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iPhone 3GS not connecting to iTunes Store

I've decided to use a iPhone 3GS running iOS 6.1.6 as my main phone. Whenever I open the App Store or iTunes (Game Center as well) it says "Cannot connect to iTunes Store", it's connected to the internet (and a 3g sim) but it just won't work.


Please help.

Earlier iPhone models

Posted on Feb 21, 2024 7:48 PM

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8 replies

Feb 21, 2024 9:14 PM in response to Redrufusr

It's been more than 11 years since Apple discontinued the last version of that phone.


It can't run anything higher than iOS 6.1.6. Some widely-used apps now require iOS 15.0 or higher.


It can't use iCloud. Even the iCloud features that have the least demanding system requirements require iOS 9 or better.


It can't use 4G or 5G cellular networks. In the U.S., carriers have shut off virtually all 2G and 3G cellular networks, with the exception of a pocket or two that aren't long for this world. I believe that even outside the U.S., there are places where carriers are in the process of phasing out 3G service.

Feb 27, 2024 7:50 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Servant of Cats wrote:


MrHoffman wrote:

Redrufusr wrote:

Do you know how I can get the Appstore running again?

I’d expect issues prior to iOS 7, IIRC.

If that is what you are running here.

According to MacTracker, iOS 6.1.6 is the highest version of iOS that will run on the iPhone 3GS.


Correct. How far back with iOS the app store will still work is not documented anywhere I’m aware of.


And making that determination somewhat more difficult, older iOS versions have also occasionally also had transient access errors. That, and I don’t have an iPhone in the right model range to test with.


Based on complaints posted, and transient access issues aside, iOS 7 has been gotten to work with the app store in recent years, and attempts with iOS 6 have been less than successful.


Retro-computing possibilities get limited and more complex as the iPhone or iPad ages, as even getting home-written apps side-loaded requires an older Mac and older Xcode, too.


And carrier service communications limitations can exist, as discussed above.

iPhone 3GS not connecting to iTunes Store

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