Your old phone is safe for longer than you think (2024)

Yes, that's enough – with some caveats.

Apple, Samsung and other phone manufacturers have been fixing security flaws in their phones' software for years. It keeps your old phone more secure from hackers.

It's not easy to say exactly how old is too old to be sure.

Digital security experts told me that an Android phone can generally be used safely for four years or more after it is new. An iPhone is safe for seven or eight years or possibly longer.

Not everyone wants to hold a smartphone for that long. And the older your phone is, the more often you may encounter problems, including apps that no longer work as you expect.

But if you choose to keep your phone for years for financial or other reasons, most people don't have to worry. (You should keep your phone software up to date. Read the One Tiny Win section below for more information).

And it's worth considering a used phone if you can't stomach $1,000 new.

I also have two demands for phone manufacturers and regulators:

With your car you choose how long you want to drive it safely. With your smartphone, the manufacturer and other companies make that choice for you. The difference is not logical.

In general, it is quite safe to continue using your phone as long as it receives regular software security updates from the manufacturer.

Let's say you have a six-year-old iPhone You cannot update to itlatest iPhone operating system, called iOS 17. But Apple continues to make security and other critical software fixes for iOS 16, which are likely the foundation for your iPhone X. Apple is also still updating security for iOS 15.

(Read the One Tiny Win section below if you're not sure which phone model you have or what operating software your phone uses.)

Most experts say these security updates will make your eight-year-old iPhone safe to use unless you know you're a high-value target for hackers.

There was an exceptionTara Wieler, CEO of information security company Red Queen Dynamics. She said that we use our phones so much and the security on newer devices is so much better that it may not be worth keeping old phones for years.

If you have an Android phone from Samsung or another company, it's more complicated to figure out whether your older phone is safe enough to continue using.

Samsung says it will continue to patch security bugs overallup to five yearsfor its newer smartphones. However, you have to delve into the fine print.

If you see your Samsung phoneon this listFor security updates twice a year, this is a sign that Samsung is losing interest in your device and is on its way to becoming less secure. This includes models such as the Galaxy A20s from 2019.

If your Samsung phone is not on that list at all, it may be unsafe.

I love tooEnd of life website, which shows whetherAppel,Samsungand other companies are still working to fix security flaws for a particular product.

Depending on your wireless carrier, your Android phone may have security patches less frequently than Samsung advertises. Apple may also update security less frequently for older operating systems such as iOS 15 and 16.

Most security experts said it is still very safe for most people.

If a company stops updating its software security, your phone is more vulnerable to hackers, says Paul Roberts, founder ofMake repairs, an organization of technologists that advocates for the longevity of gadgets.

This is basically a built-in death date for your phone. Roberts wants manufacturers to put this date on the box when you buy a phone.

For example, if you buy an iPhone 15 now, Roberts wants Apple to announce its commitment to closing any software security holes until 2030 or whenever.

Roberts also said that when Apple, Samsung or other phone makers lose interest in updating the security of their old phones, they should let others take over.

He said there are plenty of qualified professionals or hobbyists who would like to keep the software up to date and secure for phones ten years or older.

Again, that's how cars work. When your car's warranty expires, the dealer may no longer be responsible for repairs. But you can take it to an independent workshop for as long as you want.

Not everyone wants to keep their phone for years. But Roberts says it should be your choice.

“You should be able to run this device for as long as it's actually possible,” Roberts said. “In a world where we're trying to get the most out of these incredibly resource-intensive devices... seven, eight or 10 years is not a very long time.”

Even after your phone stops receiving security updates from the manufacturer, it may still be safe enough if you simply use your phone to listen to music, scroll through Instagram, or shop online.

The downside is that if your phone is at least a few years old, it may require more maintenance. Batteries wear out, parts break, and apps may not update.

There's really no shame if you can't remember which phone model you own or the name of the operating system it runs on.

Here's how to make sure it's safe to continue using your phone.

On an iPhone:

Your iPhone will nag you to update your software when security patches are available. Do it.

As youriOS is older than iOS 15(e.g. iOS 14, iOS 13, etc.), Apple no longer fixes security flaws in your phone's software. You should consider a new or newer phone.

On an Android phone:Unfortunately, there are no uniform instructions for all phone types.

To make sure you have the latest operating system on a Samsung phone, check the Settings app and select "Software Update." Google hasmore instructionsabout updating your phone's Android software.

It is not easy to know whether certain models of Samsung phones or other Android phones are still receiving security patches and are therefore safe to continue using. I said something about parsing aboveSamsung's list of security updates.

The End of Life website is also useful for checking which onesSamsung phonesofGoogle Pixel phonesare still provided with security updates.