Adult site Pornhub will now allow users in the U.K. to confirm their age using Apple’s verification system, introduced in iOS 26.4 and updated in the last few days . Here’s what it means.

In February, the Online Safety Act introduced restrictions for people in the U.K. visiting adult websites — details here . This required users to verify their age. Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, restricted access for new unverified users in the U.K., citing privacy concerns regarding third-party ID uploads.

Since this verification involved methods such as the user uploading a photograph of him or herself, often to a third-party, many people were understandably cautious.

However, Aylo announced on May 5, 2026 that Apple’s method — the world’s first operating-system-level age check — meets their rigorous privacy standards.

“For years, Aylo has advocated for device-based age verification as the most effective and privacy-protecting approach to help prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate content online. With the release of iOS 26.4 Apple has introduced the world’s first ever device-based age verification solution for its users in the U.K., a major first step towards a global solution that stands to better protect children everywhere. As a result, today Aylo welcomes eligible age-confirmed UK iOS users back to Pornhub,” Aylo said.

How The Apple System Works

The new verification scheme appeared out of the blue with iOS 26.4 in March. When users updated they were greeted by a new message: “Confirm you are 18+. U.K. law requires you to confirm you are an adult to change content restrictions,” it read.

This system was recently updated to allow more forms of ID to be used, including a passport.

“In our view, Apple’s UK device-level age-verification update offers one of the strongest and hardest to circumvent protections currently available for helping prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate content,” Aylo went on, and commented that child protection groups had similar views.

“Moving forward, age-verified iOS users reaching Pornhub will be served a standard adult user experience,” it commented.

Now that Pornhub has done this, expect other adult and age-restricted sites to follow suit. It means that iPhone users have an advantage that Android owners don’t, for example.