When you use outdated software on your computer or your mobile phone, there is a real danger. Operating systems are updated frequently, and they usually include security updates and new functions.
Known as Patch Tuesday, Microsoft updates its operating system on the second Tuesday of every month. Google and Apple usually do not follow this trend, but they still update their mobile phones regularly.
Other times, companies stop developing or supporting certain programs altogether. Whether it’s because of outdated security or because of reduced functionality, some apps will no longer work if you have an older version of iOS. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Microsoft’s Outlook app.
Here’s the backstory
Microsoft’s email program, Outlook, is used by millions of people globally. It is available for desktop computers and as an iOS app. At last count, there were about 400 million users.
But if you have an iPhone with an older version of iOS, you’ll likely lose access to your Outlook app and email. This isn’t so much a problem with Outlook itself, but that the program will no longer be supported in iOS 13 and below.
Why Outlook Changes Coming
Simply put, Microsoft is focusing all its developmental efforts on the latest version of the Outlook app. Maintaining an older operating system version is not feasible. The company announced that it will soon support only the latest two versions of iOS.
And with iOS 15 launching late next month, that means iOS 13 will inadvertently be out of the way. The same change is being implemented for Apple’s WatchOS as well.
A new version of the operating system for the Apple Watch will also be released next month, so watchOS 6 will lose support. This means that in order to continue viewing emails from Outlook on your Apple Watch, you will need watchOS 7 or the newer watchOS 8.
It is not clear whether Outlook will stop working on older OS versions or will continue to work without support. Microsoft made similar changes to iOS 12 last year when iOS 14 became widely available.
how to update your iphone
If you’re still using an iPhone running iOS 13 or earlier, you’ll need to update the operating system. This is the only way to continue using the Outlook app. To download iOS 14, the process is the same as with any other software update. Also, it is always a good idea to back up the data on your device before continuing.
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While you’re there, you can also enable automatic updates so that your device can automatically download and install iOS updates in the future. Note: If you’re using a really old iPhone that Apple no longer supports, you won’t be eligible to update to iOS 14.
