Apple has announced a significant overhaul of its App Store age-rating system, expanding its classifications and introducing new requirements for developers as part of a broader push to enhance child safety online.
The tech giant revealed on Thursday that it is replacing its previous 12+ and 17+ age categories with new 13+, 16+, and 18+ ratings, while maintaining the existing 4+ and 9+ options. The changes are already live in the public beta versions of Apple’s latest operating systems — iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 — and will roll out to all users this September.
In addition to the revised age tiers, developers are now required to answer an updated set of content-related questions when submitting or updating apps on the App Store. These questions cover topics such as violence, medical and wellness themes, in-app capabilities, and parental control features. Apple will then use the responses to calculate an appropriate age rating for each app, which developers can review and adjust via App Store Connect.
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Apple says it has already applied the updated rating system to all existing apps and games in the App Store. The goal is to provide more accurate and transparent guidance for parents while preventing children from accessing content deemed inappropriate for their age.
To further enforce age-appropriate experiences, the App Store will limit where certain apps appear. For instance, apps with higher age ratings will not be featured in editorial content, or in the “Today,” “Games,” or “Apps” tabs for child users.
This update forms part of Apple’s broader child safety initiative, first announced earlier this year. Alongside the new age ratings, Apple is simplifying the process of setting up child accounts and encouraging parents to share their child’s age information — which will be relayed to developers to tailor content appropriately.
Importantly, Apple has created a new developer API that allows app makers to access age-range data without collecting a child’s actual birth date, helping preserve user privacy. This data, entered by parents during device setup, is expected to be more reliable than information entered directly by children within apps.
Developers must opt into this API to access age-range data for customization purposes. Those who fail to adopt the new system may see reduced visibility and distribution of their apps, especially if the content isn’t aligned with the revised age guidelines.
The move comes as lawmakers across the U.S. intensify efforts to regulate children’s online experiences, with several states proposing legislation that would require parental consent before minors can download certain apps. While companies like Apple and Google have generally argued that age verification should be handled by app developers, some lawmakers and rival tech firms are pushing for app store operators to take more direct responsibility.
Apple’s revised age-rating system is positioned as a middle-ground solution, aiming to support regulatory goals while protecting user privacy and enhancing safety for younger users across its platforms.