Can't download apps on older ios, why?

It is entirely up to the developers of the app to decide if they want to keep offering older versions of their apps. If you downloaded an app a long time ago and the developer has decided to keep making the older version available, you'll be able to download it, as you've observed.

There's nothing "ridiculous" about it. It takes resources to maintain older apps, resources that many developers would rather spend on developing apps that run on the current devices.

sai_sudharshan_p wrote:

I have been using my iphone x for a long time now and no problems with it but, recently I am really annoyed by the fact that I can't download apps from appstore requiring ios 17 or more which will never be updated on my phone. They should alteast have an option to download versions of the app that can run fine on ios 16.

You’re in a decreasing group of potential users of apps, and you’re not spending on a new device, so in aggregate you’re on the wrong end of the inevitable support trade-offs that app vendors inherently have to make as your iOS version ages.

As for the declining percentage of older iOS versions and the increased effort of supporting those older versions and more hardware-limited iPhone models, and the effort and benefits (profits) perceived by supporting those with newer iOS versions and newer iPhone models, here are some numbers:

• https://iosref.com/ios-usage

What's funny is that, I have an app already installed long time ago and runs fine on my iphone even though it shows now that this same app requires ios 17 or more on appstore.

The app may well have been updated, and you haven’t gotten the update.

This is ridiculous.

It’s business. Follow the money. This profit motivation can mean some apps can be quite ephemeral, too.

Hi.

Apples App Store generally requires the latest iOS versions for new app downloads or updates. Older devices can’t download newer app versions if they need a higher iOS than the device supports.

Sometimes, if you already had an older version of the app installed, it can keep working even if the current version requires a newer iOS.

Unfortunately there’s no official option to download older app versions from the App Store.