Set up Ask to Buy and test an approval request

Ask to Buy lets a child request an eligible app download or purchase and lets an organizer or designated adult review it. It is useful only if the child has their own Child Account, the correct adult receives the prompt, and everyone understands what the control does not cover. Apple notes exceptions such as app updates, a child's own redownloads and redemption codes. A child's device signed into an adult's Apple Account defeats the account boundary that makes the request meaningful.

Before you start​

Confirm the child is in the intended Family Sharing group with their own account. Update the relevant devices and check whether the organizer or parent/guardian can receive Messages and notifications. Do not use a paid app as a test unless you intend to buy it; select an eligible free download that is not already owned. Regional rules may make Ask to Buy mandatory or change its controls.

Do it step by step​

1. On the organizer's iPhone, open Settings, Family, tap the child's name and locate Ask to Buy. Turn on Require Purchase Approval when available. On some software versions the setting sits inside Apps & Websites or Restrictions.
2. Check the adult roles in Family settings. Designate another adult as Parent/Guardian if needed, rather than sharing the organizer's credentials or forwarding verification codes.
3. On the child's device, verify the Apple Account shown in Settings. A shared adult account is not a substitute for a Child Account. Confirm both devices are online and current enough to receive the request.
4. Ask the child to request a suitable new free app. On the adult device, open the actual request, inspect the app and publisher, then approve or decline. Do not approve solely because the child says the item is safe.
5. Return to the child's device and confirm that approval downloads the intended app or a decline blocks it. If there is no prompt, check Messages, notification settings, contact cards and Family settings before changing unrelated restrictions.
6. Discuss the boundaries with the child: updates, their own redownloads and redemption codes may not prompt; purchases outside Apple's eligible storefront flows need separate supervision. Review purchase history periodically.

Check the result​

A new eligible request reaches the intended adult, displays the correct item, and the decision has the expected result on the child's device. The child uses their own account and knows why a request can be declined.

If something goes wrong​

If the prompt never arrives, Apple recommends checking family membership, account sign-in, software updates and the organizer or guardian's contact details. If one adult sees it but another does not, inspect role and message delivery. Avoid toggling controls repeatedly while a request is pending.

Know the limit​

Ask to Buy is a purchase approval flow, not a content-quality guarantee or universal spending lock. It does not replace conversation about scams, in-app communication or privacy. Age requirements and available settings can differ by country, so follow the actual account's policy rather than a screenshot from another region. Apple Ask to Buy Apple troubleshooting requests