Why is Apple Dropping 32-bit App Support and How Will it Impact Your App?

Rendering 32-bit apps obsolete, Apple shifts to 64-bit only support

With the updates of the redesigned App Store and iOS 11 announced at WWDC 2017, Apple will also be phasing out 32-bit app support this Fall when iOS 11 will be made available to the public. This means that many legacy apps will no longer function at all. The answer to why Apple is dropping 32-bit app support is quite simple: to improve the performance of the iPhone.

How Does 32-bit Support Impact iPhone Performance?

Apple is expected to get rid of all the 32-bit code from iOS itself. Currently, all recent apps in the iOS store have 32-bit code along with the 64-bit code, due to the App Store regulating its submission requirements. When 32-bit legacy apps run on a device that has a 64-bit support, a 32-bit subsystem has to be loaded before the app can actually run on the 64-bit device. This affects the device’s battery, performance, as well as the memory.

The following iOS devices are 64-bit:

• iPhone 5s/SE/6/6s/7
• iPad Air and iPad Air 2
• iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 4
• Sixth-generation iPod touch