Quick answer
When Apple stops supporting an iPhone, the phone keeps working. It stops getting new major iOS versions and the features that come with them. Security fixes usually continue for a while and then end, apps gradually require newer iOS versions, and official repairs stop once the model becomes obsolete. For iOS 27, the cut-off is the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.
What "end of support" actually means
Apple does not switch an iPhone off when it stops supporting it. Support ends in stages, and the stages happen quietly over several years.
| What changes | When it happens | What you notice |
|---|---|---|
| No new major iOS version | The year your model is dropped | No new features or design changes |
| Security fixes slow and then stop | Usually some time later | The phone becomes gradually less safe to use online |
| Apps raise their minimum iOS version | App by app, at different times | Some apps stop updating, then stop working |
| Apple hardware service ends | Seven years after Apple last sold the model | No official battery or screen repairs |
What does not happen: the phone does not stop working, apps do not all stop opening at once, and Apple does not block the device.
Which iPhones iOS 27 leaves behind
iOS 27 runs on 33 iPhones, the same models that ran iOS 26. The oldest are the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, and the iPhone SE (2nd generation). Pre-launch reports said those models would be dropped, but Apple kept them. Our page on whether the iPhone 11 gets iOS 27 covers that in detail.
The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and every older iPhone do not get iOS 27. They did not get iOS 26 either, so they are already well into the unsupported stage described below. To check your own phone, see our guide to checking whether your iPhone supports iOS 27.
Being supported is also not the same as getting every feature. Apple Intelligence needs an A17 Pro chip or newer, so an iPhone 15 or older runs iOS 27 without it.
No more major iOS updates
This is the most visible change. Once your model is dropped, the next major version never appears in Settings › General › Software Update.
- You do not get new system features or redesigns.
- New Apple apps and capabilities that need the newer iOS are not available.
- Apple Intelligence and other new features never arrive on that model.
The version you already have keeps working as it is; nothing is removed from the phone.
Security updates continue, for a while
Losing major updates does not immediately make an iPhone unsafe. Apple regularly releases security fixes for older iOS versions after it stops shipping new major versions to a model.
You can see the same pattern on iPad this year. Five iPads that ran iPadOS 26 do not get iPadOS 27: the iPad (8th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and iPad mini (5th generation). Instead of moving to iPadOS 27, they are on iPadOS 26.7.1. Our list of iPads that support iPadOS 27 shows the full split.
Those fixes do not last forever. Once they stop, the device becomes steadily riskier for banking, shopping and email, because new vulnerabilities are no longer patched.
App support fades gradually
This is where most people eventually feel the change. Each app developer chooses its own minimum iOS version, so there is no single date when apps stop working.
- At first, almost everything keeps working and updating.
- Later, some apps require a newer iOS to install updates. The version already on your phone usually keeps running, but you stop getting fixes and new features.
- Eventually, some apps stop working altogether. Banking and other security-sensitive services tend to be first, because they need current security.
Messaging apps are a good example. WhatsApp began requiring iOS 15.1 or later from 1 January 2026, which cut off the iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus. Our WhatsApp end-of-support guide explains the options for those phones.
Battery and performance
An unsupported iPhone does not get slower because support ended. Its software stops changing, so performance stays where it was. The hardware keeps ageing, though, and the battery is usually what limits an older phone first. Check it under Settings › Battery › Battery Health. Apple treats a Maximum Capacity below 80 percent as degraded. Our guide to checking battery health explains the readings.
Repairs: vintage, then obsolete
Hardware service follows a separate timeline from software updates.
| Status | When | What Apple will do |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage | Five to seven years since Apple last sold the model | Repairs may still be possible if parts are available |
| Obsolete | More than seven years since Apple last sold it | No hardware service, including batteries and screens |
Once a model is obsolete, independent repair shops are the only option. If you plan to keep an older iPhone, a battery replacement while it is still vintage can add useful life.
iCloud and Apple services
iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime and Apple Pay usually keep working on older iPhones for a long time, as long as the device can still connect securely. Individual features may require a newer iOS, and services can eventually drop very old versions, but core services rarely disappear the moment major updates stop.
Resale value
Value drops once support ends, but not overnight. Storage size, battery health, physical condition and whether the phone is unlocked still matter to buyers. Unsupported iPhones are often bought as spare phones, children's first phones or for trade-in.
When you should upgrade
- Security updates have stopped completely.
- Apps you depend on no longer support your iOS version.
- A battery replacement is no longer practical or available.
- The phone limits what you do every day.
For many people that point comes some time after major updates end, not on the day they stop.
What to do next
If your iPhone is on the iOS 27 list, it still gets full major updates. Our iOS 27 supported devices list shows the full compatibility picture, so you can see where each of your devices stands.
Frequently asked questions
Does my iPhone stop working when Apple ends support?
No. An iPhone that no longer gets major iOS updates keeps working exactly as before. Calls, messages, the camera and the apps you already have carry on. What changes is gradual: no new iOS features, security fixes that eventually stop, apps that slowly raise their minimum iOS version, and official repairs that become harder to get once Apple classes the model as vintage and then obsolete.
Which iPhones are no longer supported by iOS 27?
iOS 27 runs on every iPhone that ran iOS 26: iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and every older model do not get iOS 27, and they did not get iOS 26 either. If you are not sure which model you have, open Settings › General › About and check the model name.
Do unsupported iPhones still get security updates?
Often, for a while. Apple regularly releases security fixes for older iOS versions after a model stops getting major updates. The iPads that stop at iPadOS 26 are an example: they are now on iPadOS 26.7.1 while newer iPads have moved to iPadOS 27. Those fixes do not continue forever, so once they stop, it is time to think about replacing the device.
How long will apps work on an unsupported iPhone?
There is no fixed rule. Each developer decides its own minimum iOS version, so most apps keep working for some time after support ends, and older installed versions often keep running even when you cannot update them. Banking and other security-sensitive apps tend to drop old versions first. WhatsApp, for example, began requiring iOS 15.1 or later from 1 January 2026.
Can Apple still repair an unsupported iPhone?
Software support and hardware service are separate. Apple calls a product vintage when it has been five to seven years since Apple last sold it, and may still repair it if parts are available. After seven years it is obsolete, and Apple no longer services it, including battery and screen repairs. At that point you rely on independent repair shops.
When should I replace an unsupported iPhone?
Replace it when security updates have stopped entirely, when apps you rely on no longer support your iOS version, when a battery replacement is no longer practical, or when the phone simply holds you back day to day. Until then, an older iPhone with a healthy battery can stay useful, especially as a spare phone, a child's first phone or a dedicated music or camera device.