If you do not want your child to make purchases within the Android application, with the problems and unforeseen expenses that could cause you, then you can deactivate the purchases with the mobile and reactivate them when you are interested.
You may have accidentally activated the option, or you may have had it enabled for a long time, and you may have made a purchase unknowingly or by mistake, but the problem is greater when it comes to children in front of the mobile. They can make purchases with the mobile easily without you being able to avoid it unless you are aware all the time. Returning app purchases is a time-consuming and unpleasant process.
It is very comfortable to buy faster without having to enter the password every time you go to do it, but if children have access to this option, it is not the best idea in the world. Therefore, I tell you how you can easily avoid it with very few steps.
Protect mobile purchases
From the settings of your Android mobile you can block purchases in a few steps , so I’ll tell you how you can do it very easily. Take your mobile in your hands, unlock it if necessary, and follow these instructions that I am going to tell you about. There are only three steps, since you only have to open the Play Store, go to the settings and activate the authentication option for purchases, although I will tell you how to do it in detail.
Disable in-app purchases from settings like so:
- Open Play Store on your mobile.
- Click on the icon with your photo or initial, in the upper right corner
- Go to Settings> Authentication> Require authentication for purchases
- Choose the option ‘For all purchases made on Google Play from this device’
Done, once you do it they will ask you for the password every time you make a purchase. If you have children or are afraid that you may make a purchase without meaning to, it is your best option. You can also enable biometric authentication for purchases if you wish, in the Authentication section.
If you want to go one step further, in your account settings you can go to the Family section and establish parental controls so that they do not access certain content that is not appropriate for their age or in which they can make unwanted purchases.
Go back to automatic purchases
If you regret it or it’s going to be a long time until the little ones pick up the mobile and you don’t want to complicate yourself with purchases from your mobile, you can follow the same steps and change it to never or every 30 minutes. In the first case, they will not ask you to identify yourself for your mobile payments, in the second they will do so every half hour. Do not leave this last option with children because half an hour goes a long way.
Doing it is simple:
- Launch Play Store
- Click on the icon with your photo or initial
- Go to the Settings option
- Confirm Authentication
- Select Require authentication for purchases
- Stick with the options Never or Every 30 minutes
Remember that, even if you leave this configuration, there are applications that will still allow you to identify yourself as an additional means of security. Not in all, but in some you may have to enter your access data before buying. In any case, this is not the best option if you have children . If you are going to use it with children, control what they do well and it does not hurt that you maintain biometric authentication.
