Apple's November App Store Changes: New Age Ratings and Cancellation Offers
Apple told developers in early November 2026 about three changes that reach ordinary iPhone users: new age-rating declarations for apps with dating or location-sharing features, "retention messages" that can appear when you cancel a subscription, and a Taiwan commission cut. This post covers what each change is, what Apple has actually confirmed as of November 9, 2026, and what you may notice on your phone.
The sources are Apple's own developer news posts, dated October 29, November 2, November 3 and November 4, 2026. Where Apple has not said how something will look to consumers, we say so rather than guess.
The short version
| Change | Announced | Effective | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| New age-rating declarations (Shared Location, Dating and Relationships) | Nov 2 | New options Nov 16; all apps must declare by Jan 12, 2027 | Dating-style apps get a minimum 18+ rating |
| Retention messages for subscriptions | Nov 4 | Available now to developers | You may see offers or reminders in the cancellation flow |
| Taiwan commission cut from 30% to 26% | Oct 29 | Oct 31, 2026 | Affects developers' revenue, not your price |
| Siri AI developer preview | Nov 3 | iOS 27.3 betas; App Store submission opens in spring | Apps will connect to Siri later, not yet |
New age-rating declarations: dating and shared location
On November 2, Apple said App Store Connect will add new content descriptors starting November 16, 2026. Developers will need to answer two new questions:
- Shared Location: whether the app shares real-world location with another person or group.
- Dating and Relationships: whether the app has features that enable dating or relationship connections between real people, or a virtual companion that engages a user in sexual or romantic content.
Every app must complete these declarations by January 12, 2027. Apple states that apps with Dating and Relationships features receive a minimum age rating of 18+. Shared Location may not change the minimum rating in some regions.
Two details stand out. First, the wording on Dating and Relationships covers a "virtual companion" engaging in sexual or romantic content, so AI companion apps appear to fall inside the definition. Apple does not name any apps, and we have not seen which apps will be rerated, so treat that as our reading of the text rather than a confirmed list. Second, Apple notes that in Brazil, local regulations require an A16 rating for Shared Location and A18 for Dating and Relationships, with a route for apps like parent-child location sharing to request an official lower rating.
Why parents should care
The age rating is what Screen Time content restrictions and family controls key on. If you have set a child's iPhone to block 18+ apps, apps that newly declare dating features should fall under that rule once developers update their declarations. We would not assume that happens immediately: the deadline is January 12, 2027, so for two months some apps may still carry their old rating. If you manage a child's device, our guide to parental control apps after the iOS 27 Screen Time redesign covers the settings.
Family tracking apps are a gray area to watch. Location sharing between family members is a normal use, and Apple's text suggests such apps may be unaffected in some regions. You can browse the category on our family locator topic page and location sharing topic page.
Retention messages: what you might see when you cancel
On November 4, Apple announced that retention messages are now available. Per Apple, they appear in the subscription cancellation flow and can contain text, images or a special offer. Developers can configure them in App Store Connect, including which subscribers see a message and how long to wait between messages. A Retention Messaging API lets developers choose which message to show each subscriber; API access is available by request.
Apple has not published screenshots of how this will look to consumers in the sources we reviewed, so we can't say whether it appears as a sheet, a banner or something else. What is clear is the purpose: when you tap Cancel, the app maker can try to change your mind.
This is not inherently bad. A discount offer from a service you were about to cancel for price reasons is useful. But it also adds one more screen between you and cancelling, and some publishers will use it harder than others. A few practical rules:
- A message in the cancellation flow is an offer, not a confirmation. Read the final screen to confirm the subscription actually ended.
- If you accept a discount, note when it reverts to the full price.
- Check Settings > your name > Subscriptions afterward to confirm the status reads "Expires" and not "Renews".
- Screenshot the confirmation if the app is one you've had billing trouble with.
Our step-by-step guide to cancelling any iOS subscription still applies, and our subscription manager topic page lists apps that help you track renewals.
Our read: retention messages help honest publishers keep customers and give pushy ones a new tool. Which one you get depends on the app.
Taiwan: lower commission, same prices (so far)
Effective October 31, 2026, Apple's commission on standard In-App Purchase and paid-app transactions on the Taiwan storefront falls from 30% to 26%. Apple says developers do not need to sign the updated terms by October 31 to receive the lower rate. This changes how much developers keep on each sale in Taiwan. Apple's announcement does not say anything about consumer prices, and we have no evidence that App Store prices in Taiwan changed because of it.
Siri AI and the iOS 27.3 betas
On November 3, Apple opened a developer preview that lets apps connect to Siri AI through App Intents, available in the iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS 27.3 betas. App Store submission for these features opens in the spring, per Apple. In practice, that means Siri integrations with third-party apps are months away for most people. We covered the earlier announcement in our post on Siri app actions and the App Store.
FAQ
Will my apps get new age ratings automatically? No. Developers declare them themselves, and the deadline is January 12, 2027. Expect changes to arrive app by app.
Do the retention messages mean cancelling is harder? Not necessarily. They add a step, but you can still cancel from Settings. Always check the final status.
Does the Taiwan commission cut lower app prices? Apple's announcement says nothing about prices. It affects what developers earn.
Where can I read Apple's announcements? On Apple's developer news page at developer.apple.com/news.
Everything above reflects Apple's developer announcements as read on November 9, 2026. Apple may update details, and we will refresh this post if it does.