Purchase approvals on Google Play
If you created a family group, you can require that family members get your permission before making purchases using the family payment method.
How purchase approval works
- A family member starts a purchase using the family payment method.
- The family manager enters their password on the family member's device.
- The purchase is completed.
By default, family members ages 13-17 will need to get your approval for all purchases, and family members ages 18 and older need your approval to make in-app purchases.
Family members need your approval for all purchases made using the family payment method, including paid apps or items sold inside apps. This setting is only available for family members ages 13-17.
Family members only need your approval to use the family payment method to buy in-app purchases billed by Google Play, like coins in games.
Family members don’t need any approval to make purchases using the family payment method. The family manager will still get an email receipt for these purchases.
Change your family member's purchase approval settings
If you're the family manager, you can choose the purchase approval settings for your family members.
- Open the Play Store app
.
- In the top left, tap Menu
Account
Family
Manage family members.
- Tap your family member's name.
- Select All paid content (only available for ages 13-17), Only in-app purchases, or No approval required.
Note: If the option to turn on the "All paid content" purchase approval setting is grayed out for a family member age 13-17, have your family member check that their account information is correct.
See your purchase approval settings
If you aren't the family manager, follow the steps below to see what your purchase approval settings for the family payment method are:
- Open the Play Store app
.
- In the top left, tap Menu
Account
Family
View family members.
- Tap your name.
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