One accidental tap on a “buy gems” button can turn a free kids’ game into a surprisingly expensive hobby. In older iOS versions, blocking in-app purchases was easy — there was a dedicated Restrictions menu. But iOS 12 moved everything around, and many parents found the old path gone. Here is exactly where the setting lives now, and how to lock it down for good.
Where the Restrictions menu went in iOS 12
Before iOS 12, you would go to Settings > General > Restrictions. Apple removed that menu in iOS 12 and folded all parental controls into Screen Time — the capability is still there, just one level deeper. Apple documents the current path in its guide to using Screen Time to manage a child’s iPhone or iPad, and MacRumors covered the move when iOS 12 launched.
How to block in-app purchases step by step
Grab the iPhone or iPad you want to lock down and follow these steps:
- Open Settings > Screen Time. If Screen Time is not on yet, tap “Turn On Screen Time” and choose “This is My Child’s iPhone” on a kid’s device.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted. If you have not set one, tap “Use Screen Time Passcode” and create a four-digit code your kids cannot guess.
- Make sure the main toggle is on. Content & Privacy Restrictions must be switched on (green) — none of the sub-settings do anything while it is off.
- Open “iTunes & App Store Purchases.” This section controls everything related to buying from Apple’s stores.
- Set In-App Purchases to “Don’t Allow.” This is the key setting: it blocks all in-app purchases across every app and game on the device.
- Lock down the rest while you are here. You can also set “Installing Apps” and “Deleting Apps” to Don’t Allow, and require a password for every store purchase.
- Test it. Open a game with in-app purchases and try to buy something — the purchase sheet should no longer appear.
Do not forget the Screen Time passcode
On a child’s device, the passcode is what makes the whole setup work — without one, a tech-savvy kid can simply walk back into Screen Time and re-enable purchases. Pick a code they cannot guess (not their birthday), and never share it with them. If you forget the passcode yourself, Apple provides a reset path through your Apple ID, so you are never permanently locked out.
If it still doesn’t work
If purchases still go through, first double-check that Content & Privacy Restrictions is actually toggled on — the sub-settings are decorative while the master switch is off. Also verify you are editing the right device’s settings: with Family Sharing, each child’s device has its own Screen Time configuration. Screen Time is also the place to tame other annoyances — for example, you can completely block iOS 26 updates on iPhone from a similar restrictions menu if an update keeps nagging a shared family device.
Frequently asked questions
Does this still work on newer iPhones?
Yes. Although this guide targets iOS 12, Apple has kept the same path ever since: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases. These steps work from iOS 12 through the latest iOS 26.
Will this block free app downloads too?
No. The In-App Purchases setting only blocks purchases inside apps. Free downloads are governed separately by the “Installing Apps” option and the password requirement in the same menu, so kids can still grab free games.
Conclusion
iOS 12’s move from Restrictions to Screen Time confused a lot of parents, but the protection is still there and just as strong. Set the passcode, flip In-App Purchases to Don’t Allow, and your kids can play freely without turning games into surprise bills. While you are locking things down, consider turning off all SharePlay features on iPhone too — it keeps shared sessions predictable on family devices.
