It is standard practice for updated apps to no longer support older operating systems. This is the case for iPlayer as well as iPlayer Radio, and apps by other companies and organisations. The BBC Sounds app requires users to have a device which is capable of running iOS 11. Supporting operating systems older than this is very costly and does not represent good value for money for licence fee payers, given the relatively small number of users we have still using those older operating systems.
However, in the majority of cases users who have older devices which cannot be upgraded (e.g. iPhone 4S/5/5C or iPad 4th generation) can still use the BBC Sounds website at bbc.co.uk/sounds. More details are available here: Can I use BBC Sounds on my mobile or tablet?
How do I update my device’s operating system?
The BBC Sounds app requires iOS 11 or above and it may be possible to update your device. Head to the Apple help page for instructions if you need help with updating: Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
