Apple is revamping its App Store age rating system with the addition of three new categories — 13+, 16+, and 18+ — across all its platforms. These will replace the current 12+ and 17+ ratings, while the existing 4+ and 9+ classifications remain unchanged. The move is aimed at giving parents more accurate controls over what apps their children can access and aligning better with regional content standards worldwide.
As part of this shift, Apple has automatically reassigned age ratings to all existing apps and games using the data developers previously submitted through the App Store Connect age rating questionnaire. But that’s only the beginning.
Developers are now required to fill out an updated version of the questionnaire, which includes new mandatory sections covering in-app content, user-generated material, wellness-related information, and violent or suggestive themes. These fresh inputs will determine how the app is rated moving forward.
There’s a deadline too: developers must complete this new questionnaire by January 31, 2026. After that, those who haven’t complied won’t be allowed to submit new app updates via App Store Connect.
The revised rating system is already live in the beta versions of Apple’s next major OS updates, including iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and more. Once these platforms exit beta and roll out publicly this fall, the new ratings will be visible to all users.
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