Microsoft has introduced the Windows Age API for Windows 11, allowing applications to determine if a user is a child, teenager, or adult without accessing their full date of birth. This system utilizes Microsoft accounts to categorize users into five different age ranges.
The API includes two primary functions: GetAgeVerificationStatusAsync, which handles cases where self-reported age is insufficient, and CheckAgeStatusAsync, which expands on previous versions to provide age classifications based on global and regional policies.
To protect privacy, the API provides only the signals necessary for age-appropriate features rather than sensitive personal data. Users maintain control through platform-level settings and consent mechanisms.
The verification process is streamlined; once a user completes verification, the status is saved to their Microsoft account. Developers can then call this status via the API to reduce repetitive verification steps for the user.
Currently, the age verification feature is available in the Microsoft Store front-end in Singapore, Brazil, and Australia. Microsoft plans to expand coverage based on regional regulatory requirements and product scenarios.
