App Store age rating: the new Shared Location and Dating questions, due January 12, 2027
Apple adds Shared Location and Dating and Relationships to the age rating questionnaire on November 16, 2026. What they mean, who gets 18+ and the January 2027 deadline.
· 4 min read
Short answer: from November 16, 2026, App Store Connect's age rating questionnaire asks two new questions: whether your app has Shared Location (sharing a real-world location with another person or group) and whether it has Dating and Relationships features (dating or relationship connections between real people, or a virtual companion that engages users in sexual or romantic content). You answer them the next time you submit an update or edit the questionnaire, and every app must have them answered by January 12, 2027. Apps with Dating and Relationships get a minimum rating of 18+.
This guide summarizes Apple's announcement from November 2, 2026. Check App Store Connect for how it applies to your app.
What are the new age rating content descriptors?
| Descriptor | Apple's definition | Effect on the rating |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Location | Sharing of real-world location with another person or group | May not change your minimum rating in some regions; Brazil requires A16 |
| Dating and Relationships | Dating or relationship connections between real people, and/or a virtual companion that engages a user in sexual or romantic content | Minimum 18+ everywhere; Brazil requires A18 |
They're added to the questionnaire you already filled in. Apple moved every app to its new age rating system (4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ and 18+) at the start of 2026, so you'll find your current rating in App Store Connect under your app's information.
Does my app have Shared Location?
Answer yes if a person can share where they are, in real time or as a place they're at, with another person or a group through your app. Typical examples:
- Friend or family location sharing, and "share my trip" or ETA features.
- Meet-up, delivery or ride apps that show one user's position to another.
- Social apps and games where players see each other's real-world position.
Using location only for your own features (weather, a map of nearby shops, a run tracker that only you see) isn't sharing it with another person. When you're unsure, read Apple's definition literally and answer for what your app actually lets people do.
Does my app have Dating and Relationships?
Answer yes if your app helps real people find dates or relationships, or if it has a virtual companion (for example an AI character) that engages users in sexual or romantic content. The second part catches AI companion and chat apps that aren't dating apps at all. A general AI assistant that doesn't engage in romantic or sexual content is a different case; answer for what the app actually does, including what its characters say.
Either way, the app becomes 18+. If most of your audience is younger, that's a product decision worth making before you submit, not after.
What's the Brazil rule?
In Brazil, local rules require an A16 rating for Shared Location and A18 for Dating and Relationships. If your app deserves a lower rating, for example location sharing built for parents and children, you can request an official rating from Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP). Once it's verified, that rating is shown on the App Store in Brazil.
How do I answer the new questions?
- From November 16, 2026, open your app in App Store Connect and go to the age rating section of the app's information.
- Answer the new Shared Location and Dating and Relationships questions honestly.
- Check the resulting rating for each region, especially Brazil.
- Save, and submit your next update as usual. Apple asks for the answers whenever you submit an update or change the questionnaire.
Apple's notice doesn't say what happens to apps that miss January 12, 2027. Don't wait to find out: answer it the next time you're in App Store Connect, even if you have no update planned.
Checklist before January 12, 2027
- Answer both new questions for every app you publish, not just the one you're updating.
- If you're now 18+, update your App Store description and screenshots so they match the audience.
- Review your privacy labels if you share location: precise location shared with other users should be declared there too.
- On Google Play, check your IARC content rating questionnaire says the same thing, so the two stores don't contradict each other.
- Publishing on Google Play too? Finish the trader status declaration by February 1, 2027.
Next steps
Set a reminder for November 16, 2026, and answer the questions for every app that day. If you're preparing an update anyway, read common App Store review rejections before you submit, and list your app on TrueLaunch for free to get feedback from other developers on the new version.
Frequently asked questions
When do the new App Store age rating questions start?
Apple adds the Shared Location and Dating and Relationships content descriptors to App Store Connect on November 16, 2026. Every app must have them answered by January 12, 2027.
Will Shared Location make my app 18+?
No. Apple says Shared Location may not change the minimum rating in some regions. In Brazil, local rules require an A16 rating for it unless you get a lower official rating from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
Is an AI companion app counted as Dating and Relationships?
Yes, if it has a virtual companion that engages users in sexual or romantic content. Apps with Dating and Relationships get a minimum age rating of 18+.
Do I need to submit an update to answer the new questions?
No. You're asked when you submit an update or edit the age rating questionnaire, but you can edit the questionnaire at any time. All apps must have the answers by January 12, 2027.