How to Find and Manage 32-Bit Applications in iOS 10.3

Apple will soon cut off support for 32-bit applications — and the evidence is mounting that the change will come sooner than later.

We’ve been warned that 32-bit apps could slow down our iPhones since iOS 9. But in recent updates, such as iOS 10.3, Apple has re-worded its warning pop-up to state that 32-bit apps will stop working entirely in “a future version of iOS.” We’re still not entirely sure when Apple will officially cut the cord on 32-bit, but it’s likely that it’ll happen with the release of iOS 11 — and possibly before.

Many app developers have likely upgraded their applications to 64-bit — especially since Apple has started requiring new apps to do so. But there still might be 32-bit apps hidden in your iPhone. They might slow down your phone if used, and once they stop working, they’ll just be a waste of space.

Luckily, Apple has included a new App Compatibility section in iOS 10.3 that makes it easy to track down and manage 32-bit applications. Here’s how to use it.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on General.
3. Tap on About.
4. Tap on Applications.
5. At this point, if nothing happens, it means that all of your apps are properly updated to 64-bit.
6. If do you have any 32-bit apps, it’ll take you into an App Compatibility menu.
7. Alternatively, when you open a 32-bit application, you can tap on the More Information button in the pop-up window to reach the same menu.

From here, you can also delete apps from this menu — saving you from hunting down each one individually. Additionally, you can check to see if there are any available updates for the 32-bit apps. If there aren’t, Apple is encouraging users to contact the app’s developers to get more information.

To do so, just tap on the app in question and it’ll take you to its App Store page. From here, you can tap Developer Website, where you’ll likely find social media links and contact forms so you can urge the dev teams to update your favorite 32-bit app. While there’s no guarantee that a developer will update the app — or even respond — it’s certainly worth a shot. Especially since iOS 11 is expected to purge over 200,000 abandoned or non-updated apps from the App Store.