You’ve got that old iPhone 6S or maybe an iPad Air 2 sitting in a junk drawer. It feels like a crime to toss it. The screen is perfect, the battery still holds a decent charge, but the App Store is basically a wall of "This app requires iOS 16 or later" messages. It’s frustrating. It feels like Apple is just nudging you—okay, shoving you—toward a $1,000 upgrade.
But honestly? You don't have to give in.
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There is a whole underground world of legacy tech enthusiasts keeping these "bricks" alive. Whether you want a dedicated kitchen tablet, a distraction-free writing tool, or a retro gaming machine, getting apps for old iOS is totally doable in 2026. It just takes a little bit of "technological finesse" and a couple of loopholes Apple hasn't quite closed yet.
The Purchased Tab Loophole
This is the first thing you should try. Seriously. If you’ve ever downloaded an app in the past, Apple’s servers often still hold the legacy versions.
Here is the trick: don’t search for the app in the main Store tab. It will just show you the newest version and tell you that you're out of luck. Instead, tap your profile icon and head to Purchased. Find the app there. When you hit that little cloud icon, a magical pop-up often appears: "Download an older version of this app? The current version requires iOS 15, but you can download the last compatible version."
It feels like winning the lottery. You get a slightly slower, maybe less shiny version of Instagram or Netflix, but it works.
What if you never "bought" the app before? You're kinda stuck, right? Not exactly. If you have a newer iPhone, download the app on that device first using the same Apple ID. Once it’s in your "library," go back to the old device. It should now show up in that Purchased list, ready for you to grab the legacy version.
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When the App Store Says No
Sometimes, even the Purchased trick fails. Maybe the developer explicitly deleted the old server files. This is where things get a bit more "hobbyist."
Using IPATool for Precision
If you’re comfortable with a command line, IPATool is a lifencer. It’s a tool that lets you grab specific IPA files (the iOS version of an .exe) directly from Apple’s servers. In 2026, it’s still the gold standard for people trying to archive specific app versions before they vanish. You can actually specify a "Version ID" to force-download a build from 2019 that still runs on iOS 12.
The iTunes 12.6.3 Ghost
There was a very specific version of iTunes (12.6.3) that Apple released for businesses because it still had an App Store built-in. Modern Music apps on Mac don't have this. If you can find a safe mirror of this old iTunes version, you can "purchase" apps on your PC or Mac, which then triggers the cloud icon on your old device. It’s a classic workaround that refuses to die.
Apps That Still Actually Work Well
Not all apps are worth the effort. Heavy apps like Discord or Facebook often crash on old hardware because they try to load too much data into tiny amounts of RAM.
However, some categories are perfect for old iOS devices:
- Streaming: Netflix and Prime Video are surprisingly good at keeping old versions alive. An iPad Mini 2 makes a fantastic dedicated Netflix machine for a kid or a car headrest.
- Reading: The Kindle app is lightweight. If you have an old iPad with a Retina display, it’s arguably a better reading experience than a basic E-ink Kindle because of the page-turn speed.
- Retro Gaming: This is the big one. Old iOS versions can run classic games that were actually designed for those processors. Titles like Plants vs. Zombies or the original Angry Birds (if you can find the IPAs) run like a dream.
- Note Taking: Apps like Drafts or even the built-in Notes app are great. If you want a distraction-free writing station, an old iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard is a productivity hack. No TikTok notifications because, well, TikTok won't run.
The Jailbreak Factor
If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, jailbreaking is the final frontier. For devices with the A7 through A11 chips (iPhone 5S through iPhone X), there is a permanent exploit called checkm8. Tools like palera1n or the older Checkra1n allow you to bypass Apple's restrictions entirely.
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Once you’re jailbroken, you can install a tweak called LowerInstall. This basically "tricks" the App Store into thinking your iPhone 6 is actually an iPhone 15. It won't make the hardware faster, but it will let you at least attempt to download apps that are usually blocked.
Realities and Limitations
Let’s be real for a second. Using apps for old iOS isn't all sunshine. You’re going to hit "Certificate Errors" because the security protocols of 2026 are way more advanced than what iOS 10 can handle. Browsing the web on Safari will be a nightmare; half the sites won't load because they use modern Javascript frameworks that the old browser engine doesn't understand.
Also, security. Using an old device as your primary phone is a bad idea. These versions of iOS haven't had a security patch in years. Don't do your banking on an iPhone 5. Use it for music, use it for games, use it as a digital photo frame—just don't use it for your sensitive data.
Actionable Next Steps to Revive Your Device
- Check your iOS version: Go to Settings > General > About. If you’re on iOS 12.5.7, you’re in a "sweet spot" where many apps still have legacy versions available.
- The "Bridge" Method: Find a friend with a new iPhone. Log into your Apple ID on their phone, download the apps you want (YouTube, Spotify, etc.), then log out.
- App Archive Sites: Look for reputable IPA archives like MTMDev or the Legacy iOS Archive. These communities host legal, free-to-use apps that were abandoned by developers but still work on older firmware.
- Simplify: Turn off background app refresh and transparency effects in Accessibility settings. It’ll make that old processor feel 20% faster instantly.
Your old hardware is only "obsolete" if you let the software dictates its value. With a bit of patience, that old screen can still be a window to a lot of useful tools.