Enable In-App Purchases on iPhone

How to Enable In-App Purchases on iPhone.

Learn how to enable in-app purchases on your iPhone if they’re blocked or not working. This is a common issue, especially on phones that have Screen Time turned on.

I’ll show you the steps to turn in-app purchases back on using Settings. I’m using iOS 26 Beta on an iPhone 16 Pro Max, but these steps work the same on all iPhone models including iPhone 15, iPhone 14, and older versions.

Why Your In-App Purchases Might Be Blocked

If you try to buy something in an app or game and get an error, Screen Time restrictions are often the cause. Screen Time has a setting that can block in-app purchases entirely. This is useful if you want to prevent accidental spending, but it also stops purchases when you actually want to make them.

Step-by-Step: Enable In-App Purchases

Follow these steps to allow in-app purchases on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap Screen Time
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
4. You may need to enter your Screen Time passcode
5. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases (or “App Installations & Purchases” depending on your iOS version)
6. Tap In-App Purchases
7. Change it to Allow

Once you do this, you should be able to make purchases inside apps again.

How to Set Password Requirements for Purchases

While you’re in the same menu, you can also control when your password is required:

1. Go back to iTunes & App Store Purchases
2. Tap Require Password
3. Choose either:

• Always Required – safer, asks for your password every time
• Don’t Require – purchases go through faster but less secure

I suggest keeping it on Always Required. This way you confirm every purchase and avoid accidental charges.

What to Do If You Forgot Your Screen Time Passcode

If you don’t remember your Screen Time passcode, here’s what to try:

• On iOS 15 and later, you can reset it using your Apple ID and password
• Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode
• Tap “Forgot Passcode?” and follow the prompts

If that doesn’t work, you may need to restore your iPhone from a backup or contact Apple Support.

How to Turn In-App Purchases Back Off

Learn how to re-disable purchases after you’re done. This is useful if you share your phone with kids or just want to prevent accidental spending.

After you make your purchase:

1. Go back to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
2. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases
3. Tap In-App Purchases
4. Change it to Don’t Allow

This turns the block back on. You can repeat these steps whenever you need to make another purchase.

Important Things to Know

This only works if you already have a payment method set up
Enabling in-app purchases does not add a credit card or payment method to your Apple ID. You need to set that up separately in Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping.

Not all purchase problems are caused by Screen Time
If you still can’t make purchases after changing this setting, check:

• Your Apple ID payment method is valid and not expired
• You have enough funds (if using store credit)
• The app itself isn’t having server issues

Use this feature carefully
Only turn on in-app purchases when you actually need to buy something. Turning them back off afterward helps avoid surprise charges, especially on devices that kids use.

Final Tips

• Screen Time is the main place where in-app purchases get blocked
• You need your Screen Time passcode to change this setting
• Always require a password for safer purchases
• Turn purchases back off after you’re done if you want to keep restrictions in place

If you need help with iPhone payment settings, App Store permissions, or troubleshooting purchase issues, let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.