Apple’s iOS 26.4 update adds age verification in the UK | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Apple’s iOS 26.4 update adds age verification in the UKComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleApple’s iOS 26.4 update adds age verification in the UKUsers in the UK will be asked to verify that they’re over 18 to use ‘certain services or features.’Users in the UK will be asked to verify that they’re over 18 to use ‘certain services or features.’by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothMar 25, 2026, 1:54 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergePart OfLet me see some ID: age verification is spreading across the internetsee all updates Emma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Apple now requires users in the UK to verify their age with the launch of iOS 26.4. In a support page on Apple’s website, the company says users must confirm that they’re over 18 to “use certain services or features, or take certain actions on their account.”UK users can confirm their age by scanning their ID or using a credit card. If a user already has an Apple account, the company may use a linked payment method to verify that they’re over 18. Otherwise, Apple will automatically enable child safety protections, including features that block adult content on the web and blur messages containing nudity.Apple launched iOS 26.4 on Tuesday, which introduces the ability to create AI-generated playlists in Apple Music, a new concert discovery feature, and a bunch of emoji. Though Apple initially introduced age checks in the UK with the iOS 26.4 beta, company spokesperson Peter Ajemian told The Verge at the time that the rollout was an “error.” The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for more information but didn’t immediately hear back.As noted by the Financial Times, Apple’s App Store and operating system aren’t covered by the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires platforms that host content deemed inappropriate for children to implement age verification. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, called the move a “real win for children and families” in a statement to the Financial Times.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleiOSCloseiOSPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All iOSiPhoneCloseiPhonePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All iPhonePolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMore in: Let me see some ID: age verification is spreading across the internetGrapheneOS won’t force users to verify their age.Stevie BonifieldMar 23Lawmakers just advanced online safety laws that require age verification at the app storeEmma RothMar 5Apple says the UK age verification prompt was an “error.”Emma RothFeb 27Most PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USWelp, I bought an iPhone againDonut Lab’s solid-state battery could barely hold a charge after getting damagedOpenAI just gave up on Sora and its billion-dollar Disney dealThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Apple has implemented a new age verification system within iOS 26.4 specifically for users in the United Kingdom. This initiative, initially deployed as an error, requires individuals to confirm they are over 18 before accessing certain services or utilizing specific features within their Apple accounts. The verification process itself offers two primary methods: scanning an identification document or completing the verification through a credit card. This system’s deployment underscores a broader trend of increasing age verification measures across various online platforms, driven by concerns regarding access to age-restricted content and the safeguarding of minors.

Upon launch, the age verification process was inadvertently introduced during the iOS 26.4 beta, a circumstance acknowledged by Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian. Despite the initial misstep, Apple proceeded with the rollout, citing the regulator, Ofcom, in the United Kingdom, highlighting a “real win for children and families.” This action reflects a divergence from the regulatory landscape surrounding the UK’s Online Safety Act, which does not extend to Apple’s App Store or operating system, creating a need for Apple to independently implement age verification standards.

The mechanism employed by Apple incorporates safeguards designed to protect younger users. If a user’s account doesn't have a linked payment method, Apple automatically activates child safety protections. These protections feature content blocking for adult material accessed via web browsers and blurring functionality for visually explicit messages. This layered approach signals a commitment from Apple to mitigate potential harms associated with unrestricted access to certain content, aligning with broader industry efforts towards child safety within digital environments. The company's response to the initial error demonstrates a commitment to proactively addressing regulatory concerns and safeguarding vulnerable user groups, even if necessitating a temporary deviation from standard operating procedures. The use of existing payment methods to verify age provides an efficient and readily available pathway for authentication.