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Thor774

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 14, 2007
227
30
I found other vague threads about this issue but they were all ancient and none of them had an answer so I am starting this one.

I wonder if there is someone else experiencing this issue. I can reproduce it every time.

Several of my devices are affected: iPhone 5, iPod Touch, iPad 2, several iOS versions too: 10.2 is the latest one.

Normally you don't need to type your Apple ID password on the App Store when you are downloading updates or apps that you already own from the Purchased area.

Immediately after you activate restrictions on the iPhone (Settings-General-Restrictions) something breaks and the App Store now ask every time for your password when downloading updates and apps under your Purchased area (You start to get the Sign in to iTunes Store dialog).

This has started maybe since iOS 9 and is still a problem in iOS 10.2.
When this problem arises the only workaround is to reset all settings on the iPhone and configure it again, something very cumbersome. When you do this the apps under Purchased and the updates start to download again without asking for your password.

Changing the options under Restrictions - Password Settings does not have any effect on this problem.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Ensure that when you try to download and update or an app from under the Purchased area you do not get prompted to input your password (normal behavior).
2. Go to Settings - General - Restrictions and activate them. Input the PIN.
3. Configure some restrictions like content blocking by age, or some others.
4. Go back and open the App Store
5. Go to the Purchased area and try to download an app. You will get now the Sign in to iTunes Store dialog. This was not shown before. You will get now the dialog every time you download an app that you already own from the Purchased area.
6. Go to the Updates area and try to download an update. You will get now the Sign in to iTunes Store dialog. This was not shown before. You will get now the dialog every time you download an update from the Updates area.

The only workaround I have found is to go to the iPhone Settings and sign out from everything that uses your Apple ID:
- iTunes / App Store
- Music
- Videos
- Game Center
- iCloud
And then use the Reset All Settings option. After the iPhone has booted sign in to all the services again.
The reset is a pain, but it is the only way to get the App Store to behave again. You will see that now you are not prompted again to sign in to iTunes Store every time you want to download an update or an app you already own.

DO NOT, under any circumstance, activate the Restrictions again. The problem comes back immediately after doing this and you will have to reset all settings again.

I have reported the issue to Apple using:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
and:
https://bugreport.apple.com
I encourage you to do the same.
 
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