Invitation link for family sharing is not working

The message indicates that the invitee has not actually been shared the Microsoft 365 Family/Premium benefits yet, only invited to the family group. The organizer must complete sharing from the subscription’s Sharing page.

Follow these steps as the subscription owner (organizer):

1. Confirm the correct subscription type
   • Go to the Services and subscriptions page.
   • Verify that the subscription is Microsoft 365 Family or Microsoft 365 Premium. Sharing is not available for Microsoft 365 Basic or Microsoft 365 Personal.
2. Open the Sharing page and start sharing
   • Sign in with the account that owns the Microsoft 365 Family/Premium subscription at the Microsoft account, Sharing page.
   • On the Sharing tab, look for Start sharing or Share.
     • If Start sharing / Share is not visible, the account is either not the subscription owner or the subscription is not Family/Premium.
   • Select Start sharing / Share.
3. Share specifically with the father‑in‑law’s Microsoft account
   • In the Share Office or Share dialog:
     • Use Invite via email: enter the email address used for the father‑in‑law’s Microsoft account and select Invite; or
     • Use Invite via link: select Create link / Copy and send that link.
   • Ensure the father‑in‑law clicks Accept and then Join now in the email/link flow so he joins the organizer’s Microsoft family group and the subscription share completes.
4. Check invitation status and resend if needed
   • Return to the Sharing page: View sharing.
   • Under the subscription, check the list of people:
     • If the father‑in‑law shows as Pending invite, select Resend invite.
     • If he is only in the family group but not under “already shared with,” select Start sharing next to his name.
5. If he is in another family group
   • If he sees a message about already being in a family group, he must leave that group first, then re‑accept the sharing invitation. Sharing only works if the invitee is in the subscription owner’s family group.

Once he has joined the organizer’s family group and the organizer has shared the subscription with him, the link should work and he will see the Microsoft 365 subscription under his account and can install apps and use his OneDrive storage.

References:

• Share your Microsoft 365 Family or Premium subscription
• How to share your Microsoft 365 Family subscription
• Manage Microsoft 365 Family subscription sharing
• Troubleshoot sharing a Microsoft 365 subscription
• Someone invited you to share their Microsoft 365 subscription
• Family 365 account subscription error - Microsoft Q&A