What does purchaseNotAllowedError (code 3) mean in the purchases SDK?

The purchases SDK raises purchaseNotAllowedError (code 3) when the device or account is not allowed to make the purchase.

Quick facts#


Error	`ErrorCode.purchaseNotAllowedError` (iOS), `PurchasesErrorCode.PurchaseNotAllowedError` (Android), code 3
Where	Purchases SDK (iOS, Android and the hybrid SDKs built on them)
What the vendor says	The device or user is not allowed to make the purchase.

Cause#

StoreKit 2: Product.PurchaseError.purchaseNotAllowed, which Apple documents as the user not being allowed to make purchases. StoreKit 1: SKError.paymentNotAllowed and several related codes.
Android: Play Billing BILLING_UNAVAILABLE, ITEM_NOT_OWNED and FEATURE_NOT_SUPPORTED map here. Google lists an outdated Play Store, an unsupported country and a declined payment method as reasons for BILLING_UNAVAILABLE.
A product change (upgrade or downgrade) requested for a product that is not a subscription.

Fix#

Check before you show the paywall: Purchases.canMakePayments() on iOS, or the Android equivalent with a callback.
Ask the customer to check restrictions: Screen Time or a device management profile on iOS, an up-to-date Play Store, a supported country and a valid payment method on Android.
Test on a real store account. Simulators and emulators without one return this error.
Do not retry. The block stays until the customer changes a setting.

Example#

Swift

// The purchases SDK throws `ErrorCode` values; match the one you handle and let the rest fall through.
func handle(_ error: Error) {
    guard let code = error as? ErrorCode else {
        print("Not a purchases SDK error: \(error)")
        return
    }
    switch code {
    case .purchaseNotAllowedError:
        // Retrying cannot help: explain the block and show the paywall again on the next launch.
        print("Purchases are not allowed on this device or account")
    default:
        print("Other purchases error: \(code.description)")
    }
}

Compile-checked: npm run check:snippets type-checks this snippet with swiftc together with the ErrorCode.swift file of the RevenueDot purchases-ios fork (checked 2026-10-03).

How the RevenueDot SDK reports it#

Deep dive: revenuedot.app/errors/purchase-not-allowed-error.

Source#

Checked: 2026-10-03

Edit this page on GitHub ↗ View as Markdown Last updated October 3, 2026