Disable in-app purchases on your iPad
If you are reading this article you
have either read an online post or blog of an unbelievable thousand dollar spending spree with their iPad. How do you expect them to respond when asked "Do you want to purchase Huggy Buddy to save your Kingdom and vanquish the evil witch?" Hopefully you have not experienced this nightmare firsthand? If you have children that have an iPad or you
allow them to use your iPad, one of the first things you will want to do is disable
in-app purchases for all applications.
The truth of the matter is that most
children (and some adults) don’t understand that the virtual money you spend on
the iPad to upgrade free apps to a full version apps or adding a kitty to your special
characters is actually real money billed to Mom or Dads real credit card.
Updating the restriction settings is critical
if you are a multi-family iPad household or your child has his or her own iPad. The so-called "free” apps are notorious
for allowing the purchase additional upgrades packs, add-ons, new characters, new
levels and extra items to make that really cool game even cooler. I guess the expression that nothing in life is
free holds true for the iPad as well.
So how do you disable in-app
purchases? Elementary my Dear Watson… Just think 5 minutes of your time can save
you hundreds and even thousands of dollars. The process is very simple:
- Select the Settings icon.
- Choose
General.
- Choose
Enable Restrictions.
- Create
or enter your pass code when asked.
- Find
In-App Purchases under Restrictions and set it to OFF
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Step 3.
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Step 4.
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Just
that easy and it could literally save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Make yourself familiar and adjust the
restriction settings for other apps as well. There are restrictions to disable YouTube, Safari, iTunes, the deleting
and installing of apps, and other settings that can save you time, money,
frustration and having to have that long conversation about the "Birds and the
Bees” before their pre-teen years. Restrictions does not take the place of parent supervision with a child’s
iPad use however, who wants to watch 2 hours of your child playing "Kitty
Defense 2015” or "Tea Time with Bruno?” (not real apps but you get the idea).
iPad settings for
toddlers and children under 9
My kids are both under the age of
9. Below are the settings I suggest:
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Suggested Settings for IOS 4+
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