Apple Introduces New App Store Rules to Comply with Texas Age Assurance Law

Apple has announced significant changes to the App Store and Apple Account system to comply with Texas Senate Bill 2420 (SB2420), a new state law focused on age assurance and online safety for minors. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, and introduces new requirements for both users and app developers operating in Texas.

While Apple says it supports the goal of protecting children online, the company expressed concerns about privacy, noting that the law compels the collection of personally identifiable information (PII) from users — including adults — to verify age before downloading apps.

Despite these concerns, Apple confirmed it will comply with the legislation and provide tools to help both parents and developers navigate the new framework.

New Age Verification Requirements for Texas Users

Beginning in 2026, anyone in Texas creating a new Apple Account will be required to confirm whether they are 18 or older.

For users under 18, the account creation process will require them to join a Family Sharing group. Within that group, a parent or legal guardian must give consent for all App Store downloads and in-app purchases made by the minor.

This process ensures that every app installation by a child or teen is subject to parental approval, strengthening parental control but also introducing additional steps for account management.

Apple also indicated that similar systems will be introduced in Utah and Louisiana next year as those states roll out comparable age assurance laws.

New Tools and APIs for Developers

To help developers comply with SB2420, Apple is launching several new APIs (application programming interfaces) that integrate with the age assurance and parental consent systems.

1. Declared Age Range API – Available now, this tool allows developers to determine the user’s age category when necessary. It will soon be updated with the specific age ranges required by the Texas law.

2. Parental Consent APIs – Coming later in 2025, these will let developers prompt users to re-obtain parental consent if an app undergoes significant changes that affect content, privacy, or functionality.

Apple says these new APIs are part of a broader set of developer resources aimed at simplifying compliance, similar to recent releases like the Foundation Models framework, which helps developers integrate AI-driven features into apps safely and responsibly.

Greater Parental Control

In addition to approval mechanisms, parents in Texas will gain new powers under Apple’s updated system.

Parents will be able to revoke consent at any time, effectively blocking a child from continuing to use a particular app. This ensures parents maintain ongoing oversight of app usage, not just during initial downloads.

Apple plans to release detailed technical documentation and guidance for developers later this fall, explaining how to integrate these new APIs and comply with the law’s provisions.

Apple’s Privacy and Policy Stance

Apple’s statement emphasized that while the company agrees with the intent of protecting children online, it remains concerned about the privacy implications of SB2420.

The company said that the law’s requirements may lead to unintended consequences, such as forcing companies to collect and store more personal data than before, potentially increasing privacy risks for all users — including adults who will now need to verify age even for basic app downloads.

Nevertheless, Apple reaffirmed its commitment to user safety and transparency, promising to design its compliance systems with privacy minimization and data protection at the core.

Looking Ahead

With SB2420 set to take effect in January 2026, Apple is preparing its ecosystem for one of the most comprehensive state-level app verification systems in the U.S.

The company’s proactive release of APIs and developer tools suggests it aims to make the transition as smooth as possible for app creators while maintaining user trust.

As other states like Utah and Louisiana prepare to implement similar laws, Apple’s Texas rollout could serve as a model for national policy compliance in the evolving landscape of digital child protection and age verification.

Further information for developers and parents is expected later this year through Apple’s official developer documentation portal and Family Sharing support pages.