Turn on Ask to Buy so your child needs your OK to buy

Why it happens

When a child in your family buys something, it's charged to the family organiser's payment method. Without Ask to Buy, nothing stops them buying apps, games or in-app extras. Ask to Buy sends you a request first, and it works for family members under 18.

How to fix it

1. Sign in as the family organiser, or as a parent or guardian in the family. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Family.

2. Click your child's name, then Ask To Buy.

   Family›your child's name›Ask To Buy

3. Click Turn On Ask to Buy. If you see a Require Purchase Approval switch (macOS 26), turn it on. The screen then says Purchase approval required.

4. From now on, when your child tries to buy or download something, you get a request on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Approve or decline it there.

On macOS 27 there is no separate Require Purchase Approval switch: Turn On Ask to Buy is enough. On macOS 26, turn that switch on as well if you see it.

Still not fixed?

1. Ask to Buy only works if your child has their own Apple Account in your family. If they use your account on their device, their purchases count as yours, so set them up with their own account.

2. It isn't offered for family members 18 or older. Check your child's age is set correctly in their account.

3. To stop in-app purchases altogether, use Screen Time for your child. Look in Content & Privacy for store and purchase options.

   Screen Time›Content & Privacy

4. For purchases you didn't mean to allow, you can ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com. Sign in with the account that paid.

5. If a refund request is declined or purchases still go through without asking, contact Apple Support.