Niantic on Tuesday announced that Pokémon GO will require an iPhone or iPad capable of running iOS 11 or later at the end of February.

pokemon go arkit
The company plans to release an update for Pokémon GO around February 28, 2018 that will end support for older iPhone and iPad models incapable of updating to iOS 11, including the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c.

The complete list of affected devices, released between 2011 and 2013:

  • iPhone 5

  • iPhone 5c

  • iPad (4th generation)

  • iPad (3rd generation)

  • iPad mini (1st generation)

  • iPad 2

After that date, players may no longer be able to access their Pokémon GO accounts on affected devices, or use their PokéCoins or other items in their bags. They will need to switch to a supported device to continue playing the game.

More specifically, players who attempt to access Pokémon GO using any of the devices listed above will no longer be able to sign in and will see a message stating that they need to switch to a supported device, suggesting server-side changes.

Niantic said the change is a result of improvements to Pokémon GO that push the game beyond the capabilities of previous iOS versions, likely including a new AR+ mode based on Apple's ARKit for iPhone 6s and newer.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

geoff5093 Avatar
90 months ago
People still play Pokémon Go? I thought it died in late 2016 'cos I never see anyone play it anymore.
Yes, people still play it. Just because you don't doesn't mean it's dead.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mlrollin91 Avatar
90 months ago
While I could understand cutting out the 32-bit code and only having future updates for 64-bit devices... intentionally blocking people on 32-bit devices, who previously had a working app just the day before, seems pretty heavy handed and not as consumer friendly as I would like.
Apple no longer supports any 32-bit device. The iPhone 5 will be 6 years old this year.

The reason why niantic forces updates is to combat spoofing and scanners. If they leave the old API active, then people can cheat more easily.

They are also giving a 7 week notice. That’s a lot of time.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlphaHumanus Avatar
90 months ago
Well then it’s settled for me I guess. I’ll be upgrading to an IPhone 8 and handing my 6 down to my son, seemingly within the next month. Ha.

He’s using my old 5 currently, and losing access to Pokémon wouldn’t be fair to him.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mlrollin91 Avatar
90 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/10/pokemon-go-requires-ios-11-after-feb-2018/')


Niantic on Tuesday announced ('https://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/en/post/iphone5discontinuedsupport') that Pokémon GO ('http://appshopper.com/games/pokemon-go') will require a device running iOS 11 or later at the end of February.



The company plans to release an update for Pokémon GO around February 28, 2018 that will end support for older iPhone and iPad models incapable of updating to iOS 11, including the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c.

The complete list of affected devices ('https://support.pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/hc/en-us/articles/115016003208'), released between 2011 and 2013:iPhone 5
iPhone 5c
iPad (4th generation)
iPad (3rd generation)
iPad mini (1st generation)
iPad 2After that date, players may no longer be able to access their Pokémon GO accounts on affected devices, or use their PokéCoins or other items in their bags. They will need to switch to a supported device to continue playing the game.

More specifically, players who attempt to access Pokémon GO using any of the devices listed above will no longer be able to sign in and will see a message stating that they need to switch to a supported device, suggesting server-side changes.

Niantic said the change is a result of improvements to Pokémon GO that push the game beyond the capabilities of previous iOS versions, likely including a new AR+ mode ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/12/20/pokemon-go-ios-update-arkit/') based on Apple's ARKit for iPhone 6s and newer.

Article Link: Pokémon GO Will Soon Require iOS 11 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/10/pokemon-go-requires-ios-11-after-feb-2018/')
Incorrect title. They are not requiring iOS 11. They are requiring iOS 11 capable devices. i.e 5s and newer. They are dropping support for 32-bit. iOS 11 is not required.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mlrollin91 Avatar
90 months ago
I don't have this app but I hate when companies do this in general.

They should simply push out new app features to those who want to update and leave those who like the old version which worked just fine alone.
They aren’t actually requiring iOS 11. They are weeding out older devices that aren’t 64-bit so they can remove that code and focus on improving the performance for newer devices.

It’s pretty straightforward in the announcement last night, but this post leaves that out.

“This change is a result of improvements to Pokémon GO that push the application beyond the capabilities of the operating systems on such devices.”
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spazzcat Avatar
90 months ago
I don't have this app but I hate when companies do this in general.

They should simply push out new app features to those who want to update and leave those who like the old version which worked just fine alone.
This means maintaining two code bases which adds costs and can lead to more bugs...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...