I have an old iPhone 4 that was sitting in a drawer and I'd like to use it again. But I remember Apple stopped updating it, and I wanted to know if it can still connect to the internet and receive messages. Is it worth trying to bring this phone back to life or is it already completely obsolete?
The iPhone 4 can't run any iOS version newer than 5.1.1, so it's basically impossible to use any modern apps, including WhatsApp, Instagram, or even the browser can have issues. The 3G network that the device supports has been shut down in many countries, so even if you can get it to turn on you might not have signal depending on your carrier. If you want it as a retro project or for your collection it's fine to keep it, but for actual use in 2026 it just doesn't work anymore.
If you actually want to try turning the device on, it will work, but it'll be stuck on iOS 5.1.1 from 2012 and Apple's servers for syncing data don't exist anymore. WiFi internet works (as long as the network uses WEP or WPA encryption, not the new ones), but any app that depends on modern connection - WhatsApp, current browsers, even email - will either error out or just won't open. Honestly, it's best to keep it as a collector's piece if you're into old gadgets, but using it day-to-day? Not happening.
Actually the device still turns on and can do more than it seems at first glance. It's true it's stuck on iOS 5.1.1 and most modern apps don't work, but Wi-Fi continues to work just fine. The kid can use Safari to open basic websites (some older ones work better), and if you have any app compatible with that version saved somewhere, it works. Syncing with Apple's servers is really a mess, you're right about that.
The trick everyone forgets is using the iPhone 4 as just a Wi-Fi device, kind of like an older iPod touch. If you install apps through compatible IPA files (it's possible to find old versions of some apps) or if you manage to jailbreak it with tools specific to iOS 5, you can extend quite a bit what's possible to do. There are online communities dedicated to reviving old iPhones and they have really detailed guides. It's not complicated at all if you have patience, and the phone won't stop working because you tried - worst case, you go back to how it was.
The messaging situation is more complicated though. Basic SMS works if you have a SIM card, but WhatsApp and any modern messaging app are out of reach. It's worth trying if it's just to have a toy device or to experience what life was like over a decade ago, but if you actually expected to communicate with people, better leave it in the drawer.
You can connect to Wi-Fi and browse, but there's an important detail that people might have overlooked: the SSL/TLS security certificates in Safari on iOS 5 expired in 2016, so most modern websites just refuse the connection. Basically it works for very basic stuff (viewing an old webpage, local photos) but for email, messages, or any app that needs a secure connection it's already problematic. It's worth turning on just for nostalgia, but don't count on it as a functional phone.
Log into answer.
