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porsche_993
User level: Level 1 (20 points)

Child's iPhone Cannot Download Any Apps – Age Rating Locked at "Don't Allow" (Texas, iOS 27.0.1)

I recently set up a new iPhone for my 13-year-old son in Texas. I created his Apple Account directly on his iPhone using his correct date of birth and added him to our Family Sharing group.

Unfortunately, he is unable to download any apps from the App Store, including free apps rated 4+, such as Google Maps.

Whenever he tries to download an app, the App Store displays:

"This app can't be downloaded because content restrictions are enabled on your device."

Current configuration:

  • Child's Apple Account correctly shows age 13.
  • Family Sharing is enabled.
  • Ask to Buy is enabled and requires parental approval.
  • Installing Apps is set to Allow.
  • Apps Age Rating is set to "Don't Allow" and is grayed out.
  • The age-rating screen displays a message stating that age-appropriate content restrictions are required by the State of Texas and cannot be changed.
  • Both the parent and child's iPhones are running iOS 27.0.1.
  • Parent's device is an iPhone 11 Pro.

Troubleshooting already completed:

  1. Verified the child's date of birth and Family Sharing settings.
  2. Confirmed that Installing Apps is allowed and Ask to Buy is enabled.
  3. Verified Age Range for Apps is configured to Always.
  4. Updated and restarted both iPhones.
  5. Performed Reset All Settings on the child's iPhone.
  6. Disabled and re-enabled App & Website Activity under Screen Time.
  7. Confirmed that the issue persists on both the parent and child's Screen Time settings.

None of these steps resolved the problem.

I've also contacted Apple Support, and they are still investigating.

My questions for the community:

  1. Has anyone in Texas experienced this issue when setting up an Apple Account for a child under 18?
  2. Is there a way to correct the locked "Don't Allow" age-rating setting without creating a new Apple Account?
  3. Could this be related to the Texas parental-consent requirements or a Family Sharing configuration issue?
  4. Has anyone found a working solution?

I would appreciate any guidance or suggestions. I have opened a case with Apple support and their initial response is it is a Texas las restriction. But I disagree as the details I have shared on the issue should not have anything to do with restriction.

Thank you!

Posted on Oct 18, 2026 5:54 PM

9 replies

Coach-cuellar
User level: Level 1 (18 points)

Nov 1, 2026 6:08 AM in response to porsche_993

I spent some time on the phone with a rep on halloween and we figured out the bug/glitch that was the holdup for my kiddos phones!


All we had to do was disable/turn off face id on my (parent) phone! Once I did that it allowed me to change the content and privacy restrictions to what I wanted, then on my kids phones they could ask me permission to download apps. There is still no way for minors to just have free access to download what they want due to Texas laws, but this way I could approve any apps I wanted to let them them have.


I was able to put face id right back on my phone as well after doing a test download with each of the kids and approving their apps. Now everything works fine and I have face id back. Reply here if you need additional steps but this worked like a charm for me and I was grateful to the rep who helped.

nelorao
User level: Level 1 (36 points)

Oct 28, 2026 3:59 PM in response to porsche_993

Fixed! Here is what you need to do (via Apple Support):


1. On your kid's phone, go to Settings > Family > Personal Information, tap the option at the top, and log in with your child's Apple account.

2. Open the App Store, tap the profile icon in the top-right corner, tap your child's name (the first option), and select Sign Out.

3. Force close the App Store app.

4. Log your child back in to the App Store.

5. Reboot the iPhone.

6. Enjoy!


Note: When you try to download an app afterward, the "Get" button may still look greyed out and untappable. However, you should see a message asking for permission.


nelorao
User level: Level 1 (36 points)

Oct 18, 2026 9:30 PM in response to porsche_993

Welcome to the club, this feature has been broken since Texas Bill 2420 took effect in June. I opened a case about three and a half weeks ago, and apparently there is still no solution. We are waiting on a developer to fix it, but I am sure they are working around the clock on it, given that the issue has only been around for a couple of months now.


Between a company that cannot fix a broken feature in months and a state government that thinks it knows better than parents how to manage their own kids phones, families like yours and mine are the ones paying the price.

porsche_993 Author
User level: Level 1 (20 points)

Oct 31, 2026 10:02 AM in response to porsche_993

Issue was resolved after speaking to Apple support rep today. Here are the steps that resolved the issue for my child's phone.


On your child's phone, go to Settings > Family > Select Child, select "Share using secondary Apple Account and login with your child's Apple account.


Right away below messages popped up on child's phone.



[Edited by Moderator]

porsche_993 Author
User level: Level 1 (20 points)

Oct 19, 2026 6:55 PM in response to nelorao

I am both surprised and disappointed that a company with Apple's engineering expertise is taking this long to resolve what appears to be a straightforward software issue.

What's even more frustrating is that consumers in states with additional age-verification and parental-control regulations aren't clearly warned about potential limitations before purchasing these expensive devices.

Apple should be more proactive in identifying these issues, communicating known limitations, and providing timely resolutions. Consumers shouldn't have to spend days troubleshooting a brand-new device that cannot perform one of its most basic functions.

At this price point, customers deserve better transparency, accountability, and support from Apple.

Laertes323
User level: Level 1 (26 points)

Oct 24, 2026 11:43 PM in response to porsche_993

Same problem as of 24 October trying to download age 4+ educational apps. Spent three hours trying to troubleshoot it. I’ll call Apple Support to place a ticket.


Maybe Apple would help if I started a protest movement against the law?

LeeCantu03
User level: Level 1 (20 points)

Oct 27, 2026 5:50 PM in response to porsche_993

10/27/2026 Has anyone been able to solve this issue? I went through two apple IT appointments and they couldn't make it work.

porsche_993 Author
User level: Level 1 (20 points)

Oct 27, 2026 7:31 PM in response to LeeCantu03

Unfortunately, no. The rep assigned to my case has disappeared :-)

porsche_993 Author
User level: Level 1 (20 points)

Oct 31, 2026 7:06 AM in response to nelorao

Unfortunately it did not fix the issue for me.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256378650