Apple Revamps App Age Ratings with 13+, 16+, 18+ Classifications
In a major safety update, Apple replaced 12+ and 17+ app ratings with 13+, 16+ and 18+ tiers, adding new developer content questionnaires and in-app controls disclosures. Apps auto-adjust in iOS 26 beta while general release arrives in September. The enhanced system guides parents, limits exposure to sensitive themes, and integrates age APIs, encouraging developers to adopt tailored safeguards and parental controls.
Apple Expands App Age Ratings
Apple has overhauled its App Store age-rating system to offer more precise guidance for parents and developers alike. Announced Thursday, the update introduces new 13+, 16+, and 18+ tiers, replaces the 12+ and 17+ categories, and adds a robust content questionnaire to better identify sensitive themes in apps.
The company has already auto-adjusted every app and game in the App Store to align with the new slate. These changes are live in the public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26, with the general release slated for September.
- New age tiers: 13+, 16+, 18+
- Removed ratings: 12+ and 17+
Developer Requirements
App creators must now complete a detailed questionnaire covering in-app controls, medical or wellness topics, and violent themes. Apple will use these responses to calculate an age rating, which developers can review and tweak in App Store Connect.
Parental Guidance and Safety
The refined ratings empower parents to make informed choices and prevent younger users from downloading unsuitable apps. The App Store will automatically hide non-age-appropriate titles from editorial stories and tab recommendations, reducing accidental exposure.
- Visibility filters on Today, Games, and Apps tabs based on device age
Legislative Context and API Integration
With new laws pressing app stores to verify kids’ ages, Apple proposes a privacy-focused API that shares only age ranges—not birthdates—with developers. By sourcing age data from parental device setup, the system cuts down on kids misrepresenting their age to unlock content.
This approach not only addresses regulatory scrutiny but also encourages developers to integrate age-appropriate experiences and parental controls early in their design cycle.
Analytical teams can tap into this framework to audit existing apps, benchmark ratings accuracy, and design content strategies that both comply with Apple’s guidelines and foster user trust.
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AI Tools Built for Agencies That Move Fast.
QuarkyByte can streamline your App Store compliance by mapping content to the new 13+, 16+, and 18+ tiers and automating age-check questionnaires. Leverage our analytics to refine in-app controls and maintain visibility in the iOS ecosystem.