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.
- Open the Google Play app.
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture.
- Tap Settings
Family
- Select a family member's name.
- Tap Purchase approvals.
- 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
- On your device, open the Family Link app
.
- Tap your child
- Under "Purchases & download approvals," tap Require approval for.
- 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.- When a family member makes a purchase using Google Play's billing system, they'll find a screen that asks for your password.
- Review the request.
- To approve, enter your Google Account password on their device.
- Tap Approve.
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:
- You'll get a notification on your phone.
- Review the request. To see more details, tap the request or the name of the app.
- Tap Approve request or Deny.
Ask now
- You'll review the request on your child's device.
- To approve it, enter your Google Account password on their device.
- Tap Approve.
Play Store app
- On your Android device, open the Play Store app
.
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial
- Tap Manage approval requests.
Family Link app
- On your device, open the Family Link app
- At the top right, tap Notifications
.
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 or make in-app purchases. This doesn’t include Play Books, Google TV, or 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.