Fix “This App Is No Longer Shared With You”

The “This app is no longer shared with you” message usually appears on an iPhone or iPad when an app was installed through another person’s Apple Account or shared purchase, and that access has changed. Check your Family Sharing and purchase-sharing setup first; if the app still cannot be verified, remove and reinstall it using your own account, taking care to protect any app data you need.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone or iPad, connected to the internet.
• Access to the Apple Account used for purchases on the device. If the app came from a family member, that person may need to check their Family Sharing settings.
• Your device passcode and, if required, your Apple Account password or verification method.
• A current backup if the app contains information that may be stored only on the device. Check the app’s own backup or sync options before deleting it.

Step-by-Step

1. Confirm the message and restart the device. Close the affected app, restart your iPhone or iPad, and try opening it again. A restart can clear a temporary problem, but it will not restore sharing that has actually ended.
2. Check which Apple Account is signed in for purchases. Open Settings, tap your name, then look for Media & Purchases. Confirm that the account shown is the one that owns the app or has access to the shared purchase. You may need to tap Media & Purchases and choose View Account to see account details. Do not sign out of iCloud just to test this: iCloud and purchase sign-in are separate, and signing out can affect synced services.
3. Check Family Sharing membership. In Settings, tap your name, then Family or Family Sharing (the wording can vary by software version). Confirm that you are still in the family group and that purchase sharing is available. If you are not the family organizer, ask them to confirm that the group and sharing settings are active.
4. Ask the purchaser to verify the app is still shareable. The person who originally obtained the app should check that it remains in their purchase history and that they have not changed accounts or stopped sharing purchases. Not every app or in-app purchase is eligible for Family Sharing. If the developer has disabled sharing, the organizer cannot make it shareable from device settings.
5. Check for an app update. Open the App Store, tap your account picture, and check the available updates. Install an update for the affected app if one is offered, then reopen it. Also install any available iOS or iPadOS update through Settings > General > Software Update if practical. Keep the device connected to Wi-Fi and power during a system update.
6. Offload the app before deleting it, if available. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage), select the app, then tap Offload App. Offloading removes the app itself but generally keeps its documents and data on the device. Tap the app icon or reinstall option to download it again. If the message returns, move to the next step.
7. Delete and reinstall only after checking your data. If offloading does not work, confirm that important data is synced or backed up. Then touch and hold the app icon, choose Remove App, and select Delete App. Open the App Store, search for the app, and download it while signed in to the Apple Account that should own it. If the app is paid, you may need to purchase it with your own account unless it is currently shared with you.
8. Open the app and restore your information. Sign in to the app if necessary and check whether its content returns from the developer’s account, iCloud, or another sync service. If the app still shows the sharing message after a fresh download, do not repeatedly delete it; verify the purchase account and sharing eligibility, then contact Apple Support or the app developer.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the app before checking its data. Some apps keep files, downloads, or progress only on the device. Deletion can remove that local data, and a device backup may not restore it in the way you expect.
• Checking the wrong account. The Apple Account used for iCloud may differ from the one used for Media & Purchases. Verify the purchase account rather than signing out of every Apple service.
• Assuming every app is shareable. Developers decide whether their apps support Family Sharing, and availability may differ for subscriptions or in-app purchases. A family member’s ownership does not guarantee access to every item.
• Using a password from the wrong person or account. Do not enter another person’s credentials on your device. The app owner or organizer should manage their account and sharing settings directly.
• Repeatedly reinstalling without fixing access. A fresh download will not fix an ended share, an ineligible app, or a mismatch between the purchase and signed-in accounts.

Tips

• Before troubleshooting, note the app name, the exact message, and whether other shared apps still open. This helps distinguish a single-app issue from a family-sharing or account issue.
• Ask the family organizer to check sharing from their own device, especially if membership or purchase-sharing settings recently changed.
• Keep the device online while opening the app after reinstalling so it can verify the download and load any cloud-synced data.
• If you decide to buy the app yourself, make sure you are signed in to the Apple Account you want to use for future downloads. Purchases are associated with the account that makes them.

Troubleshooting

The app is missing from the App Store. Check that you searched the correct name and that the app is available in your region and compatible with your device. If it has been removed from sale, reinstalling may not be possible for a new purchaser. Contact the developer to ask about availability and data access.

You are in the family group, but the app still will not open. Confirm that purchase sharing is enabled and that the app itself supports sharing. Ask the organizer to check whether the purchase is in the account currently used for sharing. Then restart the device and check the App Store again.

The App Store asks you to pay. Verify that you are signed in with the account that owns the app or that the correct family-sharing access is active. Do not buy it again until you have confirmed the account and whether the app can be shared. If the app is not eligible for sharing, purchasing it with your own account may be the available option.

The error returns after reinstalling. Check for a pending app update, confirm the device has a reliable internet connection, and verify the purchase account once more. If the owner’s sharing settings are correct and the app is shareable, contact Apple Support. For app-specific sign-in or data problems, contact the developer.

You cannot reach the family organizer. You can still check your own purchase account, update iOS or iPadOS, and look for the app in your own App Store purchase history. If you do not own it and sharing is no longer available, reinstalling alone cannot restore access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this message mean the app has been deleted?
No. It usually means the device cannot verify your access to the app through a shared purchase. The app may still be installed, but it needs valid ownership or sharing access to open.

Will offloading the app delete my documents?
Offloading is intended to keep the app’s documents and data while removing the app. Still, check the app’s sync or backup options first; data handling can vary by app.

Can I fix it without the person who shared the app?
You can check your account, update the app, and reinstall it if you own it. If access depends on someone else’s purchase or family group, that person or the organizer may need to restore sharing.

Will reinstalling erase my app progress?
It can, especially if progress is stored only on the device. Confirm that the app syncs or has a usable backup before deleting it. Offloading is a less destructive first attempt.

Do I have to pay for the app again?
Not if you can restore access through the account that bought it or eligible Family Sharing. If sharing has ended or the app is not shareable, you may need to purchase it using your own account.

Related

• Spotify Won’t Open? Fix It on Any Device
• How to Play GoldenEye 007 on a PC
• Can’t Connect to Router? Troubleshoot Wi-Fi and Internet