How to Change Your Age on Pokémon GO: A Comprehensive Guide

Unfortunately, changing your date of birth directly within Pokémon GO isn’t a straightforward process. The initial age you enter is considered fairly permanent due to child safety regulations and feature restrictions linked to age. However, there are a few workarounds, depending on your situation and the reason you need to change your age. This guide will walk you through the options and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

Understanding the Age Restrictions in Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO, like many online games, has age restrictions in place to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other regulations. These restrictions impact features such as:

• Friend Trading: Allows players age 16 and older to trade Pokémon.
• Sponsored Content: Certain promotional content may only be shown to players within specific age brackets.
• Account Creation: A minimum age is required to create an account.

Therefore, ensuring your age is accurate is important for accessing the intended game features.

Methods for Addressing Incorrect Age Information

While a direct age change isn’t possible, here’s how you can potentially address an inaccurate birthday:

1. For Children Under the Age of 13:

   • Niantic Kids Account: If your child used a Niantic Kids account, the parent can manage the account and its permissions. However, even with this, directly changing the birthdate may not be an option. Instead, you may need to contact Niantic Support for assistance (see step 3).
   • Pokémon Trainer Club Account: This route provides parental controls and might offer some flexibility, but the birthdate itself might still be immutable. It’s best to check your account settings on the Pokémon Trainer Club website.

2. The Reinstall Method (Use with Caution):

   • Some older articles suggest deleting and reinstalling the Pokémon GO app and re-entering your birthdate upon reinstall. This method is not guaranteed to work and may result in data loss if your account isn’t properly linked and saved to the cloud.
   • Before attempting this, ENSURE your account is linked to a Google account, Facebook account, or Pokémon Trainer Club account. If you aren’t linked, you risk losing all your progress.
   • If you choose to proceed, delete the app, reinstall it, and carefully enter the correct birthdate when prompted. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to pursue the following option.

3. Contacting Niantic Support:

   • This is the most reliable method for correcting your age, especially if the previous methods fail. Go to the Niantic Support page within the Pokémon GO app or on the Niantic website.
   • Explain the situation clearly and politely, providing details about the inaccurate birthdate and the correct one. Be prepared to provide proof of age (e.g., a scanned copy of your driver’s license or passport, with sensitive information like your document number blacked out).
   • Niantic Support will review your request and determine the best course of action. Keep in mind that they prioritize account security and compliance, so they may have specific procedures you’ll need to follow.

Alternative Solutions and Workarounds

• New Account (Last Resort): If all else fails, you could create a new Pokémon GO account with the correct birthdate. However, this means starting from scratch, losing all your progress, Pokémon, and items from your previous account. This is a drastic measure, and it’s strongly recommended to exhaust all other options first.
• Focus on Account Security: Regardless of whether you successfully change your age, prioritize securing your account. Use a strong, unique password, enable two-factor authentication, and be cautious of phishing scams.

Why is Changing My Age So Difficult?

The difficulty in changing your age stems from a few critical factors:

• Legal Compliance: COPPA and similar laws require companies to protect children’s privacy and restrict data collection from those under 13. Ensuring accurate age information is vital for compliance.
• Data Integrity: Changing fundamental account information like date of birth can have wide-ranging consequences for the game’s internal data. Niantic needs to ensure that changes don’t disrupt the game’s mechanics or compromise other user data.
• Account Security: Preventing unauthorized age changes helps protect accounts from being manipulated to bypass age restrictions or access inappropriate content.

Understanding the Impact of Age on Gameplay

The age associated with your Pokémon GO account affects:

• Feature Availability: Access to certain features like Friend Trading and sponsored content.
• Parental Controls: For children under 13, parental controls can restrict gameplay and communication.
• Data Collection: Niantic collects and uses data differently based on age to comply with privacy regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I change my date of birth on my Pokémon Trainer Club account after it’s created?

Generally, no, some information like your date of birth cannot be changed after the account is created. It is crucial to enter correct information during registration. Contact Niantic support if there’s an error.

2. What happens if I enter the wrong age when I first start Pokémon GO?

Entering the wrong age can restrict access to certain features, especially if you are under the minimum age required for full functionality. You should contact Niantic Support as soon as possible to attempt to correct the error.

3. If I delete and reinstall Pokémon GO, will it ask for my birthdate again?

Potentially, but this is not guaranteed to work and should only be attempted if your account is securely linked to a Google, Facebook, or Pokémon Trainer Club account. Otherwise, you risk losing your progress. Even if it does prompt you for your birthdate, it might not change the age on record with Niantic.

4. What proof of age will Niantic Support accept to change my birthdate?

Niantic Support may ask for a scanned copy of your driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate. Be sure to redact any sensitive information (like document numbers) before sending it.

5. Will using a VPN to appear older allow me to bypass age restrictions?

No, using a VPN will not change the age associated with your Pokémon GO account. Your age is linked to your account profile, not your IP address. Attempting to bypass age restrictions in this way violates the game’s terms of service and could result in account suspension.

6. My child accidentally entered the wrong birthdate. What can I do?

If your child has a Niantic Kids account, you can manage permissions through the parent portal. However, you still might need to contact Niantic support directly to correct the birthdate. Explain the situation clearly and provide any necessary documentation. If they have a Pokemon Trainer Club account, check the parental controls settings.

7. What is the minimum age to play Pokémon GO?

You need to be over the age of 13 to set up an account.

8. How does Pokémon GO use my age information?

Pokémon GO uses your age to determine which features you can access, comply with child privacy laws (like COPPA), and tailor the game experience to your age group.

9. What if I don’t have proof of age documentation?

This can make it more difficult to change your birthdate. Explain your situation to Niantic Support and see if they can offer alternative verification methods. You might be able to provide other forms of identification or documentation that confirm your age.

10. Is it against the terms of service to create a second account with a different birthdate?

Yes, creating multiple accounts is generally against the Pokémon GO terms of service. It’s better to try to correct the age on your existing account through official channels.

11. How long does it take Niantic Support to respond to age correction requests?

Response times can vary depending on the volume of support requests. It’s best to be patient and follow up politely if you haven’t heard back within a reasonable timeframe (e.g., a week).

12. Can I change my age on Pokémon HOME?

Unfortunately, there is no way to change the birthday settings after the first startup of the Pokémon HOME application. The age input at the first startup will take precedence, not the age that is set on the user’s Nintendo Account.

13. What age do you have to be to use the Friend Trade feature in Pokémon HOME?

Players age 16 and older can use the Friend Trade feature to trade your Pokémon with other users who you’ve become friends with in the smart device version of Pokémon HOME.

14. Are there any Pokémon games aimed at a more mature audience?

While Pokémon games generally maintain a family-friendly tone, some spin-off titles, like Monster Hunter Stories, explore more complex themes and gameplay mechanics that may appeal to older players.

15. Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming?

The Games Learning Society conducts research and promotes understanding of how games can be used for learning. You can visit their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to explore their resources and publications. The Games Learning Society website is a great place to find research on the benefits of using games to learn.

Changing your age in Pokémon GO can be tricky, but by understanding the reasons behind the restrictions and following these steps, you can increase your chances of correcting any inaccuracies and enjoying the game to its fullest. Remember to always prioritize account security and follow the game’s terms of service.