How to Set up and use Ask to Buy

Get things started

On your Mac, open System Preferences, click iCloud and then Manage Family. In the sheet, select a family member and then click Ask to Buy. This option only exists for children, and is on by default for under-13s.

Use an iOS device

If you’re on an iOS device, you activate Ask to Buy in the Settings app. Tap your name to access the settings for your Apple ID, and then tap Family Sharing. Select the family member in question, and tap Ask to Buy.

Add more adults

If your family has more than one adult, the organizer alone doesn’t have to approve requests. Select another adult (on Mac or iOS) and click/tap (as appropriate) Parent/Guardian. They now have the power to approve.

Make a request

To make a request, a child goes through the usual purchase process. However, prior to installing/payment, an Ask Permission dialog appears. They must tap Ask to send an adult an approval request (and only once).

Approve on a Mac…

If you’re on a Mac when the request arrives, it’ll appear as a notification (top right). Click Details and an App Store preview page appears, so you can check out what’s being requested. Approve or decline accordingly.

…or approve on iOS

On iOS, tap the notification to open the App Store, and choose to Decline or Get/Buy. With the latter option, you must sign in/use Touch ID to approve, whereupon the item will then appear on the child’s device.