diff --git a/src/ageAssurance/components/NoAccessScreen.tsx b/src/ageAssurance/components/NoAccessScreen.tsx
index b2c220104b..f5b050d408 100644
--- a/src/ageAssurance/components/NoAccessScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/ageAssurance/components/NoAccessScreen.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import {useSafeAreaInsets} from 'react-native-safe-area-context'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/core/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {Trans} from '@lingui/react/macro'
-import * as AgeRange from 'expo-age-range'
 
 import {
   SupportCode,
@@ -12,7 +11,7 @@ import {
 } from '#/lib/hooks/useCreateSupportLink'
 import {dateDiff, useGetTimeAgo} from '#/lib/hooks/useTimeAgo'
 import {useIsBirthdateUpdateAllowed} from '#/state/birthdate'
-import {useSessionApi} from '#/state/session'
+import {useSession, useSessionApi} from '#/state/session'
 import {DeactivateAccountDialog} from '#/screens/Settings/components/DeactivateAccountDialog'
 import {DeleteAccountDialog} from '#/screens/Settings/components/DeleteAccountDialog'
 import {atoms as a, useBreakpoints, useTheme, web} from '#/alf'
@@ -33,10 +32,17 @@ import * as Toast from '#/components/Toast'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 import {BottomSheetOutlet} from '#/../modules/bottom-sheet'
 import {useAgeAssurance} from '#/ageAssurance'
-import {useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext} from '#/ageAssurance/data'
+import {
+  getDeviceSignals,
+  setDeviceSignalsForDid,
+  useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext,
+} from '#/ageAssurance/data'
+import {logger} from '#/ageAssurance/logger'
 import {useComputeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess} from '#/ageAssurance/useComputeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess'
 import {
+  getAssuredAgeFromDeviceSignals,
   isLegacyBirthdateBug,
+  regionAllowsDeviceVerification,
   useAgeAssuranceRegionConfig,
 } from '#/ageAssurance/util'
 import {useAnalytics} from '#/analytics'
@@ -308,6 +314,8 @@ function AccessSection() {
   const getTimeAgo = useGetTimeAgo()
   const {setDeviceGeolocation} = useDeviceGeolocationApi()
   const computeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess = useComputeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess()
+  const {currentAccount} = useSession()
+  const region = useAgeAssuranceRegionConfig()
 
   const aa = useAgeAssurance()
   const {status, lastInitiatedAt} = aa.state
@@ -320,6 +328,41 @@ function AccessSection() {
     ? dateDiff(lastInitiatedAt, new Date(), 'down')
     : null
 
+  const openKwsDialog = useCallback(() => {
+    control.open()
+    ax.metric('ageAssurance:initDialogOpen', {
+      hasInitiatedPreviously: hasInitiated,
+    })
+  }, [control, ax, hasInitiated])
+
+  const onPressVerify = useCallback(async () => {
+    /*
+     * In regions that permit on-device verification, try the native age API
+     * first. If it returns a sufficient age, the cached signals flow into the
+     * AA state recompute and lift the gate. Otherwise we fall back to the KWS
+     * flow below. `getDeviceSignals` handles its own errors and returns
+     * undefined on failure, which also routes us to the fallback.
+     */
+    if (region && regionAllowsDeviceVerification(region)) {
+      const did = currentAccount?.did
+      const signals = await getDeviceSignals()
+      if (did) {
+        setDeviceSignalsForDid({did, signals})
+      }
+      const assuredAge = getAssuredAgeFromDeviceSignals(region, signals)
+      if (assuredAge !== undefined) {
+        // Sufficient device signals: AA state recomputes from the cache
+        // write above and unlocks access. Nothing else to do here.
+        return
+      }
+      logger.debug(
+        `onPressVerify: device signals insufficient, falling back to KWS`,
+      )
+    }
+
+    openKwsDialog()
+  }, [region, currentAccount?.did, openKwsDialog])
+
   return (
     <>
       <AgeAssuranceInitDialog control={control} />
@@ -349,23 +392,7 @@ function AccessSection() {
                 label={_(msg`Verify now`)}
                 size="large"
                 color={hasInitiated ? 'secondary' : 'primary'}
-                onPress={async () => {
-                  try {
-                    const ageRange = await AgeRange.requestAgeRangeAsync({
-                      threshold1: 10,
-                      threshold2: 13,
-                      threshold3: 18,
-                    });
-                    console.log(ageRange)
-                  } catch (e) {
-                    console.error(e)
-                  }
-                  return
-                  control.open()
-                  ax.metric('ageAssurance:initDialogOpen', {
-                    hasInitiatedPreviously: hasInitiated,
-                  })
-                }}>
+                onPress={() => void onPressVerify()}>
                 <ButtonIcon icon={ShieldIcon} />
                 <ButtonText>
                   {hasInitiated ? (
diff --git a/src/ageAssurance/data.tsx b/src/ageAssurance/data.tsx
index 91e2f9f2d6..5167552fc7 100644
--- a/src/ageAssurance/data.tsx
+++ b/src/ageAssurance/data.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {createContext, useCallback, useContext, useEffect, useMemo} from 'react'
+import * as AgeRange from 'expo-age-range'
 import {
   type AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs,
   type AppBskyAgeassuranceGetConfig,
@@ -11,7 +12,6 @@ import {createAsyncStoragePersister} from '@tanstack/query-async-storage-persist
 import {focusManager, QueryClient, useQuery} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import {persistQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query-persist-client'
 import debounce from 'lodash.debounce'
-import * as AgeRange from 'expo-age-range';
 
 import {networkRetry} from '#/lib/async/retry'
 import {PUBLIC_BSKY_SERVICE} from '#/lib/constants'
@@ -489,15 +489,18 @@ export function useOtherRequiredDataQuery() {
 export function createDeviceSignalsQueryKey({did}: {did: string}) {
   return ['device-signals', did]
 }
-export async function getDeviceSignals(): Promise<AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined> {
+export async function getDeviceSignals(): Promise<
+  AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined
+> {
   if (debug.enabled) return debug.resolve(debug.deviceSignals)
   try {
-    return AgeRange.requestAgeRangeAsync({
+    return await AgeRange.requestAgeRangeAsync({
       threshold1: 13,
       threshold2: 16,
       threshold3: 18,
-    });
-  } catch (e: any) {
+    })
+  } catch (err) {
+    const e = err as Error
     logger.error(`getDeviceSignals: failed to get device signals`, {
       safeMessage: e.message,
     })
@@ -508,66 +511,60 @@ export function getDeviceSignalsFromCache({
   did,
 }: {
   did: string
-}):
-  | AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse
-  | undefined {
+}): AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined {
   return qc.getQueryData<AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse>(
     createDeviceSignalsQueryKey({did}),
   )
 }
-let deviceSignalsPrefetchPromise: Promise<void> | undefined
-export async function prefetchDeviceSignals({
-  agent,
+/**
+ * Writes freshly granted device signals into the (persisted) cache. Notifies
+ * the disabled `useDeviceSignalsQuery` observer so the AA state recomputes.
+ */
+export function setDeviceSignalsForDid({
+  did,
+  signals,
 }: {
-  agent: AtpAgent
+  did: string
+  signals: AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined
 }) {
+  qc.setQueryData<AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined>(
+    createDeviceSignalsQueryKey({did}),
+    signals,
+  )
+}
+export async function prefetchDeviceSignals({agent}: {agent: AtpAgent}) {
   const did = getDidFromAgentSession(agent)
   if (!did) return
 
   /**
-   * If we don't have a cache, it's possible the user hasn't granted access.
-   * We don't want to do this during the prefetch phase, so just exit early,
-   * the user can potentially enable it later.
+   * Device signals are restored from the persisted cache only — we never call
+   * the native age API during prefetch, since that would prompt the OS for
+   * users who haven't opted in. Awaiting cache hydration ensures any previously
+   * granted signals are available before the AA state is first computed. The
+   * user can (re)grant access later via the NoAccessScreen verify flow.
    */
+  await cacheHydrationPromise
   const cached = getDeviceSignalsFromCache({did})
-  if (!cached) return
-
-  if (deviceSignalsPrefetchPromise) {
-    logger.debug(`prefetchDeviceSignals: already in progress`)
-    return
-  }
-
-  deviceSignalsPrefetchPromise = new Promise(async resolve => {
-    await cacheHydrationPromise
-    const cached = getDeviceSignalsFromCache({did})
-
-    if (cached) {
-      logger.debug(`prefetchDeviceSignals: using cache`)
-      resolve()
-    } else {
-      try {
-        logger.debug(`prefetchDeviceSignals: resolving...`)
-        const res = await getDeviceSignals()
-        qc.setQueryData<AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse>(
-          createDeviceSignalsQueryKey({did}),
-          res,
-        )
-      } catch (e: any) {
-        logger.warn(`prefetchDeviceSignals: failed`, {
-          safeMessage: e.message,
-        })
-      } finally {
-        resolve()
-      }
-    }
-  })
+  logger.debug(
+    `prefetchDeviceSignals: ${cached ? 'restored from cache' : 'no cache'}`,
+  )
 }
 export function useDeviceSignalsQuery() {
   const agent = useAgent()
   const did = getDidFromAgentSession(agent)
   return useQuery(
     {
-      enabled: !!did,
+      /**
+       * Disabled so we never auto-call the native age API on load — that would
+       * prompt the OS for every logged-in user. We restore from the persisted
+       * cache (via `initialData`) and otherwise only update reactively when the
+       * user explicitly verifies (see `getDeviceSignals` + `setQueryData` in
+       * the NoAccessScreen verify flow).
+       *
+       * A future enhancement could silently refresh here when already cached,
+       * since the OS returns the granted result without re-prompting.
+       */
+      enabled: false,
       initialData: getDeviceSignalsFromCache({did: did!}),
       queryKey: createDeviceSignalsQueryKey({did: did!}),
       async queryFn() {
@@ -620,6 +617,11 @@ export type AgeAssuranceServerData = {
    */
   state: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.State | undefined
   metadata: AgeAssuranceMetadata | undefined
+  /**
+   * The native on-device age signals, if the user has granted access. Only
+   * consumed for regions that permit device verification.
+   */
+  deviceSignals: AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined
 }
 const AgeAssuranceServerDataContext = createContext<AgeAssuranceServerData>({
   config: undefined,
@@ -629,6 +631,7 @@ const AgeAssuranceServerDataContext = createContext<AgeAssuranceServerData>({
     declaredAge: undefined,
     birthdate: undefined,
   },
+  deviceSignals: undefined,
 })
 export function useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext() {
   return useContext(AgeAssuranceServerDataContext)
@@ -642,6 +645,7 @@ export function AgeAssuranceServerDataProvider({
   const serverState = useServerStateQuery()
   const {state, metadata} = serverState.data || {}
   const {data} = useOtherRequiredDataQuery()
+  const {data: deviceSignals} = useDeviceSignalsQuery()
   const ctx = useMemo(
     () => ({
       config,
@@ -654,8 +658,9 @@ export function AgeAssuranceServerDataProvider({
           : undefined,
         birthdate: data?.birthdate,
       },
+      deviceSignals,
     }),
-    [config, state, data, metadata],
+    [config, state, data, metadata, deviceSignals],
   )
   return (
     <AgeAssuranceServerDataContext.Provider value={ctx}>
diff --git a/src/ageAssurance/debug.ts b/src/ageAssurance/debug.ts
index 1fdbd53d40..986d875f0b 100644
--- a/src/ageAssurance/debug.ts
+++ b/src/ageAssurance/debug.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,23 @@
 import type * as AgeRange from 'expo-age-range'
 import {
   ageAssuranceRuleIDs as ids,
-  type AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs,
   type AppBskyAgeassuranceGetState,
 } from '@atproto/api'
 
 import {type OtherRequiredData} from '#/ageAssurance/data'
+import {type AgeAssuranceConfigRegion} from '#/ageAssurance/types'
 import {IS_DEV, IS_E2E} from '#/env'
 import {type Geolocation} from '#/geolocation'
 
+/**
+ * Debug-only config shape. Mirrors {@link AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.Config} but
+ * uses {@link AgeAssuranceConfigRegion}, which carries the not-yet-in-lexicon
+ * `verificationMethods` field so we can prototype on-device verification.
+ */
+export type DebugConfig = {
+  regions: AgeAssuranceConfigRegion[]
+}
+
 export const enabled = (IS_DEV && true) || IS_E2E
 
 export const geolocation: Geolocation | undefined = enabled
@@ -46,7 +55,7 @@ export const serverState: AppBskyAgeassuranceGetState.OutputSchema | undefined =
       }
     : undefined
 
-export const config: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.Config = {
+export const config: DebugConfig = {
   regions: [
     {
       countryCode: 'AA',
@@ -59,6 +68,25 @@ export const config: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.Config = {
         },
       ],
     },
+    {
+      // On-device verification region (e.g. Texas). Set debug.geolocation to
+      // {countryCode: 'US', regionCode: 'TX'} to exercise the device flow.
+      countryCode: 'US',
+      regionCode: 'TX',
+      minAccessAge: 18,
+      verificationMethods: ['device'],
+      rules: [
+        {
+          age: 18,
+          access: 'full',
+          $type: ids.IfAssuredOverAge,
+        },
+        {
+          access: 'none',
+          $type: ids.Default,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
     {
       countryCode: 'GB',
       minAccessAge: 13,
@@ -262,7 +290,9 @@ const deviceSignalsEnabled = true
 export const deviceSignals: AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined =
   deviceSignalsEnabled
     ? {
-        lowerBound: null,
+        // Simulates the OS reporting the user is at least 18. Lower this below
+        // a region's IfAssuredOverAge threshold to exercise the KWS fallback.
+        lowerBound: 18,
         upperBound: null,
       }
     : undefined
diff --git a/src/ageAssurance/state.ts b/src/ageAssurance/state.ts
index ff80bca725..69276c9737 100644
--- a/src/ageAssurance/state.ts
+++ b/src/ageAssurance/state.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {useEffect, useMemo, useState} from 'react'
+import type * as AgeRange from 'expo-age-range'
 import {
   type AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs,
   computeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess,
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ import {getAge} from '#/lib/strings/time'
 import {useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {
   getConfigFromCache,
+  getDeviceSignalsFromCache,
   getOtherRequiredDataFromCache,
   getServerStateFromCache,
   useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext,
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ import {
 import {
   computeAgeAssuranceFlags,
   getAgeAssuranceRegionConfigWithFallback,
+  getAssuredAgeFromDeviceSignals,
 } from '#/ageAssurance/util'
 import {type Geolocation, useGeolocation} from '#/geolocation'
 import {device} from '#/storage'
@@ -39,12 +42,14 @@ function computeAgeAssuranceState({
   config,
   state,
   metadata,
+  deviceSignals,
 }: {
   hasSession: boolean
   geolocation: Geolocation
   config?: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.Config
   state?: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.State
   metadata?: AgeAssuranceMetadata
+  deviceSignals?: AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse
 }) {
   /**
    * This is where we control logged-out moderation prefs. It's all
@@ -93,10 +98,16 @@ function computeAgeAssuranceState({
    * Otherwise, we need to compute the access based on the latest data. For
    * accounts with an accurate birthdate, our default fallback rules should
    * ensure correct access.
+   *
+   * In regions that permit on-device verification, the OS-provided age range
+   * is treated as an assured age and fed into the rule engine, where it
+   * matches `IfAssuredOverAge`/`IfAssuredUnderAge` rules.
    */
+  const assuredAge = getAssuredAgeFromDeviceSignals(region, deviceSignals)
   const result = computeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess(region, {
     accountCreatedAt: metadata?.accountCreatedAt,
     declaredAge: metadata?.declaredAge,
+    assuredAge,
   })
   const computed = {
     lastInitiatedAt: state?.lastInitiatedAt,
@@ -126,6 +137,7 @@ export function unsafeGetAndComputeAgeAssurance({did}: {did: string}) {
   const config = getConfigFromCache()
   const state = getServerStateFromCache({did})
   const requiredData = getOtherRequiredDataFromCache({did})
+  const deviceSignals = getDeviceSignalsFromCache({did})
   const geolocation = device.get(['mergedGeolocation'])
 
   if (!geolocation || !config || !state || !requiredData) {
@@ -151,6 +163,7 @@ export function unsafeGetAndComputeAgeAssurance({did}: {did: string}) {
     geolocation,
     state: state.state,
     metadata,
+    deviceSignals,
   })
 
   return {
@@ -166,7 +179,8 @@ export function unsafeGetAndComputeAgeAssurance({did}: {did: string}) {
 export function useAgeAssuranceState(): AgeAssuranceState {
   const {hasSession} = useSession()
   const geolocation = useGeolocation()
-  const {config, state, metadata} = useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext()
+  const {config, state, metadata, deviceSignals} =
+    useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext()
 
   return useMemo(
     () =>
@@ -176,8 +190,9 @@ export function useAgeAssuranceState(): AgeAssuranceState {
         geolocation,
         state,
         metadata,
+        deviceSignals,
       }),
-    [hasSession, geolocation, config, state, metadata],
+    [hasSession, geolocation, config, state, metadata, deviceSignals],
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ageAssurance/types.ts b/src/ageAssurance/types.ts
index 21abff89f0..1215e888f2 100644
--- a/src/ageAssurance/types.ts
+++ b/src/ageAssurance/types.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,32 @@
-import {type computeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess} from '@atproto/api'
+import {
+  type AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs,
+  type computeAgeAssuranceRegionAccess,
+} from '@atproto/api'
 
 import {logger} from '#/ageAssurance/logger'
 
+/**
+ * The ways a user can satisfy age assurance within a given region.
+ *
+ * - `kws`: the third-party (KWS) verification flow.
+ * - `device`: native on-device age APIs (Apple Declared Age Range / Google
+ *   Play Age Signals), surfaced via `expo-age-range`.
+ *
+ * NOTE: this is not yet part of the `app.bsky.ageassurance` lexicon. It's
+ * modeled client-side (see {@link AgeAssuranceConfigRegion}) while we prototype
+ * the shape. Once the lexicon adds `verificationMethods`, this can be removed in
+ * favor of the generated type.
+ */
+export type AgeAssuranceVerificationMethod = 'device' | 'kws'
+
+/**
+ * A region config extended with the (not-yet-in-lexicon) `verificationMethods`
+ * field. Regions without the field are treated as KWS-only.
+ */
+export type AgeAssuranceConfigRegion = AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.ConfigRegion & {
+  verificationMethods?: AgeAssuranceVerificationMethod[]
+}
+
 export enum AgeAssuranceAccess {
   Unknown = 'unknown',
   None = 'none',
diff --git a/src/ageAssurance/util.ts b/src/ageAssurance/util.ts
index 0d493f1130..6c5b6478f1 100644
--- a/src/ageAssurance/util.ts
+++ b/src/ageAssurance/util.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {useMemo} from 'react'
+import type * as AgeRange from 'expo-age-range'
 import {
   type AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs,
   getAgeAssuranceRegionConfig,
@@ -11,9 +12,11 @@ import {FALLBACK_REGION_CONFIG, MIN_ACCESS_AGE} from '#/ageAssurance/const'
 import {useAgeAssuranceServerDataContext} from '#/ageAssurance/data'
 import {
   AgeAssuranceAccess,
+  type AgeAssuranceConfigRegion,
   type AgeAssuranceFlags,
   type AgeAssuranceMetadata,
   type AgeAssuranceState,
+  type AgeAssuranceVerificationMethod,
 } from '#/ageAssurance/types'
 import {type Geolocation, useGeolocation} from '#/geolocation'
 
@@ -36,6 +39,48 @@ export function getAgeAssuranceRegionConfigWithFallback(
   return region || FALLBACK_REGION_CONFIG
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns the verification methods permitted for a region, defaulting to
+ * `['kws']` when the region doesn't specify any (the historical behavior).
+ *
+ * NOTE: `verificationMethods` is not yet part of the lexicon, so we read it via
+ * {@link AgeAssuranceConfigRegion}. See that type for the migration note.
+ */
+export function getRegionVerificationMethods(
+  region: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.ConfigRegion,
+): AgeAssuranceVerificationMethod[] {
+  const methods = (region as AgeAssuranceConfigRegion).verificationMethods
+  return methods && methods.length > 0 ? methods : ['kws']
+}
+
+/**
+ * Whether a region permits satisfying age assurance via the native on-device
+ * age APIs (Apple Declared Age Range / Google Play Age Signals).
+ */
+export function regionAllowsDeviceVerification(
+  region: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.ConfigRegion,
+): boolean {
+  return getRegionVerificationMethods(region).includes('device')
+}
+
+/**
+ * Derives an assured age from native device signals, but only for regions that
+ * permit device verification. The OS-provided `lowerBound` is the minimum age
+ * the platform will attest to, which maps directly onto the `assuredAge` input
+ * of the rule engine (i.e. `IfAssuredOverAge`/`IfAssuredUnderAge` rules).
+ *
+ * Returns undefined when the region doesn't allow device verification or when
+ * the OS didn't provide a usable lower bound.
+ */
+export function getAssuredAgeFromDeviceSignals(
+  region: AppBskyAgeassuranceDefs.ConfigRegion,
+  deviceSignals: AgeRange.AgeRangeResponse | undefined,
+): number | undefined {
+  if (!regionAllowsDeviceVerification(region)) return undefined
+  const lowerBound = deviceSignals?.lowerBound
+  return typeof lowerBound === 'number' ? lowerBound : undefined
+}
+
 /**
  * Hook to get the age assurance region config based on current geolocation.
  * Does not fall-back to our app defaults. If no config is found, returns