Why is an invitation waiting for my partner's approval?
Once a partner has joined, the plan is both of yours: nobody new sees it, and nobody sees more of it, until both of you agree. Seeing less never needs approval.
When you and your partner plan together, the plan holds both of your money. So on a two-person plan, inviting a new viewer, or letting an existing one see more, waits for the other person to agree. As Family & sharing puts it: "The plan is both of yours, so nobody new sees it — and nobody sees more of it — until both of you agree. Seeing less never needs anybody's approval."
What you see when you invite
- For somebody who advises you, the button reads Ask for approval instead of Send invitation.
- The confirmation says it waits for your partner's approval, and that the person is emailed once your partner approves.
- In the People table their row reads Pending approval.
- Nothing is sent to the person you invited until your partner approves.
What your partner sees
An email ("Your approval is needed to share your plan"), a notification in the bell under Needs your answer, and an entry at the top of their Family & sharing page — for example "… would like to invite …", with the person's role, details and a Would see: line. They press Approve or Decline.
Family & sharing
| Person | Age | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Your partnerWife | 36 | JoinedPlanning together, with their own sign-in |
| Your motherParent | 64 | AcceptedSees: The family plan: every section and results |
| Your CAChartered Accountant | 51 | Pending approvalWaiting for your partner to approve · then it is emailed |
| A close friendTrusted friend | 40 | SentSent on 26 Sep 2026 · link valid until 10 Oct 2026 |
| Your brotherBrother or sister | 33 | Not invitedOn your plan · invite them to see it whenever you are ready |
The People table. The Chartered Accountant's row reads Pending approval, waiting for the partner before it is emailed.
- Pending approval — nothing has been sent to them yet.
Illustrative figures — not anybody’s real plan.
What happens next
| If your partner… | Then |
|---|---|
| Approves | The invitation is emailed, with a link good for 14 days from then. You are both told. |
| Declines | Nothing is sent, and the row reads Not approved. |
| Does nothing for 14 days | The request expires, and so does the invitation it was holding. You can ask again. |
People who could see the plan before your partner joined
If you had shared your plan before your partner joined, those viewers keep seeing your side only. Your partner is asked separately — "… could see the plan before you joined" — and chooses Agree or Keep my side private. Until they agree, those viewers never see your partner's side or the Family plan. That question never lapses into a yes; it simply waits for an answer.
See this in your own plan.
Open Family & sharingLast reviewed 1 October 2026.