Apple warns older iPhones will be cut off from the internet if they don’t update software

If you’ve held on to an old iPhone 5 handset, you’ll need to act quickly - as Apple has warned owners to update software or be disconnected this week.

Users who don’t download the iOS 10.3.4 update by Sunday, 3 November will be locked out of features including the App Store, web browsing and email.

Users of affected devices have received pop-up messages warning them to install the new version of the operating system.

Those who fail to update will lose access to the features, and will no longer be able to apply the software update wirelessly.

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Instead, users will have to connect devices to a Mac or PC to update to the new version of the operating system.

It’s to do with an issue relating to GPS time ‘rollover’ in April, Apple says, and only affects older devices.

Devices such as older iPads will also be affected, but will only lose GPS functions.

Apple said in a statement this week: “Starting just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019, some iPhone and iPad models introduced in 2012 and earlier will require an iOS update to maintain accurate GPS location.

“This is due to the GPS time rollover issue that began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019.

“Affected Apple devices are not impacted until just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019.

“If the update to iPhone 5 is not completed by November 3, 2019, you will be required to back up and restore using a Mac or PC in order to update because over-the-air software updates and iCloud Backup will not work.”