Create or join a family group

A GiftList group keeps your family's shared wishlists and birthdays in one place. Each member needs an account, and the group only shows lists that member makes available to its audience. Joining does not unlock every hidden list or give you permission to edit it.

Create your group

Watch this step, from 0:13

1. Sign in, open Friends and choose the Groups tab.
2. Choose the Family starter, or New group if you already have groups.
3. Name the group and choose its icon in Create a group.
4. Choose Create and invite.
5. Add people through the invitation options, or copy the group invite link and send it to your family yourself.

Treat the invite link as an invitation: anyone who has a valid link can use it to join. Do not post it publicly if the group is intended just for family.

Watch the walkthrough

Prefer to watch? The written steps cover the full task.

Play video: How to Keep Your Whole Family's Christmas Wishlists in One Place (Free)

Join and find the lists

Watch this step, from 0:31

1. Open the invitation sent to you. Check the group name.
2. Sign in or create a free account when asked. For a personal email invitation, use the invited account.
3. Choose Join [group name] if the invitation still asks you to join. Returning from sign-in may finish an invitation you already accepted.
4. Open the group from Friends → Groups. Activity shows recent gifts and lists; People shows members, their birthdays, the lists each one shares with you, and pending invitations.

A pending invitation is not the same as membership. Confirm that the group opens after joining.

Missing lists, birthdays or editing

Watch this step, from 0:43

Ask the list owner to check that list's sharing audience. A group does not override Don't show it, a restricted audience, or password protection. Send an individual list link when that is the intended way to share a list.

Birthdays depend on dates people add and on reminder settings. Joining does not guarantee every birthday is present. A group can also lead into Secret Santa and cards, but joining a group is not automatically joining an exchange or contributing to a group gift.

Use Invite collaborators if a family member should edit a particular list. If Groups is missing in an older app, use the website and update the app before looking for native controls.

Related: Share your list, privacy, organize Secret Santa, sign-in help.