- Updated: February 25, 2026
- 5 min read
Apple Introduces Age Verification for UK iOS Users in iOS 26.4 Beta
Skip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonThe VergeThe Verge logo.Apple brings age verification to UK users in iOS 26.4 betaTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyApple brings age verification to UK users in iOS 26.4 betaUsers who don’t verify their age may not be able to download or purchase apps.Users who don’t verify their age may not be able to download or purchase apps.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothFeb 25, 2026, 2:10 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Dominic Preston / 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 is bringing age verification to the UK, as the latest iOS 26.4 beta prompts users to verify that they’re over 18 following installation. As shown in screenshots posted to Reddit, Apple says users who don’t confirm their age “will not be able to download and purchase apps or make in-app purchases.”In one of the screenshots, Apple notes that it may automatically confirm that users are over 18 using the payment method connected to their account, or the age of their account. Otherwise, Apple may ask users to scan their credit cards to confirm their age. One Reddit user says that they were also given the option to scan their ID.The Verge reached out to Apple for more information about this update but didn’t immediately hear back.This comes as Apple and tech companies contend with age verification requirements spreading across the globe. On Tuesday, Apple announced that it will start blocking users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore from downloading apps rated 18+ unless they verify that they’re an adult using “reasonable methods.” It will also begin sharing age categories with a developer’s app to comply with local laws in Utah and Louisiana.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 iOSNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts 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 internetApple’s new age verification tools block underage app downloads where required by lawJay Peters12:45 AM UTCDiscord is delaying its global age verification rolloutStevie BonifieldFeb 24Discord distances itself from Persona age verification after user backlashEmma RothFeb 23Most PopularMost PopularYouTube’s cheaper subscription is getting background play and downloadsDiscord is delaying its global age verification rolloutInside Anthropic’s existential negotiations with the PentagonSamsung is on slop watch at UnpackedInside Microsoft’s big Xbox leadership shake-upThe 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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Andrii Bidochko
CTO UBOS
Andrii Bidochko is an AI entrepreneur and researcher focused on AI agents, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. He writes about the technologies shaping the future of machine intelligence, from frontier models and agent architectures to real-world AI applications.