iPhone owners warned they could be throwing away money after major Apple change – check your device now
IPHONE owners could be wasting money on iCloud services they are no longer receiving after Apple changed its rules.
The iPhone-maker has altered the system requirements for iCloud, meaning devices must be running a certain type of iOS to access key features.
iOS is the operating system that iPhones run on.
Earlier this week, Apple said iPhones operating on iOS 8 or below would no longer be able to access iCloud backups after 18 December.
Handsets 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 that date, existing backups will be deleted, and you won’t be able to make new ones.
To use iCloud at all, according to Apple, iPhones must be running iOS 10 on an iPhone 5 or newer.
Accessing iCloud+, a service that can cost up to £54.99/$59.99 per month, also requires iPhone users to have iOS 15 or above downloaded.
iCloud+ is Apple’s premium cloud subscription.
The service includes storage options in 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 incapable of doing so because it is too old – then you will be paying for a service you cannot receive.
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 Xs
- iPhone Xs Max
- iPhone Xr
- iPhone X
- 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 operating on in Settings.
Simply open Settings, click General and tap Software Update – here, you will be able to see which iOS version you have.
The changes also impact iPads, the iPod touch and Macs.
So be sure to check that each of your devices is running the right iOS.
Apple has broken down each software version necessary for each feature, on each device, here.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen, then tap in the bar and type a currency (like €200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you’re due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you’re down to 80% capacity. If you’re below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier