iOS 26.4 age verification without credit card or plastic ID

It is incredibly frustrating to be told your decades of legal documents and your own face are not enough to prove your age. The problem is that the new software is programmed to look for specific security chips and holographic marks found only on modern plastic cards, which is why your paper license is being rejected. Since you do not have a credit card or a passport, the most direct solution is to apply for a verified pass card like a citizencard. This is a government-approved photo id specifically for people who do not drive or travel abroad, and apple is required to accept it under these new uk rules. You can apply for one online using your birth certificate and national insurance number. Once it arrives in the mail, you can scan it with your phone to permanently clear the age check.

Is the age verification prompt currently blocking you from downloading new apps, or is it just a constant notification staying in your settings menu?

lobsterghost1 wrote:

That's all good and well. But no matter how much you argue what OFCOM this or that is or isn't, isn't helping anyone who can't verify their age. This might be a great Social Media discussion. But this isn't a Social Media site. This is a technical support forum for users to ask how to do something on their iPhone. It simply makes no difference what OFCOM or the UK Government or Apple does here. None of those entities are here, nor will any of those entities comment here. I can imagine if you go to Reddit or Quora, you may find loads of people who will be happy to debate this with you. But this forum isn't the place to debate policies, regulations or laws no one here can change or has any control over.

Maybe I can explain this again in a way you can understand.

The original poster's issue is that he can't complete age verification on his UK iPhone because he does not have any of the three forms of identification Apple chose to implement in their age verification approach.

He was given the advice to call Apple support, which is good because at this time that is his only solution. Call Apple and complain and hope Apple changes the approach they have implemented. (Neglecting the option of obtaining one of the three required ID methods Apple has decided to accept.)

That's it, that's his only option. It is also the only option of the large number of us that have exactly the same issue. That is the correct tech support answer at this time. Which, by the way, he apparently did along with a large number of other people.

He then received incorrect advice to complain to the UK Government (which would be OFCOM in this case) about the problem because OFCOM is responsible because OFCOM picked the acceptable identification documents that Apple implemented. There are a large number of comments like that in this thread.

That advice was wrong.

OFCOM did not pick the acceptable documents or even method of age verification that Apple implemented. OFCOM specified the rules and regulations that must be followed and then they provided guidance to developers and companies as to possible methods of satisfying those rules and regulations. As far as I can find they never said, Apple you must implement age verification by examining Driving Licenses, or Credit Cards, or any other specific for of ID. OFCOM provided a non-extensive list of methods they thought could be acceptable and Apple chose three and created a fourth that they implemented.

So my post explained this and provided the relevant information from OFCOM for several reasons: So the original poster would understand why to call Apple as opposed to OFCOM or his MP or someone else, so that the original poster might have some additional information to relay to Apple with his complaint so they might take some note and escalate the issue, and because when I originally simply said no this is really an Apple issue and not an OFCOM issue without any backing to that statement my post was removed by a moderator.

So, no, I am trying to provide some actual peer-to-peer tech support to the original poster.

I am sorry if my posts aren't clear enough for you to see that. I don't know your motivation for attacking my post. Possibly you think actually explaining the root cause of an issue is somehow irrelevant to someone asking for assistance. If that is how you feel, I disagree with you, particularly when there is currently no actual solution to their problem other than call and complain. Personally I wish there was a solution, a simple do this, do this, then do that. I would do it myself. But unfortunately there doesn't seem to be.

I assume your Paper Driving License is the one without the photo, you can get that exchanged to the Photo card. Also, just yesterday there have been additional methods for UK residents added for verification:

• CitizenCard
• MyID card
• TOTUM card
• Young Scot National Entitlement Card

Age requirements for managing an Apple Account in the UK – Apple Support (UK)

TCHDMF wrote:

The UK government via OFCOM has not stated a specific list of methods that must be used for age verification. The have provided a non-exhaustive list that includes comparing photo IDs to Live Photos as well as using Credit Card checks. It also includes age estimates from Live Photos, mobile carrier checks (cell number), and direct banking checks, among others. It also identifies methods that are not acceptable, such as self-verification (check boxes). This information is available on OFCOM’s website.

No one here is privy to Apple's decision-making process. And, even more pointedly, no one here can make Apple change anything. You can let Apple know any thoughts you may have on the matter here:

Product Feedback - Apple

I would suspect that Apple would be in a whole raft of trouble if whatever method they picked to verify age failed and still let children access naughty websites. They probably want to avoid that. The fines are quite large.

The Facial Age Estimation, one of the options, appears to be done by a third party. Frankly, that sounds like a privacy disaster just waiting to happen.

lobsterghost1 wrote:

TCHDMF wrote:

Also Apple might want to review the OFCOM document "Guidance on highly effective age assurance for Part 3 Services" - particularly the section "Additional principles for providers to consider."

From the 24 April 2025 version:

Section 4.60: "Alongside fulfilling the criteria, the age assurance process should be easy to use and work for all users. Failing to do so might unduly prevent adult users from accessing legal content."

Section 4.64: "Age assurance processes that are inaccessible either because they are complex, are less accurate for users with different characteristics, to include requirements that certain groups of users are unable to fulfill, may result in users being unable to access a service that they should otherwise be able to use."

There are other places in the document that also address the issue that the original poster references, the lack of having any of the documents that Apple chose to accept for age verification.

So it's pretty clear that the original poster's issue is not a "UK Government" or OFCOM issue but is in fact a design problem on behalf of Apple. Hopefully Apple corrects this soon.

Sigh.......this thread is going off the rails. Why are you telling other users on this user to user only forum, which Apple neither participates, nor reads for user feedback, what Apple needs to do at all? Apple isn't here. Apple isn't going to see what you think they should do.

If you think Apple should be doing something, you can tell them, but I'm quite sure their legal department has gone over this with a fine tooth comb and they know what they're doing. You can use this link to tell Apple what you think they should be doing --> Product Feedback - Apple

Again. No one posting here has anything to do with Apple, the UK Government, regulations or laws. We are all users here, just like you. We have no control over anything the UK Government nor Apple does about anything.

No, actually my response is directly responsive to the original poster. He was asking what to do because he couldn't complete the age verification. He then received a suggestion to call Apple Support. Then there were several responses saying this has nothing to do with Apple and he should complain to OFCOM or the UK government. Those comments were entirely wrong. This issue he is running into is directly due to how Apple chose to implement OFCOM requirements and nothing to do with the requirements themselves. I made a simple statement to that effect which was promptly removed by moderators. So instead I decided to quote the actual OFCOM documents to show that, yes, in fact, this is an Apple issue and not an OFCOM issue. I am NOT trying to inform Apple or any APPLE employees they have an error in their implementation. I am trying to help the original poster understand that Apple is where he should go for help and not complain to OFCOM.

The UK government via OFCOM has not stated a specific list of methods that must be used for age verification. The have provided a non-exhaustive list that includes comparing photo IDs to Live Photos as well as using Credit Card checks. It also includes age estimates from Live Photos, mobile carrier checks (cell number), and direct banking checks, among others. It also identifies methods that are not acceptable, such as self-verification (check boxes). This information is available on OFCOM’s website.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

TCHDMF wrote:

The UK government via OFCOM has not stated a specific list of methods that must be used for age verification. The have provided a non-exhaustive list that includes comparing photo IDs to Live Photos as well as using Credit Card checks. It also includes age estimates from Live Photos, mobile carrier checks (cell number), and direct banking checks, among others. It also identifies methods that are not acceptable, such as self-verification (check boxes). This information is available on OFCOM’s website.

No one here is privy to Apple's decision-making process. And, even more pointedly, no one here can make Apple change anything. You can let Apple know any thoughts you may have on the matter here:

Product Feedback - Apple

I would suspect that Apple would be in a whole raft of trouble if whatever method they picked to verify age failed and still let children access naughty websites. They probably want to avoid that. The fines are quite large.

The Facial Age Estimation, one of the options, appears to be done by a third party. Frankly, that sounds like a privacy disaster just waiting to happen.

Indeed. I'm fairly certain apple chose Credit Card and Driving License as the 2 most Privacy compliant options. Rather than hand over personally identifiable data to a third party for verification without any way of guaranteeing the use and protection of said data.

Microsoft being less concerned about user's privacy chose the path of least resistance and offloads the verification to other parties.

The addition of the Apple Account's creation date as a means of age verification also implies Apple had to at least consider other options and involve the UK government in that decision. I doubt they could unilaterally use the account creation date without getting some kind of approval for it from the UK government.

Also, officials passing this law undoubtedly did not stop to consider how this verification was going to happen when they were drafting it which is why there is no hard list, and just some available options without any concern for personal data usage and privacy.

Also Apple might want to review the OFCOM document "Guidance on highly effective age assurance for Part 3 Services" - particularly the section "Additional principles for providers to consider."

From the 24 April 2025 version:

Section 4.60: "Alongside fulfilling the criteria, the age assurance process should be easy to use and work for all users. Failing to do so might unduly prevent adult users from accessing legal content."

Section 4.64: "Age assurance processes that are inaccessible either because they are complex, are less accurate for users with different characteristics, to include requirements that certain groups of users are unable to fulfill, may result in users being unable to access a service that they should otherwise be able to use."

There are other places in the document that also address the issue that the original poster references, the lack of having any of the documents that Apple chose to accept for age verification.

So it's pretty clear that the original poster's issue is not a "UK Government" or OFCOM issue but is in fact a design problem on behalf of Apple. Hopefully Apple corrects this soon.

Mac Jim ID wrote:

TCHDMF wrote: I am trying to help the original poster understand that Apple is where he should go for help and not complain to OFCOM.

OFCOM gives some suggestions, but certainly does not provide ANY means to accomplish those steps where the company would not be liable. There are 2 that are definitive and those are the Driver's License and Credit Card. OFCOM says the Debit card cannot be used. There are many ways the face check and mobile network check would not be reliable or shield the company.

Again, not disagreeing with you but the OFCOM guidance suggests more methods than just driving license and credit card and, by my reading, makes clear that they are not suggesting that any of their suggestions are definitive. My reading is that they are putting the accuracy for any selected method on the provider of the service. And again, my point is that the selection of ID or credit card is an Apple design choice not an OFCOM requirement, so the original poster's issue is with Apple and not OFCOM.

No... there are many ways to prove ID. The poster does not have the only two specific forms accepted. They have others, which are legitimate, and not accepted. And anyway, age verification is about age, not ID.

Read the Ofcom guidance, many people have linked it. There are legitimate, accepted methods that do not use any form of ID. The issue is Apple has chosen not to implement them. And that is especially serious, since we are not talking about "I can't access a website", but "I can't run a medical application, because it's rated as adult."

The Act does not specifically state that a company must use only a credit card or a driving licence. It only says the method must be "highly effective."

By retroactively locking features behind a verification wall that is impossible for some adults to clear, Apple may be in breach of contract. You essentially "own" a device that they have remotely "broken" or degraded. It's something I intend to take forwards.

TCHDMF wrote:

Phil0124 wrote:

IdrisSeabright wrote:

TCHDMF wrote:

The UK government via OFCOM has not stated a specific list of methods that must be used for age verification. The have provided a non-exhaustive list that includes comparing photo IDs to Live Photos as well as using Credit Card checks. It also includes age estimates from Live Photos, mobile carrier checks (cell number), and direct banking checks, among others. It also identifies methods that are not acceptable, such as self-verification (check boxes). This information is available on OFCOM’s website.

No one here is privy to Apple's decision-making process. And, even more pointedly, no one here can make Apple change anything. You can let Apple know any thoughts you may have on the matter here:

Product Feedback - Apple

I would suspect that Apple would be in a whole raft of trouble if whatever method they picked to verify age failed and still let children access naughty websites. They probably want to avoid that. The fines are quite large.

The Facial Age Estimation, one of the options, appears to be done by a third party. Frankly, that sounds like a privacy disaster just waiting to happen.

Indeed. I'm fairly certain apple chose Credit Card and Driving License as the 2 most Privacy compliant options. Rather than hand over personally identifiable data to a third party for verification without any way of guaranteeing the use and protection of said data.

Microsoft being less concerned about user's privacy chose the path of least resistance and offloads the verification to other parties.

The addition of the Apple Account's creation date as a means of age verification also implies Apple had to at least consider other options and involve the UK government in that decision. I doubt they could unilaterally use the account creation date without getting some kind of approval for it from the UK government.

Also, officials passing this law undoubtedly did not stop to consider how this verification was going to happen when they were drafting it which is why there is no hard list, and just some available options without any concern for personal data usage and privacy.

I agree that Apple is concerned about being compliant with laws and regulations, or rather I would hope they are concerned with that. However, maybe I am missing something, but given that the age verification is being done on an iPhone which very likely has a mobile number associated with it, I would think the query of the mobile provider regarding the mobile number would be among the easiest options.

Just how would a mobile number help verify someone's age? Say I'm a parent and I want a new phone and number and I give my 13 year old my phone and let them keep the number? Verifying age by a phone number simply wouldn't be nearly enough.

Read the law. Section "And how will I prove my age?

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/age-checks-for-online-safety--what-you-need-to-know-as-a-user

The restrictive list is Apple's choice. The law has been designed to be inclusice.

That is all true, and it applies equally to driving licences and credit cards. So I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

I will paste this again, as it doesn't seem to be sinking in.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access/part-3-guidance-on-highly-effective-age-assurance.pdf?v=395680

And for those who say "the phone still works", no. It does not perform the function it was purchased for. People that merely want a phone to make phone calls and run child applications and a broken internet can buy a "Fisher Price" phone for 5% of the cost.

Mobile data is a valid method (see section 3.10). So is email age, which Apple could easily use (3.12).

The UK, and every other service I have encountered, including Reddit, X and Discord, permit the use of facial age estimation (3.9). Apple is the outlier, and that, fundamentally, is the issue, not that they do it.

They do not provide a method that all adults can use, which is especially serious given they are removing potentially essential features from expensive hardware, and providing no path to restore it. Frankly, the situation is so ridiculous, I am sure they will fix it. They cannot possible leave it like this. And for those that can't drive, and can't get a licence, and don't have a credit card, I suspect it will be fixed.

To those saying that facial age estimation would require a third party, you are assuming one of the world's largest technology companies cannot develop their own solution. Clearly they could. X did it.

And what we are left with is a system that excludes people who cannot drive, perhaps through choice, and perhaps for medical reasons, and excludes people whose convictions, potentially religious convictions, or indeed credit score, mean a credit card isn't an option. That is why other companies, and indeed the law, provide methods any adult can use.

That is the problem.

Phil0124 wrote:

IdrisSeabright wrote:

TCHDMF wrote:

The UK government via OFCOM has not stated a specific list of methods that must be used for age verification. The have provided a non-exhaustive list that includes comparing photo IDs to Live Photos as well as using Credit Card checks. It also includes age estimates from Live Photos, mobile carrier checks (cell number), and direct banking checks, among others. It also identifies methods that are not acceptable, such as self-verification (check boxes). This information is available on OFCOM’s website.

No one here is privy to Apple's decision-making process. And, even more pointedly, no one here can make Apple change anything. You can let Apple know any thoughts you may have on the matter here:

Product Feedback - Apple

I would suspect that Apple would be in a whole raft of trouble if whatever method they picked to verify age failed and still let children access naughty websites. They probably want to avoid that. The fines are quite large.

The Facial Age Estimation, one of the options, appears to be done by a third party. Frankly, that sounds like a privacy disaster just waiting to happen.

Indeed. I'm fairly certain apple chose Credit Card and Driving License as the 2 most Privacy compliant options. Rather than hand over personally identifiable data to a third party for verification without any way of guaranteeing the use and protection of said data.

Microsoft being less concerned about user's privacy chose the path of least resistance and offloads the verification to other parties.

The addition of the Apple Account's creation date as a means of age verification also implies Apple had to at least consider other options and involve the UK government in that decision. I doubt they could unilaterally use the account creation date without getting some kind of approval for it from the UK government.

Also, officials passing this law undoubtedly did not stop to consider how this verification was going to happen when they were drafting it which is why there is no hard list, and just some available options without any concern for personal data usage and privacy.

I agree that Apple is concerned about being compliant with laws and regulations, or rather I would hope they are concerned with that. However, maybe I am missing something, but given that the age verification is being done on an iPhone which very likely has a mobile number associated with it, I would think the query of the mobile provider regarding the mobile number would be among the easiest options.

TCHDMF wrote:

Also Apple might want to review the OFCOM document "Guidance on highly effective age assurance for Part 3 Services" - particularly the section "Additional principles for providers to consider."

From the 24 April 2025 version:

Section 4.60: "Alongside fulfilling the criteria, the age assurance process should be easy to use and work for all users. Failing to do so might unduly prevent adult users from accessing legal content."

Section 4.64: "Age assurance processes that are inaccessible either because they are complex, are less accurate for users with different characteristics, to include requirements that certain groups of users are unable to fulfill, may result in users being unable to access a service that they should otherwise be able to use."

There are other places in the document that also address the issue that the original poster references, the lack of having any of the documents that Apple chose to accept for age verification.

So it's pretty clear that the original poster's issue is not a "UK Government" or OFCOM issue but is in fact a design problem on behalf of Apple. Hopefully Apple corrects this soon.

Sigh.......this thread is going off the rails. Why are you telling other users on this user to user only forum, which Apple neither participates, nor reads for user feedback, what Apple needs to do at all? Apple isn't here. Apple isn't going to see what you think they should do.

If you think Apple should be doing something, you can tell them, but I'm quite sure their legal department has gone over this with a fine tooth comb and they know what they're doing. You can use this link to tell Apple what you think they should be doing --> Product Feedback - Apple

Again. No one posting here has anything to do with Apple, the UK Government, regulations or laws. We are all users here, just like you. We have no control over anything the UK Government nor Apple does about anything.