How To Enable Password Protection for the App Store: A Step-by-Step Guide
How I finally managed to turn on password protection for App Store purchases on my iPhone
Honestly, at first, I thought this would be straightforward, but man, was I wrong. The options to secure the App Store from accidental or unauthorized purchases are all over the place—hidden somewhere in settings that don’t scream “password security.” If you’re like me and just want to stop kids or even yourself from unknowingly buying apps, here’s what I figured out after a lot of trial and error.
Setting up Screen Time for App Store restrictions (a must-do)
First off, open the Settings app—that’s usually where everything starts. Scroll down a bit, and you’ll see Screen Time. If you’ve never used it before, it might be turned off, so tap Turn On Screen Time. Don’t worry, it’s not as intimidating as it looks. The key is to set a passcode for Screen Time—go to Use Screen Time Passcode. This helps prevent kids or anyone else from getting around your restrictions.
Once Screen Time is enabled, you’ll see options to restrict content and purchases. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle that switch on at the top—I remember it took me a moment to find it. It activates a section where you can control what’s accessible on your device. If you want to make sure no one can buy apps, make in-app purchases, or download anything without your approval, this is where to do it. Just set a passcode for this as well, especially if you want to keep kids out.
Restricting App Store and iTunes purchases
This was the part where I got stuck for a while—because the menu isn’t exactly where I expected. Inside Content & Privacy Restrictions, look for iTunes & App Store Purchases. That’s the crazy spot where you can set whether a password is required for every single purchase, including free apps or in-app buys. I set it to Always Require—on my iPhone, it’s called Require Password and selecting that forces the device to prompt me for a password or biometric authentication for any purchase.
This wasn’t immediately obvious to me. Sometimes it’s under a menu labeled slightly differently depending on iOS version, but if you see Require Password, that’s your cue. The idea: no more sneaky taps leading to accidental charges or kids going wild. Also, enable Require Password for Free Downloads if you want to add an extra layer—because even free stuff rarely needs multiple validations, but better safe than sorry. These options might be buried under layers like Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases. Took me a while to piece it together, honestly.
Making use of Face ID or Touch ID for purchases (if your device supports it)
Most people prefer biometric options these days, and I get it—faster and less annoying. If you want to prevent quick bypasses, go to your Apple ID profile at the top of Settings, tap your name, then navigate to Media & Purchases. From there, tap Password Settings. Here, you can choose whether free downloads, in-app purchases, or all transactions need authentication each time.
On newer iPhones, you might see options like Require Face ID or Require Touch ID. Set these to “Always” or “Immediately,” because if it’s not, someone might just do a quick fingerprint or face scan. These options are tucked away—maybe Apple doesn’t want you to realize how easy it is to disable them. Still, enabling these makes sure that no one can get any purchase through without authentication.
Final tips—what I’d check before feeling confident
Long story short, locking down the App Store with a password (or biometrics) isn’t super obvious at first. It’s buried behind multiple menus—Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases—and it took me multiple tries to get it right. Don’t get discouraged if it’s not perfect the first time; toggling the right options and setting the passcode makes a big difference.
Once everything’s set up, your App Store should ask for a password or biometric authentication every time someone tries to install or buy something. It gives a bit of peace of mind, especially if little hands are on the device. Just remember, these settings can change with iOS updates, so if something looks different next time, a quick check from the latest Apple support docs can save you more frustration.
Hope this helped — it took me way too long to figure out all the layers of menus and settings. Anyway, if you’re trying to keep those accidental or unauthorized buys in check, double-check your Screen Time restrictions, make sure password requirements are active everywhere, and enable Face ID/Touch ID for purchases if possible. Good luck, and may your purchase history stay safe from curious little fingers!