Urgent: Update old iOS device by Nov. 3.. or else, Apple warns

Update your old iPhone today. Thanks to Julia Buchner/Flickr

If you are using an iPhone or cellular-equipped iPad made in 2012 or earlier you must upgrade it by November 3,  or it may stop working completely, Apple has warned.

Syncing, email, updates may stop working

The update is required because of the way the GPS system is built. It is due to a GPS time rollover issue.

Non-Apple devices were required to install updates earlier on this year, but Apple users must now update their devices in order that GPS continues to work.

The problem here is that GPS is an important component of how mobile devices function, and devices that do not upgrade iOS may find GPS fails and that date and time information is flawed.

The latter could cause iCloud to cease to sync, break email, and may also prevent devices being updated – which is why Apple is warning users to update by November 3.

If you are using a Wi-Fi only device, you are not affected.

Apple’s support pages state:

“It’s always a good idea to keep the operating system on your iPhone or iPad updated. If you have one of the devices listed below, it’s especially important to update your device’s software before November 3 to make sure that its GPS, date, and time continue to work properly.

“If you don’t update to the newest version of iOS available for your device before November 3, some models might not be able to maintain an accurate GPS position. And functions that rely on the correct date and time—such as syncing with iCloud and fetching email—might not work.

“In addition, devices that aren’t updated before November 3, 2019 might not be able to receive over-the-air software updates. As a result, the only way to update the device will be to restore in iTunes or Finder via tethered connection.”

The following devices are affected:

• iPhone 5
• iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular
• iPhone 4s
• iPad mini (1st generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular
• iPad 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (CDMA models only)
• iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular.

Take my advice and upgrade today.

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