Prevent in-app purchases from the App Store
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How to enable or disable in-app purchases on iPhone or Android
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- You can turn in-app purchases on or off in the Settings app on Apple devices and in the Play Store app on Android devices.
- There are three types of in-app purchases: unlockables, expendables, and subscriptions.
- Disabling in-app purchases can help you resist temptation to spend money while using an app, or keep kids from accidentally charging your credit card.
An in-app purchase is any additional purchase made within an app, like extra lives in a game. You can turn in-app purchases on or off on Apple and Android devices with just a few taps.
Turning off in-app purchases can help you resist the temptation to spend money while using apps, and it can keep kids from buying fictional things with real-life money — your real-life money.
Here’s everything you need to know about in-app purchases.
What does ‘in-app purchases’ mean?
Put simply, an in-app purchase is something that you buy when using an app on your computer or mobile device. They can take the form of an e-book, the ability to play a game without watching ads, and more.
There are three types of in-app purchases:
- Unlockables: In-app purchases that permanently unlock specific content or features. Examples include e-books and game expansions.
- Expendables: Often found in free-to-play games, expandable in-app purchases allow users to buy coins or power-ups to help enhance gameplay by helping them pass levels or obtain fun digital items.
- Subscriptions: Ongoing purchases (often billed on a monthly or yearly basis) that give you access to an app or allow you to use advanced features beyond the free version.
Note: You cannot share in-app purchases with other users. If you use family sharing across devices, buying the pro version of an app is the best way to ensure everyone will be able to use extra features.
How to enable or disable in-app purchases on iPhone or iPad
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Screen Time, then Content and Privacy Restrictions.
3. Turn on Content and Privacy Restrictions by tapping the slider. It will turn green when on.
4. Tap iTunes and App Store Purchases.
5. Tap In-app Purchases, then select Allow or Don’t Allow.
Quick tip: In the App Store, you can tell if an app has in-app purchases if you see the words In-App Purchases below or to the right of the Get button.
How to enable or disable in-app purchases on Android
1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap on your profile icon on the top-right corner of the screen, then select Settings in the pop-up menu.
3. On the Settings page, tap Authentication, and then tap Require authentication for purchases.
4. Then select one of the three options: For all purchases through Google Play on this device, Every 30 minutes, or Never.
5. Enter your Google password when prompted.
Quick Tip: In the Google Play store, you can tell if an app has in-app purchases if you see the words Offers in-app purchases below the app name.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a contributing writer for Insider based in New York. She loves a good glazed donut and nerdy deep dives into the science of food and how it’s made.
Prevent in-app purchases from the App Store
You can use Screen Time to prevent unintentional or unauthorized purchases from the App Store and other Apple services. You can require a password for purchases, prevent certain types of purchases, or disable purchasing completely.
How to use Screen Time to disable in-app purchases
- To turn on Screen Time, go to Settings > Screen Time, then tap Turn on Screen Time. If you already use Screen Time, skip to step 3.
- Tap Continue, then choose “This is My [device]” or “This is My Child’s [device].”
- If you’re the parent or guardian of your device and want to prevent another family member from changing your settings, tap Use Screen Time Passcode to create a passcode, then re-enter the passcode to confirm. After you confirm your passcode, enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it.
- If you’re setting up Screen Time on your child’s device, follow the prompts until you get to Parent Passcode and enter a passcode. Re-enter the passcode to confirm. After you confirm your passcode, enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it.
Make sure to choose a passcode that’s different from the passcode you use to unlock your device. Learn what to do if you forget your Screen Time passcode.
- Tap Content and Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode, then turn on Content and Privacy Restrictions.
- Tap iTunes and App Store Purchases.
- Tap In-app Purchases and set to Don’t Allow.
Other ways to control purchases on an Apple device
- If children in your Family Sharing group have their own devices, use Ask to Buy to screen and approve their purchase requests.
- If you let children use your device, you can require a password for every purchase.
- To prevent iTunes Store and Books purchases, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions, then tap Allowed Apps. Deselect iTunes Store and Books.