Disable in-app purchases to prevent accidental charges

In-app purchases are charges that happen inside an app — things like extra game levels, premium features, or digital items. By default, most phones and tablets allow these purchases with just a tap. You can turn this off entirely, require a password each time, or set up spending limits. The steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

The most common reason to disable in-app purchases is to protect children from accidentally spending money. Adults sometimes do this too, to avoid impulse buys or to catch themselves before spending. Either way, the process takes less than five minutes and you can change it back anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, select Media & Purchases, then turn off In-App Purchases under the Require Password section.
  • On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, select Controls on Google Play, and toggle off In-App Purchases.
  • You can also set a spending limit instead of blocking purchases entirely, which requires a password before any purchase goes through.
  • If a child makes a purchase before you disable this, contact Apple or Google support with the receipt to request a refund.

How to disable in-app purchases on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap your name at the very top of the screen — this is your Apple ID profile. Scroll down and tap Media & Purchases.

Look for the section labeled "Require Password". You will see a toggle next to "In-App Purchases". If the toggle is green or blue, in-app purchases are currently allowed. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, which means in-app purchases are now blocked. Any attempt to make an in-app purchase will be denied until you turn this back on.

If you want to allow purchases but require a password each time instead of blocking them completely, leave the toggle on. This way, someone would need your Apple ID password to complete any purchase, which catches accidental taps.

How to disable in-app purchases on Android

Open the Google Play app — this is the store where Android apps come from. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner. It looks like a circle with your initial or photo inside.

Tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Controls on Google Play. Look for the option labeled "In-App Purchases" and tap it. You will see a toggle next to "Require authentication for purchases". Tap the toggle to turn it on. This means any in-app purchase will require you to enter your Google password or use your fingerprint before the charge goes through.

If you want to block in-app purchases entirely instead of just requiring a password, look for the option labeled "Restrict In-App Purchases" on the same Controls on Google Play screen. Tap it and select "Block All" from the menu. This prevents any in-app purchase from happening, even with a password.

Setting spending limits instead of blocking purchases

If you want to allow in-app purchases but cap how much can be spent, both Apple and Google offer spending limit options. On iPhone, this is called "Require Password" — you leave it on, which means a password is needed for every purchase. On Android, you can set a monthly spending limit through Google Play Family Library if you have a family account set up.

For Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, and look for Family Library. If you have set up a family group, you can set spending limits for each family member. This is useful if you want to let children make small purchases but prevent large ones.

What to do if someone made an unauthorized purchase

If a child or someone else made an in-app purchase before you disabled this feature, you can request a refund. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, select Media & Purchases, then tap Purchase History. Find the purchase you want to refund, tap it, and select Report a Problem. Explain what happened and Apple will usually refund the charge within a few days.

On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, and select Manage Your Google Play Purchases. Find the purchase, tap it, and select Request a Refund. You have 48 hours from the time of purchase to request a refund on Google Play. After that, refunds are harder to get but you can still contact Google support with the receipt and explain the situation.

Re-enabling in-app purchases when you need them

If you disabled in-app purchases and now want to turn them back on, follow the same steps you used to turn them off. On iPhone, go back to Settings, your name, Media & Purchases, and toggle In-App Purchases back on. On Android, go back to Google Play Settings, Controls on Google Play, and toggle In-App Purchases back on or change your restriction from "Block All" to "Allow All".

You might want to re-enable this if you are buying a game that requires in-app purchases to progress, or if you are setting up a new device and want the flexibility. The setting stays the same until you change it again, so you only need to do this once per device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling in-app purchases affect apps I already own?

No. Disabling in-app purchases only blocks new purchases going forward. Apps you already have will work normally. Features you already paid for will still be there. You are only preventing new charges from happening.

Can I disable in-app purchases for just one app?

Not directly through your phone settings. However, most apps have their own settings where you can turn off purchases or notifications about them. Open the app, look for Settings or Preferences, and search for purchase or payment options. Some apps also let you set a PIN within the app itself.

What happens if I try to make an in-app purchase after disabling it?

The purchase will be blocked and you will see a message saying in-app purchases are not allowed. On iPhone, it will tell you to check your settings. On Android, it will ask you to enable in-app purchases first. Nothing will be charged.

Do I need to disable in-app purchases on each device separately?

Yes. The setting is per device, not per account. If you have an iPhone and an iPad, you need to disable in-app purchases on both. If you have multiple Android phones, you need to change the setting on each one.

Can my child still download free apps if I disable in-app purchases?

Yes. Disabling in-app purchases only blocks charges inside apps. Downloading free apps, free games, and free updates will work normally. Your child just will not be able to spend money on anything within those apps.