Use Screen Time to turn off in-app purchases on your iPhone or iPad
You can use Screen Time to prevent unintentional or unauthorised 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. Find out how to turn on and use Screen Time.
How to turn off in-app purchases on your iPhone or iPad
- 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’ve already created one in Screen Time. Find out how to create a Screen Time passcode.  
- Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. 
- Tap In-app Purchases and select Don't Allow.*  
* From here, you can also require a password for future purchases from iTunes, Books or the App Store.
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 make a password a requirement for every purchase. 
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