iOS 26.4 age verification without credit card or plastic ID

Why do you think they are lazy?

Verification requirements are set by the UK government. It's not like Apple can simply choose to allow other methods of verification if the government only permits those 2 options for this process.

Contact your government representatives and tell them here should be more options to verify age.

Apple can't add more options if there UK government does not accept them.

TCHDMF wrote:

Here is an idea. How about the Government provide a framework for age verification where they are responsible for verifying the information. That is how it works in the US with Passport and Digital ID, where it is the Government that provides the verification and Apple does not have to compromise their users personal and private information. This is all the data that needs to be provided:

• Images of the front and back of your ID 
• Your Live Photo or selfie
• Results of the analysis of the Live Photo or video of your head and facial movements, but not the video itself
• Data read from the PDF417 barcode on your ID
• A single-digit value, used to help prevent fraud, that’s based on your device use patterns, settings data, and information about your Apple Account

Aside from the data listed above, no other data from your device and no personal information about your Apple Account is shared with the issuing authority.

You are right it should be easy and it is with the Driver's License or Credit Card. It is the OFCOM regulations that says a Debit Card should NOT be used. Somehow for Apple to use a Facial recognition system, they would need to prove that the photo is actually that of the user of the device, so how would they do that? Even with Face ID, Apple has no access to that data for any comparison and it is stored only on your device in the Secure Enclave where no one else has access to the underlying data either.

The Mobile Network information may be useful for the owner of the Phone Number, but does not prove the device user is an adult or not. Of course these ambiguities work out well for the Government. They are not responsible for any verification and if a company has not successfully verified if a user is an adult then they will be sued. That could be worth billions to them.

So, who do you think is REALLY restricting your access?

Dillonuk wrote:

So if Apple won’t accept valid uk passport I don’t drive and never used a credit card

I'm up the creek without a paddle.

thanks Apple.

You should provide feedback to Apple, hopefully if they get lots of complaints they will implement different methods to verify age.

If of any help this was mentioned on another post, those that have a driving licence you can use that now, click on the credit card 'manually fill ' in option ,then scroll down to bottom and select 'try another way'.

lobsterghost1 wrote:

So what will you buy in the future? Android? Nope. Google? Nope. They are just as responsible for following UK law as Apple is. You should, however, buy whatever device you think best meets your needs. That doesn't honestly matter to anyone here on this user to user only forum, which Apple neither participates nor reads for user feedback.

As pointed out many times, other companies offer more options. Microsoft uses facial recognition and mobile phone numbers. Ofcom had seven recommendations of which Apple has restricted users to two.

Zurarczurx wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

So what will you buy in the future? Android? Nope. Google? Nope. They are just as responsible for following UK law as Apple is. You should, however, buy whatever device you think best meets your needs. That doesn't honestly matter to anyone here on this user to user only forum, which Apple neither participates nor reads for user feedback.

As pointed out many times, other companies offer more options. Microsoft uses facial recognition and mobile phone numbers. Ofcom had seven recommendations of which Apple has restricted users to two.

It will be amusing to see when one of these companies get massively fined by the UK government too.

Christy555 wrote:

I was actually horrified when I updated to the latest software and they asked for this. Firstly I thought it was a scam then I realised it was real. I have a passport not a credit card.aAparently the passport doesn’t work because of the glare and I’ve had problems taking photos of my passport before as there is a huge glare issue. Also this is a data protection issue. I’m not happy with giving Apple my credit card details. They don’t inform people how they store the data in any shape or form so all of that is actually illegal.

Apple has NO ACCESS to your credit card details. Any transaction made with a credit card through an iPhone is a fully secure, fully encrypted transaction. If you have a credit card, there is no reason to fear using it to confirm your age. This is being mandated by your government. Either comply or don't, but there's no reason to fear using a credit card as it's 100% secure.

You can't actually use your Passport anyway. But you can use your Citizen Card (assuming you have one). See this --> Age requirements for managing an Apple Account in the UK - Apple Support

Travore wrote:

I saw the 18+ notification on my mother's iphone today. I tried to verify using her debit card but that didn't work. She's 95, no Driver's Licence or credit card, doesn't travel and the passport expired a while back, so I couldn't provide 18+ verification. Spoke to Apple but no solution offered there.

Ofcom specifically says that a Debit card is not an acceptable form of age verification that can be used. No company will be able to use that. The phone will still work phone and you will have Communication Limits and Web Filtering turned on. The Communication Limits will blur nudity from messages/photos sent to your Mother. Should not be a problem.

AJP_850 wrote:

Facial age estimation is allowed by the government. Apple chose not to use it, and instead to allow restrict customer to methods that not everyone has. !00% their decision.

First item on the list...

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

Hello~ Well…I personally can’t do a single thing about that. Why not let Apple know of your opinion instead of being rude to volunteers here as they get paid to deal with it? Apple didn’t ask my opinion on this matter…same as you.

Product Feedback - Apple

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

Apple updated my verification although I don’t have driving licence or credit card they realised how long I had my account which verified I was over 18, only took a week lol

Phil0124 wrote:

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.

That's not how UK law works; the law defines the "what", not the "how". The law is that online services have to make sure that uner-18s cannot see age-inappropriate content. But the government is not prescriptive about how this is done, nor can they be because the UK has common law and it is up to the courts to make case law about methods. It would be no defence to say "we had a meeting with the government and they said it was OK". Apple's lawyers clearly think that having an Apple ID for more than 18 years is meets the intent of the law and the man on the Clapham omnibus would probably agree, but the only way they can ever be absolutely sure is for a case to go before judge and jury to set case law.

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.

nibor209 wrote:

You should contact Apple Support. Another option, is there an Apple Store close to you that you can visit?

My age was verified automatically by the length of time I've had my Apple ID.

I'm pretty sure iOS and iPadOS 26.4 setup said my age was verified by the length of time I'd had my Apple account but it's possible they used those words because my account has a credit card on file under my account payment details.

Mac Jim ID wrote:

The Mobile Network information may be useful for the owner of the Phone Number, but does not prove the device user is an adult or not.

From OfCom: "Each of the UK’s Mobile Network Operators has agreed to a code of practice whereby they automatically apply a content restriction filter (CRF), which prevents children from accessing age-restricted websites over mobile internet on pay-as-you-go and contract SIMs. Users can remove the CRF by proving they are an adult.   MNO age checks rely on checking whether the CRF on a user’s mobile phone has been removed. If the CRF has been removed, this indicates that the recorded user of the device is over 18. Confirmation of whether or not the recorded user is over 18, based on the status of the CRF, is shared with the relying party."

WinstonWoof wrote:

What's annoying is that Passports contain an RFID chip that can be read by iPhones so why isn't that used for verification?

In the U.S., a passport can be added to the Wallet as a digital ID. However, the process is much more involved than just scanning the chip. You have to take a Live Photo, which is then sent to the issuing authority to verify that the you in the picture is the you on the passport. Given how long it took Apple to get that in place and the fact that in most states, you still can't add your driver's license, I imagine the negotiation with the issuing authority (e.g., the UK government) is long and involved. It is unlikely that it's something that can be put in place in a few months.

It doesn't help anyone who can't verify their age, but it's important to remember that if Apple makes a mistake and lets a child access something they're not supposed to access, they can be subject to enormous fines and lawsuits. They have a duty to their shareholders to try to prevent that. Capitalism.....