Sky TV viewers could lose access to Sky Go in a matter of days.
Given some Sky TV subscribers are being targetted by a spate of phone scams and others will have their television contract cancelled next month, it’s been a rough few days for fans of the popular broadcaster.
For those who don’t know, Sky Go lets you stream free-to-air channels, like ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 over a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. You can also watch content from your Sky TV packages live or on-demand, including Sky Cinema and Sky Sports, if that’s included in your monthly bundle.
Starting from September 17, Sky Go will stop working on any iPhone or iPad still running iOS 12.
This operating system, first launched back in September 2018, will no longer be supported by Sky Go. If you want to keep watching on Sky Go, you’ll need to upgrade to a newer version of iOS or iPadOS from Apple.
Sky Go is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android …but the latest shake-up only impacts those with Apple devices who want to watch live television and on-demand content away from home
SKY TV PRESS OFFICE
The latest shake-up will only impact those who stream via Sky Go on an iPhone or iPad. If you use Android or Windows, there’s no need to panic — Sky isn’t making any changes across these platforms this month.
With the arrival of iOS 13, Apple dropped support for some older models…
- iPhone 5S
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
If you’ve got one of these handsets in your pocket, then you won’t be able to update from iOS 12 to iOS 13 or newer, meaning you won’t be able to watch Sky Go without switching to a newer model of iPhone.
“For Sky Go on iOS, we’re removing support for iOS 12 by 17 September,” a spokesperson for the broadcaster published in an update on its Sky Community forum. “To ensure we provide the best possible experience to Sky Go customers, from time to time, we stop supporting older operating system versions.
“Users who are on this iOS version won’t be able to use the Sky Go app after this date. They’ll need to update to iOS 13+ to continue using the app. This impacts iOS users only, not other Sky Go platforms.”
If you want to check whether there’s a pending update waiting for your iPhone, head to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates. Turn on Install iOS Updates.
This will ensure that new versions of iOS, which include vital security fixes, tweaked designs, and new features, are downloaded and installed automatically. Apple usually schedules the installation process overnight to avoid any disruption.
Sky Go launched back in 2012 as a handy way to stream live and on-demand content from your Sky TV subscription when travelling away from home. As well as offering downloads for offline viewing and live television channels, Sky Go also lets you schedule recordings from anywhere on the planet.
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Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, Sky Go no longer enabled subscribers to stream live television or download on-demand content when outside of the country. Your IP address will need to located inside the UK to access Sky Go.
Lastly, the clever app can double-up as a virtual remote control — using the touchscreen on your iPhone or iPad to navigate the menus on-screen. It’s perfect for forgetful Sky TV subscribers who always lose the channel changer down the back of the sofa.
As long as you’ve got the right model of iPhone to continue using it.