Update Old Mobile App
Updating old iOS and Android apps for modern devices, SDKs, operating systems and App Store or Google Play requirements.
Updating Legacy Mobile Apps
If your app was built years ago and now needs modernising, I can help bring it up to date without unnecessary disruption.
Bring an old iOS or Android app up to date
Many older mobile apps continue to matter to the business, but over time they become harder to maintain. Platform rules change, SDKs move on, APIs are deprecated, devices behave differently and store submission requirements become stricter.
I help companies update old mobile apps, including:
- update old iOS app for new iOS version
- update Android app to newer target SDK
- modernise legacy Objective-C, Swift, Java or Kotlin code
- fix App Store and Google Play submission problems
- improve stability and supportability of older codebases
I am James Thornley, a senior software engineer with over 30 years of development experience and 15 years in mobile development across iOS, Android and backend systems.
Why Old Mobile Apps Need Updating
Even a stable app can drift out of date if it is not actively maintained.
New OS Versions
New iOS and Android releases can expose problems in older apps, especially around permissions, device behaviour, networking and background processing.
Deprecated APIs
Older apps often depend on frameworks, methods or third-party libraries that are no longer recommended or supported.
Store Rules Change
Apple and Google regularly change submission requirements, target SDK expectations, privacy rules and technical standards.
Performance Expectations
Older code can feel slow, unstable or awkward on modern devices, even if it used to work acceptably.
Original Developer Left
Many legacy apps are difficult to update because the original developer or agency is no longer available to maintain them.
Incremental Changes Add Up
Small postponed updates eventually become a larger modernisation problem that needs structured work to resolve safely.
Update Old iOS App
Older iOS apps often need targeted work to stay deployable and reliable.
I can help update old iOS apps where there are issues such as:
- legacy Objective-C code that needs modernising
- older Swift code that no longer builds cleanly
- deprecated iOS APIs
- new privacy and permissions requirements
- App Store submission failures
- compatibility issues on newer iPhones and iPads
Not every old iOS app needs a full rewrite. In many cases, the safer and more cost-effective approach is to update the app in place, stabilise it, and modernise the most important parts first.
Update Android App SDK
Android apps often need updating simply to remain eligible for Google Play submission.
I can help update Android apps where there are issues such as:
- outdated target SDK levels
- compatibility issues on newer Android versions
- old support libraries or deprecated APIs
- Google Play submission failures
- legacy Java or Kotlin maintenance problems
- backend/API behaviour that no longer matches the app assumptions
As with iOS, the right answer is often structured modernisation rather than starting again from scratch.
How I Update Older Apps
Updating a legacy app safely is usually about risk reduction and prioritisation.
My usual approach is:
- review the current codebase, build process and dependencies
- identify immediate blockers to building or releasing the app
- update platform, SDK and store-related requirements first
- test behaviour carefully across the real business workflows
- modernise the code incrementally where that reduces long-term maintenance risk
- leave the app in a more maintainable state than before
This is particularly important when the app is live and the business depends on it. The goal is not just to make it build again, but to make it supportable.
Update or Rewrite?
A full rewrite is not always the best answer.
Businesses are often told that an old mobile app should simply be rewritten. Sometimes that is justified, but quite often it is not.
A rewrite can introduce:
- more cost
- more delivery risk
- loss of existing business logic
- longer delays before anything improves
In many cases, the better approach is to stabilise the existing app first, update it to current platform requirements, and then decide whether deeper modernisation is needed later.
Related Situations
Updating an old app often overlaps with support and inherited-project work.
Old app update work is often linked to:
- an app that is also currently broken
- a project built by another developer
- a developer or agency that is no longer available
- a business need for ongoing maintenance after the update is complete
If that sounds familiar, you may also want to see Fix Existing Mobile App, Mobile App Maintenance, or What To Do If Your Mobile App Developer Disappeared.
Relevant Experience
My background is particularly suited to legacy mobile modernisation work.
- long-running iOS and Android maintenance work
- Objective-C to Swift modernisation
- Android SDK and compatibility update work
- backend and API troubleshooting for older apps
- taking over existing systems with minimal handover
You can see examples on the homepage portfolio, including TeamHaven, CHEP, AT Creative and other long-running systems.
Update Old Mobile App FAQ
Common questions from companies with older apps that need bringing up to date.
Can you update an old iOS app?
Yes. I can update older iOS apps, including legacy Objective-C and Swift codebases, to work with newer iOS versions and current App Store requirements.
Can you update Android apps for new SDK requirements?
Yes. I can update Android apps to newer target SDK levels and resolve compatibility and Google Play submission issues.
Do old apps always need a full rewrite?
No. In many cases an older app can be stabilised and modernised incrementally rather than rewritten from scratch.
Can you modernise the code as part of the update?
Yes. Where it makes sense, I can modernise the most important parts of the codebase to improve maintainability and reduce future risk.
Can you continue maintaining the app afterwards?
Yes. After the update work is complete, I can also provide ongoing maintenance and support.
Need to Update an Old Mobile App?
Phone
Email Me
Typical Enquiries
App crashes, legacy iOS or Android updates, App Store or Play Store issues, and projects where the original developer is no longer available.