Apple is changing App Store age ratings to make dating, romantic virtual companions and real-world location sharing easier to identify. In a developer notice published on 2 November 2026, the company announced two new content descriptors for the App Store Connect questionnaire, with an important distinction: dating and relationship features receive an 18+ minimum rating, while location sharing does not automatically raise the rating in every region.
The questions arrive on 16 November 2026, and all apps must have the declarations completed by 12 January 2027. Here is what developers need to check and what the change means for families choosing apps.
What is changing in App Store age ratings?
App Store Connect uses developers’ questionnaire answers to calculate an app’s age rating. Apple is adding two declarations that focus on what an app actually enables, rather than simply how it is marketed.
Shared Location
This descriptor covers sharing a real-world location with another person or group. The key point is sharing between people: an app showing a map or using your position for directions is not automatically the same thing. Developers should assess whether their product lets users reveal their location to others.
Dating and Relationships
This covers features that enable dating or relationship connections between real people, as well as virtual companions that engage users in sexual or romantic content. Apple says apps including these features receive a minimum age rating of 18+.
The wording matters for AI companion apps. The announcement does not say every chatbot, assistant or AI-powered app becomes adults-only. Its virtual-companion scope specifically concerns sexual or romantic interactions.
The two dates developers need to remember
- 16 November 2026: the new content descriptors become available in App Store Connect. Developers must provide the declarations when submitting an app update or changing their age-rating questionnaire.
- 12 January 2027: all apps must have the new declarations completed, including apps whose teams are not planning an immediate update.
These dates serve different purposes. January is the overall completion deadline, not a reason to postpone the answers if you submit an update after the November change. Teams should add the questionnaire review to their release checklist now.
Why location-sharing ratings vary by country
Apple explicitly says Shared Location may not affect the minimum age rating in some regions. It would therefore be misleading to describe this as a worldwide 18+ rule for location-sharing apps.
Brazil has specific requirements: Apple says Shared Location requires an A16 rating, while Dating and Relationships requires A18. A developer who believes an app qualifies for a lower Brazilian rating can request an official assessment from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Apple gives parent-and-child location sharing as an example of a feature that may justify such a request; a lower rating is not automatic.
For Australian readers, the practical lesson is to check the rating shown on the Australian App Store, rather than applying Brazil’s labels locally. Apple’s age-rating reference explains that regional requirements can differ. The November notice does not announce a new Australia-specific location-sharing threshold.
What developers should do before the next update
- Audit the actual feature set. Review location sharing, matchmaking, relationship tools and virtual-companion interactions, even when they are secondary features.
- Check configurable experiences. Include optional modes and features users can enable, not just the first screen a reviewer sees.
- Review App Store Connect from 16 November. Open the app’s App Information page and edit its Age Ratings questionnaire. Apple’s official setup guide explains the general workflow.
- Check the resulting regional ratings. Make sure product, support and marketing teams understand any changes before the next release.
- Record completion before January. Assign an owner for every app, including older products that receive infrequent updates.
This is separate from the earlier social-media questionnaire changes. Our guide to the App Store social media age-rating rules explains that different declaration. Answering those questions does not replace the new dating and location disclosures.
What changes for iPhone, iPad and Mac users?
This is an App Store policy and information change, not an iOS or macOS software release. Users do not need to install a special update solely to respond to the announcement. Developers supply the declarations; customers should look at the resulting store rating when deciding whether an app is suitable.
For parents, a clearer label can be useful when an app combines an innocent-sounding purpose with relationship features or location sharing. However, an age rating is not a guarantee of safety. Review who can see a child’s location, whether sharing is optional, how contacts are approved and what reporting or blocking tools are available.
Likewise, an 18+ rating does not exempt an app from other App Review requirements. Apple’s broader safety and moderation policies still apply; see our coverage of the updated App Store AI-safety rules for that separate context.
Final thoughts
The new App Store age ratings declarations make sensitive capabilities more explicit. Developers should review their apps before 16 November and complete every declaration by 12 January. For users, the important distinction is simple: dating and romantic virtual companions trigger the stated 18+ minimum, while location-sharing outcomes depend on the region.
FAQs
When do the new App Store age-rating questions arrive?
Apple says the Shared Location and Dating and Relationships descriptors arrive in App Store Connect on 16 November 2026. All apps must complete the declarations by 12 January 2027.
Will every AI companion app receive an 18+ rating?
No blanket rule for all AI apps was announced. Apple’s definition covers virtual companions engaging users in sexual or romantic content, alongside dating and relationship connections between people.
Do location-sharing apps automatically become 18+?
No. Apple says the rating may remain unchanged in some regions. Brazil requires A16 for Shared Location, subject to any official lower rating obtained through the local assessment process.
Do I need to change my iPhone settings immediately?
No immediate device-setting change is required by this notice. Families can still use the announcement as a prompt to review app ratings, parental controls and existing location-sharing permissions.