Cant install Minecraft - parent approval bug!

Question

I want to buy and install Minecraft on Windows 11. Im in a family

When I click buy I get an error see below:

My parent sees NO alert to buy the app. No email. No alert in account.microsoft.com/profile or in family app

He previously approved it weeks ago but didn't pay for it. When he looks back at the old email alert that payment link has expired.

Help!

error:

Hold On: It looks like your parent approved this. Check with them in a bit

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Answer 1

As per my other reply in this page, I went to https://support.xbox.com/en-US/contact-us and they finally helped me with the following:

1. Just simply sign in to this site: https://account.microsoft.com/family sign in using the parent email address.
2. Under the member whose account you want to manage, select More options > Spending.
3. In there, uncheck the option “Require approval for every purchase”. Can turn it on again after the purchase.

IT WORKED! It was a workaround to the bug, but at least it worked.

If anyone at Microsoft ever wants to fix the bug to save frustrated parents hours of their valuable time, then below is my best attempt at a bug report:

As I understand it, there is a bug in the Microsoft system somewhere: If a child asks to buy Minecraft, it sends a message to the parent with a question if the approve and a link of how to pay. If the parent approves it, but does not pay immediately, but comes back later, that payment link has now expired and has no option to renew the payment link (which if bug #1).

Then if the child tries to buy again later they fall into bug #2 which is that the Microsoft system sees the parent has approved it so tells the child "Hold on It looks like your parent approved this. Check with them in a bit". BUT the Microsoft system NEVER sends a new message to the parent with a new payment link.

Answer 2

Hi Bob8. I tried what you suggested, and maybe if I talked to different support reps it would have gone smoother, but I have to say, I had a complete nightmare. I've put about 8 hours of time into it and gone through about 6 levels of Microsoft support to get to a solution - the worst support experience I've ever had. I only persevered because my daughter wants it so much.

This post will focus on the result of your support recommendation. My next post will focus on the solution that worked.

To be clear - I am a technical person and I have run an IT company for 10 years... So I had hassles when I first went to buy it 4 months ago (purchasing changed so it can't be shared by other family members - the first disappointment).Then I've had hassles buying it yesterday. I tried 6 different things. From your advice in this chat I contacted a MS support person via online chat.

That failed because they needed to escalate it to an unnamed team.

"Our escalations team is currently busy and transfers are not pushing through. They may all be engaged in a chat. Since they are the ones who handle these cases, you can schedule a call back by following these steps: Step 1 : In the Start or taskbar search box, type Contact Support, and then press Enter key to launch Help app.Step 2: If you're using a local account, you'll be asked to enter a Microsoft account address (email ID) and password to proceed.Step 3: Select ServicesStep 4: Select WindowsStep 5: Select Technical Support**Step 6: Click or tap Arrange a call (Schedule a call) option. Enter your contact details, date and time, and finally click Confirm button." I tried the steps above. They don't work - they suggest things that don't exist!

I tried the Get Help app with some different options. I ended up with an MS support person via online chat again.

They said: "If you require additional assistance on any other matter, please do not hesitate to create a new ticket by visiting https://support.microsoft,com/en-us/contactus/. We are always here for you." NOTE: That web address was wrong - it had a , instead of a . When I corrected it, it wanted to open the Get Help app (which I have already tried).

Now I'm struggling to contact the second support team again because it says the support chat has closed and it won't let me reopen it. It would not work for about 20 minutes, then worked again.

They tried to get me to install it through the Microsoft Store. I did not want to because I tried that already - it does not actually exist in the Microsoft Store any more - it is just a hook that forces you to sign up to XBox and get it through XBox, which I did not want.

So they said: "Second is that we can contact as well our Accounts and Billing for the verification of your purchase of Minecraft using your daughter's email account...For your reference to get connected with our Accounts and Billing team, please have this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/microsoft-store-and-billing. ". I chose that option.

You guessed it - the URL they gave did not work - it was just generic support pages with no way of contacting a person in support.

I waited another 20minutes and contacted the MS support person via online chat again.

This time they transferred me to Accounts and Billing. Turns out it was Microsoft Office Accounts and billing support.

"Eric, if you are purchasing it from Microsoft store or it is from Minecraft.net, I will suggest you to contact Xbox support only.

Eric, I am from Microsoft Office Accounts and billing support.

Eric, all game related issues will be handled by Xbox support only."

So I went to https://support.xbox.com/en-US/contact-us and they finally helped me, as per my next post.

This is an INSANE amount of hoops to jump through to pay your dysfunctional company my money!!

Answer 3

May I ask whether this operation be performed successfully on a computer?

Answer 4

Thanks for your help Bob8, unfortunately I get error when creating the support case! 🙄 😤

Should it really be this hard to buy an app! . 💩

Answer 5

Hello cliffhangeruk,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Your problem belongs to the purchase process errors, the forum can not help you solve, please click **** here to contact support agent. You can contact a support agent by following the steps below.

Then describe your problem to a support agent who will help you resolve errors in the order process.

If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best regards,

Bob8 | Microsoft Community Support Specialist.