Gideon Hallett1d ago

In Which I Am Apparently A Child...

So, I saw today's news about DarkSword, and although I don't have anything with iOS that old (v18.7 or older), I noticed a new version of iOS out (26.4) and decided to update.

Bad move. Bad, bad move.

iOS 26.4 implements age verification.

It's very simple - just scan your credit card or government id and bingo.

I don't have a credit card.

The government ID is apparently:

- a driving license (which I don't have)
- a passport (which isn't scanning)

1/2

Show threadGideon Hallett

So, until I can get the passport working as ID, my iPhone is feature-limited.

I can live without the ability to download 18+ apps.

The ability to make in-app purchases? That's a bit more severe; there are plenty of things you can buy in-app that aren't porn or loot boxes.

And until I can somehow get this fixed, I'm a child.

To add insult to injury, I tried to look at the Apple community for similar reports and got this...

Apparently, tech support is for grownups!

Whoop de fucking doo. 2/2

Mar 24 at 8:25pmWeb
Show threadPiers Cawley1d ago

@gmh it verified me because my AppleID account is old enough to vote. Not sure if that helps you though.

I was quite prepared to live with not verifying because fuck that for a game of darts.

Show threadGideon Hallett23h ago
@pdcawley Yeah, I think my Apple ID dates from when I got an iPhone (March 2010) and I could have been a superintelligent toddler at that point…
Show threadJess Robinson13h ago
@gmh can you visit tech support from a non-apple device.. if available?
Show threadGideon Hallett12h ago

@castaway Got the 'you must log in to view this content' when I tried. Sighed, linked my Apple ID to the community, verified it using my phone and got that message.

I know what the post I wanted to read was about, since I could find the first few lines on a search engine, but try to view it on the community forum and... not so much.

There's probably some way around it, but it's just the cherry on the shit sandwich...

Show threadJess Robinson12h ago

@gmh Ugh! Agree.. As an App-dev I'm wondering if this also applies to the (newly allowed I believe) ability to sell IAPs outside of the app store..

I assume not since I don't see how they could. Of course that doesn't help you if the app dev hasn't implemented external payments..

Show threadJess Robinson11h ago
@gmh Hmm I can read this one even not logged in: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250995863?sortBy=rank .. any use?
Allow in-app purchases - Apple Community

Show threadBryan 11h ago
@gmh i thought they could verify via a credit card? 🤔
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 4710h ago
@bryan not sure which part of "I don't have a credit card", which @gmh wrote in their post, you missed.
Show threadBryan 10h ago
@jik @gmh
I only saw the boosted post.

I’m sorry.
Show threadGideon Hallett10h ago

@bryan @jik Hey, everyone does it from time to time, no worries.

One thing that does annoy me slightly is that scanning your passport should apparently work.

If you search, you'll find any number of people a couple of weeks ago saying 'I'm using the beta, passport scanning isn't working' (e.g. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256262372 - which I can't read because I'm not old enough!)

Yet the release seems to have just been rolled out regardless without fixing this, which is really shoddy.

Show threadGideon Hallett10h ago

@bryan @jik See also https://piunikaweb.com/2026/03/25/apple-ios-26-4-age-verification-uk-release/ - I'm a long way from being the only person in this particular boat.

*sigh* - it's an odious and ineffective law (see https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaign/stop-state-censorship-of-online-speech/) and Apple's compliance has been implemented in a way that inconveniences many people who've been using Apple products for decades.

Apple’s expected iOS 26.4 age verification feature is now live in the UK

Apple’s expected iOS 26.4 age verification feature is now live in the UK, and early user reports suggest the rollout is already causing friction.

PiunikaWeb
Show threadThe Vampire Fish Queen1h ago
@gmh @bryan @jik Already seeing some talk about doing a class action lawsuit over this.
Show threadBryan 10h ago
@gmh
Sorry to read you’re having problems.

I also can’t get my ID (state drivers license) to add to my wallet in Hawaii. Each attempt takes like 2-3 weeks for a rejection. State and Apple just tell me to “keep trying”.

I’m glad this isn’t hindering me from being an adult though… 😬
Show threadGideon Hallett10h ago

@bryan Eh, so far it's not been a problem. I don't use the apps covered by it, and I don't buy game-related stuff on my phone.

But being hobbled on a device I own, with an account I've been using for 16 years, in the name of a law passed by authoritarian control freaks?

Yeah, that sucks and it pisses me off mightily.

(And not being able to read Apple support forums because I'm not verified is just the cherry on top...)

Show threadBryan 10h ago
@gmh
If it was possible to trade problems with government… 😬 can I have adult verification instead of a new war? 😂
Show threadChloe G artist8h ago
@bryan @gmh people in the UK don’t generally have credit cards and they aren’t accepting debit cards
Show threadAnneH7h ago
@Chloeg @bryan @gmh Worth trying the UK govt free voting ID?
Show threadohir8h ago
@bryan
In many post-democratic Western countries even debit cards are a priviledge now.

@gmh
Show threadJan Wildeboer 😷8h ago
@gmh I updated to iOS 26.4 in Germany and do not see any kind of age verification. So I guess it's a UK thing?
Show threadGideon Hallett8h ago
@jwildeboer Yep. Though things being what they are, you can expect to see something similar heading your way soon...
Show threadJan Wildeboer 😷7h ago
@gmh Some more: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/116290208346612041
Show threadUmbrella8h ago
@jwildeboer @gmh Australia too. I saw it when updating an old device to 26.4 beta. Turned off auto updates on other devices since then.
Show threadDigitalStefan8h ago

@gmh I remember during the iOS beta period when age verification notices were being seen and Apple said “whoopsie, that’s just a bug!”

I thought at the time “interesting how an unintended side effect of some other code randomly displayed a full age verification UI as a bug”, but here we are. Clearly the bug was “you weren’t supposed to see it yet”.

Anyway my Apple ID is old enough to not make me submit documents.

My Apple ID for my work phone though … ehhhh

Show threadrefraction 8h ago
@gmh as a child you should ask your parents/guardians for help
Show threadGideon Hallett8h ago
@elexia Unfortunately, they both croaked in the last decade (aged 80+) - I guess this must be my second childhood!
Show threadʙᴇɴ ᴄᴏᴛᴛᴇяɪʟʟ7h ago
@gmh Can you tell me what things you’re locked out of. I need to know what gets shutdown. Had someone who is not very tech savvy and doesnt have ID contacting me in a panic.
Some reports say it locks you out of iCloud. Does that include remembered passwords?
Show threadGideon Hallett6h ago

@BenCotterill I've not seen anything like that, thankfully - and one application that I do occasionally buy things in was OK to do so yesterday evening - so it may be a case of new applications not being permitted, rather than 'everything you have is now blocked!'

So far, it's more inconvenient and annoying rather than serious, but I'll keep checking - I've not found a useful list of what is and isn't blocked.

Show threadʙᴇɴ ᴄᴏᴛᴛᴇяɪʟʟ6h ago
@gmh If you could keep me updated that would be very helpful. Ive been looking round and cant find a useful list either. Thankyou.
Show threadGideon Hallett5h ago
@BenCotterill Will do!