iPhone owners warned they could be throwing away money after major Apple change

IPHONE owners could be wasting money on iCloud services they are no longer receiving after Apple changed its rules. The iPhone-maker has altered the system requirements for iCloud, meaning devices must be running a certain type of iOS to access key features. iOS is the operating system that iPhones run on.

Earlier this week, Apple said iPhones operating on iOS 8 or below would no longer be able to access iCloud backups after 18 December. Handsets using any software version below iOS 8 will be able to back up their iPhones to iCloud, and access their saved data, until that deadline. After that date, existing backups will be deleted, and you won't be able to make new ones.

To use iCloud at all, according to Apple, iPhones must be running iOS 10 on an iPhone 5 or newer. Accessing iCloud+, a service that can cost up to £54.99/$59.

99 per month, also requires iPhone users to have iOS 15 or above downloaded. iCloud+ is Apple's premium cloud subscription. The service includes storage options in various sizes, as well as features like iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain, and HomeKit Secure Video support.

If your iPhone isn't running iOS 15 - or is incapable of doing so because it is too old - then you will be paying for a service you cannot receive. Fortunately, there are dozens of devices compatible with iOS 15. Here's the full list.

You can check which iOS your iPhone is operating on in Settings. Simply open Settings , click General and tap Software Update - here, you will be able to see which iOS version you have. The changes also impact iPads, the iPod touch and Macs.

So be sure to check that each of your devices is running the right iOS. Apple has broken down each software version necessary for each feature, on each device, here . Here are some of the best.

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