Apple is bringing age verification to Texas this week
Apple will require age verification for new App Store accounts in Texas starting Thursday to comply with a new state law.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Texas users creating new Apple accounts will need to prove they are over 18, and under-18 users will need family consent for downloads and purchases. The change comes after an appeals court let Texas' App Store Accountability Act take effect during an ongoing legal fight.
Apple is making Texas users show proof they are old enough before opening a new App Store account. It is like a bouncer checking IDs before letting someone into a club, except the club is an app store.
Analysis
What Apple is changing
Apple says it will start age verification in the App Store for users in Texas on Thursday, June 4. People creating a new Apple account in Texas will need to confirm they are over 18 with a credit card or government ID. Apple may also infer age in some cases from account age and whether a credit card is already on file.
What happens for minors
Users under 18 will not be able to manage the account process on their own. They will need to join Family Sharing, and a parent or guardian must approve app downloads and in-app purchases. Apple also says developers will need to account for younger users and can use its Declared Age Range API to check a user’s age range.
Why now
The change follows a recent appeals court decision allowing Texas' App Store Accountability Act to take effect while a lawsuit continues. The Verge notes that a judge had blocked the law last December, but the appeals court reversed that ruling for now.
Apple has been trying to resist app store-level age checks, but it has also said it will comply with similar laws in Utah, Louisiana, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and the UK. Google is making similar changes for the Play Store. The article also notes that a federal bill with the same name is moving through Congress, which could push age verification nationwide if it becomes law.
Key points
- Apple will start age verification for new App Store accounts in Texas on Thursday, June 4.
- Users must prove they are over 18 with a credit card or government ID, or be automatically verified in some cases.
- Users under 18 must join Family Sharing, with a parent or guardian approving downloads and in-app purchases.
- The change follows a federal appeals court decision allowing Texas' App Store Accountability Act to take effect while litigation continues.
- Apple and Google are both adapting app store systems to comply with age-check laws in multiple regions.
If the system works smoothly, it could help Apple comply with Texas law without breaking the App Store for most users. It may also give developers clearer tools for tailoring experiences to younger users.
The new checks could add friction to account setup and purchases, especially for families and users who do not want to share ID or card details. It also deepens the move toward app-store-level age gating, which could spread if similar laws keep advancing.
