Apple’s App Store is updating its app age rating system, introducing 13+, 16+, and 18+ ratings while eliminating the 12+ and 17+ categories, complementing the existing 4+ and 9+ ratings. App developers must now respond to a new set of questions to determine sensitive content in their apps and can adjust their app’s age rating to align with the new options as needed.
The company says it has automatically updated all apps and games across the App Store to align with the new system, which is available in the beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26. The public betas went live yesterday, and the general release will roll out this September to all customers.
As part of the updated system, developers will need to inform Apple about their in-app controls and app capabilities, answer questions about medical and wellness topics, and disclose whether their app or game contains violent themes. Apple will then calculate the appropriate age rating, which developers can view and modify in App Store Connect.
The ratings are intended to offer parents more specific guidance about the apps their kids want to download, and will prevent kids from installing apps that exceed their age range…
Apple’s solution is a system that will protect the child’s personal information, like their birth date, by offering a developer API that gives them access to the age range information they need to customize their app experience appropriately. Because this information would be provided by the parent during the set-up of a new device, it’s more likely to be accurate than if kids entered their birthday or age into an app directly, as kids may lie about their age to access an app’s full experience.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple in February introduced new child safety initiatives, including age-checks for apps. More info here.
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