If you own an older iPhone that is unable to run iOS 16, don’t worry.
You can still download older versions of apps that are compatible with your device.
Here’s a simple guide on how to do so:
- Turn on your iPhone and open the App Store.
- Tap on the profile icon in the top right corner of the screen (it should have your profile picture or initials on a gray background).
- Tap on the “Purchased” button.
- Tap on “My Purchases” to see a list of all the apps that you have previously downloaded and installed using your Apple ID. Note: Older iPhones may take some time to load the full list of your apps, so be patient.
- Scroll or search for the app you want. Note: You won’t be able to find apps that have been removed from the App Store by the developer or by Apple.
- If you have previously downloaded the app but it is not currently installed on your device, it will have an iCloud icon next to it. Tap on this iCloud icon to install the app on your device.
- If the latest version of the app is not compatible with your old iPhone, you will see a message saying “Download an older version of this app?” Tap “Download”.
Keep in mind that the version of the app you download may be outdated and some functions may be limited. You also won’t have the option to choose which version of the app you want to download – you will be limited to the latest version that is compatible with your operating system.
If you want to download a new app that is not compatible with your old iPhone, you can still do so by purchasing and downloading the app on a device with a newer operating system. Then, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store on your older iPhone.
- Tap on the profile icon in the top right corner of the screen (it should have your profile picture or initials on a gray background).
- Tap on the “Purchased” button.
- Tap on “My Purchases” to see a list of all the apps that you have previously downloaded and installed using your Apple ID.
The newly downloaded app should be on this list. Download a compatible version of the app on your older iPhone.
If there was never a version of the app that was compatible with your older iPhone, there is no way to download it. However, you can still use the app on your newer device.
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