# Why has the App store on my iPhone stopped asking for a password?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-app-store-on-my-iphone-stopped-asking-for-a-password/650865>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 20, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-app-store-on-my-iphone-stopped-asking-for-a-password/650865 "2013-02-20T04:58:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-app-store-on-my-iphone-stopped-asking-for-a-password/650865/1 "2013-02-20T04:58:22Z")

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I recently upgraded the OS on my iPhone, and ever since then, the App store isn’t always asking for a password for new installs and updates - sometimes it does, but not always, particularly for updates.

This is becoming an issue, because I’ve got some games loaded on it for the Cub to play with - and he’s started loading some on himself! Goes to the App store and finds games, and has been able to load some games that aren’t free, some that are, without a password.

Anyone have any suggestions how I can change it back so that the App store always asks for a password, even for free games and updates?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-app-store-on-my-iphone-stopped-asking-for-a-password/650865/2 "2013-02-20T05:00:32Z")

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It now doesn’t ask for passwords for updates. You can prevent in app purchases in Settings \> General \> Restrictions.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-app-store-on-my-iphone-stopped-asking-for-a-password/650865/3 "2013-02-20T07:55:27Z")

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That worked - thanks!

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**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-app-store-on-my-iphone-stopped-asking-for-a-password/650865/4 "2013-02-21T15:44:48Z")

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Yeah, it seems like iOS 6 allowed it to not ask each & every time which is nice, but I don’t get what its parameters are. It just seems random whether it does or doesn’t ask for it. I’ve only downloaded free apps, so is it just for ones that have an age restriction?