GoKawiilApple age verification went live in the UK in iOS 26.4 after a previous accidental release in the developer beta. While it was straightforward for me, some on the Apple Support forums and Reddit are reporting major problems with the process.
Some of the issues appear to be based on misunderstandings around the acceptable documentation when the company is unable to verify your age automatically, while others seem to be system failures …
Apple this week activated a requirement for UK users to verify that they are 18+ in order to get continued access to all apps in the App Store. This is based on compliance with Britain’s Online Safety Act, although conflicting views have been expressed over whether this is actually a legal requirement for the company.
Either way, the move was yesterday welcomed by regulator Ofcom.
The age verification process
A new link will appear in the settings app for UK users after upgrading to iOS 26.4. This is labeled “Confirm You Are 18+.”
When you tap on this, a screen tells you that Apple may be able to automatically verify your age.
Screenshot
If so, then tapping the continue button is all you need to do and you’ll receive confirmation that the process is complete.
If the company isn’t able to do so, however, you’ll need to manually prove your age – and this is where some users are experiencing problems.
... continue reading