ios_8_iconApple today began sending out emails to developers, reminding them that as of February 1, 2015, all apps submitted to the App Store need to be built with the iOS 8 software development kit and include 64-bit support. Developers were first informed of the upcoming rules back in October, after the release of iOS 8 and the iPhone 6/6 Plus.

The email also states that as of June 1, 2015, all app updates submitted to the App Store will need to adhere to the same requirements, giving the company a way to make sure all current apps take advantage of 64-bit support and are iOS 8 compliant. The shift to across-the-board 64-bit support will offer improved app performance on 64-bit devices.

Dear Developer,
As we announced in October, beginning February 1, 2015 new iOS apps submitted to the App Store must include 64-bit support and be built with the iOS 8 SDK. Beginning June 1, 2015 app updates will also need to follow the same requirements. To enable 64-bit in your project, we recommend using the default Xcode build setting of "Standard architectures" to build a single binary with both 32-bit and 64-bit code.

Apple first began asking developers to submit 64-bit apps following the September 2013 release of the iPhone 5s, which introduced the 64-bit A7 processor. All of Apple’s newest devices, including the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3 offer 64-bit processors, as does the iPad mini 2 and the original iPad Air.

At the current time, developers are still permitted to submit 32-bit apps along with universal binaries, but that option will expire when February rolls around.

Top Rated Comments

Eminemdrdre00 Avatar
137 months ago
They should be required to support the iPhone 6/6 Plus screen size too!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Traverse Avatar
137 months ago
You can still find apps that haven't been updated since 2010 or 2011. Apple needs to do a better job at pruning the App Store. That 1.3 million app figure is pretty pointless when 500,000 of them are crap anyway.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xenomorph Avatar
137 months ago
A lot of people seem to be overreacting.

Apple cuts off old versions of Xcode all the time. This move doesn't exclude any more devices than any other Xcode cut-offs in the past.

Requiring 64-bit binaries does not exclude 32-bit binaries. Both binaries are included. Most of an app's size is not from the binary, but from other resources such as graphics or audio. A 10.25 MB download might jump to 10.75 MB.

Devices this new requirement will help:
* iPhone 5S
* iPhone 6
* iPhone 6 Plus
* iPad Air
* iPad mini 2
* iPad Air 2
* iPad mini 3

Device this new requirement will harm:
* none


A 64-bit device running a 64-bit app may end up with more available memory for that app since it does not have to load 32-bit libraries in addition to 64-bit libraries. Understand? Compiling with 64-bit support can make an old app run better.


OS X applications already included 32/64-bit binaries. In fact, many applications had both the PowerPC/Intel binaries ("Universal" binaries). No one complained then.

Apple isn't the only company that does this. Microsoft .NET compiles apps with native 32/64-bit support as well.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Goff Avatar
137 months ago
Yes, but there are clearly a multitude of apps no longer supported that have longs since lost their usefulness. Eventually an OS update will break even the good ones. Apple needs a way of, as you put it, flushing out those apps.

Why would they do that, though? They need to be able to say that you can access eleventy million apps because their OS is the best.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
waterskier2007 Avatar
137 months ago
32-bit users automatically get a 64-bit copy of the code that is of no use to them

64-bit users automatically get a 32-bit copy of the code that is of no use to them

Apple needs to find a better solution. Force developers to submit two separate copies of apps.
From what I know, this is not really true at all.

Much of the space that apps take up is images, icons, and resources. Those are universal and the app bundle only contains one copy of those files regardless of 32/64 bit.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nicksd84 Avatar
137 months ago
Good thing there's that additional RAM for 64 bit apps to take advantage of... just kidding.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 10 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iPadOS 26 Apple Newsroom

Apple Says iPadOS 26 is Compatible With These iPad Models

Monday June 9, 2025 11:22 am PDT by
Apple today announced that iPadOS 26 will be compatible with the iPad models listed below. iPadOS 26 features a new Liquid Glass design, a menu bar, improved app windowing, and more. iPadOS 26 supports the following iPad models:iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (M2 and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple 'Sherlocked' These Apps at WWDC 2025

Wednesday June 11, 2025 7:14 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC previewed a bunch of new features coming in its updated operating systems, but certain changes will have been met with dismay by third-party developers who already offer apps with equivalent or similar features. In other words, their product has been "sherlocked" by Apple. When Apple creates an app or a feature that has functionality found in a third-party app, it is referred...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Says These 13 Vehicle Brands Will Soon Offer iPhone Car Keys

Monday June 9, 2025 2:38 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote today, Apple said that 13...
iOS 26 Screens

Here Are All the iOS 26 Features That Require iPhone 15 Pro or Newer

Thursday June 12, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced some major changes to the iPhone experience, headlined by the new Liquid Glass redesign that's available across all compatible devices. However, several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The following features are powered by on-device large language models and machine...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26 Includes These 100 New Features and Changes for Your iPhone

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:59 am PDT by
Apple has announced iOS 26, and the upcoming software update includes a long list of new features and changes for iPhones. The first iOS 26 developer beta is now available, and a public beta will follow next month. The update will be released later this year. iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer. Below, we have provided a high-level overview of 100 new features and changes ...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:22 pm PDT by
iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you're not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look. Apple has multiple Accessibility options that ...