Apple to Halt Safari Bookmark Syncing for Older Devices
iCloud Modernization Impacts Legacy Operating Systems
Apple recently announced an impending change to its iCloud services that will impact users of older iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Starting December 18, 2024, Safari bookmark syncing will cease for devices running iOS 10 or earlier and macOS Sierra 10.12.5 or earlier. This decision stems from Apple’s updated minimum software requirements for iCloud, as detailed in a newly published support document. This move reflects Apple’s ongoing efforts to streamline and modernize its cloud infrastructure.
El7vol28e-K2YRs=/400×0/article-new/2021/06/iCloud-General-Feature.jpg?lossy 400w,https://images.macrumors.com/t/jGG1TDYYCDA4OLNytQuXlZDvPAc=/800×0/article-new/2021/06/iCloud-General-Feature.jpg?lossy 800w,https://images.macrumors.com/t/GkFeuDOWhST4JJCTMVHyVjuZ2s=/1600×0/article-new/2021/06/iCloud-General-Feature.jpg 1600w,https://images.macrumors.com/t/FL1pc7gbqhJSQpBmIEyqpDo2h4g=/2500×0/filters:noupscale()/article-new/2021/06/iCloud-General-Feature.jpg 2500w” sizes=”(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 697px” alt=”iCloud General Feature” width=”2250″ height=”1266″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-803318″/>
Impact on Existing Bookmarks and Future Synchronization
While existing bookmarks on these older devices will remain intact, they will no longer synchronize with other Apple devices or iCloud.com. New bookmarks created on these legacy systems will also remain local to the device. Think of it like having separate filing cabinets; the older cabinets still hold documents, but they no longer communicate with the central filing system.
Apple emphasizes that users can preserve their bookmarks by updating their devices to iOS 11 or later, or macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or later, to leverage the current iCloud Bookmarks system. Detailed instructions for updating various Apple devices, including Macs and PCs, are available in the support document. Alternatively, users can manually copy or export their bookmarks, a process also outlined in the document. For those already using iOS 11 or later, or macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or later, no action is necessary.
Further iCloud Changes: Device Backups
This change coincides with another iCloud update. Starting on the same date, December 18, 2024, iCloud device backups for iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches will require iOS 9 or later. Users with devices running older iOS versions will need to update to iOS 9 or later or create a manual backup on a Mac or PC. Apple has stated that any iCloud backups from pre-iOS 9 devices will be deleted after this deadline. This information is detailed in a separate support document. These updates underscore Apple’s commitment to maintaining a secure and efficient cloud ecosystem by encouraging users to adopt newer operating systems.
