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Comment by Maursault | Hacker News Reader

> Does anyone else hate the way it's now a requirement to enter your password for an App store purchase?

As far as I know, it's always been a requirement, though after entering once, you can install more apps without entering a password for a temporary period. It's a good idea, too, since your AppleID is tied to your debit card or credit card, so if someone got a hold of your unlocked iDevice, if the AppleID password wasn't required, they could install as many apps as your debit card or credit card will allow. That's no good. Getting a refund for an AppStore App is near impossible.

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> Getting a refund for an AppStore App is near impossible.

Don't know what you're talking about -- I've done it several times when an app turned out not to work or not have a feature I needed. The refund was processed every time.

Obviously if you needed to refund 100 apps in a week you'd probably have an issue, but normal occasional refunds seem to present no problem whatsoever.

Years ago I requested a refund for an app that didn't work. Never heard back so I disputed the charge. Big mistake.

Apple's response was to lock me out of the app store entirely. They'd never let me use that credit card again for anything Apple related.

I mean, that is generally what happens when you chargeback with any service, really. They have no obligation to accept your business and by charging back you have shown that, t least for that card (but in many places, the entire account) will result in increased fees and handling which is certainly something a business can reduce if they want to by refusing your business.

Generally speaking, expect to not be able to use the card if not the whole account when you charge back. It's intended to be a last resort option.

Chargebacks are incredibly expensive for the merchant. They would be insane to continue to do business with someone who’s done one.

It sucks because sometimes the company is wrong and the customer is right, and a chargeback is the only way for the customer to win. But from the company’s perspective those are a small minority of cases; most chargebacks are abusive customers trying to get something for nothing, and it’s best just to cut them off.

Imagine you had a small dispute at a local bar, maybe they gave you $10 less in change than they should. And you see the till open on your way out, and there’s only a $100 bill in it. We can debate the morality of taking it, but I don’t think anyone would expect to be welcomed back after taking it.

If Apple is going to “vet” programs for a 30% cut then I expect the app to work. If it doesn’t, and the developer is unresponsive, then it’s up to Apple to make it right. If they won’t, then I will use the method of last resort. I don’t give a tinker’s cuss how much it cost. Apple makes a fortune doing this, and brought it on themselves.

You're well within your rights to do that, nobody is saying otherwise. What I am saying is that Apple has the right to then say "you're too much hassle" and close your account.

Can confirm, i've been using iOS since iPhoneOS 2.0 and it was always a requirement. Using saved passwords and Touch ID/Face ID actually makes buying stuff on the App Store less annoying than how it was before.

I'd be happy if FaceID was enough though?

You can turn this on in Settings > Face ID & Passcode - enable the option for "iTunes & App Store", and you can use Face ID for app store "purchases" (free or otherwise).

You can disable the requirement for a password for free apps via the Settings > (your name) > Media & Purchases > Password Settings menu.

I have both enabled since forever but I still get password’ed every once in a while even when installing free apps. The App Store password prompt is also stuck in distant past with no keychain integration, so I always have to cancel the purchase, copy password from password manager, then purchase again. Super annoying.

FaceID still works for this, for me. I do not have to enter my password for purchases.

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