App Store guideline 1.3: Kids Category
Apps in the Kids Category must be built for children and may not send personal or device information to third parties. Unofficial explanation, not affiliated with Apple. Apple's text prevails.
- Guideline
- 1.3 Kids Category
- Section
- 1. Safety
- This page
- Unofficial explanation, not affiliated with Apple. Apple's text prevails.
- Version
- Guidelines last updated October 16, 2026
- Official source
- Apple's App Review Guidelines
What it means
- The category is where apps designed for children are found, and apps that join it are to focus on an experience made for younger users.
- Privacy laws on collecting data from children online apply, and the guideline points to the privacy section (5.1).
- Kids Category apps are expected to leave out third-party analytics and third-party advertising.
- Third-party analytics may be allowed in limited cases when the service gathers or sends neither the advertising identifier nor any information that identifies children, their location or their devices.
- Third-party contextual ads may be allowed in limited cases when the ad service publishes its practices for Kids Category apps and has people check each ad creative for age suitability.
Apple's text
This page is an unofficial explanation in our own words. Unofficial explanation, not affiliated with Apple. Apple's text prevails. Apple's wording is on its page, linked below.
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