Apple’s iOS 26.4 update adds age verification in the UK

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.