Apple's first iOS 11 beta signals beginning of end for tens of thousands of 32-bit apps

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone
When iOS 11 launches later this year, it won't support legacy 32-bit apps, giving users and developers a few months to prepare for the upcoming change, estimated to affect up to 187,000 applications.




Starting with iOS 11 beta 1, Apple now alerts users that outdated 32-bit apps must be updated if they are to work with the new operating system.

It has been estimated that over 187,000 apps could become obsolete with a switch to 64-bit-only support. In iOS 10, Apple began warning users that legacy 32-bit apps would not work with "future versions of iOS," and it turns out that future version is likely to be iOS 11.

Starting with iOS 10.3, Apple began offering users a way to easily check for installed 32-bit apps. Open Settings, tap on General, then About, and select Applications to view a list of 32-bit apps currently installed. This also works in iOS 11 beta 1.




In the first beta, users are given a "Learn More" prompt when locked out of a 32-bit app, but at the moment the option does not work. Pressing the "OK" button returns users to the home screen.

In addition, 32-bit apps discovered in the App Store come with a small banner at the top declaring: "This app is no longer supported on iOS 11."

The official list of devices supported by iOS 11 axes the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and fourth-generation iPad. Each of those use a variant of the A6 system-on-a-chip, which was the last Apple processor built on a 32-bit architecture.

iOS 11 will be available this fall for the iPhone 5s and newer, iPad mini 2 and newer, iPad Air and newer, and the sixth-generation iPod touch.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    BuffyzDeadBuffyzDead Posts: 356member
    Out with the Old,
    In with the New !
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 7
    daveinpublicdaveinpublic Posts: 633member
    Good thing Apple moved to 64 bit when they did. Everyone said they jumped the gun, there's no use for 64 bit because there's not enough RAM, etc. Which some back away from cause it's simply not true. Now fast forward, and all the ground work that Apple has been laying is paying off. Look at something like Apple Pay, took a while to get traction, now they have the ability to do person 2 person payments. From home automation to car play, these technologies require time to mature, and Apple took the dive early in the game. Now, it's paying off. I think Apple did Car Play because they want to be able to start the engine from your phone. Apple is not only the biggest most profitable company in the world, they're also the most well positioned.
    watto_cobrajbdragonStrangeDays
  • Reply 3 of 7
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    Well, it's not as if the place couldn't do with a bit of a clear out. 
    welshdog
  • Reply 4 of 7
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    A whole lot of abandonware apps are going to be disappearing soon. In fact, one of my favorite music production tools in iOS is an app that was essentially abandoned by the original devs, then purchased by an app collecting company, where it has remained untouched and unimproved for years. I have one iPad Air I won't update to iOS 11, solely to maintain availability of this fantastic, yet dead app.
    edited June 2017
  • Reply 5 of 7
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,107member
    About half the 3rd party apps I use are 32 bit.   I spent around $100 for those.  Hope they update soon, otherwise I'll be on iOS 10 for quite a while.
  • Reply 6 of 7
    normangnormang Posts: 118member
    Better Start contacting those developers, see if they even respond to say they'll upgrade your apps. There maybe even better alternatives that you never looked for because you like your soon to be potentially dead 32 bit app.
  • Reply 7 of 7
    guiguihipguiguihip Posts: 29member

    Wonder how many people will want to stick to iOS 10 to keep on using 32 bit apps... And how that will affect iOS 11 user installation... We'll have to keep an eye on the speed at which iOS 10 got installed over the last 9 months VS how fast iOS 11 will be installed by users.

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