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How-To: Turn off in-app purchases on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

Categories: How-To, iOS / iPhone OS
By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 at 1:22 AM
In-app purchase iOS

In-app purchase iOS

With in-app purchases getting increasingly popular among iOS developers, it’s easy to spend a small fortune on extra functionalities modern apps offer. Some of the apps sell access to additional content and features, whereas games are known to offer character upgrades, new weapons and other enhancements that ultimately help you win. Although most in-app purchases ask for small amounts, it all easily adds up to the rising iTunes bill.

That said you may want to consider turning them off. This is especially true if your phone is used by someone else, too. Notably if you have a child, he or she may be tempted to spice up an existing app or game with a small enhancement. Luckily there’s an option to prevent (or least manage) that.

  1. Go to “Settings” -> “General”.
  2. Scroll to “Restrictions” and tap the “Enable Restrictions” button.
  3. You’ll be asked to set a passcode which will be used to lock certain iOS functions.
  4. Scroll down to the “Allowed Content” section and slide the “In-App Purchases” to “Off.”

Once you’re done, only those who know the passcode you’ve set in the third step will be able to spend your hard-earned money on in-app purchases. It’s that easy. ;)

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • dk

    this is gay

  • Macdaddypooty

    dk is a closet homo. what a fag.

  • Antonela Batina

    thanks for an answer. :)

  • Shannon

    Thank you for an easy answer that saved me lots of money from a 4 year old shop-a-holic!

  • Blankita

    thank you SOOOOO much!!! I after I saw that my 4 year old bought 25$ worth of stuff in a 0.99$ game I called my service provider and they gave me a bogus answer, thank God for Google ;) you made my day !