BBC News app not working on iPhone & iPad

I just had this same issue and have found a solution! Running an iPad mini 2 in 12.5.7 here and ran into the ‘download older version’ loop prompt in the App Store.

to solve this, simply delete the app from your device then redownload on the App Store . You’ll be asked if you want to download an older version again but this time IT WILL WORK! :)

I have same problem with my wife’s old iPad mini 2 which is now relegated to a kitchen device, used only for BBC news and cooking recipes. Now the BBC news app refuses to run - but I think this is an app problem rather than iOS. The app says the installed version has expired, forcing an update from the App Store which can’t/won’t happen. I think we need a version of the old BBC News app that doesn’t force the update.

That just cannot be correct, my wife and I have a couple of iPad mini 3s running 12.5.7, are we meant to buy two new iPads, that is ridiculous! Especially when there is meant to be an option to run the last compatible version, which is not working.

surely there is a work round.

Confusedwithapple10 wrote:

That just cannot be correct, my wife and I have a couple of iPad mini 3s running 12.5.7, are we meant to buy two new iPads, that is ridiculous! Especially when there is meant to be an option to run the last compatible version, which is not working.

surely there is a work round.

You read that wrong. You can continue to use your eight-year old iPad mini 3's until they fail, but you almost certainly will not find new iOS applications in the App Store being developed for iOS 12.5.7. Developer's need to eat too and they do so by keeping applications current with new operating system features, and Apple enforces developer's by screening new applications against the current iOS/iPadOS development kits.

The last compatible version of iOS for iPad mini 3's is iOS 12.5.7. The last compatible version of an iOS application is the one you can actually install from the App Store and use without problems.

The software vendors have moved on with new minimum iOS versions for new installations. You will need a newer device capable of installing at least iOS 13.

This did not work for my IPAD AIR running 12.5.7 in Nov 23. However it is possible to save a safari website to the home screen of your phone using the "share" icon at the top of the web page and scrolling till it allows you to save your favourite (web page) to the home page. As the latest version of BBC News which requires IOS 13 is considered a downgrade by many users, you are probably better using the web page version anyway which works well.

I too am experiencing this problem! It clearly states that one can download earlier versions - but it seems impossible to do so. I found earlier versions available online but am unable to install the .apk file once it is downloaded. Any help on this would be appreciated.

Ridiculous situation when we are driven to replacing perfectly good phones because of one software developer.

THIS IS FANTASTIC and works with BBC Sounds and iPlayer - delete the app on your device and then go to the app store and the older version will download. I'm so grateful for this advice that actually works so thank you rincofruit.

I cannot get the BBC news apps latest version

And there’s the rub - the App Store tells you that you can download an earlier version of the BBC news app to suit your older iOS … but you can’t/it doesn’t …

Same problem. It works when I shut my phone completely off and turn it on however, will not refresh unless I do this? How do I correct this problem?

I can't download an old version of BBC News on my iPad version 12

Earlier this month the BBC news web site stopped loading on my IPad mini 2, both using Safari and Opera. Their page starts to load (text) and then goes blank.

BBC not opening in safari.why?????

Ask BBC support.