How to Use Apple Arcade? | Start Playing in Minutes

For the full breakdown, see our best Controller For Apple Arcade guide.

Subscribe once, then download and play as many of the 200+ included games as you like on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or Apple Vision Pro. The core idea is simple: one subscription, no surprise costs, and games that work whether you’re online or offline.

What Is Apple Arcade and What Does It Cost?

Apple Arcade is Apple’s gaming subscription. One membership covers the whole family, and every game in the Arcade catalog is fully unlocked. The games are ad-free, there are no additional purchases inside them, and you can play them as often as you want. The current price is around $4.99 a month, with an annual option near $49.99 — though Apple itself doesn’t list a dollar figure on its own support pages. New device purchases often come with a free trial; Apple advertises three free months on eligible hardware, and you get one trial per Apple Account.

Since Apple doesn’t publicly confirm the exact subscription rates on its support docs, verify the current price on the Arcade tab before you commit. The terms, however, are consistent: one subscription covers the whole household.

How Do You Subscribe to Apple Arcade?

Subscribing takes less than two minutes, and the process is nearly identical across all your devices. The quickest route is through the App Store.

1. Open the App Store (or the Games app on iPhone or iPad).
2. Tap the Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Look for the subscription offer and tap it. If you live somewhere the offer isn’t immediately visible, download any Apple Arcade game and you’ll be prompted to subscribe.
4. Sign in with your Apple Account if asked, confirm your billing info, and agree to the terms.

On Apple TV, the path is slightly different: open the Arcade app instead of the App Store, and look for the subscription offer at the top of the screen. On Apple Vision Pro, use the App Store and tap Arcade in the tab bar.

How Do You Find and Play Games?

Once you’re subscribed, the catalog is one tap away. Open the App Store or Games app, tap the Arcade tab, then select All Games or See All Games to browse the full lineup. Tap Get on any title to download it, then hit Play once it’s finished installing. On Apple TV, you can play with the Siri Remote or pair a game controller for a more traditional feel.

You can download as many games as you want, and they keep working when you’re offline. One important catch: not every game runs on every device. Apple says games are available only on devices they’re compatible with, so check the requirements before downloading a title for your Mac if you mainly play on your iPhone. Progress syncs across devices only when the game itself supports it.

If you’re going to play on your TV, a standard controller will serve you far better than the remote. Our tested roundup of the best controller for Apple Arcade breaks down the top options by comfort, battery life, and platform support.

Family Sharing and Playing Together

Apple Arcade is built for households. Your subscription extends to up to five family members, and each person keeps their own progress, leaderboards, and Game Center invitations. On Apple TV, the service supports multiple user profiles, so everyone in the house gets their own saved games and achievements when they sign in with their Apple Account.

Setting it up is automatic if your family is connected through Family Sharing. There’s no extra charge for adding people, and each member gets the full catalog.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping software updates. Apple says you need the latest OS versions to get all Apple Arcade features. An outdated iPhone or Mac can hide games or break compatibility.
• Looking in the wrong place. On iPhone, iPad, and Mac, the Arcade tab lives at the bottom of the App Store. On Apple TV, it’s the top of the Arcade app — not the bottom.
• Expecting the same game on every device. Some games are universal, but many are iPhone- or Apple TV-only. Read the compatibility note on each game’s page.
• Assuming Arcade covers everything in the store. It doesn’t. Apple Arcade covers only the games inside the Arcade tab. Everything else in the App Store is still sold separately.

That last point trips up more people than anything else. The Arcade tab is a curated zone, not a storewide pass.