How to automatically approve Apple Arcade app downloads while requiring approval for other apps?

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Level 1

6 points

How to automatically approve Apple Arcade app downloads while requiring approval for other apps?

So if I want to allow my child to download apps, say off of Apple Arcade without requiring approval for any of those apps, but requiring approval for every other app, how would I do that? Because I know it was set up that way on a family member’s, old phone, but when they upgraded their phone they ended up having to make a new Apple ID for some reason, and the parental settings had to be put back into place. The automatic approval of Apple Arcade apps had not been enabled though and nobody can figure out how to configure it to that way again.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Feb 17, 2025 09:29 AM

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Answer 1

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BlueWhale627

Level 1

35 points

Feb 17, 2025 03:39 PM in response to Delerium_22

I'm afraid I believe what you're after is an obsolete feature.

However, an alternative method may be helpful. While you already have approval required for all new apps from the App Store (as already mentioned, shared link earlier), you can also use Screen Time settings to manage app visibility and downloads based on age restrictions.

To do this:

Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web & Games > Apps

Here, you can select an age limit (e.g., "Don’t Allow" hides many apps). You may need to experiment with different levels to see what works best.

Another option, if an app has already been downloaded and you don’t want someone else accessing it, is to long press the app, select Require Face ID/Touch ID/Passcode (if applicable) and enable it. This will prevent the app from opening without authentication.

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Answer 2

Delerium_22 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 17, 2025 02:48 PM in response to BlueWhale627

I already did, that’s why I asked. I don’t know if it’s because of an older iOS version that allowed for it, but there seems to be no option to automatically approve certain apps, while keeping the rest behind asking for permission. But as I stated above, it used to be set up so that the family member could download apps that were off the Apple Arcade without having to ask for permission from a family organizer, but was required to ask permission to download other apps. But now that there is a new Apple account and iPhone, nobody can exactly remember the settings needed to be changed to allow this same setup to occur again

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Answer 3

Feb 17, 2025 02:36 PM in response to Delerium_22

You may check this article, if you haven’t already: Approve what kids buy with Ask to Buy – Apple Support (UK)

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How to automatically approve Apple Arcade app downloads while requiring approval for other apps?

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