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Download incompatible apps on an older iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

By 48 comments Last updated September 26, 2019

We’ve all come across incompatible apps. This normally happens when your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch isn’t running the latest operating software, so apps aren’t designed for it anymore. Without updating your device — which isn’t always an option — it looks as though you can’t download any new apps. 

Sometimes, it seems as though you can’t even re-download the apps you used to have on your device! But that isn’t actually the case. 

Whether you inherited a hand-me-down device or if you’ve owned your vintage iPad since it first came out, we’ve got you sorted. Follow the steps in this article to find compatible versions of apps on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. No matter how old it is.

Related:

1. Re-download compatible apps from the Purchased page

You might be able to download an older version of the app you want if you had it on your device once before. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if you had it on a different device, as long as you used the same Apple ID account to download it. 

Download older version of this app pop-up alert
You can often download older, compatible versions of an app from the Purchased page.

The way to do this is by finding the app in the Purchased page on your App Store account. When you re-download an app from here, developers often give you the option to download an older, compatible version of it.

Open the App Store app and tap on the Account icon to view your Account. Tap the Purchased button and use the search bar to find the app you want. Then tap the cloud icon to re-download it.

Try downloading the incompatible app from a newer device first

If you can’t find the app you want to download in your Purchased page, it’s possible you never downloaded it from this Apple ID account before. Since the app is too new to work on your current device, try downloading it from a newer device instead.

If you have a different iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running newer software, use that to download the app you want. If you do so using the same Apple ID account, it should appear in the purchased page on your older device as well.

Netflix app downloading from App Store on iPhone X
If you have a new iPhone, download the app on that to make it available on your older devices.

Sign into a friend or family member’s account

If you don’t have access to a newer device, you can still get the app on your older one using someone else’s Apple ID account. To do this, find someone you know who has the app, and have them sign in on your device to re-download it from their Purchased page.

If they sign into the App Store on your device you can see all the apps they ever downloaded in the Purchased page. You should be able to download an older, compatible version of the app from there.

Sign out of App Store in iPad or iPhone Settings
Sign out of the App Store from the Settings on your device, allowing you to sign in to another account.

To change App Store accounts, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store. Tap your Apple ID and select Sign Out. Now your friend or family member can sign in to the App Store. Make sure you repeat this to sign back into your own account after you download the app.

When your friend or family member signs out of the App Store, you can keep the app on your device. The only downside is you can’t re-download it if it ever gets deleted without having them sign in again.

2. Use an older version of iTunes to download the app

This step is essentially the same as what we already suggested, except you use iTunes to download the app and get it into your purchase history that way instead. This is only possible with older versions of iTunes, which had a built-in App Store. 

iTunes logo
You probably need to download an older version of iTunes to get the App Store on it.

To download apps using a computer, you need to be running iTunes 12.6.5 or earlier; Apple removed the App Store from later versions. You can download older versions of iTunes from this page on Apple’s website.

You should be able to run an older version of iTunes alongside what’s already installed on your computer. But if you can’t, follow this link to uninstall iTunes instead.

How do I download incompatible apps using iTunes 12.6.5?

With iTunes 12.6.5 or earlier installed on your computer, you can search for apps from the built-in App Store. When you download them, they appear in the App Store Purchased page on your older device as well.

Open iTunes and select Apps from the drop-down menu. Then click the App Store button and search for the app you want to download. Click to download the app, which may prompt you to enter your Apple ID password.

App Store in iTunes on a Mac
The App Store in iTunes has all the same apps that you find on other devices.

Once the app downloads to iTunes, find it in the Purchased page on your older device. If you can’t find it, make sure you’re using the same Apple ID account on your device and on your computer. You should be able to download a compatible version of the app for your iPhone or iPad afterward.

3. Look for alternative compatible apps on the App Store

The simplest solution might be to find a different app to use. There are often lots of different apps for the same purpose. Hopefully, one of the alternative apps is still compatible with the version of iOS on your iPhone or iPad. 

You Might Also Like section in App Store
Recommended apps are a quick way to find working alternatives.

You can find similar app suggestions in the App Store itself. Load the page for the app you first wanted and scroll down to the bottom. Apple recommends similar apps under the ‘You Might Also Like’ section.

Alternatively, use different search terms to bring up similar apps or look at online forums and message boards to get suggestions. 

Since we don’t know the exact app you want to use, we can’t suggest anything here. But you can let us know what you want in the comments and we’ll be sure to tell you any compatible alternatives we know of.

4. Contact the app developer for more support

In a last-ditch effort, you might consider reaching out to the developers who created the app you’re trying to download. They may be able to offer more specific help. They might even release a compatible version of the app for you and other users like you to use.

You can find a link to the developer’s website on the App Store. Find the page for the app you want to download and scroll down. Tap ‘Developer Website’ at the bottom of the ‘Information’ section.

Most developers have contact information or a contact form you can use on their website. Let them know what device you’re using and what software is on it. You might want to charm them by explaining what you like about their app as well.

Developer Website button in App Store linking to Netflix website
Once you find the developer’s website, look around for a contact address or feedback form to fill out.

This isn’t the only article we’ve written about downloading incompatible apps on your old iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. In fact, if you’re trying to download Netflix on an older device, we’ve already got another article all about it.

Sound off in the comments with the incompatible apps you’re trying to download. Let us know what devices you use and what software you’ve got. We can all help each other find a working solution.

Or maybe we’ll need to team up and start developing our own compatible apps!

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Show 48 Comments

  1. Patrice Smith says

    I’m unable to figure out how to download older versions of the Discover app, State Employees app, but older versions on my ipad air 1st generation goes up to 12.5.1 IOS? The information above did not work

    Reply

  2. kim says

    I was trying to download the Victron app to my old mini iPad
    tells me Victonconnect not compatible with this ipad

    Reply

  3. nary says

    hi there,

    hope you could help as my exiting 3rd party apps was working before on my iphon6 plus but suddenly the 3rd party apps stop working as its required update but i can not update due to its required the ios 13.5 plus. and my iphone 6 plus can only update to ios 12.5.7.

    please help how can i get my old 3rd party apps working again without uninstall the apps as i donot want to lose exiting data on its.

    thanks nary

    Reply

  7. Trev says

    My I Pod says it is version 12.5.6, I Tunes says it is using version 12.12.4, but an app I have been using for my car is asking for version 13 or later, but my I Pod says it is up to date at 12.12.4 so how do I get version 13?

    Reply

  10. john doe says

    if you don’t own an apple laptop than you are SOL, apple has to be hands down the worse for supporting old devices unlike Google who rather see them used than landfill like apple does

    Reply

  11. That perskn with ipod says

    Thank you so much i have finally downloaded all tbe apps ive needed this was a big help

    Reply

  15. Nikki Bhana says

    I got given an iPad, version 9.3.5. I can’t download anything from the app store. Keeps saying need version 10, which I can’t get.
    Heck, I have an android that is factory made 2000, and it still runs like I bought it today.

    Please is there anyway I can get apps on this device?

    Reply

    • #MiggittyMatt210 says

      Same here. With much research I believe THATI IF WE CAN uninstall the software version from 9.3.5 to at least 9.3.4 FIRST THEN the JAILBREAK methods will work or jailbreak it with a computer. Then we need to download Phoenix and then Cydia to jailbreak and were good. If you know how to uninstall software upgrade or found another way please let me know. Thank you and good luck.

      Reply

  18. Dinesh agarwal says

    I m not able to download any of the apps on my iPad A1340 . Can you please guide me to the right update so I can download current version of apps or the previous version of apps.

    Reply

  22. Ann says

    I reset to factory settings and erased everything in my iPad 3 (2012). I cannot install any app. I followed all the instructions above and installed an older version of iTunes but an error below comes up:

    “The file “iTunes Library.itl” cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes.”

    Is there another option? Please advise.

    Thank you!

    Reply

  24. Gena Golleher says

    I shattered my screen on my mini ipad 4 so I just bought a renewed ipad 2,5 model MD530LL/A
    it won’t update past 9,3.5 software.
    I want to download my kindle apps and Nook apps to read my books
    It says incompatiable.
    Do I just need to return this ipad and get the $115 back or is it possible to download my kindle books on this ipad.
    Help please!!

    Reply

  26. Nabil Khalil says

    For some reason my dragon ball legneds isn’t compatible with my iPad plz make it incompatible Bec that is my fav game plz plz

    Reply

  27. Jen Gittins says

    Thank you so much loaded the game onto my i phone, then went into purchases on my i pad, and it’s working fine.

    Reply

  32. Elsa says

    Hi,I want to ask some questions for my iPad mini 1 the old version of ios,is it still possible to change the software or re-store to make it a new version of iOS,and to be able to download any apps even latest versions. Thank you in advance

    Reply

  33. prashant pulliwar says

    need help.
    I am unable to download the “Microsoft Teams” app to my IPAD.
    Error- is not compatible with this iPad.

    and i do not remember anyone in the family having apple products.
    how to install now? it is required for my daughter to attend her online school.
    please help.
    thanks,
    Prashant Pulliwar
    Pune, India

    Reply

  34. prashant pulliwar says

    need help.
    I am unable to download the “Microsoft Teams” app to my IPAD.
    Error- is not compatible with this iPad.

    and i do not remember anyone in the family having apple products.
    how to install now? it is required for my daughter to attend her online school.
    please help.
    thanks,
    Prashant Pulliwar

    Reply

  35. Faria says

    Thanks a lot, extremely useful, just finished downloading the apps I need.
    Keep up the good work.

    Reply

  36. Manish says

    I want to upgrade google chrome browser (VERSION:- 63.0.3239.73) on my Ipad mini:- version 9.3.5 (13G36)/ model:- MD529B/A

    Reply

    • Elizabeth Jones says

      Hi Manish,

      To update your Chrome app on your iPad, you can only do this via the App Store. Open the App Store app and search for Chrome or go to your Updates section in the App Store app.

      See if there is an update available for your iPad.

      If no update shows up, then your iPad is no longer compatible with the current Chrome release. Moving forward, you will not be able to update Chrome anymore–it’s not supported for your Model.

      You may see information about updating to an older, compatible version that still works with your iPad model. If so, tap on that and update Chrome to the latest version that works with your iPad.

      There is no workaround to get a version of Chrome that your iPad cannot support.

      Reply

  38. Aeron Simon Aguil says

    Hi sir goodmorning can you help me with my iphone, version 10.3.4. The app instagram and lightroom cc is incompatible to my iphone sir, how can i download it again sir?

    Reply

    • Elizabeth Jones says

      Hi Aeron,

      Since your iPhone uses an older, legacy iOS version instead of the current version, you need to search through your App Store purchase history to find a compatible version (if available.)

      Not all apps offer older app versions and you must have purchased the app previously in the version you need in order for this to work.

      To check your App Store purchases, open the App Store app. At the bottom, chose the Purchased tab. Once this tab opens, choose Not on this iPhone from the top and scroll through the list of apps to find Instagram and Lightroom.

      If you don’t see it, then you can temporarily use someone else’s App Store credentials to download a compatible version of the app, if they have it available in their purchased list. If you do use another person’s credentials, do not delete the app–it will not return and it is not associated with your Apple ID so you cannot re-download it without following the steps to use another person’s credentials again.

      Good luck!

      Reply

  39. Layla says

    It still won’t work I can’t download what’s app or any other apps that are unsupported, do you know what else I should try?

    Reply

  40. Mikaela says

    Hi,
    I need to download Microsoft Teams app on my iPhone 4s. I have tried it through a newer device but it is incompatible with my iPhone. It says my updates are up to date but it requires IOS 10 but mine does not allow that. Is there an alternate way to get this to work on my iphone 4s?

    Reply