Category: Apple Developer News

Later this summer, Apple will unify the email domains used by Sign in with Apple and iCloud+ Hide My Email under a single, shared domain: private.icloud.com.

New addresses generated for both features will be issued on the new domain. For example:

• Sign in with Apple addresses, previously issued on privaterelay.appleid.com, will be issued on private.icloud.com.

• iCloud+ Hide My Email addresses, previously issued on icloud.com, will be issued on private.icloud.com.

Existing addresses on the legacy domains will continue to work and forward mail to users without interruption.

What you need to do

• Developers with apps or websites that use Sign in with Apple should ensure that their account systems, email validation logic, and allowlists accept addresses on the new private.icloud.com domain in addition to existing domains: privaterelay.appleid.com and icloud.com.

• Email service providers should update any domain-based filtering, suppression lists, or routing rules that explicitly enumerate relay domains so that the new private.icloud.com domain is included.

Learn more about Sign in with Apple

Communicating using the Private Email Relay Service

As we continue to refine our approach to image generation, the ImageCreator class is being discontinued and will no longer work in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27 or later. When we introduced the Image Playground framework, we included the ImageCreator class as a way for apps to generate images programmatically using the on-device image generation model.

If your app uses the ImageCreator class, here’s what to expect:

• Beta OS releases: Your code will continue to compile, but you’ll begin to receive warnings in Xcode. Apps using ImageCreator will not function in TestFlight builds and will cause a runtime error.
• Public OS releases: Your code won’t compile, and any features in your app that use ImageCreator won’t work for people using your app.

What you need to do:

If your app uses ImageCreator, update your implementation before the public release of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27 to ensure your image generation features continue to work and people using your app won’t be affected.

• If your app uses ImageCreator: Transition to presenting the Image Playground sheet, which provides a consistent, system-managed image generation experience. Alternatively, you can integrate another image generation service of your choice.
• If you’ve already migrated: No further action is required.

Resources:

Learn more about the Image Playground framework

Create high-quality images using Image Playground

The Foundation Models framework is a native Swift API that gives you direct access to the same on-device model that powers Apple Intelligence. You can now work with any language model, including Apple Foundation Models, cloud models like Claude and Gemini, or any other provider that conforms to the Language Model protocol.

Multimodal prompts let you pass images alongside text so your app can reason about visual content, and Vision framework tools like OCR and barcode readers are available for your model to call directly, all on-device. Dynamic Profiles let you swap models, tools, and instructions on the fly, so your app’s behavior can adapt within a continuous session.

If you’re enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program and your app has fewer than 2 million total first-time App Store downloads, you can access the next generation of Apple Foundation Models running on Private Cloud Compute at no cloud API cost. And with the new Evaluations framework, you can verify that your AI features behave correctly across dynamic conditions, going beyond what unit tests alone can catch.

New Time Allowances in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, or later, give parents more flexible ways to manage the time their kids spend in apps across categories, including Entertainment, Games, and Social Media. Time Allowances are developed based on expert research and tailored to a child’s age to give parents a helpful starting point. Parents can adjust these settings based on what they determine is best for their child. Time Allowance categories are different from categories for user discovery on the App Store.

Entertainment and Games

Your app or game will appear in a Time Allowance category based on the information you provide in App Store Connect. Apps and games with Entertainment or Games selected as a primary or secondary category in App Store Connect will be sorted into the corresponding Time Allowance categories.

Social Media

The Time Allowance category for Social Media will be based on whether your app or game offers social media capabilities, regardless of the category selected in App Store Connect. This includes the ability to redistribute, amplify, or interact with user-generated content through a social feed or similar discovery method that visibly spreads content to many users. Starting July 2026, the age rating questionnaire will be updated to let you indicate whether your app or game includes social media capabilities.

• If you indicate that your app or game includes social media capabilities, it will be placed in the Time Allowance category for Social Media and receive a minimum age rating of 13+.
• If you indicate that your app or game includes social media capabilities but they are disabled for anyone under 13, it won’t be included in the Time Allowance category for Social Media for users under 13. You’ll also need to use the Declared Age Range API (at a minimum) to check users’ age ranges. If you select this option, your overall responses in the age rating questionnaire determine your age rating and may result in a rating lower than 13+. Your app or game may still be grouped in the Time Allowance category for Games or Entertainment based on the primary or secondary category selected in App Store Connect, and will remain in the Social Media category for users 13 and above.

Starting September 2026, you’ll be required to indicate whether your app or game includes social media capabilities in order to submit new versions or updates to the App Store, or for notarization for distribution on alternative app marketplaces.

Design safe and age‑appropriate experiences for your apps and games

Set an age rating

Declared Age Range API documentation

The Apple Developer Program License Agreement and App Review Guidelines have been revised to support new features, updated policies, and to provide clarification. Please review the changes below and sign in to your account to accept the updated terms.

Apple Developer Program License Agreement

• Sections 3.1, 14.8: Specified requirements for providing information and responding to questions about developer identity, including in the context of export compliance.
• Definitions, Section 3.3.3(N): Clarified requirements for use of the Sensitive Content Analysis framework.
• Definitions, Section 3.3.3(Q): Specified requirements for use of the Suggested Actions API.
• Definitions, Section 3.3.3(R): Specified requirements for use of the Trust Insights framework.
• Section 3.3.4(A): Specified terms regarding end users’ ability to modify content for personal accessibility purposes.
• Definitions, Section 3.3.7(L): Specified requirements for use of the Media Device Extension framework.
• Definitions, Section 3.3.7(M): Specified requirements for use of the Spatial Audio Extension APIs.
• Definitions, Section 3.3.9(E): Specified requirements for use of the Customer Engagement APIs.
• Section 3.2(h): Updated terms for use of and access to Apple models.
• Section 3.3.11: Grouped AI and machine learning technologies under new subsection.
• Section 3.3.11(A): Updated requirements for use of Foundation Models framework.
• Section 6.7: Specified that analytics may additionally be provided via Xcode and/or App Store Connect API.
• Section 7.9: Specified requirements on providing information regarding apps in App Store Connect, and protection of end users who are minors.
• Section 10: Clarified terms regarding indemnification.
• Attachment 2, Section 1.1: Clarified requirements for use of the In-App Purchase API.
• Attachment 5, Section 3.3: Updated privacy requirements for use of Passes.
• Attachment 11, Section 4: Updated the name of identity guidelines for EnergyKit.

App Review Guidelines

• Introduction: revised kid and teen safety guidance.
• 1.2: new paragraph clarifies developer responsibilities for content that violates this guideline.
• 4.3(a): clarifies the basis for the guideline and adds an example.
• 4.3(b): clarifies the basis for the guideline and adds examples.
• 4.5.3: clarifies that Live Activities may not be used to spam, phish, or send unsolicited messages to customers.

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Translations of the updated agreement will be available on the Apple Developer website within one month.

Due to a recent court ruling lifting an injunction on Texas law SB 2420, new Apple Accounts in Texas are now subject to the law, which introduced age assurance requirements for app marketplaces and developers. As previously announced, this includes age assurance and parent or guardian consent on behalf of minors under the age of 18 for downloads, Apple In-App Purchases, and significant changes associated with an app. Parents or guardians will also be able to revoke their consent for any app they previously approved for their child. These changes will go into effect starting June 4, 2026.

Developers can request age category data for these Apple Accounts through the Declared Age Range API. For significant changes, developers should use the Significant Change API under the PermissionKit framework. As a reminder, it’s the developer’s responsibility to determine when there’s a significant change to their app. To learn about a parent or guardian’s revocation of consent, the App Store is providing a server notification that developers can configure to receive notifications that consent has been withdrawn for their app on a child or teen’s device.

Next steps

1. Review documentation and implement the following:

2. Use Apple’s sandbox testing environment to validate that the APIs have been implemented correctly.

For the most up-to-date requirements and API references, see:

Learn more about how you can provide age-appropriate experiences and safeguard privacy in your apps and games using robust features available across Apple platforms.

Apple Developer Centers are dedicated spaces designed for in-person developer sessions, labs, workshops, and appointments across a wide range of Apple technologies and platforms.

With locations in Cupertino, Shanghai, Bengaluru, and Singapore, these purpose-built facilities bring expert guidance and hands-on learning directly to the developer community. Later this year, Apple will open its fifth Developer Center in Berlin, offering developers throughout Europe even greater access to Apple experts and events.

Created for teams of all sizes and at every stage of app development, the Apple Developer Center Berlin will serve as a home base for in-person sessions, workshops, and one-on-one appointments. Additionally, consultation areas and dedicated labs will offer hands-on support from Apple experts in multiple languages.

Learn more

Starting June 18, 2026, age ratings on the App Store will be updated in Australia and Vietnam.

Australia

The 15+ age rating will no longer be available on the App Store in Australia. Apps currently rated 15+ with the following content descriptors will be updated to 16+:

• Unrestricted web access
• Frequent medical or treatment information
• Loot boxes

The new rating will appear on your app’s product page in Australia. Please ensure your responses to the age rating questionnaire in App Store Connect accurately reflect your app’s content.

Vietnam

To align with Article 38 of Vietnam Decree 147, apps available on the App Store in Vietnam will require a region-specific age rating. Based on your age rating questionnaire responses in App Store Connect, your app will receive one of four ratings (00+(all ages), 12+, 16+, or 18+) which will appear on its product page in Vietnam. Additional details, including age rating values, will be available in App Store Connect and App Store Connect Help on June 18.

Every year, the Apple Design Awards recognize innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement in app and game design. But they’ve also become something more: A moment to step back and celebrate the work of Apple developers across the community.

Meet this year’s finalists

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Hello Developer: May 2026

May 12, 2026

In this edition:

• Meet inspiring developers, advocates, and educators.
• Prepare your app for Accessibility Nutrition Labels.
• Meet the team behind the stylish open-world adventure Infinity Nikki.
• Get the most out of your Apple Developer account.
• Update your Intel-based Mac apps to Apple silicon.

Read now