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iOS 27.2 introduces new age verification feature using selfie

iOS 27.2 is here, and it introduces a new feature for age verification using a selfie. Here are the details.

Apple offers new, privacy-focused way to verify your age in iOS 27.2

An increasing number of territories around the world now require iPhone age verification in certain scenarios, such as when creating an Apple Account, updating your software, downloading apps, or changing select settings.

Per Apple, these requirements may apply to users in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and also the United States (Texas).

While iOS already offered other methods of age verification, such as using a credit card or scanning your ID, iOS 27.2 adds a new option: taking a selfie.

Per a new support document, Apple says:

In some states, countries, or regions, you might be asked to confirm that you’re an adult before you can take certain actions on your Apple Account. One way to confirm that you’re an adult is to take a selfie. An age-estimation model will then evaluate the images of your face.

The selfie option isn’t available in all regions, but if you’re asked to confirm you’re an adult, you might see the option to use a selfie.

Here’s how it works per Apple’s instructions:

  1. Choose the option to take a selfie, then tap Get Started.
  2. Hold your device in front of you and center your face in the frame.
  3. Capture all four angles of your face by moving your head slowly right, left, up, and down. Follow the onscreen guidance to complete confirmation. It might take a moment to estimate your age.

Apple says your privacy is protected by its age-estimation models running both on-device and on Private Cloud Compute. The selfie “isn’t accessible to anyone, not even Apple.” And after your age has been confirmed, the selfie is deleted immediately and “isn’t retained in any form.”

To learn more about Apple’s new age verification feature in iOS 27.2, read the full support document here.

Have you ever had to perform age verification on your iPhone? How did the process go? Let us know in the comments.

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Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.