14 DAY TRIAL // iPhone 5 units not updated to iOS 10.3.4 by November 3 will lose Internet access, according to a warning that Apple is now showing on devices impacted by this change.
Basically, users who do not install this specific iOS version on their iPhone 5 will no longer be able to browse the Internet with Safari, access email and iCloud, and connect to the App Store to install apps.
Once the November 3 milestone is reached, iPhone 5 models still running older software can only be updated using a connection to a computer and iTunes, as Internet access would be blocked and OTA updates would no longer be available.
“Update to iOS 10.3.4 before November 3, 2019 to continue using App Store, iCloud, email, web, and other services. If the update to iPhone 5 is not completed by November 3, 2019, you will be required to back up and restore using a Mac or PC in order to update because over-the-air software updates and iCloud Backup will not work,” a warning displayed on the iPhone 5 reads.
November 3 deadline
Apple says in a support document that it’s all because of the GPS fix that the company released earlier this year.
“Starting just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019, iPhone 5 will require an iOS update to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on correct date and time including App Store, iCloud, email, and web browsing. This is due to the GPS time rollover issue that began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019. Affected Apple devices are not impacted until just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019,” the company explains.
As per 9to5mac, other devices will be impacted by the GPS bug on November 3, including here iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad with Retina Display, and fourth-generation iPad, but in this case, the Internet access won’t be restricted.
Fortunately, only a small number of devices are likely to be targeted by this web access restriction, as Apple data shows fewer than 10% of iPhones out there are currently running iOS 10 or earlier.