Level 1

10 points

Apps gone due to restrictions after dowloading iOS 26

I just installed iOS 26 and now almost half of my apps are gone due to them being restricted. I've tried going into my settings and turning the restrictions off, but they are still restricted. I am underage but my parents don't have iPhones and they use Verizon Family Companion to restrict my apps. However, it only restricts apps that are 18+. After the update, I cant even use apps that are 12+ and I think that's ridiculous. Is there any way I can get my apps back?

iPhone 16, iOS 26

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 1:56 PM

Top-ranking reply

mumbojumb0

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Jan 19, 2026 9:07 AM

We had a similar problem on my daughter's phone after upgrading to 26.2. The phone is not linked to a family account. Spotify, WhatsApp etc icons were greyed out (any app with age restriction settings) and could not be used.

In the age restriction settings: go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap Apps

The age restriction global setting was showing correctly as 18+
The apps listed under global setting could not be changed (greyed out)
We tried absolutely everything, eventually the only fix was to "reset all settings" which immediately solved the problem.

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35 replies

ohmylatte Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 23, 2025 2:24 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I've tried to set the age rating multiple times, but it still says 12+ apps are above the age rating, which isn't true. I also looked to see if a screen time passcode has been placed and there's none there. I added one, took it away, but still no change. I also tried changing my age on my Apple account to an older one but that also doesn't work? It's so weird.

ohmylatte Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 23, 2025 2:55 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I know this, but this is what I was talking about.

you can see even if I set the rating to 18+ or higher, it still says apps that are 12+ (for me it says 12 not 13) are above age rating

even if I try turning off restrictions completely, I still can’t get it to work…

Dec 10, 2025 3:22 AM in response to ohmylatte

I HATE iOS 26. I just updated and it set my content restrictions to 9+ I’m 16. This is completely bs and Apple is screwing everyone over here because what if all of my drafts and saves get deleted. It also deleted apps like WhatsApp and Flo. How is a period app 12+ also I’m not 9 I’m 16 send help.

Dec 10, 2025 4:56 PM in response to ohmylatte

This happened to me too. My content restrictions are off, but my 13+ apps were removed from my phone and it won’t allow me to redownload them. It took off apps I need for school and I really would like for this to be fixed. I called apple support and they didn’t know how to fix it either. Is there any solution? I don’t want to have to get a new apple id. Someone please help.

Dec 10, 2025 6:01 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I am apart of a family sharing group. I left it, reset my phone, and the apps still are restricted. My age on my device is over 13, I am 17. I checked both of my parent’s phones and screen time wasn’t even set up. I called apple support and the man who I talked to did not know what was going on. I’ve tried multiple different things and nothing is helping. What do I do? Should I make an appointment with my local apple store?

Dec 10, 2025 6:12 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

Yes, I was apart of a family sharing group. I left it and shut down my phone and it still did not fix. Neither of my parents has screen time even set up on my phone, and I do not have content restrictions. My age on the account is over 13, I am 17. I have tried many things including signing out of iCloud on my phone and signing back in and none of that worked. What should I do? Should I make an appointment with my local apple store? I spoke to someone on the phone from apple support and he didn’t know how to fix it either. Do I need to get a new apple id? I really really don’t want to do that. Does anyone know how to fix this???

Dec 10, 2025 6:13 PM in response to liabres24

I also want to add that my ipad is also updated to ios 26.1 and it does not have any of these issues, it has all of my 13+ apps downloaded and they are running without issue. And these devices share an apple id.

Dec 13, 2025 2:23 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

I have exactly the same issue after upgrading to iPadOS 26. With iPadOS 26.1, the apps were simply greyed out, and there was no indication why. Now, with iPadOS 26.2, the apps are greyed out, but when I try to tap on one, I get this truly illogical error message:

[app] Exceeds Your Age Rating

Your app age rating is set to 18+, but [app] is rated 4+

I am part of a Family sharing group, but I AM the Organizer. I am sure that has nothing to do with this bug.

Dec 13, 2025 10:14 AM in response to ohmylatte

We’re having similar issues. As the family coordinator I was able to authorize adding back the missing apps, but all the apps exceeding our child’s age limit keep momentarily going missing from the phone before reappearing.

Also seeing problems with app limits being triggered despite apps not being used…

Dec 15, 2025 10:16 AM in response to MacGaradh

MacGaradh wrote:

There must be plenty of people with iPads that are basically bricks now.

If that was true you would see thousands of posts about it. How many have you seen? This is almost certainly a problem with your iPad, not hundreds of millions of others.

Aflacked

Level 1

12 points

Jan 14, 2026 4:08 AM in response to ohmylatte

So last night I thought hey might as well update to iOS 26.2 so it looks different and the bugs are fix I wake up to not being able to access like 75% of all apps because I’m stuck at 9+ and I don’t really feel like talking to my parents about it seems dumb to ask when apple messed up

Jan 21, 2026 4:45 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

I don’t think they were complaining how Apple resets the age rating no matter what age Apple knows you are. Apple has my age as is aware I’m 15, yet every time I update I have to change my content settings again. It even resets it on its own without me (or my family organizer) changing it. They aren’t complaining that age restrictions exist, just that the updates change them.

Jan 31, 2026 8:53 AM in response to jessicarutht

jessicarutht wrote:

After 24 hours of absolute frustration, confusion and almost just buying a new phone that wasn’t Apple. This was the solution. THANK YOU. This is absolutely ridiculous, but THANK YOU

I’m certain that the non-Apple phone will be absolutely perfect, and you will never have any complaints about it.

Dec 10, 2025 4:53 PM in response to ohmylatte

This same thing just happened to me. Content restrictions are turned off but it took off my 13+ apps. Everything looks the same as you. Did you ever find a solution?

Dec 10, 2025 4:59 PM in response to liabres24

Apps gone due to restrictions after dowloading iOS 26