Ask to Buy is not downloading automatically after approval

Question

Level 1

12 points

Ask to Buy is not downloading automatically after approval

I just set up family sharing and Ask To Buy for my kids’ accounts. All devices are up to date with iOS 15. When my kid attempts to make a purchase or get something from the App Store or iTunes, they first are prompted to enter their password. Then a pop up appears to ask the parent.

I then receive the notification to decline or approve. However, after I approve it, the purchase doesn’t automatically download to their phone/iPad. Instead, they have to tap it again, re-enter their password, and then it downloads.

Is this a normal workflow for Ask To Buy? I thought I read that once a purchase is approved, it downloads automatically to the kid’s device.

Posted on Dec 8, 2021 5:58 PM

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Answer 1

AnnieL2

Community Specialist

Dec 10, 2021 3:46 PM in response to mkirk76

mkirk76,

Got it. Can you toggle Ask To Buy off for the account/one of the accounts, toggle it back on, then restart the devices and test again? Even testing with a free app would be fine since you stated you notice it there as well.

The section, ‘Review your Family Sharing settings’ goes over where to do that no matter which device the family organizer is using - If Ask to Buy isn't working.

Should the issue persist at that point, we’re going to recommend you reach out to Apple Support to explore this behavior further. Here’s a link to connect - Apple Get Support.

Thank you.

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Answer 2

AnnieL2

Community Specialist

Dec 9, 2021 1:52 PM in response to mkirk76

Greetings mkirk76,

It sounds like you’re encountering an issue with the Ask to Buy feature of Family Sharing, and being prompted to download again after approving the request.

Based on the article Approve what kids buy with Ask to Buy under ‘How Ask to Buy works’ it does state, “If the family organizer approves the request and completes the purchase, the item automatically downloads to the child's device.”

Are the purchases billing to the family organizer’s credit card or to the child’s Apple ID balance? We ask as that may be impacting this, since the purchase is being completed and billed to the child’s account after approval.

Thanks.

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