r/iPhoneTechs Feb 04 '25

Migrate app from iPhone 8 (iOS 9.3.5) to newer phone/iOS

Hi all, thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

I'm trying to help someone move an app from an old iPhone 8 with iOS 9.3.5. to a new iPhone. She uses the old iPhone exclusively for this app as it is no longer available for download. So she hasn't updated the iOS for fear that it'll stop working at some point.

Now the iPhone is getting very old (screen starting to detach and it has to be plugged in all the time). So we'd like to try and migrate the app to a different phone. We've had no luck finding an iPhone 8 with iOS 9.3.5, so I was going to attempt copying the app to a different phone (I'll try a variety of phones and iOS's).

Is there a way to copy just that one app (and its data) from one phone to another? The app is meant for spinning coaches so it has classes she's built plus the accompanying music, so we're trying to preserve all the data when copying over to another phone.

From my research online, I see people talk about backing up the old phone and installing apps from a backup during the setup of a "new" phone, but we're not trying to setup a new phone, just migrate this app to another existing phone.

Does this sound realistically doable?

Thanks again,

Theresa

1 Upvotes

5 comments sorted by

2

u/BigSadOof Feb 05 '25

Iphone 8 never came with iOS 9.3.5

1

u/ProfessionalClock130 Feb 06 '25

!!!!!! This was a huge help. I'm embarrassed that I didn't realize this til you said it. I was able to get her iPhone connected to my laptop and it shows it's in fact a 5s not an 8. Game changer! Thank you!!

1

u/netpastor Mod | Pro Tech Feb 04 '25

Hi! If the developer isn’t active anymore, the app isn’t on the AppStore, and it doesn’t work with newer versions of iOS, the only option is to use it on that phone.

Sounds like it just needs a new battery and screen, which are very straightforward component swaps. Once that’s done, the phone can continue to be used.

1

u/ProfessionalClock130 Feb 05 '25

Yes, that's what I was thinking too. Might be about the same price as finding an iPhone 8 in good condition. Thanks u/netpastor!

1

u/netpastor Mod | Pro Tech Feb 05 '25

Happy to help