IPHONE owners could be wasting money on iCloud services they no longer receive after Apple changed its rules.
The iPhone manufacturer has changed the system requirements for iCloud, which means devices must be running a specific type of iOS to access key features.
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iOS is the operating system that iPhones run on.
Earlier this week, Apple said iPhones running iOS 8 or lower will no longer be able to access iCloud backups after December 18.
Phones using any software version below iOS 8 will be able to back up their iPhones to iCloud, and access their saved data, until that deadline.
After this date, existing backups will be deleted, and you will not be able to create new ones.
To use iCloud at all, according to Apple, iPhones with iOS 10 must be running iPhone 5 or later.
Accessing iCloud+, a service that can cost up to £54.99/$59.99 per month, also requires iPhone users to download iOS 15 or higher.
iCloud+ is Apple's premium cloud subscription.
The service includes storage options of various sizes, as well as features like iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain, and HomeKit Secure Video support.
If your iPhone isn't running iOS 15 — or is unable to do so because it's too old — you'll be paying for a service you can't get.
iOS 15 is compatible with these devices:
Fortunately, there are dozens of devices compatible with iOS 15. Here's the full list.
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone
- iPhone
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s plus
- iPhone SE (1st generation)
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPod Touch (7th generation)
You can check which iOS your iPhone is running in Settings.
Simply open SettingsClick general And click Software update – Here, you will be able to see which version of iOS you have.
The changes also affect iPad, iPod touch, and Mac devices.
So make sure to check that each of your devices is running the correct iOS system.
Apple has broken down every software version necessary for each feature, on each device, here.
iPhone hacks you should try today
Here are some of the best…
- Writing indicator – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, allowing you to navigate between words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply tap on the overlapping squares in the bottom right corner, and tap Close All Tabs
- Delete a lot of photos quickly – Press and hold the photo, then drag your finger diagonally across the photos to select many photos at once, then tap Delete
- Fast currency conversion – Swipe down from the top of your home screen, tap the bar and type a currency (eg €200) and it will automatically be converted to your local currency
- Check if you're due for a battery upgrade The batteries inside smartphones deteriorate over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check the maximum capacity reading. In general, a battery is considered worn out when its capacity drops to 80%. If you're below, you can purchase a battery replacement from Apple
- Transfer applications faster – Hold down an app until it starts wiggling, then (while holding down) tap other apps, stacking them so you can move them around easier
