As someone who has experienced the frustration of unexpected in-app purchases on my own device, I understand the importance of disabling this feature to avoid accidental or unintended purchases. It can be especially important to do so if you have children who use your device, as they may not understand the consequences of making in-app purchases and could rack up significant charges without your knowledge. Also back in the days when I was working at Apple, I have received numerous questions from the community about “how to disable in-app purchases on iPhones and iPads”. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help others disable in-app purchases on their iPhone or iPad.
In this guide, we will offer extensive instructions on how to ban in-app purchases on your iPhone or iPad to prevent unsolicited transactions. This is a handy option to have if you have a youngster that uses your mobile phone, since it will prevent them from making unplanned purchases. It can also assist you avoid making unexpected purchases in the heat of the moment.
A simple explanation of In-App Purchases
In-app purchases refer to the ability to purchase additional content or features within an app. These purchases can include things like additional levels in a game, subscriptions to premium content, or virtual currency that can be used within the app. In-app purchases are made through the App Store on your iPhone or iPad, and they can be made directly within the app using your Apple ID. Many apps offer in-app purchases as a way for developers to monetize their apps and provide users with additional content or features. However, it is important to be aware of the potential for accidental in-app purchases, especially if you have a child who uses your device.
Why should I turn off In-App Purchases?
To avoid unexpected in-app purchases, limit in-app purchases on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if a youngster uses the device. This prevents them from making these transactions by accident, even if their fingerprint or Face ID is registered on the device. Furthermore, turning off in-app transactions on your iPhone might keep you from making hasty purchases.
To disable in-app purchases on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app and tap on the “Screen Time” option. If Screen Time is not already enabled, tap on the “Turn On Screen Time” button and choose “This is My iPhone/iPad” or “This is My Child’s iPhone/iPad” depending on whose device it is. If it is your device, tap on “Use Screen Time Passcode” and set a passcode. If it is your child’s device, continue the setup process and add a Parent Passcode when prompted.
- At next step, to enable content and privacy restrictions, tap on the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” option and toggle the switch to the “On” position. This will bring up a new screen where you can configure these settings.
- Select iTunes and App Store Purchases. If prompted, enter the Screen Time Passcode.
- From the list of restrictions, select “In-app Purchases” and set it to “Don’t Allow”. This will block in-app purchases on the device and prevent anyone from making purchases within apps.
After following the steps above, in-app purchases will be successfully blocked on your device. This means that no one, including you, will be able to make in-app purchases. If you need to make an in-app purchase in the future, you will need to go back to the “Screen Time” settings and turn on in-app purchases temporarily. When attempting to make an in-app purchase, you will receive an error message saying “In-app purchases are not allowed.”
If the “In-app Purchases” or “Don’t Allow” options do not appear in the list of restrictions, it is possible that your device is running an older version of iOS. In this case, you can still block in-app purchases by following these steps :
- Open the Settings app and tap on the “General” tab.
- Scroll down and tap on the “Restrictions” option.
- If this is your first time accessing the Restrictions settings, you will be prompted to create a 4-digit passcode. Enter a passcode and tap “OK”.
- Scroll down and toggle the switch next to “In-App Purchases” to the “Off” position.
Alternatively, you can also block in-app purchases by going to the App Store settings and turning off the “Installing Apps” option. This will prevent any new apps from being installed on the device, including free apps that may contain in-app purchases. You may find up-to-date information on Apple’s support page about in-app purchases.
How to disable In-App Purchases on your Apple TV?
If you own an Apple TV, it is important to know how to block in-app purchases to prevent any unwanted charges. In the following lines, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to block in-app purchases on your Apple TV.
- Go to the “Settings” menu and select “General”.
- From the “General” menu, select “Restrictions”. If this is your first time accessing the Restrictions menu, you will need to turn on the feature and create a four-digit passcode.
- Under the “iTunes Store” heading, you can choose your level of protection for purchases, rentals, and in-app purchases made on the iTunes Store and tvOS App Store. You can select “Allow” to remove all purchasing restrictions, “Restrict” to require a four-digit passcode for purchases instead of your Apple ID password, or “Block” to disable all purchases.
How to disable in-app purchases on your Mac?
On a Mac, in-app purchases refer to the ability to purchase additional content or features within an app from the Mac App Store. These purchases can include things like additional levels in a game, subscriptions to premium content, or virtual currency that can be used within the app. In-app purchases are made through the Mac App Store and are charged to the payment method associated with your Apple ID.
- Click the Apple icon and choose “System Preferences” or “System Settings”.
- Select “Screen Time” and ensure that it is turned on.
- Go to “Content & Privacy” and switch it on.
- Click on “Store Restrictions”.
- Finally, turn off the switch for “Allow In-app Purchases” and click “Done”.
Troubleshooting and Questions for In-App Purchases
I’m having trouble finding the ‘Screen Time’ option in the Settings app. Where can I find it?
To find the “Screen Time” option in the Settings app, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and look for the “Screen Time” option in the list of settings. It should be located under the “Personalization” section.
If you are unable to find the “Screen Time” option, it is possible that it is not available on your device. This could be because your device is running an older version of iOS that does not include the “Screen Time” feature.
I’m trying to enable content and privacy restrictions, but the toggle switch is greyed out and I can’t turn it on. What do I do?
If the toggle switch for content and privacy restrictions is greyed out and you are unable to turn it on, it is possible that you have not set up a Screen Time passcode or a Parent Passcode. In order to enable content and privacy restrictions, you will need to set up a passcode. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the “Screen Time” option.
- If Screen Time is not already enabled, tap on the “Turn On Screen Time” button and choose “This is My iPhone/iPad” or “This is My Child’s iPhone/iPad” depending on whose device it is.
- If it is your device, tap on “Use Screen Time Passcode” and set a passcode. If it is your child’s device, continue the setup process and add a Parent Passcode when prompted.
Once you have set up a passcode, try enabling content and privacy restrictions again by toggling the switch to the “On” position.
I’ve followed the steps to block in-app purchases, but I’m still seeing the option to make purchases within apps. What’s going on?
If you have followed the steps to block in-app purchases but are still seeing the option to make purchases within apps, it is possible that you have not completed all of the necessary steps. Here are a few things to check:
- Make sure that you have turned on content and privacy restrictions by toggling the switch to the “On” position in the “Screen Time” settings.
- Make sure that you have selected “In-app Purchases” from the list of restrictions and set it to “Don’t Allow”.
- Make sure that you have entered the correct Screen Time passcode when prompted.
If you have checked all of these things and are still experiencing issues, it is possible that there is a problem with your device or the app you are using. In this case, you may want to try restarting your device or contacting the app developer for support.
I need to make an in-app purchase for a one-time purchase, but I can’t remember my Screen Time passcode. Is there a way to reset it?
If you have forgotten your Screen Time passcode and need to make an in-app purchase, there are a few options you can try:
- If you are using iOS 14 or later, you can reset your Screen Time passcode by going to the “Screen Time” settings and tapping on the “Change Screen Time Passcode” option. This will allow you to enter a new passcode.
- If you are using an older version of iOS, you may be able to reset your passcode by resetting your device to its factory settings.
I’m trying to disable in-app purchases on my child’s device, but I’m not sure how to set up a Parent Passcode.
To set up a Parent Passcode on your child’s device, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your child’s device.
- Tap on the “Screen Time” option.
- Tap on the “Turn On Screen Time” button and choose “This is My Child’s iPhone/iPad”.
- Follow the prompts to set up a Screen Time passcode for your child and a Parent Passcode for yourself.
Once you have set up a Parent Passcode, you will be able to access and customize the Screen Time settings for your child’s device. This will allow you to disable in-app purchases and set other content and privacy restrictions as needed.
Note that you will need to enter the Parent Passcode each time you want to make changes to the Screen Time settings on your child’s device. It is important to keep this passcode confidential and not share it with your child.
I made an accidental in-app purchase on my iPhone and want to request a chargeback. Is it possible?
It is generally possible to request a chargeback for in-app purchases made on your iPhone or iPad. However, the process for doing so can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the purchase and the policies of the app developer and the payment provider.
If you made an in-app purchase by accident or if you were charged for something you did not want or did not receive, you may be able to request a chargeback through your bank or credit card company. This will involve contacting the bank or credit card company and explaining the situation, and they will determine whether to issue a chargeback based on their policies and the information you provide.
It is important to note that chargebacks are not guaranteed and can be difficult to obtain in some cases. It is always a good idea to try to resolve any issues or disputes directly with the app developer or payment provider first before considering a chargeback.
