How to update the last compatible version on AppStore

Question

mihade OP

Created 2d

Replies 1

Boosts 0

Participants 2

Hi,

I'm working on an app that currently support iOS 16+ I'm considering to raise the deployment target to iOS 26 For users on devices with version lower than iOS 26, I know they can continue to use the app they have already installed and can even redownload it via the last-compatible versions support.

The question is simple - once the version with deployment target iOS 26 is released, is there any way to update the last compatible version of iOS 16+ in case a critical bug or security vulnerability has to be fixed?

For example

lets say that the current version is 1.2.2 (iOS 16+)
new version 2.0.0 (iOS 26+) is released
users with iOS 26 can install 2.0.0
existing users with iOS 16-18 can continue to use and reinstall 1.2.2
in the meanwhile, the app evolves and reaches 2.1.5
6 moths later, a critical bug or security vulnerability on 1.2.2 has to be fixed, so 1.2.3 version, based on 1.2.2 codebase with the necessary fixes has to be deployed to old users.

How to update existing users with iOS 16-18 from 1.2.2 to 1.2.3? Is there any mechanism to achieve this? Does AppStoreConnect or AppStoreConnectAPI allow such thing?

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Answer 1

Jordan OP

2d

There is not. Releasing an app update always replaces the current version. Those users would have to update to the newer OS to get the newest update (which could require buying a new device). For that reason you typically would not increase the deployment target to 26 when it is released, you’d give time for your users to update first.

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