Apple Discontinues iCloud Backups for Older iPhone Models

Apple is discontinuing iCloud backup support for devices running iOS 8 or earlier. Old iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch models will no longer be able to back up to iCloud, and existing backups will be removed.

In an email to users, Apple confirmed that iCloud backups would only be supported on devices running iOS 9 or newer, and that pre-iOS 9 backups currently stored in the cloud would be deleted.

iCloud Backup Will Require iOS 9 or Later

Despite this change, Apple assured that it would not affect apps or data on devices running iOS 8 or earlier, nor would it impact local backups created via iTunes, the Apple Devices app for Windows, or macOS.

Starting December 18, 2024, devices will need iOS 9 or a later version to back up. Apple states that this update is aimed at achieving better compatibility with minimum software requirements.

A classic icon, the iPhone 4 received updates up to iOS 7. The iPhone 4S model received the iOS 8 update, and iOS 9 was its last update. iPhone 5 and newer models have continued to receive newer iOS updates. Thus, users keeping their devices updated won’t face issues.