Get help using Ask to Buy

If you see an "Unable to Ask Permission" message in the iTunes Store after asking your family group organizer to make a purchase, check which Apple ID you're signed in with, finish setting up Family Sharing, and make sure you're on a supported device.

After Ask to Buy is turned on, and you ask the organizer of your family group to approve a purchase in the iTunes Store, you might see one of these messages:

Check the Apple ID that you're using in the iTunes Store

Make sure that you're signed in to the iTunes Store using the same Apple ID that you selected for sharing content with your family. Learn how to use your own Apple ID for Family Sharing.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

  1. Go to Settings > iCloud > Family and tap your name. Make a note of the Apple ID that you're using.
  2. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store and make sure that you're using the same Apple ID.

On your Mac:

  1. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen, choose Apple menu () > System Preferences > iCloud > Manage Family, then click your name. Make a note of the ID that you're using for family purchases.
  2. Open iTunes. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen, choose Account, and make sure that you’re using the same Apple ID. 

On Apple TV:

  1. From the Home Screen, go to Settings > Accounts > iCloud and choose your name. Make a note of the ID.
  2. Click the menu button on the Apple TV remote to return to the Accounts screen, and choose iTunes and App Store. Make sure that you're using the same Apple ID.

Finish setting up Family Sharing

Even if you turned on Family Sharing and Ask to Buy in iCloud, you might need to finish setting up Family Sharing or confirm your Apple ID in the iTunes Store.

You can select Set Up in the "Unable to Ask Permission" message, or you can confirm your account on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac:

  • On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > iCloud > Family and tap your name. If you see Confirm Account under Family Purchases, tap it and follow the onscreen instructions.
  • On your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud > Manage Family and click your name. If you see a Confirm button, click it and follow the onscreen instructions.

Make sure that you're using a supported device

If you're asked to finish setting up Family Sharing from a supported device, use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 8 later or a Mac with OS X Yosemite or later, then finish setting up Family Sharing. Make sure to update to the latest version of iOS.

iOS 8 or later and OS X Yosemite or later are required to set up or join a Family Sharing group and are recommended for full functionality. When you try to initiate a purchase on an unsupported device, you'll still be asked to request permission. However, you won't get a notification when the family organizer approves or declines the request. If the family organizer makes the purchase and your content doesn't download automatically, you can tap the price again to download the item.

Get more help

You can't buy these items if Ask To Buy is turned on for your account:

  • iTunes Match
  • iTunes Gifts
  • Donations

If you try to request one of the above items, you might see one of these messages:

  • "Unable to Ask Permission. Ask to Buy isn't available for this item."
  • "Unable to Send iTunes Gifts. This iTunes account is not currently allowed to send gifts."

Family Sharing requires a personal Apple ID signed in to iCloud and iTunes. Music, movies, TV shows, and books can be downloaded on up to 10 devices per account, five of which can be computers. Not all content is eligible for Family Sharing. Content can be hidden by family members; hidden content is not available for download. If Ask to Buy is turned on for your Apple ID, but you're downloading content from a family member's past purchases, you won't see an Ask to Buy prompt. Also, if you redeem a product code, you won't see Ask to Buy prompts.

Last Modified: