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iPhone 4s firmware 7.1. Installing new programs on an iPhone with an outdated version of iOS

Today, the field of mobile technology continues to develop at a fairly rapid pace. Progress in the production of cell phones and smartphones becomes especially noticeable if you pay attention to how quickly Yesterday's new products become obsolete, unable to withstand the competition of newly released flagships. We will talk about eliminating one of the signs of such obsolescence below.

iPhone and iOS obsolescence

In one of our previous articles: - we looked at an option that allows you to play online videos in high quality on an old computer.
But if the process of obsolescence of hardware in most cases can be considered natural and necessary, then with software everything is not always so obvious.

In the issue of software obsolescence, two main directions can be distinguished:

  1. Lack of support and release of operating system updates by the manufacturer for old devices
  2. Lack of backward compatibility of new software versions with old OS

Support period

The first point is clear. The smartphone manufacturer does not want to spend effort and money on optimization of the new system for outdated hardware, even if this task is technically feasible. In addition to saving resources, this step also contributes to the rapid growth of sales of new manufactured devices (in this case we neglect the outflow of the customer base to a more loyal manufacturer), which also does not speak in favor of increasing the duration of support for its products.

Software backwards compatibility

As for the question backward compatibility, then this side may seem even more controversial. To begin with, let us give a conditional answer in the context of the current article to the question: What is backward compatibility?

backward compatibility- this is the ability of new versions of software to work with old data formats on an old operating system

Both versions of this problem are very acute for owners of previous releases of the company’s cell phones. Apple.
For example, the latter is available to owners iPhone 4S version iOS - 9.3.5 , For iPhone 4 the situation is even worse; this device can only be officially installed iOS 7.1.2. And this despite the fact that latest version of Apple operating system at the current time - 10.3.1

Consequences of software obsolescence

What does this mean?
One of the main troubles they will face users of outdated Apple devices- that, often, It is impossible to install some programs from the App Store on iOS below a certain release.
In particular, to install such a popular program for exchanging quick messages and calls via the Internet, such as Viber, from the Apple store you will need to have the installed version iOS no lower than 8.1. For applications such as Skype, network client In contact with or mobile application Instagram, maximum old version of the phone system that meets the installation conditions for the listed software - iOS 8.0.

From all of the above, we can conclude that officially we do not have the opportunity install Viber on iPhone 4 . The same applies to the other programs mentioned: Skype, vk client for iOS, Instagram and many others. Moreover, the same fate will soon befall newer models, so this issue may in the future affect an increasing number of users of Apple products.

However, there is a way to install the same Instagram on iPhone 4. This method will work with most programs.
The essence of this method is to pre-download the application from the App Store with reference to Apple ID and subsequent installation of the supported version of the program on the phone itself.

So, we will need:

  1. Computer with Internet access.
  2. Connecting to the Internet on iPhone.

Let's get started.

Installing VK App in Apple ID via iTunes

If we try install the VKontakte program on iPhone 4, then nothing will work for us, we will get an error This content (app) requires iOS 8.0 or later with a proposal to update the device to iOS 8.0

But if we go along the path Settings - General - Software Update, we will see that we have installed " newest"Software, namely iOS 7.1.2, which is the latest for iPhone 4

This means that we will have to look for workarounds.

Download the program to your computer from the official Apple website iTunes and install it.
Let's launch iTunes and log in using the account with which your iPhone was activated.

Now in the upper left corner click on the drop-down menu and select Edit menu...

In the list that appears, check the box next to Programs and click Finish.

Next, in the drop-down list, go to the Programs section we added.
In the central part of the screen, click on the App Store tab. In the upper right corner, in the search bar, enter the name of the program we are interested in, let it be VKontakte client for iPhone. Click the button under the application icon Download, enter the password for your Apple ID and click the Buy button ( The app is free, nothing to worry about)

The application is downloaded to our account, we no longer need a computer.

Installing VK App on iPhone 4 via the App Store

We connect the phone to the Internet via a mobile network or via Wi-Fi. Let's launch App Store on the device and can immediately go to the tab Updates. Here we will have the same application that we downloaded from iTunes, that is, the client VK App. To the right of the program icon there will be a button in the form of a cloud with an arrow, which allows us to install the application from the Apple ID.
Click on the cloud

Now we will see a notification that To download the latest version of the program, an updated version of the operating system is required. But here we will be asked download the previous version of this application, which we will use by pressing the button Download

We wait for the latest compatible version to finish downloading and can launch the installed program.
It is worth mentioning that this way it will not be possible install the latest version of the program on iPhone(the solution to the issue is possible if you have a Jailbreak), that is, you will probably not have access to the full functionality of the application added in new releases, but this is most often not required for comfortable use of the main features.

Today we talked about how to install the program on an iPhone with an outdated iOS system.

Long support and constant updates to you.

Recently, prices for smartphones have increased significantly and now many people still use iPhone 4. Today we will talk about how to download any application on iOS 7.1.2.

After all, many people want to use modern programs. This is perhaps one of the most basic problems with old devices.

But don’t be upset right away, because there is one very proven method and I will be happy to share it with you and tell you what to do.

How to install applications on iPhone 4

So, well, I’ll start with the reason why today the iPhone 4 is considered so old and difficult to install any popular program.

It was back in 2010 and on June 7 this miracle was born, which now looks more like a small brick. However, at that time it was the most powerful smartphone on the market.

After its release, technology began to move forward too quickly and literally three years later, Apple discontinued it.

In the same year, a completely new iOS 7 appeared, which was enormously changed. Naturally, the requirements for it were much higher.

Unfortunately, this turned out to be the latest version of iOS that this smartphone supports. And the main problem today is that the applications we need require a minimum of iOS 8.0.

Let's look at how you can install older versions ( We do not connect the device to the PC):

  • launch iTunes on your computer, if not installed, install (DOWNLOAD ITUNES);
  • go to your Apple profile;
  • by going to the App Store, find the desired application and install it;
  • Next, pick up your iPhone 4 and launch App Store;
  • go to Updates — Purchases and having found the desired program, Click Install;
  • a message appears stating that you have an old OS and you can install the version for iOS 7.1.2, to which we respond YES.

That’s basically the whole procedure, which actually won’t take that much time. The most important thing is that you don’t need to do anything complicated

If you search on the Internet, you can also find an option to install Jailbreak. Then you can get the necessary software through Cydia, but then see for yourself.

A lot of people do this, but I'm not a fan of it. I just want to warn you that the protection of your personal data immediately becomes at risk.

The situation is the same if you install through third-party sites. You can download something you don’t understand and then you’ll get a lot of problems.

CHANGES. If you downloaded the latest version of iTunes, you won't find the App Store there. The solution to this problem is described here -

And also, , is possible on the following devices:

  • iPhone 6s/6s Plus (iOS 9.x only)
  • iPhone 6/6 Plus (iOS 8.x and iOS 9.x only)
  • iPhone 4/4S/5/5S
  • iPad Air, iPad 2/3/4, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display
  • iPod touch 5G

YOU CANNOT UPDATE TO iOS 7, iOS 8, iOS 9 if you are using a locked phone, i.e. which was purchased as locked, and then was unlocked programmatically or using Gevey SIM and its analogues. If you update, you will receive a BRICK (the phone will NOT work)!

For those who bought iPhones locked to an operator and then unlocked them, DO NOT UPDATE!

Make a backup your iPhone/iPad/iPod before updating to save all contacts, SMS, photos, videos and notes. A backup can be made to iCloud via Wi-Fi or by connecting the device to a computer via a USB connector in iTunes.

Making a backup copy

A backup copy can be made to the iCloud cloud via Wi-Fi or saved to a computer via iTunes by connecting the device to the computer via a USB connector.

Backup to iCloud over Wi-Fi

Make sure your device's Wi-Fi is connected and working. Make sure that you will not leave the WiFi area while updating to the new firmware.

To create a backup copy to the iCloud cloud on your iPhone/iPad or iPod desktop, click on ““.

Go to “ iCloud” and if your device is configured using an Apple ID, then go to “ Storage and copies” and press “ Create a copy“.

Create a backup to iCloud or to your computer via iTunes

Connect your iPhone/iPad or iPod to your computer via a USB connector. iTunes must be installed on the computer and the Internet must be working to update the firmware. Launch iTunes. If the autorun setting is enabled by default (for most), it will open itself after connecting the device to the computer. Go to your iPhone/iPad or iPod device tab.

We choose where we want to make the backup: to iCloud or to a computer (if you create a backup on a computer, you can protect it with a password).

After creating a backup, you can move on to the next step.

We update the firmware “over the air” via WiFi

This is the easiest way. Requires WiFi connection during update. In addition to having Wi-Fi, make sure that your device is charged at least 50% (or better yet, connect the device to a charger). The firmware installs quickly, but it can take a long time to download over WiFi, since it depends not only on your Internet connection speed, but also on the load on Apple’s servers.

To update the firmware on the iPhone/iPad or iPod desktop, click on “”

Select (click) on “ Basic”

Information about the new firmware will be downloaded and you just have to click “ Download and install“.

Be patient while the new firmware is downloaded from the Internet (download time depends on the speed of your Internet), do not interrupt the download, do not remove the device from the Wi-Fi reach.

Congratulations on the new firmware!

It's important to note that not all iOS 7 features will work on all devices.

If anyone needs to update to new firmware via iTunes, then write about it in the comments and we will write instructions for updating via a computer.

Direct links to firmware

What's new in iOS 7.01, iOS 7.0.2, iOS 7.0.3, iOS 7.0.4, iOS 7.0.6, iOS 7.1.1, iOS 7.1.2?

What's new in each version of firmware 7 can be found at the following links:

If you have problems with the installation

If you have any problems, write to our specialists on the forum in the sections or directly in. Let's help!

Firmware iOS 8.0.1

The first unsuccessful iOS firmware. Apple was forced to stop distributing the firmware just a few hours after its release due to problems among iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users with cellular communications (it simply did not work) and with the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

Firmware iOS 8.0.2

It fixed bugs in iOS 8.0.1; see the link below for a full list of fixes.

Firmware iOS 8.1.3

iOS 8.1.3 January 27, 2015. This is a technical update that fixes bugs in the previous iOS 8.1.2 and improves stability and performance.

Firmware iOS 8.2

iOS 8.2 supports the WatchKit API for developing . It is firmware 8.2 that will allow iPhone models 5 and higher to exchange data with the Watch. Official release of iOS 8.2 on March 9, 2015.

Firmware iOS 8.3

The release of iOS 8.3 took place on April 8, 2015. With the release of iOS 8.3, a new software development toolkit Xcode 6.3 with support for the Swift 1.2 programming language became available to developers. Of course, iOS 8.3, like iOS 8.2, supports WatchKit for developing applications for the Apple Watch. Among the innovations in iOS 8.3, a new set of emoji emoticons has appeared, allowing you to insert icons of faces of different skin tones, support for two-factor authorization for Google accounts, and support for wireless connection to the CarPlay car interface. There are improvements to CloudKit and iCloud Drive. The main innovation of iOS 8.3 was the presence of the Russian-language voice assistant Siri. Among the shortcomings of firmware 8.3, it should be noted that the function of confirming purchases in the App Store using the Touch ID fingerprint scanner is not working. How to fix this error is described here. The release of iOS 9 firmware took place on September 16, 2015.

Firmware iOS 9.1

Firmware update 9.1 is aimed at improving the stability of iPhone and iPad. iOS 9.1 fixes many bugs.

Apple regularly pleases its users with the release of new firmware versions, so every owner of an Apple smartphone wonders whether it is worth updating the software on their smartphone. In this publication we will talk about how to update iOS to version 8 on the 4th iPhone, and whether it is worth doing.

iOS update options

When the company introduced the brand new iOS 8 to its users, it immediately became clear that the iPhone 4 would not be able to function normally with this version of the firmware. The fact is that this operating system is designed for mobile devices with a 2-core processor, while the 4th iPhone is equipped with only one. However, you can still install the new iOS 8 system on the Iphone 4. There are two update options for this:

  • using iTunes via a computer;
  • via the network.

It should be noted that after the update, only the user bears full responsibility for the functioning of his gadget.

Using iTunes on a computer

So, how to update iPhone 4 using a computer?

First, you need to download the update using the special iTunes application (if you have a lot of free space) or from the manufacturer’s official website. Before you connect your device, you should make sure you're using the latest version of iTunes, then click Help in the menu bar and turn on Update. After this you need to do the following:


When downloading firmware using Safari, you must disable automatic unpacking. You can also use Firefox or Chrome for this.

Update via Wi-Fi

In fact, updating software on a smartphone using Wi-Fi is an easier method than the previous one, but there is no complete guarantee that the update will be successful. First of all, it is worth noting that even with a high connection speed it is quite difficult to download a firmware file weighing 1 GB. In addition, do not forget about the device’s battery - the minimum charge to download a file should be at least half. If after downloading the update process begins and the device sits down and turns off, then you will have to connect the device to the computer and continue the process in iTunes.

If you plan to use this option, you must do the following:

  • Check your wireless connection and browser access.
  • Enable “Settings”, go to the “General” section, select “Software Update” and click “Download and Install”. The download process starts automatically and the software update process occurs in the background. You cannot run the process on a smartphone without jailbreak
  • After downloading the file, click the “Install” button and accept the corresponding user agreement.

After the update process is completed, you need to make some adjustments and return all saved content from the created iPad or iTunes backup.

Hello! Users have been asking us for a long time whether it is worth updating the iPhone 4 (Not the iPhone 4S) to iOS 7.1.2 firmware? In fact, there is no exact or obvious answer here. Here, as elsewhere, there are pros and cons:

1. If you already have firmware 7.0 or higher, but not 7.1.2, then you definitely need to update! Because your phone will work better and slow down less, because this is the final version of firmware 7!

2. If you have iOS 6 firmware, then opinions differ anywhere) There are so many people, so many opinions!) Frankly speaking, many prefer not to update, because they are very accustomed to this firmware and do not want changes, and also on iOS 6 your iPhone 4 works more confidently and without “Glitches”. But there is also a minus: many programs (For example, the well-known Skype to all of us) no longer support iOS 6 and you will not be able to use or update them until you upgrade your firmware version! But still, if you decide to update your iPhone 4 to the latest current firmware iOS 7.1.2 - get ready for “Slight Brakes”) I can’t say that this is really so catastrophic, but still your favorite iDevice will slow down slightly, so to speak, think . For example, the built-in “Mail” application in the iPhone will open not 1 second, but two =-)

Bottom line

Of course, as I mentioned earlier, so many people, so many opinions! From my point of view, it is worth updating to the latest firmware version iOS 7.1.2. All the latest updates for applications will always be available to you, plus new additional functions, plus a beautiful design) And if we talk about performance, at first it will seem to you that it really slows down in comparison with the previous firmware, but this is only for the first time. Soon you will get used to it and will not notice it at all. I forgot to say, sometimes this is even the most important thing, IF YOU HAVE UPDATED from firmware 6 to firmware 7, then there is no turning back. That is, once iOS7 is already installed, you will not be able to return the 6th firmware back! But as always, the choice is yours!

P.S. Still, if you decide to Update, I strongly recommend doing it using a computer, and not via Wi-Fi! I will talk about this in more detail in the next article. Good luck!