Install Old App Versions from the App Store Without Updating 8

Updated with new steps 1/10/2018!  Please donate a few bucks after this article helps you! Deal?

This article covers how to workaround the iOS 8 (or even iOS 11) requirements for many applications currently on the App Store. For example, I required the Trello App on one of my iOS 7 testing devices but the latest version of Trello at the time of this writing requires iOS 8 to download.  On the App Store, if you have previously owned the application, downloading older versions will be automatic. But what if you’ve never downloaded Trello before, but you want to download it for the first time today? You can’t, if it requires the latest iOS, unless you perform a workaround. In my case,  I am not interested in upgrading my device to iOS 8 yet, because a considerable number of people still use iOS 7 at the time of this writing, and I want to avoid updating. So how do I do it?

I found a workaround which follows.

Symptoms:

• You are getting an error when attempting to install an application from the Apple App Store. The error reads similar to “iOS 8 is required to download this application” or “iOS 11 is required to download this application”
• You have an Apple device with an old version of iOS, such as iOS 6 or iOS 7
• Your Apple account has never owned this application before
• You don’t want to or cannot update your iOS to the latest version
• iTunes won’t let you download the app and displays “iOS app store only”

Workaround it:

In some cases, if the publisher of the App has created versions of the app compatible with iOS 6 and iOS 7, for example, then those older versions may still be on the App Store. The way you have to get to them is to somehow purchase the app so that you will have the rights to download previous versions.  In my case, the application I wanted was named Trello and it just so happens that they have always allowed iOS 6 and iOS 7 devices to download old versions. My iOS 7 device was able to install Trello. It may not be the absolute latest version, but it works great.

Workaround A: Extra Device Workaround:

1. If you have another device that does have the required iOS, log in with your Apple account and purchase or install the App in question.
2. Return to to your old device and attempt to install again. This time you will be given an option to download a previous version (if it exists.)
3. If you don’t have an extra device, move on to the next workaround.

Workaround B: iTunes Workaround:

1. Install iTunes version older than 12.7 on your computer and open it.
   (Because iTunes 12.7 removes the iOS store from iTunes, you must install a version of iTunes that is older. The most up-to-date versions that meet this criteria appear to be iTunes 12.6.2 for macOS and iTunes 12.1.3 for Windows 64-bit (32-bit also). A list of archived iTunes downloads are provided here by Apple.  I also have archived these versions to my hard drive and will likely make them available upon request if Apple removes their availability.)
2. Sign In to your Apple account within iTunes on this computer.
3. Go to the iTunes store (within iTunes) and search for and “Get” the App you desire. Purchasing and “installing” and “getting” are the same thing, even if the app is free.
4. Return to to your old device and attempt to install again. This time you will be given an option to download a previous version (if it exists.) If it does not exist, this is because the app developer did not provide one.
5. Did I just help you? Please consider sending me a few bucks on Paypal or Venmo. A guy named “JM” in Guadalajara, Mexico donated $5 to me. I’m receiving financial support from Mexico! I love it. If JM can do it, then so can you. Thanks, Amigo.

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