iCloud backups will be deleted and discontinued for iPhones running iOS 8 and older [Video]

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.

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 …