- Age verification is rolling out to iOS and iPadOS users in the UK
- Some users have difficulty finding an ID or getting approval.
- 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, with a substantial number of users having trouble proving 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, 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 message can be dismissed (you can find it again in Settings), but presumably it won’t last forever. The two verification methods Apple supports are scans of a credit card (not debit) and scans of a photo driver’s license, but as 9to5Mac reports, there are numerous people who don’t have either.
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Even for those who can provide a card or ID, the process seems to be buggy and fails quite regularly. Based on feedback provided 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 run into any problems.
Stopping the update
While Apple has not explicitly said why the age controls were implemented, there is a growing push in the UK and around the world to build child safety protections into phones and apps. Adult websites operating in the UK are required by law to verify the age of users, although so far this has not been done at device level.
While British regulator Ofcom has welcomed the move, reaction among users has been less than impressed, with the launch being branded “stupid” and “ridiculous.” There is also growing concern that these types of restrictions will expand to more countries and devices over time.
You have the option to refuse to install the iOS 26.4 or iPadOS 26.4 update: from Settings, tap General > Software Update and turn off Automatic updates. However, that also means you won’t get the latest software features or security updates from Apple, so it’s generally not recommended long-term.
Aside from staying calm on the rollout of age verification, Apple hasn’t said anything about what people without a credit card or driver’s license in the UK need to do to get verification, but hopefully we’ll get official guidance soon.
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