How To Disable In-App Purchases

I imagine many parents have received unexpected charges from the iTunes store because of accidental inapp purchases.  There are many scam-like apps out there that are free but have inapp purchases of fish, coins, etc. for $5, $50, even $100. This issue has come to the forefront of American conscious in the past week, as this story about a California mother who noticed over $60.00 of charges had been racked up in one game. So what can you do? How do you turn off in app purchasing?

To avoid unexpected charges from in-app purchases, the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad are equipped with the ability to disable in app purchases, thus disabling the potential for your child to accidentally spend money on those “free” apps.

To turn off in-app purchases, go to the Settings panel of your device and select “General.”
 
 

Next, select “Restrictions,” where you will be prompted to enter your 4-digit security pass code. If you have not already established a code, go ahead and do so now. This will prevent older children from being able to simply un-do any restrictions that you have set.
 
 

After your pass code has been entered, the “Restrictions” screen will appear. Scroll down to “Allowed Content,” and switch “In-App Purchases” to the Off position. 
 

In addition to turning off in-app purchases, parents should always be wary of anytime iTunes asks for your password and you are not purchasing an app. Often times, this may be a free app that is asking to purchase additional in-app items for play.

With just a few simple steps, you’ll be able to allow your child to download free apps without worrying about any hidden charges from in app purchases.

Did you get hurt by accidental in-app purchases? Please leave us a comment.

Comments

[Alex Hamlin]

My son ran up $30 in charges in a game called mega jump back in August. I contacted apple and they reversed the charges but very clearly said it was one time only. They disabled my account and made me jump through hoops to get it reinstated. At no point did they tell me how to disable in app purchases, despite my asking directly. I had to figure it out on my own. They are making too much money on in app purchases from people that don't pay attention to their bill to make it easy.

[Santiago]

My litlle son bougth 100 dolars, this article needed to two weeks ago, thanks.

[Lau]

I learned this lesson the hard way myself, although my damage was limited to EUR 10,- only. Apple should turn OFF in-app purchases by DEFAULT in their firmware as I'm quite sure many others have fallen victim to this trap (or commercial scheme).

Steve, fix it!

[J]

Tonight my son did 3 in-app charges of $43.00 each!! I just got a call from my credit card company and I had to cancel my card because itunes was trying to charge my card more....all with in an hour!! How can itunes get away what apparently seems to be a scam!!!!!! These are FREE children's apps.....they know exactly what they are doing!!

[Dar Al Khaleej Plastics (DAK)]

wow! i should be careful

[tammi]

Just found this article after an internet search. Just today saw that my son racked up $150 of in-app charges on the ipod we got him for Christmas from "free apps". ARGH. So frustrating.
Thanks for this article. Wish I had seen it yesterday. :/

[darrow andrews]

I got hit with $180 today, from my 5 year old son... free apps indeed

[MIranda Leis]

My 7 year old son was playing a restaurant game on his ipod touch, which was a free app. He purchase "gems" for $69.95 which was charged to my credit card. This is completely ridiculous. Hoping I will somehow get the charges reversed.

[Gym]

My nephew did the same. Usd40 gone. I thought every time we need to purchase will need to enter I-tune account password. But it's not, after a 1 time enter of password (1st time my nephew download a free app) I jus enter the iTunes password for her. After 4 days, I receive scary receipt from my mail.
I believe iTunes won't make this stupid mistake or maybe a commercial scheme. I try it my self, must hav a password prompt when I purchase an app. Ya sorry dear, no password require cause I already enter before this. another 0.99usd gone.
So beware... iTunes password not prompt every time u going to download an app. After a 1 time enter it will store for a certain time and tis certain time I hope ur kids not buy a 69.90 F1 App. Good luck all iPhone owner.

[Eric R]

Kids bought 2 $49 coin packs in Touch Pets Dogs 2. I tried the toll free number on the CC statement, but it was just an automated voice recording telling me to go to the itunes support area. After 2 hours of searching, with no results, I called the credit card company, and they agreed to reverse the charge, and they would deal with the itunes store. They said they regularly saw these charges being disputed, and they didn't expect any problems with the dispute.

[steve]

Seems to be the tip of the iceberg, my 8 year old spent 200$ on some farm game in one evening , she is was adamant that it was free and cant grasp the idea of inapp purchases. I find this really bad on Apple's side as this seems to be scamming the young and weak in society and as i told my kid they could have fed some african kid for six months for that money! Contacted my credit card company for a reversal see how that goes but won't take this lying down , considering how many legit apps Apple refuse this is pure obscene.

[Angela]

I never added our credit card to my daughters itouch. We just buy itunes cards whenever we need them to purchase things on it. This way it just won't allow her to purchase anything unless she already has a credit there.

[alex]

ditto all comments above ... however, i think i win with my child racking up $650 of in-ap purchases! i'm contacting my credit card and am hopeful that they will reverse the charges. itunes support wouldn't do anything and just referred me to my credit card. we'll see. this all seems criminal ... sad to see respectable apple letting this go on.

[William R. Beversdorf]

I am very disappointed that a quality company like Apple works with software vendors who take advantage of an unsuspecting public. Downloading apps advertised as "free" which then encourage "in-app" purchases that do not even require a password is totally unethical. My strong recommendation is that Apple discontinue supporting such companies as it reflects heavily on Apples credibility. I learned my lesson but it cost me hundreds of dollars. A very frustrating first experience with Apple.

[berna]

I do share your pain and equally surprised that Apple will let this go on. I am very disappointed. They should at least ask for password again when you do inapp purchases. Some vendors have $100+ inapp purchases for just for a single item. This is clearly a scam, who would willingly make a single $100 inapp purchase :(
Please tell me the name of the apps that made you fall into this trap and I will make a "list of apps" to avoid.

[Louise Whiten]

My sons recently purchased over $400.00 worth of bones in Touch Pet Dogs 2. They were very upset when they realized what they had done but thought they needed to enter the password to continue the game. The bone nad coin bundles vary in price from 4.99 to up to $99.00! Totally unethical but a lesson learned for my husband and I. I would just hate for it to happen to a child with less understanding parents.

[Pam]

I just want to say thank you for writing this article. I too just purchased an iPod touch
for each of my children for Christmas. Although, we use iTunes cards for their accounts rather than credit cards I would hate to see their fifty dollar iTunes gift card eaten up on things they didn't know they were buying. The interesting thing is I looked up how to set up parental controls on the touch prior to allowing them to use them and this wasn't mentioned at all.

[Sue]

Thank you for this article! I had my ccard company reverse the charge, it was effortless. But the principle of those apps charging the account without having a password restriction, is unacceptable. I cannot alwasy monitor what my son does on my iPhone that he uses for games. Frustrating and eventually will have legal ramifications.

[rebecca]

This just happened to me! My 6 year old bought over $100 on in-app purchases from a "free" smurf game. If someone has been successful reversing the charges, can you provide the phone number to call here? Been on the apple support site for some time and unable to find a customer service number. Thanks.

[Kenny UK]

Got hit with one invoice for £59 "WAGON OF SMURFBERRIES " this is certainly something that was not intentionally purchased rom within the application Smurfs' Village" by my 7 year old via a free app. iTunes have ageed to refund the £59 as a one off and did give the advice above on how to disable loading In-App purchases. Next day I recieved 5 other invoices totaling £187 all against Tap Zoo: Christmas. These In-aps were also prior to disabling the Ipod. I have written to iTunes to highlight this was ALL part of the same issue but I doubt I will get the refund.. there must be many parents getting hit with these charges especially following the Christmas period..... last thing I need after the expense of Chrismas... Not Good News ...

[dawn]

Free game (Tap Zoo: Christmas), $99.99 for a Trunk of Snowflakes. Unbelievable and should be illegal! The part that really gets me is that the game uses a coin icon, that's what my daughter thought she was "paying" with. Also beware of Trade Nation- free app, uses a coin icon in the game also, but costs money for "Magic Beans". Just turned off the In-App Purchases and going to contact my CC company tomorrow, wish me luck!

[Robert - US]

I was hit with over $150.00 today which will make it difficult to make my bills on time this month. I plan to file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's office if I do not receive a quick refund.

[Drew]

Great article and more parents need to be aware of this. I personally haven't had this issue myself as my daughter is only 17 months and still far to young to be playing with my iPod Touch but I've already turned In App Purchases off so I don't make the purchase by a mistake or if any friends or family members are using my device and make the purchase by mistake.

The sad thing is companies are getting away with this. They release cute little apps to appeal to children (Smurf's Village for instance) then once in the game they have in game currency or items available through In App Purchase that they know children will want to buy. This is wrong and Apple should be cracking down on these developers. There is no reason at all that games should have $99.99 In App Purchases for things like smurfberries. There should be a limit or Apple should have a system in place that freezes your account if it notices a lot of transactions for In App Purchases all in a short period of time.

As much as I like the App Store and all the games I've purchased from it which is over a couple hundred I can honestly say I've disliked the In App Purchase system since it was first introduced.

[Courtney]

My kids bought over $600+ of in-application stuff; thing like a wagon of smurfberries. We were stunned. I called apple, and the guy instructed me to write an email to iTunes, and showed me where to go on the website. They reversed the charges within a day. It is a huge scam. I have now setup the Ipad with an account that doesnt' have a credit card, and also to not allow in-app purchases. It is a setting in the iPad system. Otherwise, I'll get in trouble next time I want to buy anything.

[John]

Just received $200 bill for multiple in app purchases I did not authorize.