Can iPhone 8 update to iOS 17 for app compatibility?

i cant download basic apps like google classroom because my phone is an iphone 8 and i need ios 17 for the apps. i think mines is ios 16.7.5 right now but is there anyway to get it to ios 17?

iPhone 8 Plus, iOS 16

Posted on Jan 25, 2026 9:10 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 26, 2026 6:59 AM

Not with an iPhone 8 you cannot. You would need a newer device. Apple's current iOS version is 3 major versions newer than iOS 16 and some developers, for various reasons, may stop developing for any but the two or possibly three most recent iOS versions. An iPhone 8 is just going to see fewer and fewer apps being updated for it. You would need at least an iPhone XS to download that app, but I wouldn't buy one of those because you'll likely find that it too will pretty soon drop off the list meeting the requirements for the next app version. I would look at getting an iPhone 11 at the very least.


Incidentally, iOS 17 isn't available at all now. If you had a device capable of upgrading to a higher iOS version it would go to iOS 18 at least.


I am completely unfamiliar with the app your need. I tend to run older equipment myself and sometimes you may find web-based versions available.

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 26, 2026 6:59 AM in response to cloweeoo

Not with an iPhone 8 you cannot. You would need a newer device. Apple's current iOS version is 3 major versions newer than iOS 16 and some developers, for various reasons, may stop developing for any but the two or possibly three most recent iOS versions. An iPhone 8 is just going to see fewer and fewer apps being updated for it. You would need at least an iPhone XS to download that app, but I wouldn't buy one of those because you'll likely find that it too will pretty soon drop off the list meeting the requirements for the next app version. I would look at getting an iPhone 11 at the very least.


Incidentally, iOS 17 isn't available at all now. If you had a device capable of upgrading to a higher iOS version it would go to iOS 18 at least.


I am completely unfamiliar with the app your need. I tend to run older equipment myself and sometimes you may find web-based versions available.

Can iPhone 8 update to iOS 17 for app compatibility?

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