Are you visiting small villages around the world and having fun letting the local kids play with your iPad (or iPhone)? This can be a lot of fun – for you as well as the kids. But it is all too easy for your hard-earned money to be accidentally spent via in-app purchases. Especially when the kids don’t know your native language to understand the notice that asks if they are sure they want to make the purchase.
You can alleviate this concern by turning off in-app purchases. It is easy enough to turn the feature back on when you want to make a purchase.
I just turned mine back on to buy Spanish lessons — and not bothering to turn the feature back off, I almost made an accidental purchase because my fingers were sweaty and I am tired.
How to:
Launch Settings and choose General, then select Restrictions.
(Settings -> General -> Restrictions)
Set up a password as required. This can be different from your devices main password. Just be SURE TO REMEMBER IT — as with all passwords. If this is only to protect against curious local kids from accidentally spending your money it can be your usual easy password. (If it’s for your kid, bear in mind that kids can know passwords and you might not even have a clue.)
Under Allowed Content, slide the slider for In-App Purchases to Off.
That’s it. Now go have fun again.