Q: View APP purchase history on IPAD (not Mac)

Amen, Christie.  

Being able to view purchase history and details via a web browser is a basic function that the App Store ought to offer.  The "Apple Store" website provides that functionality for purchases made through it, as does just about every other online retailer known to man.  The notion that iTunes app and the "App Store" app on the iPad cannot provide this function is odd.  The assertion that it is a matter of privacy or security does not make sense to me.  For the type of information involved, the security proved by a browser on the iPad seems comparable to that provided by the iTunes app on a Mac.

I find this to be confusing and frustrating.  Quite unlike the Apple that I have grown to appreciate.

Does anyone know why Apple does not make this sort of information available via the web?

Just to have my two cents on this topic.

I have been an apple and windows user for many years.

although on platforms such as ebay etc it is easy to see the purchase history, the security levels are very low.

I agree it is somwhat of a longwinded way of getting the info you need but from a security stadpoint it does make sense. If for example a person stole your ipad and was able to retrive your apple id password through the mail app and then in turn have access to your account and transactions. this would be very easily done.

By making you sign into a trusted computer which has to be authorised, this eliminates the threat of security breaches.

So to sum everything up, i can see why apple has done this but i must agree with the origional poster that this lack of simple access to account transactions is rather a pain in the backside.

just as a further sidenote, i understand how frustrating this is. but you should launch an attack on people who are here to help you, the simple answer to your question is no, you cannot view the transactions your looking for. so complaining to all of us and your constant attacks on peoples reasonable posts is inapropriate in term of the purpose of this forum.

Bottom line, there is no direct way to get there from here.  One can whine or do what you can which is to give apple your feedback in a grownup manner, or not.  Yes, I do agree that it is a connivence that Apple should provide, even if it means implementing it in yet another (are both iTunes and the App Store App as separate entities really necessary?), or via a web page.  But my agreement doesn't solve the issue, obviously.

For the rest, I don't see how one can say what "Apple's intent" is.  Recall once upon a time Apple said they would never make an iPad mini, and they have.  ios for iPad didn't have a calculator or an alarm clock, and now they do.  So if Apple decides to provide and order history detail page or feature, then remember these posts you've made condemning a nice ti have feature.  Then will you apologize for Apple giving the people what they want.

Finally, note for the great majority of people, being able to web browse, email, do a little social media stuff, some photo/music stuff, and some rare word processing are all they do with a computer.  The iPad can fill that niche quite well.  Add the iCloud or some wirelessly accessible storage like Kingston's MobilLite, and there isn't a need for a full fledged computer for many of our day to day users.

Just a few things to consider when you decide not to respond civilly.

@johnrathcor - I'd say that your reply isn't a strong defense.  Order history for a user doesn't have to display sensitive information.  It can be a date, an app/music/video  title name an item price  and a paid for price (in case they used a partial credit or gift card).  They can they grouped by last 2 digits of a credit card number or have users alphabetically nickname their credit cards and display the nickname.

So what is insecure about that? 

If you are saying the iPad is too insecure, then consider there are much worse things to do with an non password protected iPad already, assuming that the perpetrator has the appleid and password.  Like going through the app store and sending gifts of the most expensive apps to the ipad owner's mailing list. 

If a malcontent has someone's the appleid and password, as you suggest, then what stops them from doing the same from any iTunes/App Store App on any other type of device?

Just thoughts for discussion.

I doubt the OP is still reading this but if so: simply go to reportaproblem.apple.com from any browser on your ipad. You'll see your last 90 days of purchases.

I agree it is ridiculous to not be able to view >complete< account history from an iOS device.  There is no valid security reason for it. And an iPad or iPhone is absolutely a solid state computer that is an itunes-authorized device just like a laptop or desktop would be.

That being said, the amount of energy and rage that went into all of those rants was mildly entertaining.

It is pathetic that you can't verify purchase history on a device that easily accepts payment. And, by the way, an ipad IS a computer.  Some people need to look up the definition of computer.  Apple needs to make it possible to quickly check charges made without the use of a "computer".

I am currently abroad and noticed an unusual iTunes transaction on my credit card statement. Naturally I need to check the details, but what do I find after about an hour of searching? That I need a computer with iTunes to do so!!!! This is unbelievable. So whenever I travel I need to carry a computer in addition to my iPad and iPhone?

And to all those people responding on this forum about how insecure it would be to access purchase history via a web browser or from iOS device, please stop, it makes you sound like Apple employee defending a gap in the basic functionality.

And to Apple - please, please, add this basic feature.

BorisUK wrote:

 

So whenever I travel I need to carry a computer in addition to my iPad and iPhone?

If you wish to access your Apple ID account purchase history then yes or use any computer you would have access to.

BorisUK wrote:

 

And to Apple - please, please, add this basic feature.

Apple is not here sorry, these are user to user forums. If you wish to express your opinion to Apple directly you can provide feedback here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Alternatively you could give them a call, the number in your country can be found in the link below:

http://support.apple.com/kb/he57

I wish people would not add misleading info to threads like this. 

You cannot check your account from "any computer you have access to". 

The computer MUST have bloat-ware iTunes on it, which requires a large installation and quite a chunk of time.  You cannot just pop into a library or briefly borrow a friends computer to do this.  In many places you simply are not allowed to download software. 

I have an iPad, iPhone, and a work laptop.  Cannot install iTunes on work laptop.  So I'm supposed to maintain an entire 2nd computer I don't need just to access my iTunes account.  It's laughable. 

This is a huge unnecessary headache - and yes, I have sent my feedback.  Posting here so when someone comes looking for the real answer, they see that it's not quite so simple as using "any computer you may have access to".   I came looking myself because I need to see some old transactions, and cannot believe it has not changed yet.  If this device is secure enough to take my money, it's secure enough to give me a list of prior transactions (which no website in the world shows full card numbers, etc. for nor should they, there is no security concern whatsoever).

I need to stress this, because it is not coming through clear enough apparently. ios devices were never created in the past to be desktop replacements. There is nothing you can do about that. Give it 5 years, maybe. Tablets and smartphones are meant to be independent, but 90% of the population also has a computer, so the simplest thing for backing up, and managing your account, and so on, is a computer.

I don't understand that. I need to stress again that a tablet is a computer; in fact the iPad is more powerful than plenty of laptop or desktop computers in not-too-distant memory.

Regardless, virtually no computing power is required to allow someone to manage an account and view transactions. Ultimately we're talking about a presentation layer on top of a database.  Amazon, to name just one, provides complete account management power accessible from any device for any purchase including physical and virtual products.

You can stress it all you want but it's silliness and flimsy excuses. 

Five years to view our order history?   There is no technological reason it's not available.  That's absurd.

I can enter in my credit card number, I can make all kinds of purchases, I should be able to review my purchases.  It's that simple.

Desktop replacement or not, no one is asking for anything crazy here.  iTunes is a service where you buy digital media.  I also buy digital media from Amazon.  Amazon lets me look at my order history from any device that access Amazon. 

Yet, the largest, richest tech company in the world does not allow me to do so, for likely some lame control freak reason just like the other limitations that have me shopping for an Android phone now that it's time to upgrade, after five years of owning an iPhone.  I still like my iPad, but I am an adult and can choose on what devices I access what material.

There is no reason you need to load up a bloated application to view a simple list of purchases.  The notion that they need five years to do this is insanity.  They could do it today if they wanted to, but since they must be in total control of my experience (I can't even have the pleasing yellow lined notebook in my Notes app anymore, because they decide I need to have plain white generic like its 1994) they do not allow it. 

Unfortunately, I think it's you who need to listen to what we are saying and step back and see just how absurd this situation is, particularly since regardless of the fact that most people may have a computer, the iPad does NOT require one anymore and in fact IS being marketed a substitute for a desktop for those that just wish to browse the Internet, use email, and consume digital content (which is all most people do anyway).

Amen

I am not expecting iPhones or iPads to be replacements for personal computers. What I am expecting is very basic functionality to view purchase history from iOS devices.

As you can already make purchases from these devices, which in my view is far more sophisticated operation than read-only views, it is reasonable to expect the ability to view those purchases. This is something millions of organisations already provide to their customers, either via web browsers or as native iOS apps. For example Barclays Mobile Banking, Nationwide, PayPal, Capital One Credit Card, eBay, Oyster Card, Halifax etc, etc

@Shazam312 - We were both replying at the same time it seems - isn't it funny that we both mentioned Amazon, and further that the only limitations placed on using all Amazon features is....imposed by Apple on iOS devices?  Like having to go to the Amazon (or their subsidiary, Audble's) website using the browser instead of being able to buy from within the App - like that's going to discourage me from buying from my vendor of choice.  If anything, it encourages me more. ;-)