The phone setting most parents don’t know is switched on – and it could cost you big money this summer

Parental controls settings are rather complicated, whatever device you have. Even Apple’s iPhone and iPad Screen Time features are not the most simple thing to navigate. But beyond the thorny issue of time limits, there’s one issue that could actually cost you big money – and that’s the problem of app purchasing and the accompanying menace of in-app purchases.

We’ve all heard the horror stories of children running up huge bills. One girl ran up a $11,400/£8500 bill on Apple’s App Store for example. But will bills of that severity are somewhat unlikely, there’s one setting you absolutely must check, whether you have an Apple or Android device. It’ll take you just a few minutes and will be absolutely worth it.

Turn off App Store purchases in Screen Time on Apple devices

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Screen Time
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Turn Content & Privacy Restrictions on
5. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases
6. Under In-app Purchases, select Don’t Allow

Got Apple Family Sharing set up?

If you have an Apple device with Family Sharing set up, you should turn on Ask to Buy, which blocks all purchases until they are approved:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap your Apple ID at the top and select Family (Family may be displayed as a separate entry at the top of the Settings menu )
3. Choose your child’s name
4. Switch Ask to Buy on

For Android devices

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Tap your profile picture
3. Go to Payments & subscriptions
4. Select Payment verification
5. Turn on Biometric Verification for purchases. Choose ‘Always’ so you’re always asked.

Use Google Family Link

You can also use Google Family Link to approve purchases by going to Settings > Family > Manage family members.

James Brown, Director at Protect Your Bubble commented on the issues surrounding app purchasing, “This is a common mishap many parents experience, either themselves accidentally purchasing something, or indeed their children.

“It’s easy to assume that payments need passwords or additional approval; however, many devices and accounts allow instant spending once a card is saved to the account. The simplest way to stop this happening is to turn off one-touch payments and require approval for every purchase.”

Also read: Screen Time = scream time. Why parents need more human device tracking