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

[mary]

My nephew racked up $100; I'm grateful he showed some restraint. I'm contacting both apple and paypal about it. Android market has a different policy, downloading free apps doesn't require password, so this doesn't happen on my regular android...

[jay]

Posted by: Moe Jackson | 01/15/2011 at 12:54 AM

Moe. Blow it out your ass you elitist prick. For all of your belly aching about "lazy westerners" (sounds like your typical european blah blah blah to me) wanting everything quick easy and free, you kinda sound like an app developer yourself wanting to do a cash grab and be set for life from app development.

don't sit and act like the app developers don't know EXACTLY what they're doing. there's a reason the fine print is fine and it sounds like you're one of the many who is more thn happy to to pull a "hey .... look over there" while profiting.

less ego there would do you some good.

[Tom]

My 7 year old downloaded Bug Village FREE app. He was actually careful not to select an app that is not free. However, all of us in the family were completely unaware of the in app purchase feature that is on iPod enabled by default. He was playing a game for about 30 minutes and the charges on my credit card hit close to $150. I got a notification from my CC bank that restricted my CC card. We would not even notice this if the bank had not send us a notification. Everything in this whole process looks and feels like a scam.

Apple promised to credit back these charges (one-time thing), but we are still "fighting" about the last charge that was declined by my credit card. They red flagged my account as a non-payer and they insist on me to pay for it and then they may be able to refund it. I do not understand why they cannot just cancel/delete this last order.

I thank Apple for promising to credit back these, but I think it would be easier and more professional if in app purchase are disabled by default and then if user wants them they get a little screen explaining all of the process. My iPod came with little few pages start up I used to turn it on. I did not like the fact I needed to put my CC information there before making purchases, but I had to in order to activate my account. I am not sure how these in app purchase incidents do not worry Apple because they are seriously undermining its reputation and customers' trust into Apple. I, for one matter, was on the verge of buying Apple MacBook Pro and after this decided not to go with it. iPhone is also out of question now. Sorry kids.

[Joe]

I have checked after I realised that my 7 yr old was using tap zoo and trade nations - in 4 days I jave been billed £400 so far - I have contacted my CC company and am waiting a reply
This is dispicable and cannot believe it is legal as young children have had iPods for Xmas and there is no clear warnings .
It is preying on naive children as this games are designed to attract them - I am fuming I am a police officer and the only way I can describe this is as a scam and apple and iTunes should have legal action taken against them - preying on young children - my son was in tears - I have had to explain to him he had done nothing wrong - he thought he was playing a free game as advertised - he always asks. If there are any password prompts but this game just debits the account without prompting - so angry !!! - criminality at it's worst as they are hiding behind small print when unfortunate people stumble into their pitfalls!!

[Debbie]

I got hit by my daughter playing the "free" smurf game. The first was $10, second was $99 and then two additional charges for $50 each. All in 15 minutes! Huge scam. I emailed itunes and have heard nothing. Decided to dispute with AMEX as well. Hopefully something works. Glad to see I can disable this on my Ipad so it doesn't happen in the future.

[Sunny]

Joining the club,.... My 7 year old kid bought some gems(not real ones!!) worth $250 on some IPAD story apps by Teamlava and ..it looks like a ripoff...I think if the games are free, there should not be any inapp purchases allowed for such games...!!

[Keely]

Mo - Nice to see profiling is alive and well - every parent who lets their child use an ipod/ipad is a slack jawed idiot who deserves to get ripped off? Lovely.

1- my 8 year old has an Ipad that was purchased along with communication software. Because of his severe mitochondrial disease, he cannot talk, though he is as bright as any other 8 year old - the damage to his movement centre in his brain however has left him with no control of his tongue so he is completely non-verbal. The Ipad has given him a voice - literally - he types, and it talks for him. Many parents are like myself - using the device as a device to assist disabled children. Many others feel that by introducing their child at a young age to the best technology they can, will only benefit them and prepare them for a future in an increasingly technological future. Others (like myself once more) have children with severe disabilities or health problems and the device is a chance to give their child something they can learn from and use as a distraction at rough times - our ipod got most of it's hours in hospitals and clinics - a child who cannot get out of his wheelchair can get pretty bored in a hospital or clinic waiting room.

I assume your slackjawed comment was not directed at folks like myself but rather the (minority I suspect) parents who choose to keep their kids quiet and occupied and babysat (something i agree is terrible). Unfortunately you didn't distinguish and instead made a statement that likely left alot of parents feeling like garbage when they don't need to. Might as well start saying all black people are dangerous, or anyone with cable is just trying to ignore their kids - it's profiling, it's assumptious and it's completely ignorant.

Lastly - while I agree with small charges for in-app purchases -$1-$5 even $10 - absolutely - quality games are not free to design.

But my 6 year old who cannot read sat down with smurf village for 25 minutes, and in that time managed to accidentaly drop over $500 on smurfberries. A game CLEARLY designed for children, that is literally 2 clicks away from dropping $100 charge on mom's credit card is a SCAM. Not only that - it's a disgusting scam that hones in on children.

Nominal charges, token purchases, a few dollars here and there - fine - you are absolutely right that designers need a way to recoup costs and that is a legitimate one. But any app that handholds a 6 year old through hundreds of dollars of purchases is Fraud in my opinion - it is absolutely unacceptable, and definitely a 'scam' in my books.

Thankfully, in our case, Itunes was fantastic and quickly refunded us the $500+ charges.

[Jeanne]

Thank you for this! My kids accidentally spent $45, I'm glad for the emails that keep me informed of purchases.

[Me]

Yep $100 for Truck load of Bucks???? Didn't even know what happened.

[Rollins]

My two boys have racked up 300+ in purchases, thankfully not on my credit card, they used their own money (gift cards given for Christmas and Birthdays), when they realized what they had done they are heartbroken over this, this was their entertainment budget (to buy movies, music and tv shows), and it was wasted on smurfberries.
I am glad Apple is getting sued for it, I hope they take Apple to the cleaners for this.

[Jasmin]

My daughter purchased a free game app called City Friends. She EASILY was able to purchase 300 points to build a city all for the great price of $49.99
Major SCAM! Go to youtube.com and search for how to get a refund for an iphone app or Ipod app its very informative. Thank you for the info on how to disable "in app purchases" it's websites like this that really helps all parents out!!

[Barb Di NArdo]

I just received a $100 bill from itunes. My daughter bought an in app purchase of a chest of gold. I didnt authorise this but it was within the 15 minute window of getting another APP.
I have written to APPLE already and contacted Visa. VIsa is on board but I hope that Apple will spare me the trouble.
Thank you for this I am now spreading the word to my friends

[Tibby]

My 2 year old spent 10euro on in app purchases while using TALKING TOM. She subscribed to 'cuddly TV'. Phone company would not reimburse me and they could not even identify the company I was subscribed too!!! They suggested that I should send a STOP text. I did not know how she managed to buy without my password. It happened a second time and still phone company did not mention that I had the option to turning off in app purchases. Needless to say I deleted TALKING TOM.

[Madhav]

After my son spent over $300 using in-App purchase feature, Which were not of any use, I realize how companies pay millions of dollars to individuals who come up with these people deceiving ideas, Being a hands-on IT guy from last 15 years and big fan of Apple Products, Now I started speculating it.

Apple Please stop these cheap ideas to be implemented in your products.

[Amin]

suddenly I found bill of 360$ in four payment within one minut in my credit card for free game circus city ,it free game and only purchase tickit from my child inside the game ,this is really not good for apple to make this open and make us loosing in this stupid way

[Aerin]

This is the form I was sent to request a reversal:

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact.html?form=account&topic=iTunes%20Store%20Account%20and%20Billing&subtopic=Billing%20Inquiries

[Lenie]

Thank you for this. My 7 year old daughter ran up a bill of £213 sterling on 4 in app purchases from a free game called TinyZoo. Apple were very helpful & refunded the money but these total cons shouldn't be allowed on the app store to begin with.

[Val]

My 7 year old daughter bought two inApp purchases for 99.99 within a free game. Does anyone know how to get a refund. I already emailed apple customer support, since it paid with my paypal account, I wonder if I can go thru paypal to get a refund...this is a scam that targets kids. Apple should be ashamed

[Ant]

My naivety and my nephew's ingenuity cost me around $130 in Zombie Farm. I could not work out how a 'free app' could end up costing so much!

[Lynn]

I just got a $4.99 charge--not bad, considering what it could have been. I'm hoping I'm not going to get more that haven't come through yet! Eep! Meant to disable awhile ago, but because we don't play major games, I didn't think it would be a worry. Guess so...

[SilverKITEH]

Notice something?

All of the kids that cause these problems are around 3-8.

If parents didn't put their credit card in the hands of little 5 year olds maybe it wouldn't happen.

Get brains and give your kids something less risky. It's your own stupidity that puts you into these issues. Little kids don't need ipods and iphones, and I don't understand why parents give young kids these items. I mean, I'm 15 and I know more common sence then that.

[Pamela]

I set up a second account for iTunes and i didnt Put a credit card on it. If you make purchases from iTunes, buy gift cards to prevent this.

[Cris]

Thank u very much im having the same problem im receiving receipts from itunes and my 2 year old boy is the one using this ipod

[Rosalie]

Thanks for the advice.

[Chris Pimentel Esq.]

I got a bill of about $55. They absolutely know what they are doing and we should consider a class action. That might just shut it down.