I recently learned that all IPhone 5 users will be required to update to iOS 10.3.4. if they still want to access “App Store, iCloud, email and web browsing”.
I’m wondering, does the same thing apply to iPhone 4S? And does that also apply if you’re on a Wi-fi? The report also said: “The firm also confirmed the iPhone 4S and other older versions of the iPad also need the latest software to ensure GPS services will continue to work.” But it didn’t mention email, web browsing etc.
Also, will the change only affect the email app, or the gmail site in general?
Thank you in advance. I haven’t received any notifications yet.
For the 4S, you will want to be on iOS 9.3.6 which is the last update that will be available for your phone. iOS 10 and later will never be available for the 4S. If you are on that version, I don’t believe that anyone is expecting any problems.
If you are not on that version already, you should absolutely update iOS to patch things and improve security.
Thanks. I’m not on iOS 9.3.6 now, but is it necessary to update to it, to be able to keep browsing the web and access email, or does that issue only affect iPhone5? One of the articles said this: “The GPS issue also affects iPhone 4S, iPad 2, third-generation iPad (iPad with Retina Display), and fourth gen iPad, but those non-updated devices will simply stop working with GPS-related apps and services at the deadline. iPhone 5 users will suffer more significant issues.”
Does that mean I would still be able to go online on iPhone4s, even without updating to iOS 9.3.6., and will only lose Google maps etc.? Thank you in advance.
I haven’t heard specifically what the GPS issue is, but a failure in GPS could have impacts on browsing and other apps.
You should be in the habit of updating because you really aren’t going to lose anything by updating, but you could lose by not updating. And look at it this way: this is literally the last iOS update you will ever have to do for this phone.
This is enlightening. I was under the impression that old phones like the “5” and especially “4” would cease to function entirely. I didn’t realize that simply not updating the OS was an option to maintain functionality.
I know, but is it true that I will still be able to go online etc. after November 3rd on my iPhone 4S, even without the update, and only lose GPS functions such as Google maps? That is the only thing I’m wondering. I’ve been trying to update, but it says my phone doesn’t have enough storage room/memory for a different iOS.
That just means you have to dump some music or pix, movies or books, or whatever to a Mac. Decrease the number of songs in your music library, and the update will work. You might have room to put them back after you do the update.
Note that some older Verizon phones will stop working at the end of next year because of Verizon’s planned network upgrades. If I’m reading that correctly, anything older than an iPhone 6 will be affected. But this is independent of the software upgrade issue.
Near the end, it says: “Without the update, the iPhone 5 will essentially become useless, with email and many apps becoming inaccessible. The impact won’t be quite as bad on the other Apple products, with only GPS capabilities being affected.”
Funny enough, I discovered this weekend that the old iPhone I connect to my home audio system to play Pandora and Spotify is indeed an iPhone 5. I did not update it because I totally forgot that it was not a 6 or whatever, and no apps would work on it.
So I had to connect it to my computer and have iTunes do the iOS update. Now it works fine.