Cannot purge app store purchase history - can only "Hide" which isn't enough to solve my problem

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Level 1

8 points

Cannot purge app store purchase history - can only "Hide" which isn't enough to solve my problem

Here's my dilemma. My kids have been downloading free games onto my iPad. Now it is making it virtually impossible for my youngest child to do e-Learning on the iPad because without constant supervision he is just getting out of his e-Learning material and back into games within minutes. I deleted the games and I changed the App Store settings to require a login even for free apps ("Always Require" under "PURCHASES AND IN-APP PURCHASES" and "Required Password" under "FREE DOWNLOADS"). Great! (I foolishly thought to myself). The problem is that for whatever reason (a logic beyond my feeble brain's ability to comprehend) this doesn't apply to already purchased, yet now deleted, apps. So all of the games my kid is addicted to are free to be downloaded back onto the iPad even with the new security settings. I've tried to delete the apps from the app purchase history but all I can do it "hide" them and if I stay too long in this section of the GUI (which was more than a little difficult to find in the first place) my iPad crashes and I have to power cycle it. Hiding them doesn't even produce a useful effect. I can find them again in the App Store with a simple search and as long as the app has the little cloud/download arrow icon next to it I'm back to where I started. I need the cloud icon to change to the "Get" icon. Why not have a "Hide" and "Remove" (or "Reset" or "Delete" or "Forget") option instead of just a "Hide" option? Am I the very first person who has ever wanted to delete an app permanently from the purchase history? What is the super secret solution to this problem?

Posted on Apr 22, 2020 9:38 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

sdavids5670 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2020 12:06 PM in response to Phil0124

"You can also disable the App Store by going into Settings->Screen Time->Content and Privacy Restrictions->iTunes & App Store purchases, and setting "Installing Apps" to "Don't Allow"."

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give it a try. It's probably the best option from a list of less than ideal options. I'd prefer that Apple change the functionality of "Always Require" under the "PURCHASES AND IN-APP PURCHASES" to actually mean that a password is required (you know...always) instead of what it really seems to mean. Maybe Apple just has a next-level understanding of the English language and 'always' doesn't really mean what I think it means. IDK.

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Answer 2

Apr 22, 2020 3:37 PM in response to sdavids5670

If you want to keep your child in the app they need to be in, use Guided Access. Guided access locks the iPad to a single app, so they are not wandering in other areas of the iPad.

See here: Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Apps cannot be deleted from the purchase history, but unless you expect the child to go into the store and search for the app in question its unlikely they'll be able to find it.

You can also disable the App Store by going into Settings->Screen Time->Content and Privacy Restrictions->iTunes & App Store purchases, and setting "Installing Apps" to "Don't Allow".

Make sure, you set a password for Guided Access and Screen time so your child cannot access the setting and re-enable it, or leave the App without your specific permission.

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Answer 3

Jun 3, 2020 6:53 AM in response to daren244

You cannot. Fiscal requirements in the U.S and many other countries are such that Apple must keep a list of all sales associated with an Apple ID. This is your purchase list. It cannot be altered as it serves as a record of all sales Apple made.

As said you can hide them, but you cannot remove them from the list.

This works the same for all online media stores like iTunes. It is not exclusive to iTunes.

Nobody should have access to your purchase list but yourself.

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Answer 4

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,907 points

Apr 22, 2020 3:28 PM in response to sdavids5670

I can't offer child rearing advice, but you can't delete something from your purchase history because Apple won't pretend with you that you didn't buy something, even if it was free.

ASC - Late 2012 Mac mini, macOS 10.15.4; Watch, series 5 GPS/cellular, watchOS 6.2; iPad Air 2, ipadOS 13.4.1; iPhone 8+, iOS 13.4.1; TV 4th Gen, tvOS 13.4;  HomePods, audioOS 13.4 and Airport Express w/ Airplay 2

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Answer 5

daren244

Level 1

4 points

Jun 2, 2020 3:49 PM in response to Phil0124

So what if you want to purge it anyways?? What if I don't want anyone going through my list of purchased apps or I want to hide one or two? That is not right. I would like to purge them all I don't care. Apple shouldn't control my purchased device??

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Answer 6

daren244

Level 1

4 points

Jun 3, 2020 6:56 AM in response to Phil0124

OK so what happened to hidding them? I dont care if they are on my list for my own sake but to look at app store and see that it was previously downloaded... I dont like that. Itunes would let you hide the purchases but now you cant even do that.

Also another stupid thing I dont like is subscriptions. The **** thing passed over a year ago and is still listed under subscriptions??? Ridiculous.

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Cannot purge app store purchase history - can only "Hide" which isn't enough to solve my problem

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