Apple Dropping Support for iCloud Backups on iPhones and iPads Running iOS 8 and Earlier - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Dropping Support for iCloud Backups on iPhones and iPads Running iOS 8 and Earlier

Starting next month, making a device backup over iCloud will require iOS 9 or later, Apple has informed some customers via email. New backups for iPhones and iPads running iOS 8 or earlier will no longer be supported, and Apple will delete all existing ‌iCloud‌ backups of those devices as well.

iCloud General Feature
Apps and data stored on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 8 or earlier will not be affected, and Apple says that customers can still manually back up their devices to a Mac or a Windows PC.


These ‌iCloud‌ backup changes will be made on December 18, 2024, so customers who have a device running iOS 8 or earlier should update to the latest available version of iOS if possible in order to continue to be able to back up their devices.

According to Apple, ‌iCloud‌ backups for older devices are being discontinued in order to "more closely align" with Apple's "published minimum software requirements." With iOS 9, Apple adopted CloudKit for ‌iCloud‌ backups rather than the prior system, and it seems that the company is now discontinuing the old backup system.

Popular Stories

Apple 2026 Back to School Graphic

Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer Just Went Live in Select Countries

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:48 am PDT by
Apple's annual Back to School promotion is now live in select countries in Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The offer provides college students and educational staff with a free item with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad model. The exact offer varies by country, with options including a pack of four AirTags, AirPods 4,...
iphone 17 cyber

Apple Closes Unlocked iPhone Loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon Financing

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
Carrier-financed iPhones purchased from Apple will soon be locked to the carrier, ending a workaround customers used to purchase an unlocked iPhone on a payment plan. Until the rule change, buying an iPhone from Apple and opting for financing through Verizon or T-Mobile meant you would get an iPhone not locked to either carrier's network. That's no longer the case, and now iPhones financed...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

New iPad Mini With Four Upgrades Reportedly Launching by October

Thursday July 16, 2026 7:16 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release a new iPad mini model with an OLED display by October this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple already updated the iPad Pro with an OLED display in May 2024, but the iPad mini, iPad Air, and entry-level iPad are all still equipped with LCD screens. The move to OLED technology would result in the next iPad mini offering improved image quality, thanks ...

Top Rated Comments

22 months ago
All 19 people are going to cry outrage that their 11+ year old devices can no longer backup to the 5GB of storage they never paid for
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
22 months ago

Planned obsolescence strikes again :p
you can't really say its planned obsolescence when the duration is 10 years or older lol, its pretty much just obsolete
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
podycust Avatar
22 months ago
Well if anyone is still using a 4s on iOS 8 it’s pretty much useless here in the uk as most networks have turned off 3G lol
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
22 months ago
I’m shocked they were even still backing up iOS 8 devices.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
22 months ago

Planned obsolescence strikes again :p
After ten years, I suspect it’s just “obsolescence.”
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magicschoolbus Avatar
22 months ago
Honestly, would a device still even work on iOS 9 with most apps out there? We're talking about software from 2015 would never been updated by the consumer.. that's crazy
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)