As of April 30, All Apps Submitted to App Store Must Use iOS 13 SDK or Later - MacRumors
Skip to Content

As of April 30, All Apps Submitted to App Store Must Use iOS 13 SDK or Later

by

Apple today informed developers that starting on April 30, 2020, all iPhone and iPad apps submitted to the App Store must be built with iOS and iPadOS 13 SDK or later.

iosipados
Apple previously told developers that iOS and iPadOS 13 SDKs would be required as of April, but did not give a specific date.

iOS 13 is now running on 77% of all iOS devices introduced in the last four years, worldwide. Deliver great user experiences by seamlessly integrating with Dark Mode, Sign in with Apple, and the latest advances in ARKit 3, Core ML 3, and Siri. Starting April 30, 2020, all iPhone apps submitted to the App Store must be built with the iOS 13 SDK or later.

Take advantage of Xcode features such as storyboards (including launch storyboards), Auto Layout, and SwiftUI, to ensure your app's interface elements and layouts automatically fit the display of all iPhone models, regardless of size or aspect ratio. Starting April 30, 2020, all apps submitted to the App Store must use an Xcode storyboard to provide the app's launch screen and all iPhone apps must support all iPhone screens.

Apple also says that as of April 30, all apps must use an Xcode storyboard to provide the launch screen. All iPhone apps must support all iPhone screens, and all ‌iPad‌ apps must support all ‌iPad‌ screens.

Top Rated Comments

86 months ago

What about the devices not capable of running iOS 13? Can apps that were developed with the iOS 13 SDK still be deployed on iOS 11/12?
Yes. SDK ≠ deployment version. You can technically still deploy apps for iOS 8 with the iOS 13 SDK, maybe even lower. The only problems are that new iOS 13-only APIs and bug fixes in existing APIs are not available on older OS versions.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
86 months ago
About time. No excuses for not supporting every device, no matter the size and scale of the developer’s organization.

Want to make money? Keep up with the times. No rewards for laziness.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
85 months ago

iOS/iPadOS is the other battery throttling to force customers to buy new devices. There's no reason backwards compatibility can't be better like on Android where something complex like Playstation emulator can still run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread from 2010.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epsxe.ePSXe
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emulator.fpse

And, while they're at it allow emulators on app store.
Well, use an Android phone then.

Meanwhile the rest of us will use an app store where is rare to read of Apple pulling hundreds of apps with millions of installs due to some form of malware or another...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
85 months ago

So this will be planned obsolete ? I mean if you have an iphone with ios12 you will be forced to upgrade, if you can, to ios13 (the current one) for you to be able use any apps?!
Who is ‘forcing’ you to do anything?
Ive never seen the Apple Genius tech put a gun to your head demanding you upgrade! The older model phones will still run the last version available of an ap for that OS. It will keep running with all the same features and capabilities it came with from the factory. YOU can chose when or if you want to ‘upgrade’.

Put it this way - do you complain that a 10 year old car does not have the same features as one that just rolled off the line? The older car will still run perfectly fine as is and will not lose any capability it came with, it just won’t have the latest features availble on the new model.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zaft Avatar
85 months ago

I mean, I'm a nerd but I don't care about getting emulators on my phone because I see my phone as a communications device and little more. Not even all nerds feel the need for emulators on their phones.
I’m a nerd myself, I know not all do, but generally average joes don’t care about that stuff.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RogerWilco6502 Avatar
85 months ago

That’s why there is choice, Android for more freedom but can be a bit messy or IOS which is more restrictive but more polished and balanced.

I don’t think Apple cares about emulators that 0.0001% of people care about. That’s nerd stuff.
I mean, I'm a nerd but I don't care about getting emulators on my phone because I see my phone as a communications device and little more. Not even all nerds feel the need for emulators on their phones.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

intel macs no more updates

Mac App Store Apps Can Now Drop Support for Intel Macs

Tuesday September 1, 2026 4:50 pm PDT by
Apple today informed developers that universal Mac App Store apps that require macOS 13 or later can remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. We're reaching out to let you know that universal macOS apps on the Mac App Store that require macOS 13 or later can now remove support for Intel-based Mac computers. By removing support for Intel-based Mac computers, you can simplify your...
MapQuest Logo 2026

MapQuest Tops App Store Charts After Refusing 'Lake America' Change

Monday August 31, 2026 7:49 am PDT by
MapQuest is in the spotlight this week after refusing to change "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America" on its map following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week. As of Monday morning, the MapQuest app is the top free iPhone app on Apple's App Store charts in Canada and fourth on the equivalent U.S. chart. For our younger readers, MapQuest was once a popular service...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

Apple Plans to Squeeze More Revenue From the App Store, Report Says

Monday September 7, 2026 3:19 am PDT by
Apple is looking at further ways to monetize the App Store and increase the company's recurring revenue from the platform, according to a new report. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that newly appointed Apple CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue are behind the effort to raise margins from the App Store, which already generates Apple an estimated ...
Latest Stories
M6 Pro Chip Result on Geekbench is Likely Fake
M6 Pro Chip Result on Geekbench is Likely Fake
15 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Sees First Discount After Launch, Now $779.99 on Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Sees First Discount After Launch, Now $779.99 on Amazon
18 hours ago
Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Out Now, Siri AI Waitlist, and More
Top Stories: iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Out Now, Siri AI Waitlist, and More
20 hours ago
Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo Crease
Apple Exec Says 'Hold Us Accountable' on iPhone Duo Crease
1 day ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before Shipping
iPhone 18 Pro Max Requires 'Prepare to Ship' Battery Drain Before Shipping
1 day ago
Hands-On With the Apple Watch Series 12
Hands-On With the Apple Watch Series 12
2 days ago
M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance
M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Has Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem
iPhone 18 Pro Max in U.S. Has Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem
2 days ago
Apple Releases Xcode 27.1 Beta With iPhone Duo Support
Apple Releases Xcode 27.1 Beta With iPhone Duo Support
2 days ago
Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide
Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide
2 days ago
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone Duo From iMazing
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone Duo From iMazing
2 days ago
'Shop Different': Apple Retail Pioneer Ron Johnson Shares the Inside Story
'Shop Different': Apple Retail Pioneer Ron Johnson Shares the Inside Story
2 days ago
Apple Teams Up With ROSÉ for iPhone 18 Pro Camera Ad
Apple Teams Up With ROSÉ for iPhone 18 Pro Camera Ad
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It?
The MacRumors Show: Is the iPhone Duo Actually Worth It?
2 days ago
Apple Designers Explain the Thinking Behind iPhone Duo
Apple Designers Explain the Thinking Behind iPhone Duo
2 days ago
Are iPhone 17 Pro Cases Compatible With iPhone 18 Pro? Here's What Apple Says
Are iPhone 17 Pro Cases Compatible With iPhone 18 Pro? Here's What Apple Says
2 days ago
Apple Supplier Subsidiary Considering U.S. Flash Memory Factory
Apple Supplier Subsidiary Considering U.S. Flash Memory Factory
2 days ago
Apple Launch Day Deals on iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and More
Apple Launch Day Deals on iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and More
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Teardown Reveals How Apple Shrunk the Dynamic Island
iPhone 18 Pro Teardown Reveals How Apple Shrunk the Dynamic Island
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Demand Stronger Than Expected
iPhone 18 Pro Demand Stronger Than Expected
2 days ago
Fan Site Lets You 'Design the Next iPhone'
Fan Site Lets You 'Design the Next iPhone'
2 days ago
Apple Stores Have a New 'Hello' Easter Egg, Here's Why
Apple Stores Have a New 'Hello' Easter Egg, Here's Why
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro: The New Features You Should Try First
iPhone 18 Pro: The New Features You Should Try First
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro: Using the New Variable Aperture Lens
iPhone 18 Pro: Using the New Variable Aperture Lens
2 days ago
Forgot to Pre-Order iPhone 18 Pro? Apple Store Pickup Available Today at Most Locations
Forgot to Pre-Order iPhone 18 Pro? Apple Store Pickup Available Today at Most Locations
2 days ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Teases iPhone 18 Pro Launch Day
Apple CEO John Ternus Teases iPhone 18 Pro Launch Day
2 days ago
First iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 Orders Arriving to Customers
First iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 Orders Arriving to Customers
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Launching Tomorrow With These 10 New Features
iPhone 18 Pro Launching Tomorrow With These 10 New Features
3 days ago
How to Get the New 3-Month Trial of Apple One Premier ($120 Value)
How to Get the New 3-Month Trial of Apple One Premier ($120 Value)
3 days ago
New iPhone 18 Pro Models Will Have Day One Update
New iPhone 18 Pro Models Will Have Day One Update
3 days ago