You can control purchases on an Apple device in a few ways:
- 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.
- You can also turn off in-app purchases entirely using Screen Time on your own device or a child's device.
How to use Screen Time to prevent in-app purchases
- Go to Settings > Screen Time, then tap Turn on Screen Time. If you already had Screen Time turned on, 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.
- 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.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode, then turn on Content & Privacy.
- Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
- Tap In-app Purchases and set to Don't Allow.
You can also go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, and tap Allowed Apps. Then deselect iTunes Store and Books.
Make sure to choose a passcode that's different from the passcode you use to unlock your device. If you can't remember a restrictions passcode that you set on a previous version of iOS or iPadOS, or you forgot your Screen Time passcode, you need to erase your device, then set it up as a new device to remove the passcode. Restoring your device from a backup won't remove your passcode.
Learn more
- Learn more about using Screen Time on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch or using Screen Time on Mac.
- Learn more about restrictions in iTunes for Windows and Apple Music on Android.