Apple Ending iCloud Bookmark Sync Support for Older Devices

Hey there, Apple fans! If you’re using an older device, there are a few changes coming to iCloud Bookmark syncing that you should know about. Apple has announced that starting December 18, 2024, iCloud Bookmark syncing will no longer be supported on older versions of iOS and macOS. Here’s what this means for you and what steps you can take to stay up to date.

What’s Changing?

Starting December 18, 2024, devices will need to be running at least iOS 11, iPadOS 11, or macOS Sierra 10.12.6 to sync bookmarks or access bookmarks on iCloud.com. This change is in line with Apple's minimum software requirements, and it means that devices running older versions—like iOS 10 or macOS Sierra 10.12.5 and earlier—will no longer be able to sync bookmarks across devices.

If your device is already running updated software, you’re good to go, and no further action is required.

How Does This Affect Your Bookmarks?

If you’re using iOS 10 or earlier or macOS Sierra 10.12.5 or earlier, here’s how this change will affect you:

• No More Bookmark Syncing: Devices running these older versions won’t be able to sync bookmarks across devices anymore. This means new bookmarks created on these devices will stay local and won’t appear on your other devices.

• Existing Bookmarks Stay Safe: You won’t lose any bookmarks that are already saved on your device, and you can still create new bookmarks. However, those bookmarks will no longer sync or be recoverable on iCloud.com.

How to Stay Up to Date

If you want to continue syncing your bookmarks across all your devices, you’ll need to update to at least iOS 11 on your iPhone or iPad, and macOS Sierra 10.12.6 on your Mac. Once updated, your bookmarks will keep syncing seamlessly through iCloud Bookmarks.

And if you’re using a Windows PC, you can still sync bookmarks using iCloud for Windows and the iCloud Bookmarks browser extension—just another way Apple is making sure you can keep your bookmarks up to date, no matter the device.

Options for Older Devices

If updating your older device isn’t possible, you might want to consider manually exporting or copying your bookmarks. This way, you can save them elsewhere and keep them handy even if they’re not synced automatically through iCloud.

Apple has also announced that support for iCloud Backups in iOS 8 will be ending at the same time, so if you’re using older software, it’s a good idea to update or consider alternative backup methods as well.

Final Thoughts

Apple’s decision to end support for iCloud Bookmark syncing on older devices is part of their effort to ensure users are on the latest and most secure versions of their software. Keeping your devices updated not only helps you enjoy the newest features but also keeps your data more secure.

If you’re using an older device, make sure to take action before December 18, 2024, so you can continue enjoying the convenience of iCloud syncing. And remember, if updating isn’t an option, you can always export your bookmarks to keep them safe.