Can't confirm age in UK

there is a apple chat box Ai, find that and explain, if that doesn’t work then they’ll give you a call and explain the issue. It worked for me

GlasgowDave wrote:

You’re not alone. I don’t have a credit card at the moment and my driver’s licence is the old UK paper type without a photo. I’ve had an Apple ID for about 20 years.

With this restriction, I’m going to lose functionality on my phone that I’ve already paid for. Worst still is if they add this to iPadOS and this restricts me from using that device for my job.

All in all, Apple have failed on this one.

Dave

Apple didn't actually fail here. Your government put Apple in this position by requiring age verification for UK users. Apple is just following the requirement. You can solve this, however, by getting a form of identification which meets the minimum requirements.

Hey @EpidemeUK -

There’s a Reddit post pinned on the r/privacy subreddit (and linked below) that’s currently logging user experiences with the 26.4 age verification process (eg, issues encountered, solutions to aforementioned issues). I’m in the US and haven’t engaged with this feature personally, but from my perch on this side of the pond, this collective project seems to be helping alot of ppl navigate the rough patches.

@seeshell66 - There was at least one account of passports working when I skimmed through last night. I do remember it required substantial optimization of optical parameters (lighting, contrast, etc) and multiple attempts. Maybe persistence will pay off for you.

@GlasgowDave - My understanding is that an Apple ID that is 18+ years old serves as automatic confirmation.

Hope this helps.

[Edited by Moderator]

GlasgowDave wrote:

The UK government requirements are a separate issue. It’s Apple’s implementation that I find fault with. I have numerous forms of ID that satisfy the Government requirements but Apple don’t currently accept those.

I get the frustration, but this is a user to user only forum. We can't help you with this. And Apple isn't here, so they won't see your post.

Leave feedback for Apple here --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Apple will lose a lot more revenue if the UK regulators stop letting them sell anything in the UK because they don't meet the requirements.

While I don't know the details of the law and how it needs to be implemented or why Apple is doing it the way they are, I do know that this wasn't Apple's idea. It was the UK government (or whatever goverment you're currently subject to).

The following excerpt from a BBC news article on Apple’s move helps clarify the UK legal position:

Ofcom added new rules to the Online Safety Act in 2025 which forced tech firms to strengthen child safety protections, however that does not currently cover bringing in age checks at a device level

I think what is surprising people is that Apple have exceeded the level of restriction required by legislation. On the one hand this might be a welcome addition for parents. On the other, it does disadvantage a minority of grown ups without the required identification. I expect it’s a calculated risk on Apple’s part.

GlasgowDave wrote:

I think what is surprising people is that Apple have exceeded the level of restriction required by legislation. On the one hand this might be a welcome addition for parents. On the other, it does disadvantage a minority of grown ups without the required identification. I expect it’s a calculated risk on Apple’s part.

I think what a lot of people aren't thinking about is that Apple initiated one system of age verification. It covers people in multiple jurisdictions. In addition to the UK, I believe people in Spain, South Korea, and the U.S. states of Texas, Utah, and Louisiana may be now or will soon be subjected to the same verification. With probably more states and countries to be added as this process plays out. My guess would be that Apple went with a process it can apply broadly rather than a patchwork of rules.

I would be frustrated and insulted if I, at 64 were treated like a child. And I know that, despite people saying, "Just get the right kind of ID and stop whining," that's not always feasible. I live in a country where I may soon be required to follow very stringent ID requirements in order to exercise my right to vote. I am not happy about it, even though I personally have the right ID (at least I think I do).

I also suspect that things will change, that the license scanning system will stop being so glitchy for one.

Jluis236 wrote:

I am writing to raise a concern regarding the age verification process introduced in iOS 26.4.

My son is 18 years old and is trying to verify his age on his Apple ID. He does not have a credit card or a driving licence yet, but he does have a valid UK passport. From our understanding, a passport should be accepted as an official form of identification for age verification.

However, when attempting to complete the process, the system does not properly accept the passport. In some cases, it appears to request information that a passport does not provide (such as scanning a “back” of the ID), or the verification simply fails without clear explanation.

My son is 18 and currently not in full-time work, which means he is unable to apply for a credit card. This makes it even more important that alternative identification methods, such as a passport, work correctly.

In the United Kingdom, we do not have a standard government-issued digital ID or national ID card system. While there are some third-party ID services available, these are not officially recognised in the same way as passports or driving licences. This creates a significant issue for young adults like my son, who may only have a passport as valid identification.

Additionally, modern UK passports support NFC (chip) technology, which allows secure digital verification of identity. Therefore, iOS 26.4 should be capable of accepting and verifying a UK passport using NFC, rather than relying on methods that are more suited to other forms of ID such as driving licences.

This has left us unable to complete the required verification, despite having valid documentation. It is also unclear what alternative options are available for users in this situation.

I'm sure you're frustrated. But you are only raising a concern with your fellow users many of whom are also frustrated. This is a user to user only forum. Apple isn't here, doesn't participate here, nor read for user feedback.

Use this link if you'd like to raise your concern with Apple directly --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Deanl34 wrote:

What are we supposed to do if we don’t have photo id or a credit card ?

It's not just any photo ID, it's a driver's license. If you don't have either of those, currently your options are to 1) get one of them or 2) not verify that you're an adult and live with the restrictions. I'm not trying to be unkind. That's just the way it is right now.

I've heard that provisional driver's license work.

Deanl34 wrote:

It’s disgraceful, I’ve had Apple for years, and now they are starting this, I have no restrictions yet but don’t know long before I get restrictions, i can’t understand cause you have to be an adult to set up Apple ID so why can’t they use that ?

Disgraceful? Not really. But it's the UK Government you should be upset with. This wasn't Apple's decision. And anyone can create an Apple Account from the age of 13 years old in the UK. So your assertion that only an adult can create an account is patently wrong.

GlasgowDave wrote:

There are a lot more ways to identify age allowed under the Online Safety Act than the limited set that Apple uses. Visual identification is a valid method and doesn’t require a government issued ID.

In fact, the government is rather vague about what methods a company might use. But it requires them to use something "robust." It seems to be up to the company to decide what constitutes robust. If they get it wrong, they will be subject to enormous fines and open themselves up to liability. If the government had said, "These are the approved methods..." this conversation would probably be different.

And then there's Apple's privacy concerns. Visual identification requires sending your information to a third party. Given how outraged people are that Apple is sending driver's license information to the government (which issued the license in the first place), I can only imagine the uproar sending facial identifiers to a third party would cause.

Apple is balancing several conflicting requirements here. But they do seem to be adapting. Even in the ten days since the process was released, they've added new verification options. I expect there will be more. I don't expect that third-party mediated visual identification will ever be one of them, though.

Jmas92 wrote:

Does anyone know when an update is going to happen to fix these issues? If it isn’t in the next two weeks I’m off to android

No one here cares if you move to Android. This is a user to user only forum, not Apple Support. So your threat makes no difference to us. But if you think Android is immune to following the same laws Apple has to follow, think again.

You've of course read this to know what forms of ID you can use, right? --> Age requirements for managing an Apple Account in the UK - Apple Support

I managed find my credit card and now full access to my iPhone and account.

from what I found there no update to this and all I can advice is go to an Apple Store see what they can do to help as I heard someone has done this and got access back.

This community has no link to Apple that why they not replied on this unjust issue we all in.

All can say is good luck to u all.

GlasgowDave wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

21dunn wrote:

How can I do my age I’m 63 born 21 February

It's asking you to verify your age, because your government is requiring it. See this to learn how to validate your age --> Age requirements for managing an Apple Account in the UK - Apple Support

The UK government does not require device level age verification. That’s Apple’s choice.

Yes, yes it does. It requires account age verification to ensure minors cannot access inappropriate content. And just where are the accounts held? On devices.

Kevnid201 wrote:

how is a credit card any different from a debit card

Because OFCOM specifically states that a Debit Card cannot be used for Age Assurance checks and that is the agency the UK has relied on for the regulation.

You don't need to worry about Apple, they are doing just fine. You can certainly choose to use any device you wish and that has always been the case, it makes no difference to any of us. I have family members that use Android and I don't think any less of them.

As for Passport checks, the UK could have certainly followed the model like in the US where they are responsible for the authentication of the document and not putting that burden on Apple. In the US, the Government is able to verify authenticity without Apple even needing to disclose personal information about the user. It is much easier for the UK to not take any responsibility in the verification process to authenticate documents and simply sit back and fine companies for any failures. Birth Certificates would also require document authenticity checks by the Government along with checks the user matches the document being verified and as you have seen, they don't want to participate in any of that.

Go to Settings > [your name]. · Tap Personal Information. You might need to sign in to your Apple Account. · Tap your birth date to edit it. Read more

Request to Correct Date of Birth on Apple ID