Apple age rating update

Apple recently announced updates to the age rating system for apps and games available on the App Store. Aimed at improving safety and age-appropriate access for users of all ages, including children, the revised system introduces more granular rating categories and new evaluation criteria.

Apple age rating update in App Store Connect: More detailed rating categories

Apple has expanded the existing 4+ and 9+ ratings by adding new tiers: 13+, 16+, and 18+. These updated ratings are determined per country or region and reflect regional standards for age suitability. The rollout of these changes has been automatically applied to all existing apps and games. Users will begin seeing these ratings on Apple devices running beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26.

New rating questionnaire

To support the updated system, Apple has introduced a new set of required questions within the age rating questionnaire for developers. These questions are designed to identify the presence and frequency of content such as:

• In-app controls
• App capabilities
• Medical or wellness-related topics
• Violent themes
   

Responses to these questions help Apple assign a more accurate age rating and ensure that users receive an experience appropriate for their age group.

• Developer Controls and Responsibilities
• Developers now have the ability to manually increase the age rating for their app beyond what Apple calculates, if their app's own policies require a higher minimum age for usage.
• Updated age ratings and questionnaire responses can be reviewed and submitted in the App Information section of App Store Connect.
   

Apple reminds developers to account for all app features, including artificial intelligence assistants and chatbot functionality, when evaluating their app’s content, as these may influence the presence of sensitive material. All submissions remain subject to the App Review Guidelines, which include requirements regarding objectionable or user-generated content, and must comply with applicable laws such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.

Developers are required to complete the new age rating questions for each of their apps by January 31, 2026. Failure to comply may result in interruptions when submitting app updates through App Store Connect.

Global and regional age rating definitions

Apple’s age rating system is a required field that informs the App Store’s parental controls, helping guardians maintain a safe digital environment for children. In App Store Connect, developers can identify specific types of content, features, and capabilities within their apps, enabling Apple to assign appropriate age classifications.

Below are the general definitions for Apple’s global age ratings:

• 4+: No objectionable content.
• 9+: May include mild cartoon or fantasy violence, infrequent crude humor, or mild mature themes.
• 12+: May include mild references to substances, infrequent sexual content, simulated gambling, or horror themes.
• 17+ / 18+: May include unrestricted web access, gambling, intense mature themes, or graphic violence.
• Unrated: Apps without a rating cannot be distributed via the App Store. These may only be available through alternative marketplaces or websites within the EU.
   

Apple notes that age ratings may vary by device operating system version. Devices running earlier versions than iOS 26 will display ratings according to the previous system. Full details on OS version-specific ratings and international age rating values (including Australia, Brazil, and South Korea) are available within App Store Connect.