.
3. Family members name, photo, email address and age are visible to each other. (You should be knowing this to begin with)
4. Family manager is able to view all purchases made using the family payment method.

You should now be able to set-up and manage your Google Play Family Group on Android. IF we missed out any details of there is help required with troubleshooting do let us know in the comments below.