Purchase approvals on Google Play

If you're a parent in a family group, you can require family members to get your permission to purchase or download content on Google Play. Purchase approval settings only apply to purchases made through Google Play's billing system.

Change purchase approval settings

If you’re the family manager in the family group, you can choose purchase approval settings for any member of your family. If you're a parent in the family group, you can choose the purchase approval settings for family members whose accounts are managed with Family Link.

Google Play app

1. Open the Google Play app.
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture.
3. Tap Settings Family Manage family members.
4. Select a family member's name.
5. Tap Purchase approvals.
6. Select the type of purchases that you want to require approval:
   • All content
   • All purchases using the family payment method
   • Only in-app purchases
   • No approval required

Family Link app

1. On your device, open the Family Link app .
2. At the top left, select your child.
3. Tap Controls Google Play.
4. Under "Purchases & download approvals," tap Require approval for.
5. Select the type of purchase approval that you want to give:
   • All content
   • Paid content only
   • In-app purchases only
   • Never

Approve or deny requests

If you're a parent in a family group, you can approve or deny requests for content from Google Play.

When a purchase is completed through Google Play's billing system, the family manager gets an email receipt.

You can manage approvals for recommended apps you download in Google Kids Space separately in the Google Kids Space settings.

Paid content

1. When a family member makes a purchase using Google Play's billing system, they'll find a screen that asks for your password.
2. Review the request.
3. To approve, enter your Google Account password on their device.
4. Tap Approve.

Content at no charge

If parental approval for Play content is required for a child whose Google Account is managed with Family Link, they'll see a screen with two options when they try to download or access content:

Ask in a message

To go to this setting directly in the app, tap the button below:

Manage approval requests

1. You'll get a notification on your phone.
2. Review the request. To see more details, tap the request or the name of the app.
3. Tap Approve request or Deny.

Ask now

1. You'll review the request on your child's device.
2. To approve it, enter your Google Account password on their device.
3. Tap Approve.

Tip: If you turn off notifications for the Family Link app or the Play Store app, you won't get notified when there's a request.

Find pending requests for content

Play Store app

1. On your Android device, open the Play Store app .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial Settings Family.
3. Tap Manage approval requests.

Family Link app

1. On your device, open the Family Link app .
2. At the top right, tap Notifications .

Withdraw purchase requests

On their Android device, family members can withdraw their pending paid purchase requests from the Google Play Order History tab.

Purchase requests without family payment method

If you’re the family manager and you didn’t add a family payment method, your family members can request your approval to make a purchase. Learn more about family payment method.

You can complete the purchase with any payment method you add to your Google Play account, including Google Play gift cards. When you complete the purchase, you’ll receive an email confirmation on your Google account. The purchase will show up in your Google Play Order History.

If your family members make a purchase request, they’ll also receive a purchase confirmation email. Your purchase approval settings apply to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system, including purchase confirmation emails.

Tips:

• Family members can request approval to purchase paid apps, make in-app purchases, or sign up for prepaid subscriptions. This doesn’t include Play Books, Google TV, or non-prepaid subscription purchases.
• If you add a family payment method, purchase requests without a family payment method won’t be available for your family group.
• Family members can’t find or use the family manager’s payment method without permission from the family manager.
• Family managers can’t use previously redeemed promotional offers or redeem new promotional offers to complete purchase requests. Learn more about Offers on Google Play.