ITVX, the streaming service that replaced ITV Hub, will soon stop working on Apple’s older mobile devices – and will only be supported on devices with iOS 14 or later.
This means that ITVX will no longer work on bygone devices like the iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPad Mini 3 and more (see the full list below).
- October 1 Update: The ITVX App is now down for many additional iOS devices – here’s what we know so far.
And even though these devices are quite old by now (the iPhone 6 was released in 2014), with Apple’s devices being so popular, many people across the UK surely still own and use them.
The good news? Even though iOS 14 is already listed as a requirement for the ITVX app, ITV confirmed to us that support would be dropped from the end of August 2023 – so you have until then to check your options.
With this upcoming change, older Apple devices join a growing list of devices that don’t support ITV’s streaming app – from popular Freeview boxes like the Humax FVP-5000t, to Freesat boxes like the Humax Hb1000s, and older Smart TVs from Samsung and other manufacturers.
What Is ITVX?
ITVX, which launched late last year, is a free-to-watch (with adverts) service that replaced the long-running ITV Hub app, and is now a full-fledged streaming destination.
In addition to the on-demand content, you can also stream all of ITV’s live channels via the app, as well as several “themed” ad-supported live channels that are dedicated to a single series or theme (but not on Freeview Play devices and TVs).
Later this year, ITV is planning to close its long-running children’s channel – CITV – with its programmes moving to a special section of ITVX. Therefore, without the ITVX app, kids won’t be able to watch most of ITV’s children’s content anymore.
ITVX is a free streaming service first and foremost (with adverts), but it also has an optional Premium tier that removes most (but not all) of the adverts – and also gives you access to content from BritBox.
ITVX also recently announced that another standalone streaming service – Studio Canal Presents – would be added as a perk to ITVX Premium later this year.
ITVX Premium costs £5.99/month or £59.99/year.
ITVX is available on most of the streaming devices and Smart TVs sold in the UK, as well as on Virgin Media’s TV boxes, Sky Glass, Sky Stream – and, it was recently added to Sky Q as well.
It’s also available on most mobile devices – such as Android phones (with Android version 5.0 and up) and tablets, as well as iOS phones and tablets – although that list will now get smaller.
Older iPhones And iPads Losing ITVX
ITV recently updated its list of devices that are compatible with the ITVX app. Until last week, that list included Apple devices with iOS 12.2 or later – but that has since changed to iOS 14 or later.
Regarding this change, an ITV spokesperson told Cord Busters:
“From the end of August 2023, ITVX will be available on Apple mobile devices running on OS 14 and above, and will no longer support devices on OS 12 and 13.
“These older devices and operating systems have technical constraints which limit our ambitions for the highest quality ITVX viewing experience.”
This means that from August, ITVX will no longer be supported on the following Apple phones (since they don’t support iOS 14) –
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 4s
- iPhone 4
Older iPhone models will also not be supported, naturally.
Furthermore, these older tablets also don’t support iOS 14 – therefore ITVX will stop working on them as well:
- iPad mini 3
- iPad mini 2
- iPad mini (1st generation)
- iPad Air 1
- iPod touch 6th generation
Again, if your tablet / iPod touch is even older than the ones listed here – then it will also not support ITVX.
Every iOS device that does support iOS 14 (so basically iPhone 6s and above), will continue to support ITVX for the time being.
