> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://devicedaddy.mymagic.page/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to use App Store and Google Play age ratings (plus Apple Arcade and Family Library) to filter apps for your child - URL: https://devicedaddy.mymagic.page/app-store-play-age-ratings/ - Published: 2026-10-05T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-05T12:00:00.000Z - Description: How Apple's 4+ to 18+ and Google Play's PEGI ratings work, how to set them for your child, and how Apple Arcade and Family Library fit in. - Author: Philip Nixon - Tags: Guides, Age ratings, #Import 2026-11-09 16:05 ✅ **Verified:** Last checked on **Monday 5 October 2026** against Apple Support (UK) **"Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad"** (published 15 September 2026) and **"Join Apple Arcade"**, Apple Developer's **Age ratings values and definitions**, and Google Play Help's **"How to set up content restrictions on Google Play"**, **"Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play"**, **"Manage your child's Google Play apps"** and **"Use Google Play Family Library"**. Covers **iPhone and iPad** (iOS/iPadOS 27 Screen Time, with notes for older software) and **Android** phones and tablets with **Family Link** or Play Store content restrictions. *Note: we checked these steps against Apple's and Google's current written instructions. We haven't tested them on a device for this edition, so menu names may be a little different after updates.* **⏱ Time to complete:** about 10–15 minutes per child **🔧 Difficulty:** **Easy.** It's one setting on each platform. The catch is understanding what the ratings **don't** tell you. --- ## The short version (for very busy parents) 1. **iPhone/iPad:** on your device, **Settings → Family → \[child's name\] → Content & Privacy Restrictions** → choose an app **age rating** (4+, 9+, 13+, 16+ or 18+). Keep **Ask to Buy** on. 2. **Android:** in the **Family Link** app, select your child → **Controls → Google Play** → **Apps & games** → choose the highest **PEGI** rating (3, 7, 12, 16 or 18). 3. **Ratings are about content, not safety.** Apple says even a **4+** app can include **chat** and **user-generated content**. Check chat settings inside each app. 4. **Apple Arcade** and **Google Play Family Library** let you share games with the family. Your age filters still apply. --- ## What you'll need - **iPhone/iPad:** **Family Sharing** set up, with your child on their **own Child Account**, and your **Screen Time passcode**. - **Android:** your child's Google Account supervised with **Family Link** (or, for a shared device, a Play Store **parental controls PIN**). - **Your own phone** (to manage settings remotely). - **10–15 minutes.** --- ## Understanding the two rating systems | | **Apple App Store** | **Google Play (UK)** | | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Who rates | Apple, from the developer's answers to an age rating questionnaire | **PEGI**, via Google Play's rating questionnaire (the UK uses PEGI) | | Age bands | **4+, 9+, 13+, 16+, 18+** | **PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, 18** (plus a **Parental Guidance** label for some portal-style apps) | | What a "low" rating can still include | Apple's definitions say **4+** apps may still have **messaging and chat**, **user-generated content**, **advertising** and infrequent contests | PEGI ratings focus on content such as violence, language and gambling. Check the app's own chat and purchase features | **Apple's newer bands** (for devices on iOS 26 and later) in plain English: - **4+** — no objectionable material, but **may still include chat, user-generated content and ads**. - **9+** — infrequent mild swearing, horror, cartoon violence, or **loot boxes**. - **13+** — **social media** features, frequent cartoon violence, infrequent realistic violence or **simulated gambling**. - **16+** — **unrestricted web access**, frequent mature themes. - **18+** — frequent realistic violence, sexual content, drug references, or **gambling**. ⚠️ **Loot boxes at 9+.** Apple's definitions put **loot boxes** (paid random items) in the **9+** band. If you want to avoid them, keep purchase approval on and check each game's in-app purchases. --- ## Step-by-step ### Step 1 (iPhone/iPad): set an app age rating Apple's steps for **iOS 27 / iPadOS 27** Screen Time: 1. On **your** iPhone or iPad, open **Settings → Family**, then tap your child's name. 2. Tap **Content & Privacy Restrictions**. Enter your Screen Time passcode if asked. 3. Under **Content Restrictions**, choose **Apps**, then a setting such as **Don't Allow**, **Allow All** or a specific **age rating**. 4. Repeat for **films**, **TV shows**, **music** and **books** if you like. \[Screenshot: Content & Privacy Restrictions → Apps with age rating options\] > **On older software?** Apple says if you can't update every device in your Family Sharing group, you can keep using the **previous Screen Time layout** or adjust parental controls directly on the child's device. The menu names may differ. > > 💡 **Defaults by age:** Apple says many settings are switched on automatically based on your child's age, and in some places content restrictions for apps **can't be turned off** for under-18s. --- ### Step 2 (iPhone/iPad): keep Ask to Buy on 1. **Settings → Family → \[child's name\] → Apps & Websites**. 2. Tap **Restrictions → Ask to Buy** and turn on **Require Purchase Approval**. Apple says **Ask to Buy is on by default for under-13s**. You can also block individual apps — they stay installed but greyed out — or **block apps with specific ratings**. \[Screenshot: Ask to Buy → Require Purchase Approval switched on\] --- ### Step 3 (Android): set a Google Play rating with Family Link Google's steps: 1. Open the **Family Link** app. 2. Select your child. 3. Tap **Controls → Google Play**. 4. Choose **Apps & games** (and films/TV) and pick the **highest maturity level** you want to allow. 5. For **Books**, choose whether to restrict explicit content. \[Screenshot: Family Link → Controls → Google Play → Apps & games ratings\] **No Family Link (shared or older child's device)?** In the **Google Play** app: tap the **profile icon → Settings → Family → Content restrictions → Go to parental controls → Set up a parental controls PIN**, then choose your filters. Google notes this only applies to **that one device**. ⚠️ **Three gaps Google points out:**\- Restricted apps can **still show in search** or open via a **direct link** — they just can't be downloaded. - Apps installed **before** you set a rating stay on the device. Block them in Family Link (**Screen time → Time limits → App limits**, then tap an app and toggle it to **Blocked**). - Content restrictions don't change what shows in the **Play Games** app. --- ### Step 4: Apple Arcade (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV) Apple Arcade is a subscription with **200+ games and no ads or in-app purchases**, according to Apple. - **Family Sharing** gives access to the subscriber **and up to five family members**. - Find the games in the **Arcade** tab of the App Store (**All Games** or **See All Games**). - Each Arcade game still has its **own age rating**, and your Content & Privacy Restrictions still apply. 💡 **Why parents like it:** no in-app purchases and no adverts means no surprise spending inside Arcade games. It's a good "yes" list for younger children. Apple says Arcade may be included with **iCloud+** in some regions. --- ### Step 5: Google Play Family Library Family Library lets you share **purchased** apps, games, films, TV and books with **up to five family members**. 1. In the **Google Play** app: **profile icon → Settings → Family → Sign up for Family Library**. 2. Choose whether purchases are added **automatically** or **one by one** (**Settings → Family → Family Library settings**). Things to know (from Google): - **In-app purchases and free apps can't be shared.**\- Everyone in the family can **see** everything added. Google says if you've set parental controls, children **won't find apps above your rating**. - Apps from Family Library **don't need fresh approval** to download. So if you share a 16-rated game you bought for yourself, check your child's rating filter is set. \[Screenshot: Google Play → Settings → Family → Family Library settings\] --- ### Step 6: Test it (2 minutes) 1. On your child's device, search for an app above your rating. It shouldn't be downloadable. 2. Try downloading a free app. You should get an approval request (Ask to Buy / Family Link approval). 3. Check an older app already on the device. Block it if needed. --- ## Keep it working - **Re-check ratings on birthdays.** Raise the rating gradually as your child gets older. - **Ratings change.** Google notes an app update can carry a **higher rating** and won't install until you allow it. - **Read the "chat" bit.** For any app you allow, check whether it has messaging, voice chat or user-generated content, and set those controls inside the app. - **Console and PC games** use separate settings — see our PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and Steam guides. --- ## Related guides (links to follow) - 📱 *iPhone & iPad Screen Time* — **\[link to add\]** - 📱 *Android & Google Family Link* — **\[link to add\]** - 🗺️ *DeviceDaddy family plan one-sheet* — **\[link to add\]** - 🎮 *Roblox parental controls* — **\[link to add\]** --- 🔁 **Spotted a change? Tell us.** Apple and Google update their stores and parental controls often. If something doesn't match, **\[report a change: add DeviceDaddy contact form or email link here\]**. Tell us your device and software version and what's different. The ✅ stamp shows when we last checked. --- ### Sources (checked 5 October 2026) - Apple Support (UK): Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPad — [https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105121](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105121?ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page) - Apple Support (UK): Join Apple Arcade — [https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102206](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102206?ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page) - Apple Developer: Age ratings values and definitions — [https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/age-ratings-values-and-definitions/](https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/age-ratings-values-and-definitions/?ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page) - Google Play Help: How to set up content restrictions on Google Play — [https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1075738?hl=en-GB](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1075738?hl=en-GB&ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page) - Google Play Help: Apps & Games content ratings on Google Play — [https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/6209544?hl=en-GB](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/6209544?hl=en-GB&ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page) - Google Play Help: Manage your child's Google Play apps — [https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7103028?hl=en-GB](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7103028?hl=en-GB&ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page) - Google Play Help: Use Google Play Family Library — [https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7007852?hl=en-GB](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7007852?hl=en-GB&ref=devicedaddy.mymagic.page)