Why does my iPod Touch require a password when I launch free apps

Do you have apps downloaded under different apple ID’s on that device? say you have iD a and ID b on the iPod then there can be issues if you try to run apps downloaded on ID a when the device is on ID b.

The option in iTunes & App Store > Password Settings is concerned with in-app purchases, not signing into the App.

However, there is another option in Settings that may you should check: Settings > Accounts & Passwords > App & Website Passwords > ...

I haven't used this option, but supposedly it appears to offer "enable a password" for Apps. Having said that, it's not very intuitive because when I did look in there, the only option (on my iPod) was to add a password for websites, but not for an App, even thoug it specifically states "apps". I couldn't find any way of adding a password to an App, but I think you should check there to see if there are any passwords set for your problem ones. (I'm not running the latest iOS on my 6th gen Touch, so if this option has been updated to work more intuitively, your version may be different to mine.)

Failing that, which particular App (or Apps) are you having trouble with?

I was thinking along the lines of "if you name the apps in question, then we/someone could have a look at them in the Store an see if we could spot what is causing the issue you have".

Hence the reason I asked which particular apps, rather than what sort of apps.

I notice that all three you mention all have in-app purchases facility, but I can't see anything that specifically mentions entering a password each day. However, it occurs to me that the other common feature of these apps is that they are fitness apps, that may possibly require that you "turn them on" each day so that the app knows when to start recording. May be that's where the password comes in to the equation. (I don't know, I'm making a suggestion.)

See if anyone else chips into this discussion with a suggestion. In the meantime, have you checked the Help in these apps, or asked anyone else with the app, or even contacted the app developers to see if they know what is happening?

When I go into settings and privacy there is the option to turn on fitness tracking.

That said I have a Misfit and a Striiv app both tied to fitness trackers and i’ve never experienced needing to sign in.

Many trackers require you to have an account with the makers itself but I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.

I do agree with talking with the developers. THere may be a quirk with their apps, or it may be something they are familiar with.