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Platform Restrictions 🚫

Some platforms enforce technical restrictions that can block access to a shared subscription. Here's what you can do, and what's outside Sharesub's control.

Some restrictions don't come from Sharesub—they're imposed directly by platform rules (Spotify, YouTube, Google, Netflix...). Sharesub can't bypass them. This page explains the most common situations and what you can do.


12-month restriction—Spotify Family and YouTube Premium

Spotify and YouTube require a 12-month waiting period before you can join a new Family Group if you've previously been a member of another one.

  • This waiting period applies even if you left the previous group voluntarily.

  • It's calculated from the date you joined the previous group, not from the date you left it.

  • For Spotify, using an email alias may help bypass this restriction (see the Spotify page for more details).

  • For YouTube Premium, there's no known workaround: the restriction is enforced at the Google account level.

⚠️ If you're blocked by this restriction and can't access the service, you can lodge a claim from the subscription page: View details > Management > Report a problem.


Home address verification—Google One

Google One requires all Family Group members to share the same home address as the group manager. If your addresses don't match, Google may:

  • Reject the invitation when you accept it.

  • Disable your access later during an automatic verification.

This restriction is independent of Sharesub. If it prevents you from accessing the service, let the owner know and lodge a claim if needed.


Geographic restriction—Spotify

Spotify regularly checks that Family Group members live in the same country as the owner. If your detected location is different, Spotify may block your access or remove you from the group.

  • Make sure your country is correctly set in your Spotify account settings.

  • Using a VPN may trigger this restriction—avoid using one with Spotify.


Limited spots in the group

Each platform has a maximum number of members:

Platform

Limit

Access type

Spotify Family

6 members

Invitation link

Duolingo Family

6 members

Invitation link

Google One/YouTube Premium

6 members

Email invitation

Deezer Family

6 members

Invitation link

If the group is full, the link or invitation can't be accepted. Let the owner know through the 💬 chat: they need to free up a spot before sending a new invitation.


What can you do if a restriction blocks you?

  1. Contact the owner through the subscription chat to let them know about the situation.

  2. If the owner doesn't reply within 24 hours, or if the situation can't be resolved, lodge a claim from View details > Management > Report a problem.

  3. You may request a refund if the service was never accessible because of a platform restriction.

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