iPhone age verification is now nagging people who live outside affected regions but the mystery has been solved

Date:
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:46:10 +0000

Description:
A Reddit user bought an imported iPhone, which opened up a can of iPhone age verification worms.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A user got bugged to verify their identity on their new iPhone They shouldnt have needed to, as their local laws didn't require this The culprit was their iPhone, which was imported from the UK Apple has just jacked up its prices across the board,
and while the iPhone is safe for now, many users are wondering if its only a matter of time before Apples best iPhones feel the weight of price rises . If that sounds familiar, you might have snapped up a second-hand iPhone in a bid to get ahead of the game but that could leave you falling foul of an annoying, unforeseen consequence.

Thats exactly what happened to Reddit user , who said that their new iPhone was forcing them to verify their age , despite the fact that they live in Bulgaria, an EU country where age verification is not required by law. Understandably, they were reluctant to upload their ID documents, describing the process as a huge privacy black hole. But due to their refusal to do so, they were unable to access certain types of content, social apps, GTA games and other things I paid for. As they put it, Content and privacy
restrictions, scanning my chats, FaceTime calls and photos in gallery are forced upon me without my will and consent. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

The case seems to be a confusing one, as Bulgarian users are not subject to
ID verification laws that mandate them to confirm their age before accessing certain apps and services. But there is one nearby country that does have
laws like this, and it proved to be the key to unlocking the mystery. Check the model number (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) The UK has enacted laws that necessitate users to verify their identities in order to access certain apps and services on their devices, with the stated aim of protecting children from online harms. But the regulations specifically the Online Safety Act has caused much controversy among privacy advocates and has resulted in a surge of angry users downloading the best VPNs to protect their identities and sidestep the requirements . You may like Apples iOS-level age verification is a mess, but it could be what we need The EUs age verification app has a privacy problem and it may be more than just a 'bug in an app' The best age verification VPNs verify your age securely in regions such as Australia, the US, and the UK

Back on Reddit, the age verification mystery was solved when the Redditor discovered where their iPhone originally came from. This is something you can find in the Settings app by going to General > About and looking in the Model Number section.

The iPhone's model was MFYP4QN/A and this contains several clues about its origin. For example, "MFYP4" refers to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Deep Blue
with 256GB of storage. The QN part of the code, meanwhile, relates to the regions where this model is sold: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, United Kingdom, Israel. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In other words, although the Redditor bought their iPhone in Bulgaria, the device was likely imported from the UK. As a fellow Redditor noted, there is no official Apple presence in Bulgaria, making an import the probable answer. As they put it, If it is a UK model, it will behave like a UK model which would explain why the device was asking the user to verify their identity, even though local Bulgarian laws did not require that to be done.

With different regions enforcing different privacy and age verification laws, the risk as demonstrated on Reddit is that you can buy a second-hand iPhone in a country that doesnt compel you to confirm your identity, yet still get forced to do so by an imported iPhone. Its all a bit of a mess .

If youre thinking of buying a used iPhone and youre at all able to check it
in person, make sure you note down its model number first in the Settings
app. As explained by The Apple Wiki , if the code contains the letters B, KN, QN, Z, ZD, ZF or ZM just before the forward slash for example, MFYP4ZD/A then it might be a UK device and therefore might act as if it is governed by UK laws, regardless of where you bought it. And that could have big consequences if youre not prepared. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add
us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Todays best iPhone deals Contract Deals Sim Free gift Apple iPhone 17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 10GB data 19 upfront 34.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro 36 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 5GB data 30 upfront 67.32 /mth View at EE See all prices
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone-age-verification-is-now-nagging-people -who-live-outside-affected-regions-but-the-mystery-has-been-solved


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