I have an iPhone 5c running iOS 10.3.3, which is the latest iOS version it supports. I’m trying to install Spotify on it—not looking for advanced features, just basic playback and favoriting. Unfortunately, I’ve never installed Spotify on this device before, so I can’t re-download an older version from the App Store. The Spotify web player doesn’t work on the browser either.
Apple Music works, but I’d really prefer to use my Spotify account. On Android, I could easily find and install an APK file for an older version of Spotify that works. Is there any iOS equivalent to this for legacy devices? Or even a third-party method to access Spotify?
I’ve dealt with older iPhones and legacy apps quite a bit, and one trick that often helps is to use iTunes on a PC or Mac to “Preload” the App. Basically, you download Spotify via iTunes desktop using the same Apple ID that you use on your iPhone 5c. After that, open the App Store on your device and check your Purchased apps. Sometimes Apple’s servers still host an older compatible version and will prompt you to download it on your iPhone 5c running iOS 10.3.3.
This isn’t guaranteed, especially if the app developer has removed legacy versions, but it’s the closest Apple’s system has to the Android APK approach. Think of it as side-loading through Apple’s own ecosystem without jailbreaking. Also, for developers or testers working on legacy iOS compatibility, tools like LambdaTest can simulate older iOS versions to check how apps or progressive web apps behave in these constrained environments.
Building on what Emma said, if you’re comfortable going a bit deeper, you might want to consider a third-party app store—though this requires jailbreaking your iPhone 5c. Jailbreaking opens up options like AppCake, TutuApp, or Cydia, where you can sideload IPA files—the iOS equivalent of Android APKs. These stores often keep archives of older app versions compatible with iOS 10.3.3.
This method gives you more direct control to install exactly the version of Spotify you need, but it’s riskier: jailbreaking can expose your phone to malware, certificate revokes, or even bricking. If you’re involved in app QA or development across legacy devices, you can also use LambdaTest’s real device cloud to test apps on iOS 10.3.3 without risking your own device, before you decide whether to jailbreak or try unsupported sideloading.
To add a further layer of options, you might explore using lightweight third-party Spotify clients or web wrappers—though these are quite rare and unofficial. Some developers build apps that interface with Spotify’s API and offer basic playback and library features suitable for older iOS versions like 10.3.3. These aren’t on the App Store, so you’d have to install them manually, usually via IPA sideloading or after jailbreaking.
If you’re thinking about developing or testing such third-party solutions yourself, LambdaTest again comes in handy. It lets you validate browser fallback behavior and API functionality on older Safari versions bundled with iOS 10. This approach can help ensure your solution works well on legacy devices without relying on Apple’s app distribution system or risky jailbreaks.