Comment by Sophira
2 days ago
It's also worth noting that app stores tend to have a range of SDK versions that they will accept for new uploads. (For iOS apps on the Apple App Store, the minimum is currently the SDK for iOS 18[0], and in April 2026, that will change to a minimum of the SDK for iOS 26[1]).
In some cases (such as with Google Play), app stores will even unpublish apps that were built with old versions of the SDK.
In other words, if you want to update your app at all, you have to stick to the rules that they provide regarding SDK versions.
[0] https://developer.apple.com/news/upcoming-requirements/?id=0...
I'm not talking about the SDK version, I'm talking about the minimum supported OS version, which is selected by the developer in Xcode. While App Store requires a minimum SDK version, your app using that SDK version is free to target iOS versions all the way back to some limit that Xcode sets, which is currently 15.
I understood what you were saying. I was continuing on from your point that the different SDK versions only support a limited range of devices, by noting that by updating the SDK, the range of devices that your app will work on will be, at a minimum, the minimum supported device for that SDK.
I'm sorry for being unclear.