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How to Turn Off Your Password for App Store Purchases in 4 Steps (with Photos)

Updated: August 14, 2023 by Nate Williams | Leave a comment

Apple’s App Store has grown from just 500 apps at launch in 2008 to nearly two million by today. From games, tools, and utilities to productivity, streaming services, and everything in between, the App Store has just about everything a person could possibly need an app for — and even some apps you never knew you needed in the first place.

With so many apps for iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch users to download, it can get tiresome having to constantly enter your password every time you want to download an app. Did you know you can turn off password for App Store purchases? Allow us to explain and show you the simple steps!

Why Turn Off Password for App Store Purchases?

As you know, password protection is put in place to keep you and your account safe. This is true of social media sites, streaming service subscriptions, online banking, and even smartphone app purchases. Without a password, you and all your sensitive information could be at risk of some hacker or cyber criminal taking advantage of your most precious personal and financial data.

So, with that being said, why would you want to turn off password for App Store purchases? Despite the importance of password protection, there are some reasons why you might not want to enter in your password every single time you make an App Store purchase.

For one, if you’re a frequent app downloader, it can quickly get tiresome having to enter, and re-enter, and re-enter that password every single time you hit download. Removing password protection on the App Store can help add more speed and efficiency to your downloads. Without having to type anything in, you can get to downloading apps seconds faster than you could before.

Another reason why you might want to turn off password for App Store purchases? You trust that no one is going to crack your passcode in the first place. If your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch is super locked down with extreme security measures such as FaceID or fingerprinting, then you likely know for certain that no one is going to gain access to your unlocked device. (Not to mention, what kind of hacker is out there downloading apps on a stolen phone in the first place?)

If you trust your phone’s security, then you might feel safe enough to turn off password for App Store purchases.

How to Turn Off Password for App Store Purchases: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you have an understanding of why one might want to turn off password for App Store purchases, let’s dive into the most important part: learning how to actually do it. This process is a relatively straightforward one, but it’s also buried in your iPhone’s settings.

For this reason, it’s important to follow along closely using the photos at each step along the way. With this, you’ll soon enjoy password-free App Store purchases in no time. (Because of the iOS, these steps will work regardless of if you’re using an iPad or an iPhone. But, for the sake of this demonstration, we’re using an iPhone).

Step 1: Go to Settings

To turn off password for App Store purchases, first open the Settings app. You’ll recognize this one as the gray app with the gear icon. As a default, it’s located on the first page of your Home Screen. However, if you’ve moved your apps around or placed some in folders, it might be easier to simply search for the app. Drag your finger down or swipe all the way to the right to find the search bar, then search for “Settings.”

Step 2: Tap Your Name

Once in the Settings app, don’t scroll too far from the top. To turn off password for App Store purchases, we’re looking for your Apple ID information at the very top of the settings page. If you see headings in the settings like Notifications, General, or App Store, you’ve gone too far. Merely scroll to the top and tap your name at the very top of the page.

Step 3: Select Media & Purchases

Now we’re in your Apple ID settings. Ignore everything at the top as well as the first group of options. We’re looking for something in the second group — the one starting with iCloud.

Below this, you’ll see a tab labeled Media & Purchases. The icon is the same as the one used for the App Store app. Tap this one. A little menu should pop up at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4: Set Your Preferences

Lastly, looking at the little menu at the bottom of your screen, tap Password Settings.

A new menu will pop up, this time listing two subheadings underneath a top heading that reads Require Password. One reads When Purchasing, while the other reads Free Downloads.

Select the second option under the first heading to stop the App Store from asking you for your password with every purchase. Then, move the switch under the Free Downloads heading to the left. This will turn off password for App Store free downloads.

Then, hit Done and close the app. That’s all there is to it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you need a password for free App Store purchases?

Password protection is one of the most basic security features of the modern day, and this applies to free purchases as well as paid ones. Password protection — even on free apps and downloads on a smartphone – helps keep your information and personal data safe from the wrong people. It might be inconvenient, but it’s for your protection.

How many free apps are available on the App Store?

Of the nearly two million apps available on Apple’s App Store, close to 95% of the library is available to download for free (94.5%, to be exact). That leaves just over 5% of the App Store for paid apps. All in all, there’s an overwhelming majority of free apps compared to paid ones.

How do free apps make money?

Free apps make money through a variety of different methods. For one, there’s advertising. These pop-up or video ads that play throughout the use of a free app result in very lucrative payments for the developers that allow them to keep the app free. Additionally, some apps offer in-app purchases for $0.99 or more. These in-app purchases are also quite lucrative, with the total in-app purchase industry across all smartphones and operating systems expected to reach $935 billion in 2023 alone.

Can you use iTunes gift cards in the App Store?

Yes, you can use iTunes gift cards in the App Store. Many of these former iTunes gift cards aren’t even branded specifically anymore to avoid confusion. Most of the time these days, you’re much more likely to see them branded as Apple gift cards. This lets consumers know they’re able to use them across the Apple family, not just for one specific purpose.

Is Apple Face ID safer than a password?

Face ID is what’s known as a biometric. Biometrics include anything from a retina scan to a fingerprint and any other biological means of verifying your identity in between. While Apple would like to convince you that using Face ID is safer than a password, the truth is that a good, complex password — especially one created by a password generator — will always be far more secure than any biometric. This is because biometrics can be cracked a lot easier than a complex password made up of a string of letters, numbers, and symbols. Integrating multifactor authentication makes things even safer.