Using WordReference Wrap on Windows 10 PC and Windows phone.

Developers: How to Update Age Ratings for Your Microsoft App

Felix Wong's avatar
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On March 11, 2025, I received a notification from the Microsoft Partner Center regarding my Windows application, WordReference Wrap:

"Your application requires attention": I received this email because I needed to redo the Age Ratings Questionnaire for Microsoft app.
"Your application requires attention": I received this email because I needed to redo the Age Ratings Questionnaire for Microsoft app.

This is an app I created in 2016, back when I was a Microsoft fanboy and trying to help bolster the Microsoft App Store and reduce the “app gap” it suffered compared to Apple’s App Store and the Android Play Store. It was a Universal Windows App, meaning it could be used on both a Windows PC and a Windows Phone (if you remember those).

The app was essentially a web wrapper for WordReference.com, a highly useful reference tool for language lovers like myself. Instead of opening the website in a browser and losing it among a sea of open tabs, you could launch my app, WordReference Wrap, turning it into a separate application—just like what you’re used to on a phone or tablet. I built this years before Microsoft introduced the “Install this site as an app” feature in Microsoft Edge, which would accomplish the same thing as my app. (Never mind that Microsoft has done a poor job marketing this functionality, so hardly anyone knows about it—not to mention that relatively few people use Microsoft Edge. This partly explains why my app is still used on over 7000 Windows computers, and 173 people downloaded the app in the last month.)

I stopped updating the app long ago—after all, it’s just a web wrapper!—so no changes have been necessary since Build 1.3.2, which I released on January 25, 2018, a whopping seven years ago.

So I was surprised to receive an email from Microsoft indicated that, during a routine assessment of the Microsoft Store, my app’s age rating was found to be inconsistent with its content. Specifically, the message stated that the “selected age rating does not match the content found in your product,” and I was instructed to “submit an update” by March 25, 2025, to prevent the app’s removal from the store.

Initially, the term “submit an update” led me to believe that a new build of the application was required—a potentially time-consuming task. Fortunately, this was not the case. Upon further investigation, I discovered that the issue could be resolved by updating the age rating information through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) questionnaire. This process ensures that apps receive appropriate age classifications based on their content. 

My initial confusion—plus lack of clear guidance from Microsoft or its official Support Forums which, as usual, were most unhelpful—is what prompted me to write this post after I had successfully gone through the process.

Steps to Update Your App’s Age Rating

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Partner Center’s Dashboard. Then navigate to “Apps and games,” select your application.
  2. Go to “Certification Reports” section and click on “View report,” just to re-confirm the specific issue. It should look something like this:
    Look at the Certification Report for your Microsoft app in the Microsoft Partner Center to see what is wrong with your app and what actions need to be taken. In my case, the action required was not quite right: instead of updating the app, I simply needed to re-do the Age Rating Questionnaire.
    Look at the Certification Report for your Microsoft app in the Microsoft Partner Center to see what is wrong with your app and what actions need to be taken. In my case, the action required was not quite right: instead of updating the app, I simply needed to re-do the Age Rating Questionnaire.
  3. Now go to Application Overview (it will be a link in the left menu, as shown below). Click on the arrow to the right of “Age ratings” to access the questionnaire.
    This is the page where you can update the Age Ratings by re-taking the Age Ratings Questionnaire. Click on the arrow I have drawn a red square around.
    This is the page where you can update the Age Ratings by re-taking the Age Ratings Questionnaire. Click on the arrow I have drawn a red square around.
  4. Complete the IARC Questionnaire: Provide accurate responses to all questions regarding your app’s content.
    Starting the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) questionnaire.
    Starting the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) questionnaire.

    The questionnaire covers various content aspects to determine the appropriate age rating. 
    Some of the questions in the Age Ratings Questionnaire.
    Some of the questions in the Age Ratings Questionnaire.
  5. Submit for Certification: After completing the questionnaire, submit your responses for certification. This process updates your app’s age rating in the Microsoft Store.
    After you have completed the Age Ratings Questionnaire, return to the Application Overview page, and click on "Submit for certification."
    After you have completed the Age Ratings Questionnaire, return to the Application Overview page, and click on "Submit for certification."

Important Considerations

Be sure to take the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) questionnaire seriously. Some questions, such as those concerning the presence of offensive language, can be challenging to answer accurately.

Initially, I misunderstood certain questions and provided incorrect responses. For example, I answered that my app did not include any offensive language whereas, in fact, it does define or translate certain swear words. This lead to the rejection of my submission. Microsoft’s feedback later that afternoon stated:

We evaluated your submission for product WordReference Wrap for consideration in the Store and found areas that need attention. Sign in to Partner Center with your account to view our comments in your report. Once all issues are addressed, please resubmit the offer.

With the help of ChatGPT—I described my app to it and asked how I should answer particular questions—I went back and re-answered the questions correctly. Upon resubmission, Microsoft approved the application within hours, notifying me:

Good news. Your submission for the app WordReference Wrap has been processed. Access your app in the Microsoft Store.

I hope this guide assists fellow developers facing similar challenges in navigating the Microsoft Partner Center and maintaining compliance with store policies.