Jane Hill
Apple is releasing new tools to follow the increasing number of age-verification laws in the U.S. and other countries. As part of these updates, Apple will stop downloads of apps rated 18+ in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore. The company is also adding features to meet legal rules in Utah and Louisiana in the United States.
The company told developers on Tuesday that it is expanding its set of “age assurance” tools. This includes an improved Declared Age Range API, which is now available for beta testing.
These tools let developers know a user’s age group without seeing personal details such as the exact birth date. The need for this type of technical system has grown because many governments have created laws to block or limit certain apps, such as social media, that are meant only for adults aged 18 and above.
How the Declared Age Range API Works
Developers who offer apps to users in Brazil can use the Declared Age Range API to learn a user’s age category. However, this can happen only when the user, a parent, or a guardian, when required, agrees to share that information.
New signals in the API show whether age-related legal rules apply to the user and whether the user must share their age range. The API can also tell developers if they must get permission from a parent or guardian before making important updates to a child’s app.
18+ App Restrictions in Select Countries
Starting February 24, 2026, users in Brazil, Australia, and Singapore cannot download apps rated 18+ unless they are confirmed to be adults.
The App Store can automatically check whether a user is an adult using reasonable verification methods. This process began rolling out on Tuesday, February 24.
While Apple performs this check itself, developers may still need to confirm that their users are adults, using the updated Declared Age Range API for guidance.
Special Compliance Rules in Brazil
Brazil has an additional rule: an app will automatically receive an 18+ rating if it includes loot boxes. Developers must state whether their app contains loot boxes as part of the age-rating questionnaire.
Apps with loot boxes will have their rating changed to 18+ in Brazil because new laws there do not allow such features to be offered to children. Loot boxes are considered similar to gambling since players spend money for a random chance to receive in-game rewards, which lawmakers believe should not be available to minors.
Changes Affecting Utah and Louisiana Users
In the United States, new users in Utah and Louisiana will soon have their age categories shared with apps when developers request it through the Declared Age Range API.
Utah will apply this requirement to new Apple Accounts starting May 6, 2026. Louisiana will follow on July 1, 2026. These rules apply only to newly created accounts.
The purpose of these laws is to ensure developers confirm a user’s age so children cannot download apps that are not suitable for them.
Louisiana’s House Bill 570 begins on 1st July, 2026, and Utah’s App Store Accountability Act begins on 6th May, 2026
Broader Regulatory Push and Developer Responsibilities
Many countries and U.S. states are introducing stricter child-safety laws. Some of these rules require app store operators to verify user age and obtain parental permission before minors can download apps.
Apple says its new set of tools is designed to help developers meet these legal requirements in places like Louisiana and Utah. Developers who fail to follow age-assurance rules may face penalties or fines.
Apple has opposed some platform-level laws because of privacy concerns linked to age verification. The company does not want to confirm age through methods such as submitting identification, due to worries about collecting sensitive data. It also prefers not to share detailed age information about every user with developers.
So that’s why Apple Inc. introduces age-verification tools that currently block 18+ app downloads in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore.
