iOS 26.4 Introduces Age Verification Requirements for UK Users

Apple released iOS 26.4 yesterday on the iPhone 11 and newer, and the latest update introduces new age verification requirements for UK users. Adults in the country will now need to confirm that they’re 18 or older to “use certain services or features, or take certain actions on their account,” the company explained in a support page.

As reported by the Financial Times, Apple is making these changes in the UK after being pressured by the government to better protect children against online threats. With the release of iOS 26.1 in November, Apple had already automatically enabled its Communication Safety and Web content filters features for existing child accounts for ages 13-17.

Even though iOS and the App Store aren’t covered by the UK’s Online Safety Act, Ofcom, the UK’s regulator for communications services, praised the additional changes Apple introduced for UK users in iOS 26.4. “Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families,” Ofcom told the Financial Times.

Starting with iOS 26.4, Web Content Filter and Communication Safety will be automatically turned on for kids, teens, and adults who haven’t confirmed their age in the UK. These features block inappropriate web content and blur photos or videos that might contain nudity in the Messages app.

To confirm their age, UK users will be able to use a credit card or scan their ID. “If you already have an account, Apple will check if you have a payment method on file or other eligible methods available to confirm that you’re 18 or older,” Apple explained.

If you have yet to install it, iOS 26.4 introduces several new features, including AI-powered playlists in Apple Music, the ability to switch between video and audio in Apple Podcasts, and a new “Urgent” option for reminders.