Microsoft rolls out age verification for Xbox users in the UK

Microsoft has announced that it has begun rolling out age verification for Xbox users in the U.K. This process is to comply with The Online Safety Act.

Age verification is a bit of a problem in many Countries, even in the European Union. Governments want to protect the safety of children, keeping them away from harmful, inappropriate content on the internet. While that's a good idea, the process of verifying one's age poses some privacy issues. Many people also feel that this is a form of censorship.

The Verge reports that some people have managed to bypass age verification on Reddit, Discord, by using Death Stranding's photo mode. They just pointed their phone's camera at the game's protagonist, that's pretty ingenious. Others have used VPNs to trick services into thinking they are from a different Country. But such tricks don't work with every verification service, apparently it doesn't with Xbox.

How does age verification affect Xbox users in the U.K.?

Don't worry, your game library is not affected by these requirements. Xbox users who don't verify their age by early 2026, will not be able to access some social features. You'll still be able to use voice and text communication with friends, party functionality and game invites, and user generated content (including Activity Feed). You will not be able to access Custom Clubs, or Look for Groups, access Discord, or broadcast gameplay to Twitch.

How to verify your age for your Xbox account?

Microsoft uses Yoti as its "trusted age verification partner."  Users who are at least 18 years of age can go to Microsoft's website, https://aka.ms/XboxUKAgeVerification. You will be asked to sign in to your account, after which you can verify your age by taking a selfie, scan a government-issued ID such as your driver's license or passport, a mobile number or a credit card check.

Microsoft says that a live photo (selfie) or ID documents that you submit to it will be encrypted and deleted after use. The mobile number is checked through your carrier, while your credit card is just used to verify your age (no charges). Both types of data are not stored or shared beyond the initial check. Refer to the official documentation for more details.

Microsoft says it plans to roll out age verification processes to more regions in the future, but it's not clear which Countries will get the requirements. This is definitely a cause for concern.

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