Apple Requiring All New Apps and App Updates to be Built With iOS 12 SDK by March 2019 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Requiring All New Apps and App Updates to be Built With iOS 12 SDK by March 2019

by

appstorelogocleanApple today asked developers to begin submitting apps that take advantage of new features in iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12, and macOS Mojave ahead of the upcoming launch of the new software updates.

You can now submit apps that take advantage of the powerful new capabilities in the next release of iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Build your apps using Xcode 10 GM seed, test with the latest releases of iOS 12, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, and submit them for review.

According to Apple, all new apps and app updates for iPhone, including universal apps, will be need to be built with the iOS 12 SDK and will need to include support for the iPhone XS Max starting in March 2019.

All new apps and app updates for Apple Watch will need to be built with the watchOS 5 SDK and will need to support Apple Watch Series 4 by the same date.

Apple plans to release iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12, and new software for the HomePod on Monday, September 17. Apple will release macOS Mojave a week later on Monday, September 24.

Top Rated Comments

ajgraves Avatar
106 months ago
There are still apps that are not updated for the original X... how about they start enforcing there?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
az431 Avatar
106 months ago
Can the iOS 12 SDK target iOS 10 or iOS 11, or does this mean that anyone not running iOS 12 is not going to be able to get app updates?
That's not what it means. The developer decides which OS versions to target when compiling the app. We generally don't target more than two iOS versions older than the current iOS version (iOS 10), but some developers are going back as far as iOS 8.

If the developer stops supporting an iOS version you will not receive any further app updates.
[doublepost=1536858824][/doublepost]
I said updates to the apps that already exist, meaning I thought when developers submitted an update it HAD to include support for the X. To me, support means scaling to fit the entire screen, etc. not just using the iOS 11/12 sdk, right? Like if they have to build the apps using the new SDK wouldn’t (or I guess shouldn’t) developers have to scale their apps accordingly?? This sounds like the iPhone 4 retina issue and iPhone 6+ scaling issue all over again *screams internally*



Ahhh okay. So this is to just to ensure support for something like say Shortcuts app? Just to make sure it works with iOS 12 not necessarily the UI? I thought they’d be basically intertwined as you need to use the iOS 12 SDK which kinda means you need to scale and make sure your app(s) support the larger screens (X, XS and Max)?
Building the app with the iOS 12 SDK means compiling the code to upload to Apple, nothing more. There is no requirement that a developer scale their apps or adapt their UI for newer devices, though if there was a major issue it would be flagged on app review.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
106 months ago
There are still apps that are not updated for the original X... how about they start enforcing there?
There are still apps that scale the resolution from the 4" phones (5/5s) to the iPhone 6/7/8's, and the apps are regularly updated.

It's a major pisser for me for a few apps that I use regularly that still haven't upgraded to even the 6/7/8 resolutions, much less the X.

I wonder if that will finally force them to make the apps scale properly on all larger phones.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
106 months ago
I hope this doesn't mean that another batch of older apps is set to become obsolete if they're not updated. I've already lost enough of them.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
106 months ago
OMG. I understand the big push to 64 bit, but Apple refusing to support their own code base for even a whole year is just bizarre.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
106 months ago
Not surprising. Keep up and keep building on the current platform.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Creator Studio iWork suite

Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]

Thursday October 22, 2026 11:01 am PDT by
Apple has temporarily removed Keynote, Pages, and Numbers from the App Store, just after releasing an update that added iPhone Duo support and a new Intelligent Assistant. It is not clear if the apps were removed intentionally, or if it is a bug. Apple has not said when the apps will be reinstated, but if it was in error, they should return soon. Update: The Mac versions are back without...
iPhone Duo Apps feature

Apple Reveals More Than 50 Apps That Will Be Updated for iPhone Duo

Thursday October 22, 2026 6:04 am PDT by
Apple today highlighted more than 50 third-party App Store apps that are or will soon be fully optimized for the iPhone Duo and its various layouts and poses. You can hold the iPhone Duo and set it down in a number of ways, such as partially folded like a book, placed down on a surface, or standing on its edges: With the Netflix app, for example, Apple said iPhone Duo users can scroll...
iPhone Duo Slack

Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store

Monday October 5, 2026 7:15 pm PDT by
Apple today announced that apps optimized for the iPhone Duo can now be submitted for App Store approval, ahead of the foldable device launching on Friday, October 23. While existing App Store apps will automatically run on the iPhone Duo, only apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later can dynamically resize to fill the entire space of the inner display, whereas unoptimized apps will have...
Latest Stories
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
Early Black Friday Brings Steep Price Drops on Apple's Latest iPhone Cases
40 minutes ago
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
John Ternus Hosting His First Earnings Call as Apple CEO Today
2 hours ago
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
Here's What Spotify Looks Like on Apple's HomeView
2 hours ago
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
iOS 27.2.1 Coming Soon, iOS 27.3 Beta Likely Available Tomorrow
3 hours ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
Mark Gurman: Apple Initially Aimed to Release iPhone Duo in November
4 hours ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple Products Available Now
4 hours ago
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
Apple Isn't Done With 2026: Here's What's Still Coming
4 hours ago
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
Apple 'HomeView Ultra' With 9-Inch 360º Screen Detailed in New Report
4 hours ago
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
Apple TV 4K Pre-Order Discount Returns at Amazon
5 hours ago
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo
5 hours ago
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
Canva Brings Free All-in-One Affinity App to iPad
5 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
iPhone Duo: Latest Buyer Wait Times
7 hours ago
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
iPhone Duo Owners Can't Change Display Zoom After Setup
3 hours ago
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
Apple HomeView Could Double as a Security Camera
9 hours ago
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
10 hours ago
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
1 day ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
1 day ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
1 day ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
1 day ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
2 days ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
2 days ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
2 days ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
2 days ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
3 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
3 days ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
3 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
3 days ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
3 days ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
3 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors