Hello Apple Developer Support Team,
We are developing an iOS iPhone application and would like clarification on whether Apple provides any APIs or system-level support to implement parental approval workflows aligned with certain regional regulatory requirements (for example, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana).
Our intended use cases are outlined below:
Initial Approval (App Download Stage)
We understand that, in some situations, when a minor attempts to download an app from the App Store on iPhone, iOS may require approval through Family Sharing / Ask to Buy.
We would like to confirm:
• Whether there is any developer-accessible API that allows an iPhone app to detect if installation was approved via parental consent.
• Whether apps can receive any callback, status indicator, or system signal confirming parental approval or rejection.
• Whether the Declared Age Range API or any related framework provides access to parental approval or age verification signals.
Ongoing Approval for Significant Changes
For regulatory compliance, we may need to request parental re-approval when introducing significant application updates (for example, adding chat functionality, social interaction features, or modifying data collection practices).
We would like clarification on:
• Whether iOS provides any mechanism or API that allows iPhone apps to trigger or request parental re-approval after the application has already been installed.
• Whether Apple provides any built-in workflows, system prompts, or entitlement-based approaches that support this type of re-approval process.
In-App Handling of Parent Approval Requirements
If our backend determines that a minor user requires parental approval before continuing to use certain app features, we would like to understand:
• Whether Apple provides any APIs, SDKs, or recommended frameworks that allow initiating or facilitating parental authorization from within the iPhone app.
• Whether there are any callbacks, permission states, entitlement checks, or system notifications that developers can use to determine and track parental consent status.
If any such capabilities exist, we would greatly appreciate links to official documentation, technical guidance, or sample implementations demonstrating how approval status can be retrieved and handled in an iOS iPhone application.
Also from which iOS version this capabilities will work & how to handle lower iOS version which is not supporting.
Additionally, if Apple recommends alternative compliance approaches using existing frameworks such as Family Sharing, Screen Time APIs, or Declared Age Range, we would appreciate guidance on best practices for implementation.
Also, could you please clarify the minimum iOS version that supports these capabilities? We would also appreciate recommendations on how developers should manage or implement fallback handling for devices running lower iOS versions where these capabilities are not supported.
Thank you for your assistance and guidance in ensuring compliance with Apple platform policies and regional regulatory requirements.
Kind regards
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
General
Tags:
Developer Tools
App Store Connect API
Screen Time
Declared Age Range