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How to use App Store and Google Play age ratings (plus Apple Arcade and Family Library) to filter apps for your child

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.

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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)

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