Apple Ends Software Support for 16 Devices This Fall

Apple will end software support for 16 devices this fall across four of its operating systems, with the Apple Watch facing the steepest round of cuts in the product's history.

The full scope of this year's drops became clear at WWDC 2026, where Apple detailed device compatibility for macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27.

The one reprieve is iOS 27, which supports the same iPhone models as iOS 26 with no devices removed. The HomePod lineup is also unchanged.

Apple's new operating systems are expected to be released in September following a period of beta testing.

watchOS 27

The Apple Watch sees the sharpest cuts of any product this year. watchOS 27 drops five models in a single wave and now requires an S9 or S10 chip.

By comparison, watchOS 26 supported the same lineup as watchOS 11 before it, including the Series 6 and later, the SE (2nd generation) and later, and every Apple Watch Ultra model. Wiping out three launch generations at once is the largest loss of current software support in the Apple Watch's history.

The following models will not run watchOS 27:

• Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
• Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
• Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
• Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation, 2022)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation, 2022)

iPadOS 27

The iPad lineup faces an unusually aggressive set of cuts as well. iPadOS 27 raises the minimum requirement to the A14 Bionic chip or the M1 chip, dropping five models that still run iPadOS 26.

By contrast, iPadOS 26 removed only a single device from the iPadOS 18 list, the 7th generation iPad.

The following models will not run iPadOS 27:

• iPad Air (3rd generation, 2019)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd generation, 2018)
• iPad Pro 11 inch (1st generation, 2018)
• iPad (8th generation, 2020)
• iPad mini (5th generation, 2019)

macOS 27 Golden Gate

macOS Golden Gate closes the book on Intel Macs.

The four Intel machines still supported by macOS Tahoe do not make the cut this year.

Apple said last year that macOS Tahoe would be the final release for Macs built before the Apple silicon transition, and macOS 27 makes that official.

The following models will not run macOS Golden Gate:

• MacBook Pro (16 inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (13 inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• iMac (2020)
• Mac Pro (2019)

tvOS 27

Apple TV loses two models with tvOS 27. Only the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV 4K models will receive the update.

The following models will not run tvOS 27:

• Apple TV HD (2015)
• Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017)

What Affected Owners Can Do

Owners of these devices are not immediately cut off. Apple typically continues issuing security patches for the previous operating system version for at least a year after it is superseded. For the latest features, though, newer hardware is the only path forward.