Prevent in-app purchases: How to Protect Your Account from Expensive Surprises

33,000 euros in tuition fees; or: Why this blog post is important for parents!

Over the weekend A court ruling made the rounds, which is likely to chase a cold shiver over the back of many parents: A father from Baden-Württemberg According to the judgment of the Regional Court of Karlsruhe He paid more than 33,000 euros for in-app purchases made on a tablet by his seven-year-old son over almost two years. The child had triggered more than 1,200 purchases in a game app, paid through the father's Google account, where a credit card was deposited.

The tragic: The General Court dismissed the action because, over a period of almost two years, the father had given the impression that his son was entitled to make the purchases, a so-called ‘shameful power of attorney’. The father had neither set up security measures nor checked his bills regularly.

The good news: Such nightmare scenarios can be completely avoided in just a few simple steps. Both Apple and Google offer extensive, free tools to control, restrict, or completely block purchases. And the best part: These functions are available not only for smartphones, but also for tablets, game consoles and computers.

Apple Family Sharing: Control for iOS, iPadOS, macOS and more

What is Family Sharing?

Apple's Family Sharing is a free system that lets you connect up to six family members in a group. This not only gives you access to shared subscriptions (such as Apple Music or iCloud+), but most importantly, comprehensive control and sharing features for kids.

Where does it work?

• iPhone and iPad
• Mac computers
• Apple Watch
• Apple TV
• Also when shopping in physical Apple stores!

Set up Family Sharing: This is how it is done

On iPhone/iPad:

1. Open the Settings
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Choosing Family release
4. Tap Add family member
5. Follow the instructions – you can either create a child account directly or invite an existing family member

On the Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu → System settings
2. Choosing Family release in the sidebar
3. Click on Add a member and follow the steps

Enabling purchase requests is the most important step!

Here's where it gets really interesting: With Purchase request Your child must ask permission for each purchase or download (including free apps). You will receive a notification on your device and can approve or reject it in seconds.

To activate purchase requests:

1. Go into the Family releaseSettings
2. Choose this kid from
3. Scroll to Request purchases
4. Switches the switch a

This is blocked by:

• All app purchases (whether paid or free)
• In-app purchases (e.g. coins, skins, level-ups)
• Film and series purchases or loans
• Buying books
• Music downloads

Even if your child is trying to load something free, you have to confirm that. This may seem annoying at first, but it is the safest method.

Alternative: Completely disable purchases

If you want to go one step further, you can completely block in-app purchases:

1. Settings → Screen time
2. Tap Content Restrictions & Privacy
3. Choosing iTunes & App Store purchases
4. Sets In-app purchases on Do not allow

This makes it technically impossible to spend money in any app.

Setting up FSK age restrictions

In addition to the purchase restrictions, you can also determine which content your children are allowed to see and use at all:

1. Screen time → Content Restrictions & Privacy
2. Choosing Restrictions on content
3. Here you can set limits for each category:
   • Apps: From 4+, 9+, 12+ or 17+
   • Films: FSK 0, 6, 12, 16 or 18
   • TV shows: Corresponding ages
   • Books: Block offensive content
   • Music, Podcasts & News: Filter offensive content

Apps, games, or movies above the specified age level are automatically hidden from the App Store and other Apple services.

Screen time: The bonus tip

While you are already in the screen time settings: Here you can also set daily usage limits for certain app categories (e.g. games, social media). This not only prevents uncontrolled spending, but also excessive use.

Google family link: Control for Android, Chromebooks and more

What is Google Family Link?

Google Family Link is Google's equivalent to Apple Family Sharing. The free app allows you to create, manage and set up comprehensive controls for children's accounts, from purchase restrictions to screen time limits.

Where does it work?

• Android smartphones and tablets
• Chromebooks
• Google services in general (YouTube, Play Store, etc.)

Setting up Family Link

You need two things: The Family link app on your parent's device and on your child's device.

Step-by-step:

1. Load them Google Family Link app from the Play Store to your smartphone
2. Opens the app and selects parent
3. Follow the instructions to create a family group
4. Create a Google account for your child (or add an existing one)
5. On your child's device: Sign in with your child's account
6. Download Family Link and connect both devices

The setup takes about 10-15 minutes, but it's worth it.

Activate Purchase Permits

Here is the most important part: All purchases and downloads must be approved by you.

In the Family Link app (parents):

1. Choose your child
2. Tap Settings → Manage purchases and downloads
3. Activated Approve purchases and downloads
4. Here you can choose:
   • All content: You need to approve free apps yourself
   • Only purchases and in-app purchases: Free apps can be downloaded by the child
   • In-app purchases only: Only when there's money in the game, you have to agree

Our recommendation: Select at least ‘Purchase Only and In-App Purchases’. This prevents the 33,000-euro scenario from our introductory example.

As soon as your child tries to buy something, you will receive a push notification. With one tap you can approve or reject – including the possibility to write a short justification.

Completely block in-app purchases

Alternatively, you can turn off in-app purchases completely:

1. On your child's device, open the Play Store
2. Tap on the Profile picture top right
3. Choosing Settings → authentication
4. Activated Authentication required for purchases
5. Choosing For all purchases via Google Play on this device

In addition, you can set a password that must be entered with each purchase attempt.

Set up age restrictions and FSK levels

Google Family Link provides detailed content filters:

In the Family Link app:

1. Choose your child
2. Go to Settings → Filter on Google Play
3. Here you can set limits for different categories:
   • Apps and games: USK 0, 6, 12, 16 or 18
   • Films: FSK levels accordingly
   • Series: TV ratings
   • Books: Without or with offensive content
   • Music: Filter offensive content

Content above the selected level is automatically hidden or blocked.

Set up YouTube separately:

1. In Family Link → YouTubeSettings
2. Choose between YouTube Kids (for the youngest) or YouTube with supervision (with content filters)

Don't share a Google account with a credit card!

The cardinal error from the court case: The father had provided his son with a tablet connected to his Google Play account and credit card without setting up a child profile or activating a PIN query.

Never do that! Always create a separate child account via Family Link. This is the only way to have real control.

Game consoles and PCs: Here, too, there are solutions

The good news: These protection features are not limited to smartphones and tablets.

PlayStation (Sony)

1. Created a Sub-account for your child in the family settings
2. Determines whether monthly Output limits should apply (e.g. 20€/month)
3. Activated Purchase confirmations, so that you will be informed by e-mail about every purchase
4. Sets Age restrictions for games (USK/PEGI levels)

Xbox (Microsoft)

1. Created a Child account the Microsoft Family Center (family.microsoft.com)
2. Activated Purchase permits – every purchase must be confirmed by you
3. Sets up Output limit one (monthly or once)
4. Filters content by Age classification

Nintendo Switch

1. Load them Nintendo Switch Age Restrictions app on your smartphone
2. Connect them to your child's console
3. Lock it Nintendo eShop complete or set up an PIN a
4. Sets age restrictions for games

PC (Windows)

Microsoft Family Safety also works on Windows PCs:

1. Go to family.microsoft.com
2. Add your child
3. Activated Purchase permits for the Microsoft Store
4. Sets age restrictions for apps and games
5. Optional: Also limits screen time and monitors activity

Checklist: So you are on the safe side.

Own account for your child – never share your own account!
Purchase permits activated – each transaction must be approved
Don't put a credit card in your child's account – if, then with limits
Age restrictions put in place – FSK/USK filter active
Regular review – check the bank statements every now and then
Screen time limits (optional) – prevents excessive use
PINs and passwords set – Additional level of security

Conclusion: Prevention is better (and cheaper!) than indulgence

The court clarified: Anyone who grants a child access to a device with a linked payment method must also ensure that unauthorized purchases are not possible. This is exactly what you can achieve with the functions described above – free of charge, in a few minutes and without any prior technical knowledge.

The tools are there, they are mature and they work reliably. You just have to use them. The father from the court ruling learned it the hard way. You can make it easier.

TL:DR

So: Take 15 minutes today, set up Family Sharing or Family Link, and sleep quietly from now on. Your credit card will thank you.