The quickest way to disable in-app purchases

You can turn off in-app purchases on most phones and tablets through your device settings, without uninstalling apps or changing passwords. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, iPad, or Android device — each has its own control panel for this. Once you disable it, apps can still run normally, but they cannot charge you for extras like coins, levels, or premium features.

The reason to do this is straightforward: in-app purchases are easy to trigger by accident, especially on devices used by children. A single tap on a "buy now" button can charge your payment method before you see a confirmation. Disabling the feature removes that risk entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store, then set In-App Purchases to "Don't Allow".
  • On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select Settings > Family > Parental Controls, and toggle off "In-app purchases".
  • Disabling in-app purchases does not remove apps you already have or change your password — apps will still work normally.
  • If you disable the feature and later want to make a purchase, you will need to turn it back on in the same settings menu.

How to disable in-app purchases on iPhone and iPad

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Screen Time, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions near the bottom. You may need to enter your Screen Time passcode if you set one up.

Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases. You will see three options: Allow, Ask, and Don't Allow. Select Don't Allow. This blocks all in-app purchases on that device, regardless of which app you are using.

If you do not see Screen Time in your Settings, your device is running an older version of iOS. In that case, go to Settings > Parental Controls > iTunes & App Store, and toggle off In-App Purchases instead.

How to disable in-app purchases on Android

Open the Google Play Store app. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Family, then Parental Controls.

Toggle the switch next to Parental Controls to turn it on. You will be asked to create a PIN — this is a four-digit code that prevents anyone from changing these settings without your permission. Write it down or save it somewhere safe.

Once Parental Controls is on, tap In-app purchases and select Don't Allow. The setting takes effect immediately across all apps on that device.

What happens after you disable in-app purchases

Apps will continue to work exactly as they did before. Games will still load, social media apps will still show your feed, and streaming apps will still play videos. The only thing that changes is that tapping a "buy" button will no longer process a charge.

When someone tries to make an in-app purchase on a device where you have disabled it, they will see a message saying the feature is not allowed. On iPhone, it says "In-App Purchases are not allowed." On Android, it says "In-app purchases are disabled."

Apps cannot bypass this setting. Even if an app is designed to push purchases heavily, it cannot override your device's restriction.

Turning in-app purchases back on if you need to make a purchase

If you want to buy something inside an app later, you will need to reverse the setting. On iPhone, go back to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases and select Allow or Ask instead of Don't Allow. On Android, go to Google Play Store > Settings > Family > Parental Controls > In-app purchases and select Allow.

You do not need to restart your phone or the app. The change takes effect immediately. After you finish making your purchase, you can disable it again using the same steps.

Why "Ask" is different from "Don't Allow"

On iPhone, you have the option to select Ask instead of Don't Allow. This means that every time someone tries to make an in-app purchase, the device will ask for your Apple ID password before charging. This is useful if you want to allow purchases but want a moment to review each one before it goes through.

Android does not have an "Ask" option for in-app purchases — you can only allow or disallow them entirely. If you want more control on Android, you can set up a separate user account with Parental Controls enabled, which gives you more granular options for what each account can do.

Setting up in-app purchase controls for a child's device

If you are setting up a phone or tablet for a child, disabling in-app purchases is one of several steps you should take. On iPhone, you can also restrict access to specific apps, prevent app deletion, and block explicit content — all in the same Screen Time menu. On Android, Parental Controls lets you set age-appropriate content filters and screen time limits.

If you set a PIN or passcode to protect these settings, keep it somewhere only you can access. A child who knows the PIN can change the restrictions themselves. If you forget your own PIN, you will need to reset your device to remove the restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling in-app purchases affect my existing apps or subscriptions?

No. Apps you already have will continue to work, and subscriptions you are already paying for will keep renewing. Disabling in-app purchases only prevents new charges from being made. If you want to cancel a subscription, you will need to do that separately in your app store settings.

Can I disable in-app purchases for just one app instead of all apps?

Not through the built-in device settings. Both iPhone and Android apply the restriction to every app at once. If you want to block purchases in a specific app only, you can uninstall that app or use parental controls to restrict access to it entirely, but you cannot selectively disable purchases for one app while allowing them in others.

What if someone enters my password while in-app purchases are disabled?

They still cannot make a purchase. The device-level restriction overrides everything else. Even if someone has your Apple ID password or Google account password, they cannot bypass the in-app purchase block you set up.

Do I need to change my password after disabling in-app purchases?

No. Disabling in-app purchases does not involve your password at all. It is a separate setting on your device. Your passwords remain the same, and you do not need to update them.

Will the app store let me know if I try to make a purchase with this disabled?

Yes. You will see a clear message on your device saying that in-app purchases are not allowed. The app will not charge you, and you will not be able to proceed with the purchase until you change the setting back to Allow.