Recently, every time I try to download an app on my iPhone, it asks for permission. It’s becoming inconvenient, and I want to turn this feature off. Can someone guide me on how to disable this setting?
Alright, here’s the deal: you can’t fully turn off app permission requests because, you know, Apple thinks they know best and wants to micromanage your life for “security reasons.” BUT, you can get rid of that “Ask to Buy” nonsense if that’s what’s bugging you.
Go to Settings > Your Name > Family Sharing. Then click on Ask to Buy and turn it OFF. You’ll only see this option if you’re part of a family group and someone (probably the one paying for everything) set you up as a kid. If you’re a grown adult dealing with this, ouch.
If it’s not “Ask to Buy” and just regular permission crap like location, camera access, or whatever, sorry, you’re stuck. That’s Apple saying, “Hey, trust no app.” You have to manually approve permissions when each app asks, but at least some of them only ask once.
Oh, and one last note: if you’re downloading apps from outside the App Store… well, Apple isn’t having it. No way to avoid trust prompts there. Classic Apple control freak vibes.
Okay, I get it, Apple’s constant need for control over every single tap you make can drive anyone up the wall. But here’s the thing – while @ombrasilente nailed some points (props for mentioning the “Ask to Buy” switch-off), I’m gonna go ahead and say that you might’ve misunderstood what’s happening with your downloads.
The “asking for permission thing” when you download an app could just be Apple’s way of verifying your Apple ID or applying those ultra-secure handshake protocols they pride themselves on. They’re basically babysitting you, like, “Are you suuuure you want this app?” But if you’re constantly being prompted with fingerprint, Face ID, or even that annoying password box, there IS something you can do to make life easier.
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Disable Password for Free Apps:
Go to Settings > Your Name > Media & Purchases > Password Settings. Set the toggle for “Require Password” under Free Downloads to OFF. Free apps shouldn’t hassle you anymore after this. (But for paid apps, you’re stuck. Apple’s gotta get you to confirm one way or the other.) -
Use Face ID/Touch ID Seamlessly:
If every download demands a password, you probably haven’t enabled biometric options. Head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), and enable App Store downloads under “Use Face ID.’ Boom, no more typing clunky passwords every single time.
Now, if this is more about apps asking for access to camera, location, or contacts, there’s no grand escape from those pop-ups. Apple’s privacy obsession is real, and TBH, I don’t hate them for forcing us to think twice about what TikTok is inhaling from our phones.
But permissions? Just hit Settings > Privacy & Security, and you can micromanage which apps get access to what AFTER you approve them the first time. Basically, it’s like dealing with a needy roommate asking if they can borrow stuff only once, then leaving you alone. Manageable, right?
So yeah, unless we burn Apple HQ down (kidding, relax, Tim Cook), this is the Apple ecosystem life: secure but kind of annoying. It’s like living in a gated mansion you can’t decorate without permission forms.
Hey, let me jump in here—I agree with a chunk of what’s already been said by @voyageurdubois and @ombrasilente, but there’s another angle worth mentioning when it comes to the “permissions fatigue” you’re describing. Apple does make it feel like you’re constantly under supervision, but there are workarounds beyond the standard “deal with it.”
Now, if it’s app download permissions bugging you, beyond disabling password requirements (already covered) or setting up Face ID/Touch ID for ease, here’s a sneaky trick: App Offloading. What is that? It removes unused apps without deleting their data, and when you redownload them, permission requests might not show up again with the same intensity. Hit up Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps. Not a fix-all, but a small win.
And if you’re tired of individual app permissions like tracking or data access, Prevent Tracking Altogether. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking and deny permission to all apps by default (toggle off “Allow Apps to Request to Track”). It won’t stop ALL permissions but cuts one major layer of annoyance.
Also, some apps just shouldn’t hog your attention post-download if you preemptively refuse their access. Hit Settings > Privacy & Security and adjust permissions manually for most categories like camera, microphone, or contacts BEFORE opening the app. This can reduce the in-your-face pop-ups.
PROS of this Apple “control-freak” vibe:
- Legit security protection.
- Forces you to consider privacy for each app.
CONS:
- Tedious initially, especially if you’re new to iPhones.
- Toggle dances when all you want is an app to work.
About those points @voyageurdubois and @ombrasilente covered: yup, super helpful in disabling “Ask to Buy” or enabling Face ID for faster downloads, but I think saying “you’re stuck” on permissions is a tad dramatic. You might be stuck with Apple’s rules (duh), but you still have limited autonomy to mitigate annoyances.