Ask to Buy not working in iOS 16: How to fix it?

What to do when you face the “Ask to Buy not working in iOS 16” error? We have the answers below. Understanding the problem and identifying its cause can assist in finding an appropriate solution. Therefore, let’s address it before continuing.

Ask to Buy not working in iOS 16: Possible reasons

If you are curious about what is causing Ask to Buy to malfunction, there are multiple factors to consider such as unsupported content, incorrect settings, and even software bugs. Therefore, multiple solutions may need to be explored to resolve the issue.

As per reports, some users have mentioned that Ask to Buy is requesting age verification even after they have configured it correctly, while others have stated that they are not receiving the approval notification. Additionally, some have reported that some items are not compatible with this feature. We have investigated each complaint and provided potential solutions to resolve the issues.

Ask to Buy not working in iOS 16: How to fix it?

Follow these steps:

• Check if the content is supported
• Verify child’s age if requested
• Check Notification Center
• Check Your Apple ID
• Verify the Apple ID used for purchases
• Certain purchases are not permitted when Ask to Buy is active
• Ask to Buy doesn’t show up when in some situations
• Verify that Ask to Buy is compatible with your device
• Turn off/Turn on Ask to Buy
• Restart your devices
• Soft reset your iPhone or iPad
• Log out of Apple ID and log back in
• Factory reset your iPhone or iPad 
• Update the OS

Check if the content is supported

Begin by verifying that the content is compatible with the Ask to Buy feature. Keep in mind that Ask to Buy does not support any content from educational institutions.

Verify child’s age if requested

Keep in mind that age requirements can vary by location. Therefore, in certain countries such as South Korea, it may be necessary to verify the child’s age even after Ask to Buy has been configured.

Check Notification Center

If you are not receiving Ask to Buy requests on your iDevice, ensure that you check the Notification Center.

• On your iPhone Lock Screen: Swipe up from the middle of the screen to access the Notification Center.
• On other screens on iPhone: Swipe down from the top center and scroll up to reveal the notifications.
• On Mac: Click on the Time/Date reading at the top right corner of the screen or swipe left with two fingers from the right of your trackpad to access the Notification Center.

Check Your Apple ID

“If your child receives the “Unable to Ask Permission” message, verify your Family Sharing settings (Settings app -> Apple ID banner -> Family Sharing) and ensure that you are signed in with the correct Apple ID (Settings app -> Apple ID banner).”

Verify the Apple ID used for purchases

Make sure that you have logged in to the App Store, Apple Books, Apple Music app, and Apple TV app using the same Apple ID that you have selected for sharing content with your family members.

Certain purchases are not permitted when Ask to Buy is active

Remember that when Ask to Buy is enabled, certain purchases are not permitted, such as:

• iTunes Match
• iTunes Gifts
• Donations

Ask to Buy doesn’t show up when in some situations

You should be aware as a user that the following circumstances do not result in the Ask to Buy request:

• Download media from a parent’s earlier purchases
• Put a product code to use

Verify that Ask to Buy is compatible with your device

Make sure the Ask to Buy feature can be used on your smartphone. Use of this parental control function requires iOS 8 or later on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, as well as OS X Yosemite or later on your Mac.

Turn off/Turn on Ask to Buy

Many people who had experienced the same issue were able to fix it by turning the Ask to Buy feature on/off. There is no risk in trying it out given how simple it is.

• On an iPad or iPhone: Open the Settings app, select Family, family member, and then disable the Require Purchase Approval toggle. The toggle should then be activated after a little delay.
• Launch System Settings on a Mac and select Family > Child > Ask to Buy from the sidebar. Then, deactivate the Require Purchase Approval switch. Wait a little while and then flip on the toggle.

Restart your devices

The soft reset has long been a reliable option for resolving odd problems. So be sure to give it a shot.

Soft reset your iPhone or iPad

Soft reset is not quite as effective as hard reset, also known as force reset or force restart. We ought to do the same and give it a chance.

• For iPhone 8/iPhone X or later and iPad without a Home button: Press and quickly release the volume up button, then press and quickly release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side/top button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
• For iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the side button and the volume down button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
• For iPhone 6s or iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the Home button and the side/top button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

Log out of Apple ID and log back in

An additional effective solution for fixing the Ask to Buy not working issue is to sign out and back into your Apple ID.

• On iPhone and iPad: Go to the Settings app -> Apple ID banner -> Sign Out. Then, sign back in to your account.
• On Mac: Open the System Settings app -> Apple ID banner -> Sign Out. On macOS Monterey or earlier, go to the System Preferences app -> Apple ID -> Sign Out.

Before signing out of your Apple account, the system will prompt you to save a copy of important data such as calendars and reminders. It is important to ensure that all necessary data is saved before signing out of the account.

Factory reset your iPhone or iPad

If you are unable to use the “Ask to Buy” feature, one solution is to perform a factory reset on your iPhone. This can resolve many complex issues. To do this, go to the Settings app on your device, navigate to General, select Transfer or Reset, choose Reset and then confirm “Reset All Settings.”

Update the OS

If no solution has been found yet, it is possible that a rare software bug is causing the “Ask to Buy” feature to not work properly on your device. To address this, try updating the software as updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements.

• On an iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, select General, then Software Update and download and install the latest iOS or iPadOS update.
• On a Mac: If using macOS 13 Ventura or later, go to the System Settings app, select General, then Software Update and download and install the latest macOS update.
• On macOS 12 Monterey or earlier: Open the System Preferences app, select Software Update and follow the prompts to update.

Conclusion

We would be glad to hear that you have successfully fixed the “Ask to Buy not working in iOS 16” problem. You can also learn what’s new in Apple’s latest iOS 16.3 update by visiting our latest article!