On November 2, 2026, Apple announced that App Store Connect will add two new content descriptors to the age rating questionnaire on November 16, 2026: Shared Location, and Dating and Relationships. You must answer them when you submit an app update or change your age rating questionnaire, and every app needs the declarations completed by January 12, 2027. This post covers what Apple said, what it left open, and a short checklist for a small team. Every fact below comes from Apple's own pages, listed in the Sources section.
What did Apple change in the age rating questionnaire?
Apple's developer news post "Upcoming: New age rating content descriptors in App Store Connect" (November 2, 2026) says the new descriptors are there to help your app's age rating reflect its features and follow local regulations. When you complete the questionnaire, you declare whether your app includes either of these.
| Descriptor | Apple's definition | Effect on rating |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Location | Sharing of real-world location with another person or group | May not change the minimum age in some regions |
| Dating and Relationships | Dating or relationship connections between real people, or a virtual companion that engages a user in sexual or romantic content | Minimum age rating of 18+ |
The wording on the second row matters. Apple's definition has two halves: features that connect real people, and a virtual companion that engages the user in sexual or romantic content. An AI companion app is inside that definition as Apple wrote it.
What are the dates?
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 2, 2026 | Apple publishes the announcement |
| November 16, 2026 | New descriptors appear in App Store Connect |
| January 12, 2027 | All apps must have the declarations completed |
Apple says you must provide the declarations when you submit an app update or make changes to your age rating questionnaire. So an app you update before January 12 gets asked during that submission. An app you do not plan to touch still has to be completed by the deadline. Apple's post does not say what happens to an app that misses it, and we are not going to guess.
What does this do to the age rating of a normal app?
Most apps that are not dating apps and do not share location will answer "no" to both and see no change. The apps that need to think are the ones with a feature that could be read either way. Three examples we would look at twice:
- A group or family feature that shows where members are. That is Shared Location by Apple's definition, even if it is a small part of the app.
- A social or chat feature with introductions between strangers. If it enables relationship connections between real people, Apple's wording points at Dating and Relationships, which means 18+.
- A chatbot or character that can turn romantic. The virtual companion half of the definition covers this when the content is sexual or romantic.
If you are unsure, read Apple's age rating values and definitions page before you answer. It lists the existing categories and how each rating level maps to content. At the time we fetched it on November 3, 2026, that page did not yet mention the two new descriptors, so the November 2 news post is the only Apple source for them today.
What is different in Brazil?
Apple says local regulation in Brazil requires an A16 rating for Shared Location and an A18 rating for Dating and Relationships. That is stricter than the rest of the world for Shared Location, where the effect on minimum age may be nil.
If you think your app qualifies for a lower rating in Brazil, Apple's example is location sharing designed specifically for parents and children. In that case you can request an official rating directly from Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP). Once the MJSP verifies it, the official rating displays on the App Store in Brazil. If Brazil is a storefront you care about, start this early, because the request goes to a government body and not to Apple.
How do you answer the questionnaire in App Store Connect?
Apple's help page "Set an app age rating" describes the flow. You pick the app, open App Information in the sidebar, and click Set Up Age Ratings (or Edit, if you already have one). You then go through each section of the progress bar and pick a frequency for each content description. Your calculated rating shows in the Additional Information section, and you can override it to a higher rating if your app has, for example, a EULA with a minimum age that is higher than what Apple calculated.
Apple's help page says the roles that can do this are Account Holder, Admin, App Manager, or Marketing. If you work with a contractor, check that someone with one of those roles will actually click through the new questions.
A checklist for this month
- List every feature that touches location or connects users to each other, including features behind a paywall or a beta flag.
- Compare each feature to Apple's two definitions above. Write down the answer and the feature it is based on, so the next person does not redo it.
- After November 16, open App Information for each app and look for the new questions.
- If a "yes" would push the app to 18+, check what that does to your audience and your ad targeting before you submit.
- If Brazil matters, decide now whether you will ask the MJSP for an official rating.
- Put January 12, 2027 in the calendar for every app you do not plan to update before then.
What this does not change for your product page
Nothing in Apple's post changes screenshot sizes or the page layout. Your screenshot size reference is still valid. What is worth a look is that a new questionnaire answer is another reason an update can hit review, so keep it separate from a screenshot refresh. If you want a similar read on the previous round of Apple changes, our October 2026 guidelines update post and our Taiwan commission post use the same sourcing rules as this one. For getting installs once the page is right, the free promotion guide lists what we have tested, and the Apps of the Week page features indie apps each week.
Frequently asked questions
When do the new age rating questions appear in App Store Connect?
Apple says the new content descriptors are included starting November 16, 2026.
What is the deadline to answer them?
Apple says all apps must have the declarations completed by January 12, 2027. You must provide them when you submit an app update or change your age rating questionnaire.
What age rating does Dating and Relationships get?
Apple says apps that include Dating and Relationships receive a minimum age rating of 18+. In Brazil the required rating is A18.
Does Shared Location raise the age rating?
Apple says it may not affect the minimum age rating in some regions. In Brazil, local regulations require an A16 rating for Shared Location.
Can I get a lower rating in Brazil?
Apple says you can request an official rating from Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security if you believe your app qualifies for a lower rating, for example location sharing designed for parents and children. Once verified, the official rating displays on the App Store in Brazil.
Sources
- Apple Developer News, "Upcoming: New age rating content descriptors in App Store Connect", November 2, 2026: developer.apple.com/news/?id=yxkh08us
- App Store Connect Help, "Set an app age rating": developer.apple.com/help
- App Store Connect Help, "Age ratings values and definitions": developer.apple.com/help
Updated November 3, 2026. Last checked against Apple's pages on November 3, 2026. Apple may change these terms, so confirm them in App Store Connect before you act.