Starting January 1, 2026, Texas will require companies like Apple and Google to verify the age of users accessing their app stores, and Apple has announced how it will comply with this new law. From that date, anyone creating a new Apple Account must confirm they are over 18. Users under 18 will be required to join a Family Sharing group, where parents or guardians must provide consent for app downloads or in-app purchases.
Developers will also have to adjust their apps to meet these requirements. Apple already provides a Declared Age Range API, which lets developers ask users for their general age. According to Apple, this API will be updated soon to include the specific age categories required for new users in Texas. Additionally, Apple plans to release new APIs later this year that will allow developers to prompt users to re-obtain parental consent if significant changes are made to their apps.
Texas is not alone in passing such laws; Utah and Louisiana have enacted similar regulations. Apple says comparable requirements will take effect in those states by next year. Google has also issued guidelines to help Google Play developers comply with upcoming age verification rules.
While Apple supports protecting children online, it has expressed concerns over the Texas law SB2420. CEO Tim Cook reportedly contacted Texas Governor Greg Abbott to discuss changes, emphasizing that the law could compromise user privacy by requiring the collection of sensitive personal data even for simple app downloads like weather or sports apps, Apple noted in its recent statement.
