If you're the owner of an older iPhone that's over 10 years old, you may soon have to buy a newer phone.
This is because Apple will cut support for many online services, such as the App Store, Siri, and Maps, for devices running operating systems from iOS 11 to iOS 11.11.2, according to a DailyMail report.
So if you own a device that can't upgrade to iOS 11.3 at the very least, your phone will most likely be largely disabled from May 2023.
Although Apple is known to stop providing bug and security updates for older operating systems, this will be the first time it has effectively reduced its functionality.
Apple constantly updates its operating systems, but some users are annoyed (Getty Images)
Currently, any iPhone running iOS 11 can update to at least iOS 12.5.4, and this includes the iPhone 5S and later, so these phones will still be able to use those services. But those who have an iPhone 5 or an older phone will not have newer operating systems available to them.
It is not yet known whether access to these Apple services will be removed for devices running iOS 10 or earlier as well.
This could cause problems for companies that offer older, cheaper iPhones to employees, or to Apple users who don't want to buy new devices.
Apple's leaker, StellaFudge, posted the news on Twitter but said iCloud would continue to run iPhones running iOS 11 to iOS 11.2.6.
As of early May, access to Apple services, with the exception of iCloud, will stop working on devices running:
– iOS 11-11.2.6
– macOS 10.13-10.13.3
– watchOS 4-4.2.3
– tvOS 11-11.2.6
You’ll likely receive notification prompting you to update
— Stella – Fudge (@StellaFudge) April 5, 2023
The tweet added that some Macs, Macbooks, Apple Watches and Apple TVs may also not have access to the removed services.
The intended devices are computers running macOS 10.13 to 10.13.10, any watchOS clocks from 13 to 3.4.4, and TVs running tvOS 2 to 3.11.11.
It also includes MacOS 10.13.3 MacOS 10.13.3 MacBook (Late 2009), iMac (Late 2009), MacBook Air (Late 2010), MacBook Pro (Mid 2010), and Mac Mini (Mid 2010). and Apple TV up to the third generation, which was released in 2012.
MacBook Air, a product of Apple (Ruitz)
Although the leaks aren't always true, an article from Apple released last month supports that prediction.
The article instructs users on how to update the software on their Apple device if they receive a notification that the current version will not support Apple services, such as the App Store, Siri and Maps.
It's not yet clear why Apple is now reducing the functionality of older operating systems, but it could be a step for a major update that isn't compatible with these devices, according to 9to5Mac.
But the move is unlikely to affect many devices, as only 8% of iPhones currently use an operating system older than iOS 15.
The latest iOS 16.4 update was released last week and came with a host of new features, including the addition of 21 new emojis to the keyboard.
Apple's software updates aren't always easy, which explains why some are reluctant to start them when they are shown.
Some of those who upgraded to iOS 16.4 complained that a system glitch was quickly draining their device's battery life.
Earlier this week, iPhone users around the world were unable to access live predictions on the Weather app, which some have also linked to the new operating system.