How to Disable In-App Purchases on Any Device

In-app purchases (IAPs) are a core part of how mobile apps and games make money. They let users buy virtual currency, unlock premium features, or subscribe to services — all without leaving the app. That convenience is also what makes them a risk, especially on shared devices or accounts used by children. Disabling them entirely is possible on every major platform, but the exact steps and what they actually prevent varies depending on your device, operating system version, and account setup.

What "Disabling In-App Purchases" Actually Does

When you disable IAPs through your device's settings, you're telling the operating system to block the purchase confirmation screen from completing. It doesn't remove IAP options from inside apps — you'll still see "Buy Now" buttons and upgrade prompts. What changes is that tapping those buttons either triggers a password prompt that blocks the transaction or returns an error message saying purchases are restricted.

This is a system-level control, not an app-level one. Individual apps don't have the ability to override it.

How to Disable In-App Purchases on iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

Apple handles IAP restrictions through Screen Time, which replaced the older Restrictions menu in iOS 12 and later.

Steps:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Screen Time
3. If Screen Time isn't already on, tap Turn On Screen Time
4. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
5. Enable the toggle at the top
6. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases
7. Tap In-app Purchases
8. Select Don't Allow

You can also set a Screen Time passcode separate from your device passcode. This is the critical step if you're restricting purchases for a child — without a separate passcode, anyone who knows the device PIN can reverse the restriction.

For Family Sharing setups, parents can manage these settings remotely through Screen Time on their own device, applied to a child's Apple ID.

How to Disable In-App Purchases on Android

Android doesn't have a single unified setting for this because manufacturers customize the interface. The most reliable method goes through the Google Play Store directly.

Steps (Google Play):

1. Open the Play Store app
2. Tap your profile icon (top right)
3. Tap Settings
4. Tap Authentication
5. Tap Require authentication for purchases
6. Select For all purchases through Google Play on this device

This requires your Google account password (or biometric) for every purchase, including IAPs. It's not a hard block the way iOS Screen Time is — it's an authentication gate. Someone with access to your Google credentials can still complete purchases.

For stricter control on Android, particularly for children's devices, Google Family Link lets parents approve or block purchases entirely from a parent account. This works differently from the Play Store authentication setting and provides more direct oversight.

Samsung devices running One UI have an additional layer through Parental Controls in Digital Wellbeing settings, though this varies by Android version and device model.

How to Disable In-App Purchases on Windows (Microsoft Store)

For Windows devices using the Microsoft Store:

1. Go to Microsoft Family Safety (via family.microsoft.com or the Family Safety app)
2. Select the child's account
3. Under Spending, toggle off the ability to make purchases, or set spending limits

Alternatively, you can require a password for every Microsoft Store purchase through your account settings under Payment & billing.

How to Disable In-App Purchases on Consoles 🎮

PlayStation: Parental controls in the PS4/PS5 settings allow you to restrict purchases under Family Management via the PlayStation website. Monthly spending limits are also available.

Xbox: Microsoft Family Safety covers Xbox too. You can require purchase approvals or set spending limits per child account through the same dashboard used for Windows.

Nintendo Switch: Under Parental Controls (either on-device or through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app), you can restrict purchases and eShop access entirely.

Key Variables That Affect Which Approach Works for You

Not every method delivers the same level of protection, and a few factors determine how effective your chosen approach will be:

That last point is worth noting. Apps that handle billing through their own payment systems — rather than Apple's or Google's — won't be caught by these device-level restrictions. This is increasingly common with subscription-based services that set up direct billing relationships with users.

The Difference Between Restricting and Truly Blocking 🔒

There's a meaningful gap between requiring authentication and fully preventing purchases. Requiring a password is a friction-based control — it slows things down and catches accidental taps. Screen Time with a separate passcode or Family Link approval requirements are closer to hard blocks, because the person using the device can't self-authorize.

If the goal is protecting a child's device, a friction-based control alone is rarely sufficient. Kids in the 8–14 range often figure out workarounds quickly, especially if they've seen a parent enter a PIN.

Which level of control is appropriate — and which platform tools are available to you — depends on your specific device ecosystem, account configuration, and who you're trying to restrict. The right setting for a parent managing a child's iPad looks very different from an adult trying to prevent accidental purchases on their own phone.