iOS 17 mandatory: YouTube app locks out older Apple iPhones
Lack of updates, blocked app access and restrictions in the browser: Google is tightening the reins on the YouTube app for Apple users. If you want to continue using the software to its full extent, you will need an update to iOS 17.
YouTube now requires Apple iOS 17
Google has raised the minimum requirements for the YouTube app on iOS. With the current versions, support for iOS 16 officially ends. If you want to download the app from the App Store, you need at least iOS 17. This affects users of older devices that do not support the newer system. This affects the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone These devices will no longer receive further updates, bug fixes or security improvements.
Impact on users
As iPhone ticker reported, the app does not immediately disappear from the affected devices. Versions that have already been installed will initially continue to work. However, experience has shown that Google blocks older app versions on the server side after a certain period of time. After that, access to video content is no longer possible. If the native app is no longer available, access remains via the mobile browser. Videos can still be played in Safari via m.youtube.com. However, this solution comes with limitations. Functions such as offline downloads or picture-in-picture playback are not available to the same extent on the mobile website.
Background to the change
It is common in the software industry for developers to no longer support older operating systems after a while. The affected models iPhone 8 and iPhone X came onto the market in 2017. Back then, Apple introduced Face ID facial recognition with the iPhone X and did without the classic home button. After almost nine years, the hardware has reached its limits. Google regularly increases system requirements, usually when an operating system is two to three years behind the current version. This reduces development effort because the code no longer needs to be optimized for outdated interfaces.
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