Problems using iPhone 3Gs in Fall 2024
I’ve still got my first cell phone, an iPhone 3Gs (8GB model) in great physical condition running iOS 6.1.6. I use it for the following reasons:
- An alternate computing device for tasks like email and web browsing
- Running old games and software that are no longer available
- Collectability, uniqueness, historical appreciation
- Nostalgic photography styles
Throughout the years, it has become less capable as expected:
- App developers have stopped building apps for the retired OS. You cannot download apps unless you had owned or purchased a version of an app that was once meant for the device
- 3G cellular services have largely been discontinued
- WiFi security standards have changed making connectivity a hassle or risk
- Website standards and certificates have changed, often leading to display and access issues
- Apple services such as Find My iPhone, iMessage, and Maps no longer support the device
- iTunes and the App Store have become inconsistently available
Despite all this, the device could run the apps already installed on it, at least until tonight. A few months after no use, I charged and powered on the iPhone 3GS only to find that 3rd party apps downloaded from the App Store will not open.
I simply powered it on to play a game. The first thing I did was connect it to a hotspot. Then when I tried to open the game. It didn’t work. I soon realized that all the 3rd party apps didn’t run. I tried to view my Apple ID details through the device in case it was a credentials problem, but I constantly got error messages such as, “Cannot connect to iTunes Store.” I’ve even tried manually adjusting the time a few years back, but that didn’t solve the problem. It seems that many old iOS devices may not be able to run 3rd party apps legitimately for much longer, even though the apps exist on device.
