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How to turn off in-app purchases

Worried that your children could run-up massive bills through in-app purchases on your smartphone? Here's how to turn the feature off.

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Many smartphone and tablet applications rely on a 'freemium' model to make their money. The application itself might be free but various add-ons will be offered to you as in-app purchases.

Whether it's in-game currency to help you buy upgrades, unlockable videos or magazine back issues, in-app purchases can be great: until your child gets hold of your smartphone. Then the bills can mount up.

Fortunately, it's possible to turn off in-app purchases. Here's how to do it.

Google Android
Open the Google Play Store app and choose 'Menu' and then 'Settings'. Under 'User Controls' you'll find an option to 'Set or Change PIN'. Tap this and Android will ask you for a PIN. Type your chosen PIN, tap OK and then re-enter the PIN to confirm. Then tick the box next to 'Use PIN for purchases'.

Once you've done that, anyone who wants to make an in-app purchase on your device will need to know the PIN. That should keep your bills secure from little fingers.

Apple iOS
The Restrictions menu in Apple iOS lets you control all kinds of things. You can send a password for in-app purchases or turn them off altogether. It's possible to prevent apps being deleted or installed and control access to age-restricted content.

To prevent in-app purchases in iOS, open 'Settings' then choose 'General' and 'Restrictions'. Then tap 'Enable Restrictions', choose a PIN and enter it a second time to confirm. Now you can set any restrictions from the menu below. In the 'Allowed Content' menu, slide 'In app purchases' to 'Off'.

Amazon Kindle Fire
The Kindle Fire is an Android-powered tablet but the operating system has been modified by Amazon so the process for restricting in-app purchases is a little different. Start by opening the Amazon Appstore app. Choose 'Menu' and then 'Settings'. Then tap 'Parental Controls', choose 'Enable Parental Controls' and enter your Amazon password. If you'd prefer to choose a PIN, then tick the 'Use PIN' box.