- Age verification is rolling out to iOS and iPadOS users in the UK
- Some users have trouble finding an ID or getting it approved
- One option is to refuse to install the iOS 26.4 / iPadOS 26.4 update
Apple has caused a storm of confusion and controversy with its decision to roll out age verification in the UK with iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 – and a significant number of users are struggling to prove their age.
If you are a UK user and install the iOS 26.4 or iPadOS 26.4 update, you will receive a message asking you to prove that you are over 18 years old, with a few exceptions: people who already have a credit card on file (these can only be issued to adults) and those who have had their Apple account for over 18 years.
For now, the prompt can be ignored (you can find it in Settings), but that probably won’t last forever. The two verification methods Apple supports are credit card scans (not debit cards) and photo driver’s license scans, but as 9to5Mac reports, many people don’t have either.
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Even for those who can provide a card or ID, the process seems buggy and fails quite regularly. According to feedback given to 9to5Mac, you can try waiting longer (around 10 seconds) for a scan to be accepted, adding a credit card to Apple Wallet, or restarting your phone and trying the process again if you’re having a problem.
Stop updating
Although Apple has not explicitly explained why the age checks were introduced, there is growing momentum in the UK and around the world for integrating child safety protections into phones and apps. Adult websites operating in the UK are required by law to verify the age of users, although until now this has not been managed at the device level.
Although UK regulator Ofcom welcomed the move, user reaction was less than impressed, with the rollout branded “stupid” and “ridiculous”. There is also growing unease that these types of restrictions will be extended to other countries and other devices over time.
You have the option to refuse to install the iOS 26.4 or iPadOS 26.4 update: in Settings, tap General > Software Update and turned off Automatic updates. However, this also means you won’t get the latest software features or security updates from Apple, so it’s generally not recommended in the long term.
As well as remaining silent on the age verification rollout, Apple hasn’t said anything about what people without a credit card or driving license in the UK are supposed to do to be verified – but hopefully we’ll have official guidelines soon.
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