Protect the purchase of mobile applications with a password

Like many iPhone or Android phone users, you have probably already had the unpleasant surprise of ending up with a salty invoice, directly debited from your bank account by the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Most of the time, this type of mishap is due to:

• purchases of applications or complete games that a loved one has made without asking your consent
• or in-app purchases (also called in-app purchases) of a paid improvement that more and more free games or applications offer to buy without even leaving the app.

Fortunately, you can avoid this kind of unpleasant surprise by password-protecting mobile app purchases. Here's how to do it on iOS and Android.

Protect the purchase of iOS applications with a password

Whether you use an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, you can easily secure your purchases of games and applications on the App Store and the iTunes Store with a password:

• Open them Settings on your iPhone.
• Click on your name and then on the section iTunes Store and App Store.

• Click on Password settings (unless Face ID or Touch ID are already activated to secure your purchases).

In the section Integrated purchasing and purchasing, choose your protection mode:

• Click on Always demand so that a password is requested each time you, your children or your loved ones make a purchase on your iPhone.
• Click on Require after 15 minutes so that password protection remains valid for 15 minutes after the last entry.

In the section Free Downloads, you can manage password protection, even for free application downloads:

• Slide the button Require password to activate the password request.

All you have to do is enter your password and click on OK. That's it, your iPhone is now protected against in-app purchases and app purchases.

Password protect purchase of Android apps

On your Android phone or tablet, you can configure your account so that a password is required before a game or application purchase:

• Open your application Play Store.
• Click on the icon Menu at the top left of the screen then click on the link Settings.

• Pull down the menu Parameters up to the section User controls.
• Then click Require authentication for purchases.

In the window Authentication required, choose your protection mode:

• Click on For all purchases via Google Play on this device so that a password is requested each time a purchase is made on your phone via the Play Store.
• Click on Every 30 minutes so that password protection remains valid for 30 minutes after the last entry.
• Click on Never to not secure your purchases by password.

To protect yourself from unexpected purchase invoices, all you have to do is specify your password and validate by clicking on the button. OK.