- The catch: an adult account can be moved into teen mode later
- How age prediction works
- Prediction, verification and required notices
- Checking your age category and verifying
- What Persona sees and what it keeps
- What teen protections change
- Locations that require verification, including Italy
- When verification fails
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
ChatGPT asks you to verify your age when its age prediction thinks your account may belong to someone under 18, or when the law where you are requires it. If you're an adult who was moved into teen protections, you verify with Persona using a live selfie, a government ID or both, and once Persona confirms you're 18 or older the protections are removed, as of October 2026.
The catch: an adult account can be moved into teen mode later
Age prediction isn't a one-off check at signup. Predictions can change over time, so an adult account can be moved into the teen experience later on, even if you gave a date of birth when you signed up.
If that happens, your account stays active. You'll get an email and an in-app prompt to verify. Once you do and Persona confirms you're 18 or older, teen protections are lifted, which may take a short time. After you verify, OpenAI won't run age prediction on your account again.
How age prediction works
ChatGPT uses age prediction to help decide whether an account belongs to someone under 18 and should get the extra protections in ChatGPT for Teens. It looks at signals linked to the account, such as:
- the general topics you talk about
- the times of day you use ChatGPT
- how and when the account is used
- how long the account has existed
Prediction, verification and required notices
| Check | What it uses | What it can do |
|---|---|---|
| Age prediction | Signals on the account | Can move adults into teen protections |
| Persona check | A selfie, an ID or both | Removes teen protections if you're 18 or older |
| Required notice | Shown in some locations, with a deadline | Access may be restricted if you miss it |
Checking your age category and verifying
Go to Settings, then Account, then Age. It shows a category, not a birth date you can edit. The Verify age option won't appear if your account is already identified as 18 or older or already verified.
- Sign in on the web, iOS or Android and open Settings, then Account.
- Review your Age category.
- If Verify age shows, select it and follow the steps with Persona.
- Take the selfie or upload the ID Persona asks for.
- Wait a short time for teen protections to lift, then check again.
To check whether you can verify at all, sign in on the web and open age verification. If the Persona flow opens, you're eligible. There's a temporary issue on mobile where Verify age shows in Settings even when verification isn't available for your account, so the web is the reliable place to check.
What Persona sees and what it keeps
Depending on your country, Persona may ask for a live selfie, a government ID or both. Accepted IDs vary by country. Persona deletes the uploaded ID or selfie within 7 days after verification, and OpenAI doesn't receive the ID or selfie at all, only your date of birth or an age prediction. If privacy is on your mind more widely, my guide to whether ChatGPT is private covers what happens to your chats.
What teen protections change
Teen protections can reduce graphic violence, risky viral challenges, sexual, romantic or violent roleplay, and content promoting extreme beauty standards, unhealthy dieting or body shaming. Ads aren't shown to teen accounts. If parental controls are linked, they don't give a parent access to conversations.
Locations that require verification, including Italy
Some locations legally require age verification before you can carry on. If you see a required notice with a deadline and miss it, access may be restricted until you complete verification.
In Italy, OpenAI uses Persona while the account is active, and Persona may ask for both a selfie and an ID. If your account was deactivated for missing Italy's deadline, select Verify your age on the deactivation screen, or restart verification through Stripe using your OpenAI account email, including an Apple private relay address. That restores access but doesn't change your teen-experience age status.
When verification fails
- 'Unfortunately, your age could not be verified. Please try again later.' can appear if you cancel before you finish.
- 'Please contact support.' can mean you've hit the limit of unsuccessful attempts, and your account may be restricted.
- A failed check when you're trying to remove teen protections may leave them in place.
- On Android, if the verification screen closes, update ChatGPT and your browser, allow camera access, or sign in on a web browser and verify there.
If you have questions or objections about age prediction, OpenAI's address for them is [email protected].
There's more on this in The New ChatGPT Desktop App.
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My verdict
If you're an adult and ChatGPT has moved you into teen protections, I'd verify on the web rather than the app, because that's where you can tell if the Persona flow is open to you. Take your time, have your ID ready and don't cancel halfway, because failed attempts count and too many can restrict your account. If you'd rather not share a selfie or an ID, that's your call, but the teen protections will stay on. And if a teenager in your house uses ChatGPT, my guide on how to use ChatGPT is a good place to start together.
I keep every related walkthrough in the ChatGPT Prompts and Limits: 30 Guides to Fun Prompts, Photo Edits and Daily Caps.
Frequently asked questions
Why is ChatGPT asking me to verify my age?
Either age prediction thinks your account may belong to someone under 18, or the law where you are requires age verification.
How does ChatGPT predict my age?
It looks at signals linked to the account, such as the topics you talk about, the times of day you use it, how and when the account is used and how long it has existed.
What does Persona see and keep?
A live selfie, a government ID or both. Persona deletes them within 7 days after verification, and OpenAI only receives your date of birth or an age prediction.
What happens if age verification fails?
Teen protections may stay in place, and if you reach the limit of unsuccessful attempts your account may be restricted.
Why did my adult account get teen protections?
Age predictions can change over time, so an adult account can be moved into the teen experience. Verifying with Persona removes the protections.
What do teen protections block?
They can reduce graphic violence, risky viral challenges, sexual, romantic or violent roleplay, and content promoting extreme beauty standards, unhealthy dieting or body shaming. Ads aren't shown to teen accounts.
My account in Italy was deactivated. How do I get it back?
Select Verify your age on the deactivation screen, or restart verification through Stripe using your OpenAI account email.
