What do age ratings mean in the Windows Store?
All apps in the Windows Store have an age rating based on these guidelines:
| Age rating | | Description |
|---|
3+ | | Suitable for ages 3 and older. These apps can contain minimal comic violence that is non-realistic or cartoon-like. The characters depicted in the app aren't similar to, or associated with, real people. These apps don’t contain content that might frighten young children, and they don’t contain any profanity, nudity, or reference to sexual activity. These apps don't include features that can access content or functionality unsuitable for young children, such as the uncontrolled sharing of info online. |
7+ | | Suitable for ages 7 and older. These apps are similar to apps with the 3+ age rating. However, these apps can include content that might frighten younger children and can contain partial nudity, as long as the nudity doesn't suggest or show sexual activity. These apps don't include features that can access content or functionality unsuitable for young children, such as the uncontrolled sharing of info online. |
12+ | | Suitable for ages 12 and older. These apps can contain more nudity than an app with the 7+ age rating, as long as the nudity doesn’t suggest or show sexual activity. These apps can include slightly graphic violence toward non-realistic characters, and non-graphic violence toward realistic human or animal characters. These apps can also include more profanity than is allowed in a 7+ app, but the profanity can’t be sexual in nature. These apps can include features that allow for uncontrolled access to online social networks, or the sharing of personal info with third parties, including other gamers and online acquaintances. |
16+ | | Suitable for ages 16 and older. These apps can depict realistic violence with minimal blood and can depict sexual activity. They can also contain drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and criminal activities, and more profanity than would be allowed in a 12+ app. These apps can include features that allow for uncontrolled access to online social networks, or the sharing of personal info with third parties, including other gamers and online acquaintances. |
Some apps might have a rating provided by a third-party ratings board, such as the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) or Pan European Game Information (PEGI). These third-party age ratings might appear instead of the Store rating for an app. For more info about how the third-party ratings compare to the Store rating, see Rating boards for Windows apps.
