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

KALLT Avatar
70 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)
mariusignorello Avatar
70 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)
MadDawg2020 Avatar
70 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)
TiggrToo Avatar
70 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)
Zaft Avatar
70 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)
Zaft Avatar
70 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?!
You can’t support old phones forever. iPhone 6 was released over 5 years ago.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 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. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
Prime Day 25 Feature Warm Triad

The Best Prime Day Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Monday July 7, 2025 10:55 am PDT by
Amazon is back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront. With the event now underway, we're tracking numerous all-time low prices on Apple gear right now. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a...