Apple has started notifying users running older software about a very compelling reason to update. iCloud backups will soon stop working—and even be deleted—on devices running iOS 8 and prior.

Devices running old software will need to update or use alternate backup method

Apple has published a new support document about the upcoming change:

Starting December 18, 2024, device backups will require iOS 9 or later. This is to align more closely with our published minimum software requirements. Until this date, you’ll be able to use the service as normal. Afterward, your backup data will be deleted unless you update to iOS 9 or later.

So if your device is running iOS 8 or older, starting in mid-December it won’t be able to create iCloud backups anymore and all existing backups will be deleted.

The solution? Update to iOS 9 or newer.

Users who can’t or don’t want to update their device have another alternative. As Apple outlines on the page, manual backups are possible via a Mac or PC.

You can connect your iPhone to a Mac running macOS Catalina or newer to back up the device via Finder.

Or, if you have a PC or an older version of macOS, you can run the back up via the Apple Devices or iTunes apps.

iOS 8 is 10 years old now, so this news maybe shouldn’t be surprising. But if you have an old iPhone or iPad that’s just kept chugging along on older software, it might be time for an upgrade.

Does this change impact you or someone you know? Let us know in the comments.

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