Apple has given app developers a firm deadline to report two new types of features in their apps. Every app on the App Store must complete new age rating declarations by January 12, 2027.
The company shared the update with developers on Monday, November 2. The new content descriptors will appear in App Store Connect starting November 16, 2026.
Apple said the descriptors are meant to help app age ratings accurately reflect each app’s features. The company also said the change will help apps follow local regulations in different countries.
What Developers Must Declare
Developers will need to answer new questions in the age rating questionnaire. These questions cover dating and relationship features, as well as the sharing of real-world locations.
The first new descriptor is called Dating and Relationships. It covers features that let real people make dating or relationship connections, or a virtual companion that engages a user in sexual or romantic content.
Any app that includes these features will receive a minimum age rating of 18+. The rule applies to all apps offering dating or romantic relationship features, not only dedicated dating services.
The second descriptor is called Shared Location. It covers apps that share a user’s real-world location with another person or group.
Apple said the Shared Location descriptor may not affect an app’s minimum age rating in some regions. Developers must provide both declarations when they submit an app update or change their age rating questionnaire.
AI Companion Apps Face New Limits
The Dating and Relationships rule reaches beyond typical dating services. Most major dating platforms already limit their services to adults.
The change could affect AI companion apps, including those where romantic features are one of many tools. Apps such as Character.AI and Replika let people create AI friends, boyfriends, girlfriends and other fantasy characters.
xAI launched 3D animated AI companions last year that allowed users to unlock NSFW capabilities. As of summer 2025, top AI companion apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play had been downloaded 220 million times worldwide.
The new policy follows other steps Apple has taken to protect minors. The company rolled out its age assurance technology globally earlier this year and has added more parental controls and child safety features.
In Brazil, local regulations set stricter ratings for both features. Apps with Shared Location must carry an A16 rating, while apps with Dating and Relationships must carry an A18 rating.
Some developers may believe their app qualifies for a lower rating in Brazil. Apple gave the example of an app that offers location sharing designed specifically for parents and their children.
Those developers can request an official rating directly from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Once the rating is verified, it will display on the App Store in Brazil.
