Why Apps Break After iOS and Android Updates
By CodexierPublished 5 min read
A common surprise for app owners: nothing was changed, yet after a new iOS or Android version the app crashes on launch, notifications stop arriving or the login screen looks wrong. The app did not change, but the platform it runs on did. Apple and Google release a major operating system version every year, retire old interfaces, tighten permissions and set deadlines that apps must meet to stay in the stores. This guide explains the cycle, what typically breaks and how to budget so it does not catch you off guard.
The yearly OS release cycle
| When | Apple | |
|---|---|---|
| Early summer | New iOS announced at WWDC, developer betas start | Betas of the next Android version are already running |
| Summer | Public betas; time to test your app | Android's major release now arrives around mid-year |
| Late summer | Release candidates | Play Store target API deadline for new apps and updates |
| September | New iOS released alongside new iPhones | Updates roll out across manufacturers over months |
| Spring | Apple requires builds with the latest SDK for new submissions | Planning for next year's target level |
Exact dates move each year; check Apple's and Google's developer news for the current deadlines.
Deprecated APIs and permissions
Most breakage has three causes. First, deprecated interfaces: a function the app relies on is marked as outdated, then changed or removed. Second, new privacy and permission rules: access to location, photos, contacts, notifications, the clipboard or background activity becomes stricter, and code written for the old behaviour fails silently. Third, third-party libraries: your app depends on dozens of packages for maps, payments, analytics or login, and each must also be updated for the new OS.
- Push notifications that need a new permission prompt or configuration.
- Background tasks such as location tracking or sync that are restricted further.
- Layout changes, for example edge-to-edge screens that overlap content drawn for older layouts.
- Photo and file access moving to pickers that return only what the user selects.
- Login flows using web views or third-party SDKs that stop working until updated.
- Cross-platform frameworks such as React Native or Flutter needing a version upgrade before the app can target the new OS.
Store deadlines for target versions
Even if the app still works, the stores force movement. Google Play requires new apps and updates to target a recent Android API level, with a deadline each year; apps that fall too far behind become unavailable to new users on newer devices. Apple requires new submissions and updates to be built with a recent Xcode and SDK. In practice, if you have not updated the app in a year or more, the next small change may first require a framework upgrade. See our App Store review guide for the submission side.
Beta testing before release
- Install the developer betas on a test device as soon as they are stable enough, usually in early summer.
- Run through a written test script for the app's critical paths: login, main tasks, payments, notifications.
- Check crash reporting for errors from beta OS versions; testers and early adopters show up there first.
- Update the framework and third-party libraries, and rebuild with the new SDK.
- Ship a compatibility release before or right after the public OS launch.
- Watch crash rates and reviews for two weeks after the OS release.
Automated tests on the critical paths make this far cheaper. Without them, every OS release means a full manual test pass on both platforms.
Planning the update budget
Yearly compatibility work
Plan a fixed block of work every summer for testing on betas, upgrading the framework and libraries, and shipping a compatibility release on both platforms.
Continuous upkeep
Smaller dependency updates during the year keep each yearly jump small. Skipping them makes the next upgrade larger and riskier.
Emergency buffer
Keep some capacity for the rare breaking change that appears only after launch on certain devices.
Our guide to what app maintenance costs breaks down the full picture. When you do not need a maintenance agreement: if the app is an internal tool on managed devices where you control OS updates, or you have a developer in-house, you can run this cycle yourselves. For everyone else, our app maintenance and scaling service covers the yearly cycle; see pricing or book a call.
Frequently asked questions
Our app worked yesterday and crashes after the update. What now?
Check crash reports for the new OS version to find the failing code, then fix and submit an update. If the app cannot be fixed quickly, consider telling users on the affected version in your app listing and support channels while you work on it.
Can we tell users not to update their phones?
Not realistically. Most phones update automatically, and security updates matter for users. Plan for the new version instead of hoping users stay on the old one.
Will the app be removed if we do not update it?
Not immediately, but Google Play hides apps that target outdated API levels from new users on newer devices, and Apple may remove apps that no longer work or have not been updated for a long time. Over a couple of years an unmaintained app fades out.
Does a cross-platform framework make this easier?
It means one codebase to update, but you also depend on the framework keeping up with both platforms. Framework upgrades can be sizeable, so keep them current rather than skipping versions.
Get ahead of the next OS release
Tell us when your app was last updated and what it is built with. In fifteen minutes we can tell you what the next OS release is likely to break and what it takes to be ready.
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