Apple TV Family Sharing with no Apple device

[SilverFox999]

I've just activated the 6 month free Apple TV Sky VIP offer and noticed that it mentioned that access could be shared with family members.   As my daughter has a Smart TV with the Apple TV app, I'd like to share access with her. 

A bit of Googling suggested that, to do so, I needed to set up "Apple family sharing".  However, as I have no Apple device myself (just Android devices and a Windows PC), I cannot seem to do this.   

One site I found suggested that it could be done on a PC using "iCloud for Windows".  I downloaded this Windows app, but cannot even sign in - I get a message saying that the Apple ID must be used to set up iCloud on an IOS device before it can be used on Windows.

Has anyone managed to share their Apple TV access when neither party has access to an Apple device?

[Quoman7]

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@SilverFox999 wrote:

I've just activated the 6 month free Apple TV Sky VIP offer and noticed that it mentioned that access could be shared with family members.   As my daughter has a Smart TV with the Apple TV app, I'd like to share access with her. 

A bit of Googling suggested that, to do so, I needed to set up "Apple family sharing".  However, as I have no Apple device myself (just Android devices and a Windows PC), I cannot seem to do this.   

One site I found suggested that it could be done on a PC using "iCloud for Windows".  I downloaded this Windows app, but cannot even sign in - I get a message saying that the Apple ID must be used to set up iCloud on an IOS device before it can be used on Windows.

Has anyone managed to share their Apple TV access when neither party has access to an Apple device?

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Hi @SilverFox999 to share content to family members, each member must have a current Apple account click on the link Here to see how family sharing works.

[SilverFox999]

Thanks.  We do both have Appleids (we had Apple products long ago), but can't create a family. 

The link supplied also says that family can be created on ''iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac"

[SlenderRobert · Accepted solution]

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@SilverFox999 wrote:

Thanks.  We do both have Appleids (we had Apple products long ago), but can't create a family. 

The link supplied also says that family can be created on ''iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac"

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You'll need an Apple device of some kind to setup family sharing I'm afraid. 

The only other option is to just give your own Apple ID details to your daughter (username & password) then she can use them to log in to the Apple TV app on her smart TV. One Apple TV+ subscription can be used on up to 6 devices simultaneously. 

The only downside of this is that your viewing history will be shared between the devices. So if you watch episode 1 of Slow Horses for example, and your daughter watches the first three episodes, the next time you open the Apple TV+ app it will think you've watched those three episodes too, so you need to keep track of where you are in a series. 

[SilverFox999]

Thanks @SlenderRobert 

[BlimBlim]

I have just been told by a Sky person (after 3 calls with Apple and 2 with Sky) that evidently I am not eligible for this or an Apple ID because I do not have an Apple device. Despite her insiting this is in the terms and conditions she sent me, I'm on my 6th read and there is NO SUCH CONDITION CLEARLY EVIDENT. Needless to say this is now the subject of complaints to both Sky and Apple and I very much doubt I'll get the phone call I demanded tomorrow. Instead, as fortunately my contract is up next month, I suspect I'll tell them to shove their VIP where the sun don't shine and take my broadband elsewhere and go back to Freeview.

[Mark39]

@BlimBlim as indicated in the post marked as answer, you need an Apple device to set up Family Sharing. Whether or not the requirement is,contained in Apple's terms and conditions,,I don't know, but in any event, it's a practical requirement in order to set it up.

[TimmyBGood]

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@BlimBlim wrote:

evidently I am not eligible for this or an Apple ID because I do not have an Apple device

Needless to say this is now the subject of complaints to both Sky and Apple

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Complaining to Apple that Apple has a restriction to Apple hardware in an Apple promotion intended to push the use of Apple products and Apple subscription services would seem just a little bit futile?

[BlimBlim]

But that is not what the issue is not what my complaint is about, if you care to read it again. If Apple restrict the promotion (which is a Sky promotion) to Apple only devices that is fine - just make it clear.Turns out, as an update, I have been given incorrect information by both Apple AND Sky. The offer is NOT restricted to Apple devices (which as I say if they do that that is entirely their perogative to do but must make it clear) nor do you have to have an Apple device to have an Apple ID but is actually an issue with 'something' within Apple. It has been escalated after a 90 minute call and the Apple manager could not understand what was happening stating that there is clearly 'a' problem within Apple as I should have had no problems. I'll wait to see what happens next.

[J_Tyler]

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@BlimBlim wrote:

But that is not what the issue is not what my complaint is about, if you care to read it again. If Apple restrict the promotion (which is a Sky promotion) to Apple only devices that is fine - just make it clear.Turns out, as an update, I have been given incorrect information by both Apple AND Sky. The offer is NOT restricted to Apple devices (which as I say if they do that that is entirely their perogative to do but must make it clear) nor do you have to have an Apple device to have an Apple ID but is actually an issue with 'something' within Apple. It has been escalated after a 90 minute call and the Apple manager could not understand what was happening stating that there is clearly 'a' problem within Apple as I should have had no problems. I'll wait to see what happens next.

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It doesn't matter who is running a promotion, be it Sky or whoever, Family Sharing has always been a perk of owning Apple devices and can only be setup on Apple devices. 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201088 

Various companies offer lengthy trials of Apple Fitness, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, etc but to share their use you need an Apple device. 

[BlimBlim]

I actually responded to another point on this thread. I have no wish nor need to share so your resposne to my point is actually meaningless. 

[J_Tyler]

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@BlimBlim wrote:

I actually responded to another point on this thread. I have no wish nor need to share so your resposne to my point is actually meaningless. 

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Fabulous. Have a wonderful weekend. 

[Chris+T.+Mas]

We were greatly confused by this whole process as well, but have found a solution that may help you/others reading this.

Like you, my dad subscribed to Appletv via sky, and as suggested we were able to use his sky.com login and password to watch on our non apple devices: smart tv/xbox/fire stick (just install the appletv app on any device you want to use). As suggested, this did create the problem of having to share the same account and not having individual watch lists etc, which is rather annoying when watching the same series/film.

We did try to create a family group using his prexisting Apple account, but no matter what, we could not link the Appletv subscription to this icloud.com account. It seemed the only solution was to cancel the subscription on sky, and resubscribe via his Apple account. 

It took a while to realise that Sky had created a new Apple ID using his sky.com email and password. The solution was therefore to login to his ipad using this email and login, rather than his normal icloud account. Once logged into the Apple device with the sky.com account, we were able to create a new family sharing group and we were each able to login using our own Apple IDs.

It should be noted that you do not need an apple device to create an Apple ID. I do not have one, so used my Gmail address, and then used that to login into the Appletv app on my xbox. The only step you need an apple device for is to create the family sharing and send out the invites... and you must login using the sky email that the Appletv subscription is linked to. Once the family sharing is set up, you can go back to your previous icloud login on your apple device if you want.

Hope that helps!