Why Apps Disappear from the App Store on Old Devices
When a developer updates their app to require iOS 16, it vanishes from search results on any device running iOS 15 or below. The App Store simply doesn't show you apps you can't install. If you type 'Spotify' into search on an iOS 15 iPhone, you get nothing — or worse, it shows but greys out with 'Not compatible with this device'.
This feels like a dead end. But Apple built a workaround into the system that almost nobody knows about.
The Trick: Purchased Apps on a Newer Device
Here's how it works:
- On any current iOS device (iOS 16+), download the app you want using the same Apple ID. If it's free, just install it. If it's paid, you need to buy it once — but if you've ever bought it previously, it's already in your Purchased list.
- On your old iOS 15 device, open the App Store.
- Tap your profile picture (top right) to open your account.
- Tap Purchased.
- Search for the app in your Purchased list. It appears here even though it doesn't show in normal App Store search.
- Tap the cloud download icon next to the app.
- iOS will show a prompt: "This app requires iOS 16.0 or later. Would you like to download the last compatible version?"
- Tap Download.
The app installs — not the current version, but the last version that supported your iOS. For many apps, this is the version from 2023 or 2024 that still worked on iOS 15.
📍 Where to find Purchased: App Store → tap your profile picture (top right) → Purchased. If you share purchases with family, you'll see tabs for My Purchases and family members. Make sure you're on 'My Purchases'.
What Does and Doesn't Work
This technique works well, but has limits:
Works for:
- Any app you've previously installed or purchased with the same Apple ID
- Apps that submitted multiple binary versions to Apple (most major apps)
- Apps on iOS 15 devices where the app's last iOS 15-compatible version was submitted
Doesn't work for:
- Apps you've never downloaded before on any device with that Apple ID — you can't buy/install on a current device if the account has never had the app
- Apps that have been completely removed from the App Store (delisted) — they won't appear in Purchased
- Apps where the developer never submitted a version that supported your iOS — some newer apps have always required iOS 16+
- Apps whose backend servers have changed since the old version — the old app version may install but fail to connect or load data
⚠️ Important note on YouTube and Spotify: This trick works for YouTube and Spotify — but the installed older versions will have limited functionality. YouTube's older version eventually loses server compatibility. Spotify's older versions may authenticate but have restricted features. For these specific apps, the Safari workaround is often more reliable long-term.
Apps Where This Works Particularly Well
Some apps have well-maintained older versions that work reliably on iOS 15 even after reinstalling this way:
- GarageBand — If you're on iOS 15 and GarageBand's current version requires iOS 16, the older version via Purchased often installs and works correctly. You won't get updates, but the core functionality remains.
- Duolingo — Language learning apps tend to have solid older versions.
- Most puzzle games — Offline-focused games with no server dependency work perfectly.
- GoodNotes 5 — If you purchased GoodNotes 5 (the older paid version), it may be in your Purchased list and reinstallable on iOS 15.
Step-by-Step: Getting an App You've Never Installed Before
If you want an app that's never been on your Apple ID account, you need a two-step process:
- On a current iPhone or iPad (iOS 16+), go to the App Store and install the app normally. For free apps this costs nothing. For paid apps, you'll need to purchase once.
- Once installed on the current device, it's now in your Purchased history tied to your Apple ID.
- On your old iOS 15 device, follow the Purchased → Download steps above.
This is especially useful for: apps your family member uses on a newer device (share Apple ID temporarily), apps you want to try before committing to upgrading, or apps you previously deleted and want to recover.
One More Trick: Check Family Sharing
If you're part of a Family Sharing group, you can access apps purchased by family members through the Purchased → family member tab. If someone in your family has a newer iPhone and has downloaded the app you want, it appears in their Purchased list — and you can download the last compatible version on your older device. This is perfectly within Apple's Family Sharing terms.
Our verdict
The Purchased apps route is the official, supported way to install older app versions on iOS 15 devices. Apple built this in specifically for exactly this scenario. It won't solve every problem — apps with changed backends may not work fully — but for many apps it's the difference between having a working install and having nothing. Try it before assuming an app is permanently inaccessible on your old device.
See what's still available on iOS 15
Browse apps still supported natively on iOS 15 — no tricks needed.
Browse iOS 15 compatible apps →Also see: YouTube not working on old iPad/iPhone · Apps that dropped iOS 15 support · Jailbreaking — another option for power users