Apple is introducing new App Store age rating requirements that will assign a minimum 18+ rating to dating apps and virtual companion apps featuring romantic or sexual interactions. The changes will take effect on November 16 and require developers to disclose whether their apps include dating, relationship or real-world location-sharing features.
Under the updated age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect, developers must identify whether their apps enable dating or relationship connections between real people or provide virtual companions that engage users in romantic or sexual content. The requirements cover conventional dating platforms as well as AI-powered companion services that offer these types of interactions. Apple will use the declarations to determine appropriate age ratings and comply with regional regulations.
The new requirements also introduce a separate content descriptor for shared location functionality. Developers must disclose whether their apps allow users to share their real-world location with another person or group. Unlike dating and relationship features, which automatically trigger a minimum 18+ rating, location sharing may not affect an app’s minimum age rating in certain regions. The distinction means that apps offering family location tracking or other location-sharing services will not necessarily face the same age restrictions as dating platforms.
Apple has established January 12, 2027, as the deadline for all developers to complete the new declarations. Beginning November 16, developers will need to provide the information when submitting app updates or modifying their existing age rating questionnaires. The requirement applies to all apps, including those that do not offer dating or location-sharing functionality, as developers must confirm whether these features are present.
The changes also address country-specific age classification rules, particularly in Brazil, where local regulations require an A16 rating for apps featuring shared location capabilities and an A18 rating for dating and relationship services. Developers who believe their apps qualify for a lower rating, such as location-sharing applications designed for parents and children, can request an official classification from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Once verified, the official rating will appear on the Brazilian App Store.
The update follows Apple’s broader revision of its App Store age rating system, which introduced more granular classifications, including 13+, 16+ and 18+ categories. The company has also expanded its age rating questionnaire to account for app functionality and sensitive content, including features involving AI assistants and chatbots. The latest requirements establish more specific classifications for apps that facilitate romantic interactions or share users’ physical locations.
For developers operating dating platforms and AI companion apps, the new rules will require a review of existing age rating declarations and may result in higher minimum age classifications. Apps offering location-sharing functionality will also need to disclose those features, although their ratings will depend on the applicable regional requirements.
Apple has not announced additional restrictions on the availability of dating or AI companion applications beyond the updated age classifications. Developers will be able to complete the new declarations through App Store Connect starting November 16, ahead of the January 2027 compliance deadline.
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