You can change the birth date on your Apple ID through Settings on your device or through your Apple account online, but Apple restricts how often you can make the change and won't let you lower your age below 13.

Apple ties your birth date to your Apple ID for account security and to enforce age restrictions on content and services. If you entered the wrong date when you created your account, or your information has changed, you can update it yourself in most cases. The process takes a few minutes, but the restrictions on how often you can change it and what dates you can use matter for your account going forward.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your birth date through Settings on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or by signing into your Apple account on the web.
  • Apple will not let you set your age below 13, and you cannot lower your birth date more than once per year.
  • If you need to change your age for a child's account, you must use Family Sharing and follow Apple's parental controls process.
  • Changing your birth date may affect your access to certain apps, content ratings, and services tied to age restrictions.
  • If you cannot change your date yourself, contact Apple Support, which may ask you to verify your identity with a government ID.

Change your birth date on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap "Personal Information," then tap "Birth Date." Enter the new date and tap "Save" or "Done." The change takes effect immediately, though it may take a few minutes to sync across your Apple devices.

If you do not see a "Birth Date" option in Personal Information, your account may have restrictions that prevent self-service changes. This happens most often with child accounts managed through Family Sharing. In that case, the parent or guardian who set up the account must make the change.

Change your birth date on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older macOS versions). Click "General," then click your name or account picture. Click "Personal Information" and then "Birth Date." Enter the new date and click "Save."

The process is the same whether you are using a recent version of macOS or an older one, though the menu names may differ slightly. If you are not signed into your Mac with your Apple ID, you will need to sign in first through System Settings before you can access your personal information.

Change your birth date on the web

Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Click "Personal Information" in the left sidebar. Click "Birth Date" and enter the new date, then click "Save." You may be asked to verify your identity with a code sent to your trusted phone number or email address.

This method works from any computer or device with a web browser, so it is useful if you do not have access to an Apple device right now. The web version of your Apple ID account shows the same information as your device settings, so changes made on the web appear on all your devices within a few minutes.

Restrictions on changing your birth date

Apple will not allow you to set your birth date to make you younger than 13 years old. This is a hard limit tied to Apple's terms of service and cannot be overridden. If your account was created with you under 13, you will not be able to lower your birth date further, even if you are now older.

You can only lower your birth date (make yourself older) once per calendar year. If you have already made a change in the current year, you will see a message saying you cannot change it again until the next calendar year. You can raise your birth date (make yourself younger) at any time, but Apple does not recommend this because it may lock you out of age-restricted content and services.

If you try to change your birth date and see an error message, it usually means you have already made a change recently or your account has restrictions that require Apple Support to override. Contact Apple Support through your device settings or at support.apple.com to request a manual change.

Changing a child's birth date through Family Sharing

If you are the parent or guardian managing a child's account through Family Sharing, you can change their birth date from your own device. Open Settings, tap your name, tap "Family Sharing," and tap the child's name. Tap "Birth Date" and enter the correct date.

Child accounts have stricter rules than adult accounts. You cannot lower a child's birth date below 13, and changes are limited to once per year just like adult accounts. If the child's account was created with an incorrect age and you need to change it, do this as soon as possible, because the restrictions reset on the calendar year.

What happens after you change your birth date

Changing your birth date may affect your access to apps, movies, TV shows, music, and books with age ratings. If you lower your birth date (make yourself older), you may gain access to content you could not see before. If you raise your birth date (make yourself younger), you may lose access to content rated for older users, and those apps or purchases may become unavailable on your device.

Your birth date also controls access to certain Apple services and features. For example, some features in Health, Screen Time, and Siri may behave differently depending on your age. These changes take effect immediately, but it may take a few minutes for all your devices to sync the new information.

When you cannot change your birth date yourself

If you see an error message when you try to change your birth date, or if the option does not appear in your settings, your account may have restrictions that require Apple Support to remove. This happens most often if your account was created as a child account and has not been transitioned to an adult account, or if there is a dispute about the account owner.

Contact Apple Support through your device or at support.apple.com. Be ready to provide proof of your identity, such as a government-issued ID, a credit card statement, or other documents that match the name on your Apple ID. Apple may ask you to answer security questions or verify your identity through a phone call. The process usually takes a few days to a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birth date more than once a year?

You can raise your birth date (make yourself younger) as many times as you want, but you can only lower it (make yourself older) once per calendar year. The year resets on January 1st. If you have already lowered your birth date this year, you will need to wait until next year to lower it again.

What if I set my birth date wrong when I created my account?

You can change it through Settings or your Apple ID account online using the steps above. If you entered a date that makes you under 13, you will not be able to lower your birth date further, even to correct the original mistake. Contact Apple Support if you need help with this situation.

Will changing my birth date affect my purchases or subscriptions?

Your purchases and subscriptions stay on your account, but your access to age-restricted content may change. If you lower your birth date and gain access to mature content, you will see it in the App Store and other services. If you raise your birth date and lose access, those apps or purchases may disappear from your device.

Can I change the birth date on my child's account?

Yes, if you are the parent or guardian managing the account through Family Sharing. Open Settings, tap your name, tap "Family Sharing," select the child's name, and tap "Birth Date." The same restrictions apply: you cannot set it below 13, and you can only lower it once per year.

What do I do if Apple Support asks for my ID?

Apple may ask for a government-issued ID, passport, driver's license, or other official documents to verify your identity before making changes to your account. Take a photo or scan of the document and upload it through the support request, or be ready to describe it during a phone call with Apple Support.