Microsoft Defender for Mobile to Drop Support for iOS 16 Devices

Microsoft is preparing another platform support change across its security ecosystem. According to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, Microsoft Defender for mobile will soon stop supporting devices running older versions of Apple’s mobile operating system.

The announcement appears in Admin Center message ID MC1245219 and confirms that support for iOS 16 and earlier versions will officially end on April 30, 2026.

Microsoft Defender will stop supporting iOS 16 devices

After the cutoff date, devices running iOS 16 or earlier will no longer receive security updates, new features, or technical support through Microsoft Defender for mobile. The company will also prevent new installations of the Defender app on devices running those unsupported versions of iOS.

Microsoft explained that the change aligns Defender with the lifecycle of Apple’s iOS platform and ensures the security tool can rely on newer operating system capabilities and protections.

Existing Defender installations on unsupported devices may continue running temporarily, but they will not receive updates once support ends.

Older iPhones will lose Defender protection

Several Apple devices cannot upgrade beyond iOS 16, which means they will lose official Microsoft Defender support once the deadline passes.

These devices include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, which Apple no longer supports with newer iOS releases.

Organizations that still use these devices in corporate environments may need to replace them or transition to newer iPhones capable of running iOS 17 or later.

Microsoft recommends preparing before the deadline

Microsoft advises organizations to begin preparing for the change before April 2026. IT administrators should identify devices still running iOS 16 using mobile device management tools and encourage users to update their devices where possible.

In cases where hardware cannot support newer versions of iOS, organizations may need to replace those devices to maintain Defender protection. Microsoft also recommends updating internal documentation and notifying affected users so they understand the upcoming change.

The company has not clarified whether telemetry or reporting data from iOS 16 devices will continue to appear in the Defender XDR dashboard after support ends.

Microsoft continues tightening security policies

The Defender mobile change comes amid broader security developments across Microsoft’s ecosystem. In separate incidents, researchers recently reported cases where attackers managed to bypass Windows Defender protections, while other campaigns abused legitimate digital certificates to compromise PCs.

Microsoft has also introduced authentication changes in enterprise services. PowerShell for Exchange Online is moving away from the Credential parameter in favor of mandatory multi-factor authentication as the company continues strengthening its security posture.

Via Neowin