TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular and fastest growing social media apps in the world. As of January 2023, TikTok has over 1.1 billion monthly active users globally [1], making it one of the top social platforms alongside giants like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Originally launched as Douyin in China in September 2016, TikTok exploded in popularity internationally after merging with Musical.ly in August 2018 under its parent company ByteDance. In just a few short years, TikTok has completely reshaped the social media landscape, especially among younger users.
TikTok System Requirements
The official minimum iOS version required by TikTok is iOS 11.0 or later, according to the TikTok app listing on the App Store. This requirement is consistently stated across TikTok’s app pages in different regions. For example, the TikTok app page on the Indian App Store also states that iOS 11.0 or later is required.
TikTok’s documentation for developers states iOS 9.3 as the minimum version. However, this reflects the requirements for integrating TikTok features into other apps, rather than the standalone TikTok app itself. For users downloading TikTok from the App Store, iOS 11.0 or later is needed.
Why Minimum Versions Matter
There are a few key reasons why setting a minimum iOS version for your app matters:
Backwards compatibility – Newer versions of iOS introduce new features and changes that may not work properly or at all on older iOS versions. Setting a minimum version ensures your app utilizes the proper APIs and capabilities available in that version.
According to one source, “Newer iOS Capabilities” allow developers to take advantage of new features like augmented reality, machine learning, and more powerful hardware. However, relying on these could cause your app to crash or behave unexpectedly on older iOS versions that don’t support them (https://www.avanderlee.com/workflow/minimum-ios-version/).
Access to new features – By setting a higher minimum, you can build your app utilizing the latest and greatest capabilities of iOS. However, you risk alienating users on older devices who can’t update.
Performance – Newer iOS versions generally bring speed and optimization improvements. Targeting a recent version means your app can capitalize on faster processing and smoothness.
According to Reddit users, iOS 16.1 is required as the minimum version to be accepted into the App Store. However, you may choose an even higher minimum if your app leverages specific functionalities (https://www.reddit.com/r/swift/comments/15tj89d/how_much_is_your_minimum_ios_version_if_you_are/).
TikTok’s Core Features
TikTok’s core features revolve around short video creation and sharing. The app allows users to easily record and edit 15 to 60 second videos using built-in tools and creative effects. Some of TikTok’s most popular features include:
- Filters – TikTok has hundreds of filters that can be added to videos to transform visuals and audio. Filters help creators stylize and enhance their content.
- Duets – The Duet feature allows users to record a video alongside someone else’s existing video, splicing the clips together side-by-side. Duets make it easy to collaborate and build on trending content.
- Stitches – Similar to Duets, Stitches let users clip and integrate parts of other videos into their own new creation. Stitches are commonly used for reaction videos, comedy sketches, and more.
By focusing on short-form video creation with built-in effects, TikTok has become known for its fun and entertaining user-generated video content. The app makes it simple for anyone to create, edit, and share videos without advanced technical skills or expensive equipment.
Newer iOS Capabilities
TikTok relies heavily on newer iOS capabilities like ARKit, CoreML, and new APIs to power key features users love. For example, TikTok uses ARKit, Apple’s augmented reality framework, to enable fun filters and effects in the app (1). Face tracking in ARKit allows TikTok to apply masks, makeup, and other enhancements to users’ faces in real-time.
TikTok also leverages CoreML, Apple’s machine learning framework, for tasks like object recognition in videos. This allows TikTok to automatically tag and categorize content to improve recommendations and search (2). And new APIs in recent iOS versions help TikTok optimize performance and hardware usage for smooth video editing and sharing (3).
By tapping into these leading-edge Apple technologies, TikTok delivers innovative features its community expects on the latest iOS versions.
Performance Considerations
Smooth video recording and playback require newer iOS versions that can handle TikTok’s demanding needs. As TikTok has added more advanced features like filters, effects, and higher resolution formats, the app requires greater processing power and memory.
According to Apple, the iPhone 6s and newer models include specific optimizations for video encoding and decoding that improve TikTok performance (Apple Support). The A9 chip in the iPhone 6s, along with 2GB of RAM (up from 1GB in the iPhone 6), gave a significant boost to handling high resolution videos.
Each new iPhone generation builds on these capabilities. For example, the iPhone 8 and X introduced hardware encoding for HEVC video. And the latest iPhone 14 Pro can record 4K video up to 60fps and 1080p slo-mo up to 240fps, which would be impossible on much older models (Apple Support).
While TikTok may run on older devices, performance will suffer greatly, with laggy videos, long processing times, and overheating. For smooth TikTok creation and viewing, iOS 12 or higher is recommended.
Security & Privacy
Newer iOS versions have patched many security flaws and vulnerabilities that existed in older versions of the operating system. According to Apple, iOS 16.6.1 addressed multiple vulnerabilities that could have led to arbitrary code execution if exploited (1). Security research organizations like CVE Details have documented numerous CVEs that were present in previous iOS versions and have now been remediated (2).
In addition to fixing security issues, Apple has also steadily improved privacy protections with each iOS update. For example, a bug discovered in iOS 15 undermined a privacy feature meant to prevent app tracking – this was addressed in iOS 16 (3). In general, staying current with the latest iOS version ensures users can benefit from the most up-to-date security and privacy safeguards.
(1) About the security content of iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1
(2) Apple Iphone Os : Security vulnerabilities, CVEs
(3) Apple fixes bug that undermined iOS privacy feature for years
User Base Demographics
TikTok has a very broad user base that spans multiple generations, but it is especially popular among younger audiences. According to one report, as of January 2024, 32.5% of TikTok users are between the ages of 10 and 19 (1). The platform is also rapidly gaining traction among older demographics as well, with 29% of users aged between 20-29, and 24.5% aged 30-49 (1).
When it comes to iOS versions used, data shows that the vast majority of TikTok’s users are on relatively recent iOS versions. As of April 2023, TikTok had 120.5 million monthly active users just on iOS devices alone (2). Given Apple’s rapid iOS adoption rates, this suggests most of these users are likely to be on iOS 12 or later.
Specific statistics breaking down TikTok’s iOS user base by version are not readily available. However, given the platform’s popularity among younger demographics who tend to use newer iPhones, it can be reasonably inferred that the significant majority of iOS users are on iOS 12 or later.
Sources:
(1) https://thesocialshepherd.com/blog/tiktok-statistics
(2) https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-stats/
Major iOS Version Differences
There are significant differences in features and capabilities between the latest supported iOS versions for TikTok compared to much older iOS releases. According to Apple (Compare iPhone Models – Apple), the newest iPhones like the iPhone 15 series ship with the latest iOS 16, while older models may only support iOS 13 or 14.
iOS 16, the most recent major iOS release, introduced substantial upgrades like a customizable lock screen, improvements to Messages and Mail apps, and enhanced intelligence features like Visual Look Up. By comparison, iOS 13 first launched back in 2019 and was limited to features like a system-wide dark mode, a swipeable keyboard, and a rebuilt Maps app (The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0 – Lifewire).
Running TikTok on iOS 16 versus iOS 13 means gaining access to far more advanced capabilities in areas like camera, computational photography, machine learning, augmented reality, privacy, and speed. Since TikTok is a demanding visual and social media app, utilizing the latest iOS optimizations and technology is advised for the best experience.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok requires iOS 10.0 or later to run. While the app may work on earlier iOS versions, users will not have access to all features and performance may suffer. The minimum requirement allows TikTok to leverage newer iOS capabilities like fast networking, advanced camera features, and modern security controls.
This ensures TikTok can deliver the full experience to users, including viewing the For You feed, creating/editing videos, using effects and filters, going live, messaging, and more. With a large Gen Z user base on the latest iOS devices, sticking to iOS 10 as the cutoff allows TikTok to optimize for its core demographic.
For the best experience, iOS 13 or later is recommended. However, iOS 10 remains the absolute minimum for access to the app and its social features.
