Apple is rolling out age verification in its App Store for Texas users beginning Thursday, June 4, 2026, following a federal appeals court decision that allowed the state’s App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420) to take effect while a legal challenge against it continues.
New Apple account holders in Texas will be required to confirm they are 18 or older using a credit card or government-issued ID. Apple may also verify existing users’ ages automatically by assessing account age and whether a credit card is already on file.
Users under 18 will be required to join a Family Sharing group, where a parent or guardian must provide consent before the minor can download apps or make in-app purchases. Developers are also obligated to offer age-appropriate experiences for users under 18 and can use Apple’s Declared Age Range API to check a user’s age range.
The law had previously been blocked in December 2025, when a judge issued an order preventing it from taking effect. The appeals court has since reversed that decision, at least temporarily, while courts determine whether the law is constitutional.
The legal outcome in Texas may not be the final word. A federal version of the App Store Accountability Act is currently working its way through Congress, which could extend similar age verification requirements to app stores nationwide if passed.
The development marks a significant shift in how app access is managed for minors in Texas and could signal broader changes ahead for app store operators and developers across the country.
Source: The Verge