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Age ratings on Phone app stores: what each setting blocks
✅ Last verified: Oct 14, 2026 against official sources linked below.
Quick answer
- Apple App Store (iPhone, iPad, Mac): Apps above the rating are hidden/blocked. Apple's 4+ can still include messaging, user-generated content or ads, and 13+ covers apps with social media features — so a low rating doesn't mean no chat.
- Google Play (Android): New downloads and purchases above the rating. Apps already installed stay; block them separately in Family Link.
Apple App Store (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
| Ratings shown | Apple's own ratings: 4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, 18+ (13+, 16+ and 18+ were added in 2025 and show on iOS 26 and later). Ratings can vary by country. |
|---|---|
| How parents set it | Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → App Store, Media… → Apps: choose the highest rating allowed. Ask to Buy adds approval for downloads. |
| What the age setting blocks | Apps above the rating are hidden/blocked. Apple's 4+ can still include messaging, user-generated content or ads, and 13+ covers apps with social media features — so a low rating doesn't mean no chat. |
| Level | What it means |
|---|---|
| 4+ | No objectionable material. May still have user-generated content, messaging/chat, or ads. |
| 9+ | Infrequent profanity, crude humor, horror, mature or suggestive themes; cartoon violence. |
| 13+ | Social media features; frequent profanity or horror; infrequent alcohol/drug references, sexual content or realistic violence; infrequent simulated gambling. |
| 16+ | Unrestricted web access; frequent mature or suggestive themes; frequent medical information. |
| 18+ | Frequent realistic violence, sexual content or nudity, or drug use; real gambling; frequent simulated gambling. |
Set it up: iPhone & iPad Screen Time guide →
Official source: developer.apple.com
Google Play (Android)
| Ratings shown | IARC: ESRB labels (Everyone, E10+, Teen, Mature 17+, Adults Only 18+) in the Americas; "Rated for 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+" elsewhere. |
|---|---|
| How parents set it | Family Link → your child → Controls → Google Play → Apps & games: choose the highest rating allowed. |
| What the age setting blocks | New downloads and purchases above the rating. Apps already installed stay; block them separately in Family Link. |
Set it up: Android chat & Family Link settings →
Official source: support.google.com
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📬 Monthly "what changed" email for parents: coming soon. Game and app settings move constantly; we'll summarize changes once a month. Parents only, no kids' data, ever. Meanwhile, follow updates via RSS.