Apple is bringing age verification to Texas this week

# Apple is bringing age verification to Texas this week Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/942761/apple-texas-age-verification-app-store](https://www.theverge.com/tech/942761/apple-texas-age-verification-app-store) [Skip to main content](https://www.theverge.com/tech/942761/apple-texas-age-verification-app-store#content) People who create a new Apple account in Texas will be asked to verify that they’re over 18\. People who create a new Apple account in Texas will be asked to verify that they’re over 18\. by Jun 3, 2026, 9:49 PM UTC   Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge [](https://www.theverge.com/authors/emma-roth) 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 will[introduce age verification](https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=sg176nne)in the App Store for users in Texas starting on Thursday, June 4th\. The move,[as spotted by*MacRumors*](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/03/apple-app-store-texas-sb-2420/), comes just days after a[federal appeals court allowed](https://www.theverge.com/policy/939470/court-lets-texas-app-store-age-verification-law-take-effect-for-now)Texas’ App Store Accountability Act to go into effect[while a lawsuit against it](https://www.theverge.com/news/849752/texas-app-store-accountability-act-age-verification-injunction)proceeds\. People in Texas[who are creating a new Apple account](https://www.theverge.com/news/796760/apple-iphones-ios-app-store-age-verification-law-texas-utah-louisiana)will need to verify they’re over 18 using[a credit card or government ID](https://support.apple.com/en-us/125662)\. Apple may also automatically verify users’ age using the age of their account and whether they have a credit card on file\. Meanwhile, users under 18 must join a Family Sharing group, where a parent or guardian will need to provide consent for app downloads and in\-app purchases\. Developers must also ensure they’re providing age\-appropriate experiences for users under 18 and can use Apple’s[Declared Age Range API](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/declaredagerange/)to check a user’s age range\. Despite Apple’s attempts to[push back](https://www.theverge.com/internet-censorship/673771/apple-texas-age-verification-law-objection-tim-cook)on[app store\-level age verification](https://www.theverge.com/policy/842993/kids-online-safety-markup-energy-commerce-tim-cook-apple), the company has announced plans to implement age checks[to comply](https://www.theverge.com/tech/884136/apple-age-verification-assurance-underage-app-downloads)with laws in places like Utah, Louisiana, Brazil, Australia, Singapore,[and the UK](https://www.theverge.com/tech/900284/apple-ios-26-4-uk-age-verification)\. Google is required to[make similar changes](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16569691?hl=en#zippy=%2Cwhich-users-will-be-required-to-be-verified%2Ccan-i-ask-google-play-to-block-all-users-in-a-specific-state-from-downloading-my-app%2Cwhat-mechanism-will-google-play-use-to-require-parental-approval-for-eligible-supervised-users%2Chow-does-google-play-handle-parental-approval-requests%2Cwill-google-play-revoke-app-access-or-disable-an-app-if-a-parent-denies-approval-of-a-significant-change%2Cwhat-is-considered-a-significant-change-when-and-how-do-i-provide-google-play-notice-of-significant-changes-requiring-parental-approval%2Chow-do-i-add-age-ratings-to-in-app-products-skus-for-texas-sb-compliance%2Cwhen-is-the-age-signal-available-for-example-on-install-first-launch-or-on-demand)to the Play Store and is also introducing age\-checking tools for developers\. Last December,[a judge blocked the App Store Accountability Act](https://www.theverge.com/news/849752/texas-app-store-accountability-act-age-verification-injunction)\(SB 2420\) from taking effect, but an appeals court has now reversed this decision — at least while the court figures out whether the law is constitutional\. Even if this law gets struck down in Texas, a[federal version with the same name](https://www.theverge.com/policy/890367/house-lawmakers-online-safety-bills-kids-act)is still making its way through Congress and could[impose age verification at the app store nationwide](https://www.theverge.com/policy/830877/app-store-age-verification-act-pinterest-endorsement)\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Emma Roth ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.