CUPERTINO, California, January 24, 2026 — Apple will soon require age verification for downloading certain apps in several countries, using third-party services to confirm users are of legal age for restricted content, according to a new support document and developer guidelines.
The change, rolling out in early 2026, targets apps rated 17+ or those involving gambling, alcohol, or adult themes. In affected regions—including parts of Europe, Australia, and potentially the U.S.
Users under 17 will need to verify age through government-issued ID or other trusted methods provided by approved partners. Apple will not store the verification data itself, relying instead on secure, privacy-preserving third-party assurance services.
The company updated its App Store Review Guidelines and developer portal to reflect the requirement. Developers must integrate age gates for restricted apps and ensure compliance with local laws.
Apple stated the move responds to increasing regulatory pressure around child safety and content access, particularly in markets with strict digital age verification mandates.
In a support page update, Apple explained: “In select countries or regions, you may be asked to verify your age before downloading certain apps from the App Store. This helps ensure that age-restricted content is only accessible to eligible users.”
The verification process will use tokenized, privacy-focused methods similar to those already in place for Apple Pay and Apple ID age gating. Users who cannot or choose not to verify will be blocked from downloading flagged apps but can still access the rest of the App Store.
The rollout follows similar moves by Google on Play Store and app stores in the European Union under the Digital Services Act. Apple has emphasized that the change affects only a small percentage of apps and will vary by country based on local regulations.
Developers have been notified through App Store Connect updates, with implementation deadlines staggered by region. No global mandate has been set, and the U.S. is not currently included in the initial rollout.
The policy reflects growing pressure on tech platforms to prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate content while preserving user privacy.
