How to Prevent In-App Purchases on Android

How to Stop Accidental In-App Purchases on Android.

Did you or someone in your family ever accidentally buy something inside a game or app? It happens way too easily, especially with quick fingerprint or face scan approvals. Learn how to lock down the Google Play Store to require your full account password for every single purchase. This is the best way to prevent surprise charges.

I’ll show you how to change this setting on your Android phone. We used a Sony Xperia 1V running Android 14, but the steps are almost identical on most Android devices.

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How to Require a Password for All Purchases

This is the main setting you need to change. It makes sure no purchase goes through without you manually typing your password.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your phone.
2. Tap your profile picture or icon in the top right corner.
3. From the menu that appears, tap Settings.
4. In the Settings menu, tap on Authentication.
5. Now, tap on Require authentication for purchases.
6. You will see a few options. For the strongest protection, select For all purchases through Google Play on this device.

Learn How to Disable Biometric Authentication

Even with the above setting on, your phone might still try to use your fingerprint or face to approve purchases. Here’s how to turn that off and force it to ask for a password every single time.

1. Stay in the same Authentication menu in the Google Play Store settings (follow steps 1-4 above).
2. Look for an option called Biometric authentication and tap on it.
3. You will see a toggle switch. Make sure this is set to Off.
4. You might be asked to enter your Google account password to confirm this change.

Now, the Play Store cannot use your fingerprint or face ID to approve a payment. It will always require your full password, making it much harder to buy something by mistake.

Why This Setting is So Important

Changing this isn’t just about preventing accidents. It’s about taking control of your wallet.

• Stop Accidental Buys: It prevents a stray tap during a game from costing you real money.
• Parental Control: This is essential if kids use your device. They might not understand that those shiny “gems” or “coins” in a game actually cost real money.
• Extra Security: Requiring a password adds a strong layer of security against anyone else who might use your phone.

Taking these two minutes to adjust your settings can save you a lot of hassle and money down the road. It gives you complete control and peace of mind.