iOS 27.2 Brings the Ability to Verify Your Age by Taking a Selfie

Apple released iOS 27.2 to the public earlier this week, and among the several new features the update brings is the ability to take a selfie for age verification, reports 9to5Mac. Here’s how it works.

An increasing number of countries and regions around the world are now requiring users to verify their ages before accessing some websites, apps, or even certain settings.

Apple notes that users located in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and also the United States (Texas) may be required to confirm their age.

As you might imagine, this has raised privacy concerns, as most confirmation methods require photos, driver’s licenses, and other sensitive information, like credit card numbers, which can be abused or stolen.

Apple has developed a privacy-first method of confirming a user’s age in iOS 27.2, taking a selfie. That’s in addition to the previously available methods, which include scanning your driver’s license or ID card, or entering credit card info.

In a new support document, Apple tells users that they can now confirm that they are an adult by taking a selfie. An age-estimation model will then evaluate the images of your face.

While the selfie option isn’t available in all countries, you may see the option to use a selfie when asked to confirm you’re an adult.

Apple tells users how the process works. (Don’t worry, if you’ve set up Face ID on your iPhone, the prcess will be familiar.):

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 tells users to:

• Make sure you’re in a well-lit area with even lighting. Indoors works best.
• Move closer to the camera so that your face is clearly visible.
• Remove anything that might cover your face, such as masks, hats, or sunglasses.
• Make sure only your face is in the frame.

If you need assistance, you can tap “Accessibility Options” to get spoken instructions, reduced directions, or other adjustments.

Apple tells users that their privacy is protected by its privacy-first age-estimation models, which run only on-device and on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute. The selfie “isn’t accessible to anyone, not even Apple.” Once your age has been confirmed, the selfie is automatically deleted and “isn’t retained in any form.”

Interested in learning more about this age verification feature? The full support document can be found here.