@iPhone 5 users: Update if you want to stay online

With GPS changes looming, Apple is warning iPhone 5 users their device may not  function properly if they don’t update.

In a full-screen alerts posted Saturday, Apple said iPhone 5 users will lose key online  features including email, web browsing, the App Store and iCloud if they don't update to  iOS 10.3.4 before November 3.

Starting just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019, iPhone 5 will require an iOS  update to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on  correct date and time, the warning said.

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.

（Photo: Unslpash）

Here is the full notice from Apple website:

Update your iPhone 5 to continue using App Store, iCloud, email, web, and  other services

Starting just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019,* iPhone 5 will require an iOS  update to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on  correct date and time including App Store, iCloud, email, and web browsing. 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.

Update your device's software

It's always a good idea to keep the operating system on your iPhone updated. If you  have an iPhone 5, it's especially important to update your device's software wirelessly  or using your computer before November 3 to maintain accurate GPS location and to  continue to use functions that rely on correct date and time including App Store, iCloud,  email, and web browsing.

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.

Check your device's iOS version

After you update your iPhone 5, you can check to make sure that your device has  updated successfully:

Open the Settings app.

Tap General, then tap About.

Look for the number next to Software Version.

The updated software version number should be 10.3.4.

Learn more

Learn how this issue affects other iPhone and iPad models.

If you’ve updated your device and you're still experiencing issues, try these articles:

* About privacy and Location Services in iOS 8 and later

* Get help with the date and time on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

* You should update your iPhone 5 before then based on your local time zone. You can  use the map on timeanddate.com to determine the difference between UTC and your  time zone.

Published Date: October 26, 2019

Other devices like the fourth-generation iPad are also affected, but they're only  expected to lose GPS functionality.

The full list of devices affected and needing updates are the iPhone 5 and the  fourth-generation iPad with Wi-Fi and Cellular needing to be updated to iOS 10.3.4.

The iPhone 4s, first-generation iPad mini Wi-Fi and Cellular, iPad 2 with Wi-Fi and  CDMA Cellular, and the third-generation iPad with Wi-Fi and Cellular should be updated  to iOS 9.3.6.

The issue does not affect iPod touch models or iPad models with Wi-Fi only, nor newer  iOS models.

Of course, you're not completely stuck if you don’t update to 10.3.4 before November  3rd, but it will be much more difficult because you will have to backup and restore to a  computer if you intend to move to the newer system.