Use Screen Time to turn off in-app purchases on your iPhone or iPad

You can use Screen Time to prevent unintentional or unauthorized purchases from the App Store and other Apple services. You also can require a password for purchases, prevent certain types of purchases, or turn off purchasing completely.

To prevent in-app purchases, you need to turn on Screen Time first. Learn how to turn on and use Screen Time.

How to turn off in-app purchases on your iPhone or iPad

  1. When Screen Time is enabled, go to Settings > Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode, then turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions. You'll only be asked to enter a passcode if you already created one in Screen Time. Learn how to create a Screen Time passcode.

    iPhone screen showing the setting for Content & Privacy Restrictions
  2. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.

  3. Tap In-app Purchases and select Don't Allow.*

    iPhone screen showing the setting to disable iTunes & App Store purchases

* From here, you can also require a password for future purchases from iTunes, Books, or App Store.

Other ways to control purchases on an Apple device

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