My iPhone "cannot be used" until I download latest version. I try to update, it says I have the latest version.

Question

My iPhone "cannot be used" until I download latest version. I try to update, it says I have the latest version.

I'm not sure what's happening here but it seems as if Apple is intentionally making it impossible for me to use my phone. I can't update to iTunes 12 because I'm runnning OS/X 10.6.8. When I try to update from iTunes it tells me 11.4 is the current version but I can't use my iPhone because Apple doesn't want me too. I definitely don't want to update my OS because I have loads of software loaded and I simply cannot afford to buy it all again just to help Apple make a buck. What's the fix here? Can I uninstall iTunes and install an older version?

iPhone 4S, iOS 9.1

Posted on Oct 28, 2015 8:07 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 28, 2015 8:20 PM in response to stephanfromshanghai

You need iTunes 12.3.1 which requires that you upgrade to Os X 10.8.5 at least.

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Answer 2

Oct 28, 2015 8:36 PM in response to Allan Eckert

So Apple has intentionally made my iPhone unusable? My computer works well and has all the software I want, why would I upgrade and force myself to buy all this software again when it functions perfectly well now? I'm definitely NOT willing to undertake the upgrade and force myself into literally thousands of dollars of expenditures. There has to be another fix. Can I

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Answer 3

Oct 29, 2015 8:56 AM in response to stephanfromshanghai

Well Apple didn't force you into anything. You choose to upgrade your iPhone without fully comprehending the ramifications of that upgrade before doing it.

If you have such an investment in software that is only compatible with your current version of OS X your Mac is running, you can create a partition for the newer version of OS X that your Mac will support and install the new iTunes there. You can then boot to that partition to take care of your iPhone with the new version of iTunes from there.

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Answer 4

Oct 29, 2015 6:59 PM in response to Allan Eckert

Thanks, this sounds like something I can do to save my iPhone functionality. Many thanks!

I have to say, I own an iPhone and we're always encouraged to update to keep things functioning smoothly and secure and I don't know how I could possibly know an update would completely sabotage my phone's ability to sync so saying I'm not "forced" to update, although true, kind of glosses over the fact that we are strongly encouraged to do so all the time and given no idea whatsoever beforehand that integral functionality might be taken away. The "choice" is kind of false in that context because it's strongly discouraged and disincentivized.

I don't think that's a very respectful policy from Apple's end to paying customers who have perfectly functioning devices. In any other situation, with any other company, it would be utterly unacceptable. If your car suddenly stopped being able to start its engine because you updated your radio software you would be totally ****** and rightfully so.

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