Preface

If iOS keeps killing your apps, try older versions. They often use fewer resources, feel smoother, burn less battery, and show fewer ads. Some apps were free before turning paid (e.g., Caiyun Weather Pro, BaiMiao). Even WiFi Master Key still works unfiltered—so grab it!

Tip: On desktop, use Ctrl+F (Command+F on macOS) to search quickly.

Changelog

2022/09/25

  • JD 10.2.0 is the lowest version where sending images on iOS 16 works; 10.2.4 has no Double-11 icon
  • Xiaohongshu 7.4 supports new emoji

2022/09/12

  • Amap below 9.05.2 loses search

2022/09/03

  • WeCom 4.0 supports live meetings
  • QQ 8.5.0 supports group classroom
  • IdleFish 7.4.10 adds elder mode, no launch ads, phone-login only
  • Taobao 10.13.0: first dark-mode release after 10.12.20, no 618 icon; set region to Global to reduce ads
  • Alipay 10.2.76 adds elder mode
  • NetEase Cloud Music 4.1.2 supports new ncm format download/playback
  • Tieba internal 1.0.8 delisted; still downloadable if purchased; no ads; no search
  • BaiMiao 2.1.6 no ads

2022/08/31

  • Douyin Lite 16.8.0 supports playback speed
  • Douyin 16.5.0 supports playback speed

2022/08/28

  • Douban 6.x.x removed; minimum usable 7.0.0
  • Taobao versions before 10.12.20 all show update popups; 10.12.20 is the first dark-mode version

Perks

Halide Mark II

  • RAW camera support
  • Switched from paid download (¥30) to subscription (¥20/mo) on 2020-10-22. Download 1.17.3 (850784840) to use all features free.

FiLMiC Pro

  • Powerful video camera
  • Switched from paid (¥99) to subscription (¥35/week) on 2022-08-25. Download 6.19.7 (851609129) to use basic features free.
  • Jailbroken users can unlock Log etc. via iOSGods iAP.

Pixelmator Photo

  • Excellent photo editor
  • Switched from paid (¥30) to subscription (¥33/mo) on 2022-08-18. Download 2.0.12 (850784840) to use all features free.

Version Recommendations

  • iPhone X launched 2017-11-03; versions after that support full screen.
  • iOS 13.0 Beta 1 (2019-06-04) introduced dark mode.
  • iOS 14.5 Beta 1 (2021-02-02) guarantees support for iOS 14.5+.
  • iOS 15.0 Beta 1 (2021-06-18) guarantees support for iOS 15.0+.
  • ◆ marks my personal daily version (iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 14.2).
  • Be cautious updating iOS: many legacy apps can’t be installed on 14.5+ (package incomplete errors).
  • Check version histories and release dates on Qimai.
  • If a version stops working, leave a comment.

Below are the version lists grouped by category. Version notes largely keep the original wording to avoid losing nuance.

Social

  • QQ 6.2.2 (very fast launch, rarely killed; bubble display glitch) 6.5.9 6.6.5 (lowest version with working cloud sync) 6.7.1 (no side-eye emoji; requires overlay install) 7.1.0 (lowest direct-login version) 7.2.5 7.2.8 (full screen) 7.3.2 (Apple Watch) 7.3.5 7.5.5 7.7.8 8.0.6 8.1.0 (first simple mode; space videos won’t load) 8.1.5 (iOS 15.5) ◆8.1.8◆ (minimum for overlay-install dark mode) 8.2.6 (iOS 14.5) 8.2.8 (iOS 15.3) 8.4.1 (minimum for downloading night themes) 8.4.2 (iOS 15.3) 8.4.10 (bull-emoji pack) 8.5.0 (group classroom) 8.7.5 (Caiwang emoji, iOS 16) 8.8.38 (QQ Channels) 8.8.50
  • TIM 1.1.5 ◆2.3.0◆ (structured messages, online docs, full screen) 2.5.2 2.5.6 3.0.0 3.1.0 (earlier versions require overlay install; iOS 16 cannot overlay)
  • WeChat 6.5.19 6.6.1 6.7.0 (iOS 15.6 crashes) 6.7.4 (iOS 14.5; last with China region; see https://qianling.pw/wechat-blank) 7.0.5 (first floating window; auto-play Moments videos) 7.0.9 7.0.12 (first dark mode; no ads in Official Accounts; iOS 15.3) 7.0.13 (first “poke” + Channels) ◆7.0.14◆ (last with mini-program floating window; supports iPad+iphone login; face unlock broken; 836563902) 7.0.15 (face unlock broken) 7.0.18 (Yue Sheng Shi minimum) 7.0.20 (iOS 14 photo permissions) 7.0.21 (Yue Kang code minimum) 8.0.3 (Apple Watch; 999-sticker limit) 8.0.8 (change notification sound) 8.0.9 (auto desktop login) 8.0.14 (folded groups) 8.0.22 (iOS 16)
  • WeCom 3.1.8 (lowest login) 4.0 (live meeting)
  • Weibo 6.5.1 (no ads) 7.3.1 (last before homepage live icon; no ads in comments) 8.5.3 8.12.3 (iOS 14.7) 10.11.0 11.0.0 (lowest without outdated-version warning on profile) 11.3.0 (iPad minimum without bugs)
  • Weibo Intl 3.6.8 3.8.4 ◆4.1.5◆ (dark mode) 4.2.0 (last without homepage recommendations)
  • vvebo 3.1.4 (last before paid IAP)
  • DingTalk 4.6.10 ◆5.1.10◆ (logs) 6.0.0 (iOS 15.3) 6.0.26 (iOS 14.7)
  • Qzone 8.6.1
  • Baidu Tieba 6.8.5 6.9.6 (in-bar search) 7.1.0 (no launch ads) 7.3.0 (VIP can remove ads) 8.9.0 (full screen) 9.2.0 (clean, few ads) 9.3.0 9.3.1 (iOS 14.5) ◆9.6.0◆ (minimum for Safari invoke; pair with Flex for ad blocking) 9.7.1 9.7.11 9.7.5 9.8.4 (iOS 14.7) 9.9.9 (cannot edit images) 10.3.11 (dark mode) 11.0.0 (use Flex to block ads) 11.3.2 12.0.5
  • Tieba internal 1.0.8 (delisted; downloadable if purchased; no ads; no search)
  • Zhihu ◆6.0.0◆ (search works; no launch ads; iOS 15.3) 6.5.0 6.7.0 (last without launch ads) 6.14.0 (dark mode) 6.65.0 6.62.0 (iOS 14 widgets) 6.67.0
  • Douban ◆7.0.0◆ 7.15.0
  • Hupu ◆7.3.2◆
  • Coolapk 3.1 (last without launch ads; messages broken) 4.5.1 (iOS 15.3) ◆4.9◆ (847456398) 4.9.1 (last blue theme; 848225916)
  • WeFeng 5.5.1 (last without ads but network issues) ◆6.4◆ (840909450; use Flex to block ads) 6.6.5
  • NGA 5.3.0 (no launch/banner/interstitial ads) 6.0.8 (iOS 14.5/16) 6.3.2
  • PiPiXia 1.3.2 1.3.9 (no ads)
  • Twitter 7.37.2 (translation) 7.60 (dark mode) 8.44 (no Fleets) 8.47.1 (iOS 14 photo permissions)
  • Instagram 124.0 (dark mode) 165.0 (iOS 14 photo permissions)
  • Nicegram 8.3.2 (bypasses forced update)

Shopping

  • Taobao 7.12.20 (iOS 15) 8.0.0 (iOS 15.6) 8.6.10 8.8.0 (iOS 14.3) 9.1.1 (iOS 14.3 crash) 9.2.0 (no visual search) 9.17.0 (iOS 14 widget) 9.20.0 (find similar) 10.12.20 (dark mode; earlier versions show update popups) ◆10.13.0◆ (no 618 icon; set region to Global to cut ads) 10.14.10 (850964824)
  • Taobao Lite 4.16.4 (overseas)
  • Diantao 1.7.6
  • Alibaba 7.20.0 (iOS 14.7) ◆9.4.6◆
  • JD ◆9.5.0◆ (minimum for payment) 10.0.6 (fix iPhone 12 cart misalignment) 10.2.0 (iOS 16 image send) 10.2.4 (no Double-11 icon)
  • Pinduoduo 4.23.0 (iOS 15.6) 4.56.0 4.76.0 (iOS 14.5) 5.2.0 5.12.0 ◆5.30.0◆ (wallet) 5.31.1 (iOS 14 widget)
  • Weidian 5.4.7
  • Smzdm 9.8.16
  • Manmanbuy ◆3.2.40◆
  • Suning 7.7.3.8
  • Shihuo 6.54.0 (iOS 14.7)
  • IdleFish 6.2.5 (minimum usable) 6.2.9 (iOS 14.7) 6.3.7 6.4.80 6.6.60 ◆6.9.80◆ (minimum for bidding; transfers broken) 7.1.10 (iOS 15; overlay install) 7.4.10 (elder mode; phone-login only; iOS 13.7)
  • Zhuanzhuan 5.6.1
  • Xiaohongshu 6.63 (use Flex to block ads) ◆6.86◆ (iOS 14.7) 7.28 (browse history minimum) 7.40 (new emoji)
  • Meituan 11.4.401 (Meituan Youxuan unusable) 11.6.406 11.10.203 (iOS 15)
  • Taopiaopiao 10.4.1 (iOS 14 widget)
  • Ctrip 8.22 (overlay install)
  • Qianniu 8.13.0 9.3.0

Finance

  • Alipay 10.1.35 10.2.8 (minimum where bank card list works) ◆10.2.10◆ (iOS 14 widget; mini-programs OK) 10.2.15 10.2.38 (fast cold start) 10.2.53 (can remove Life channel; remove all homepage cards) 10.2.59 (can disable homepage recommendations) 10.2.76 (elder mode)
  • UnionPay ◆8.0.7◆ (minimum for transfers)
  • Shark Ledger Pro 2.0 (no community bloat)

Entertainment

  • Bilibili 6.1.3 6.61.0 (dynamic avatar minimum; need i4Tools download)
  • Bilibili HD 2.3 (last with toggleable startup animation)
  • Bilibili Concept 2.13.2 2.15.4 2.4 6.48.0 (global mini-window)
  • bilibili-弹幕動畫戲劇線上看 2.7.0 (TW region; no game center, mall, live, startup ads; vertical videos fail; 837359696) ◆3.0.3◆ (dark-mode hot switch; live; long-press speed; 841150268) 3.0.4
  • Douyin 15.0.0 (840791014; requires overlay install) 16.5.0 (playback speed)
  • Douyin Lite 15.0.0 16.8.0 (playback speed)
  • TikTok 1.2.2 (last unblocked region; cannot register/login; TW region 823491616)
  • YouTube 15.28.2 16.05.9 (CC subtitle button)
  • Kuaishou 6.11.8 9.8.50
  • iQIYI 5.7.1 (no pre-roll ads) 7.0.1 (login without SMS) 8.12.5 (download 3 videos at once) 9.7.0 (Cinema) 9.8.0 (last version supporting web QR login on secondary device)
  • Tencent Video 7.8.0 (iOS 14.7) 8.2.48
  • Youku 6.12.0 (no ads) 7.5.5 (iOS 14.7)
  • Douyu 4.920
  • Huya 6.5.1
  • Yunting ◆5.8.0◆ (no ads) 6.0.1 (no launch ads)
  • NetEase Cloud Music 2.7.1 3.1.1 (no lossless) 3.7.5 4.0.1 (iOS 14.5) 4.1.2 (last without video; supports new ncm format) ◆4.2.2◆ (first full screen; adds launch ads) 4.3.1 (minimum for Bilibili SIM free traffic) 4.3.2 4.3.5 (old UI last) 5.5.0 (iOS 15.6) 5.6.0 (classic player last) 5.6.3 (iOS 14.5) 5.7.0 (iOS 15.3, iPhone 13) 5.8.1 (overlay install) 6.4.7 (first dark mode) 6.5.2 7.0.0 (iOS 15) 7.2.0 (Listen Together first) 7.2.10 (lyric pinyin) 7.3.01 (top-right spinning disc) 7.3.20 (iOS 14 widget) 8.0.10 (custom bottom tabs; PiP video)
  • QQ Music 8.8.5 8.9.9 (web login after uninstalling QQ) 9.2.8 (no live/launch ads) 9.3 (iOS 14.7) 9.7 10.12 (no update popup)
  • Bodi Music 1.2.6 (free; import external playlists)
  • MOO Music 1.6.5 (simple UI) 2.3.2 (iOS 15.1; earlier versions had clear-history bug)
  • Kugou Music 3.9.4 4.0.7 7.0.6 8.8.6 9.7.6
  • Kuwo Music 4.9.2
  • Xiami 6.1.8
  • Quanmin K Ge 3.7.6
  • Changba 8.2
  • Ximalaya ◆6.6.15◆ 7.0.8
  • QingTing FM 6.2.6 (no audio ads)

Reading

  • Toutiao 3.1.1 6.0.3 (no ads; iOS 11) 6.2.9 (first with chat emoji) 6.6.0 (can block ads on jailbreak) 7.0.5 7.0.9 7.9.2 (dark mode) 7.9.6 (long-press speed)
  • Tencent News 5.1.6
  • The Paper 8.1.7 (widget; no hot list)
  • WeRead 4.3.0 (dark mode) 5.0.4 (widget) 5.4.0 (Apple Pencil)
  • Qidian 4.7.0 (first landscape; block updates with Flex) 5.0.1
  • Zhuishushenqi 2.23.1 (no coins; chase-mode) 2.25.1 (switch sources) 2.24.24 (switch sources)
  • iReader Pro 6.3.0
  • Shuqi 3.9.10 (no horizontal ads)
  • BiQuGe 5.5 (no ads/popups)
  • Xiangse Guige 2.33.0
  • NetEase Comics 4.2.0 (use Flex3 membership patch)

Education

  • Notability 10.6 (last free version)
  • Chaoxing Study 4.5.6
  • Baidu Chinese ◆2.0◆ (minimum usable; 820243885) 2.1.0
  • Tencent Translate 3.1 (basic only)
  • 50-On Origins ◆1.3.5◆ (last before paywall)
  • Sports World Campus 3.1.2 (can reject updates minimum)
  • Perfect Campus 5.3.1 (Alipay recharge minimum)
  • Driving Test Coach 7.6.4 (iOS 14.5)
  • Jiaxiao Yidian Tong 6.1.0 (images display; minimum) 6.1.7 (no update popups; no video lessons; overlay to refresh question bank) 8.1.0 (no paid popups on wrong answers) 9.1.0 (can refresh bank) 9.3.1 10.2.0 (last without launch ads)

Tools

  • Baidu 12.13.0.10
  • Amap 9.05.2 (minimum working search) 10.55.0 (last with old voice) 10.80.0 (swipe-back)
  • Baidu Maps 8.6.5 (no ads) 10.24.5 (full screen) 15.2.5 (dark mode)
  • Hello Bike 5.74 (only version without jailbreak detection; iOS 14.5) 6.1.5 (UnionPay) 6.2.0 (no bar on logo)
  • Netease Dashen 2.5.0 2.8.0 (no launch ads; QR login works)
  • Baidu Netdisk 6.6.0 (upload video without VIP) 6.7.3 (rename extensions/open unknown shares) 6.9.4 7.0.0 8.13.1 (no launch ads) 10.1.70 (messages normal)
  • Tianyi Cloud 4.5.0 (last free video upload; daily sign-in adds space)
  • Weipan 3.3.2 3.4.3
  • Youdao Note 5.7.1 (few ads) 5.9.8 (note + collaboration coexist)
  • Evernote 9.3.9
  • WPS Office 9.0.0 (no ads) 10.14.0 (iPhone 13 Pro/iOS 15 search & replace without crash)
  • Outlook 4.2210.3 (no meeting room booking, etc.)
  • JiSpeed 5.16.0 (iOS 15)
  • Meiyan Camera 9.4.00 (minimum usable)
  • Meitu Xiuxiu 6.0.5 7.0.1
  • FiLMiC Pro ◆6.19.7◆ (last pre-subscription; compatible with IAP tweak; 851609129)
  • Halide Mark II ◆1.17.3◆ (last paid version; 837845559)
  • Sogou Input 2.2.1 (no search) 4.0.0 4.4.0 5.0.1 (clipboard) 7.2.6 (iOS 14.7) 10.22
  • Baidu Input 6.0.2 (super skins; no clipboard) 7.1.1 (no voice input)
  • iFly Input 6.0 8.0.2000
  • UC Browser 10.5.5 (no headlines; cache video) 10.7.11 (cache video) 11.3.1 (cache video, download files)
  • QQ Browser 6.1.1 (cache video) 6.3 (can disable headlines) 8.2.1 (first free-traffic version)
  • Quark Browser 2.2.9 2.3.1.913 (iOS 15.6)
  • Alook 8.2 9.6 11.5
  • Speedtest China by Ookla 4.2.10 (839306602)
  • DAMA (image privacy blur) 1.1.27 (bug unlocks premium; 850202162)
  • Pixelmator Photo 2.0.12 (last before subscription; 850784840)
  • Pin 3.2.2 (last with full Labs) 3.15.1
  • Keep 5.18.0 7.5.3
  • Mi Fit 4.0.3 (minimum login)
  • Strava 23.0.0
  • Widgy Widgets 1.7 (iOS 14.5)
  • Autohome 9.10.6 (vehicle detail pages fail to load)
  • Didi 5.1 (first bike version) 5.2.20 (iOS 14.5)
  • Caiyun Weather 6.0.4 (dark mode) 6.0.5 (iOS 14 widget) 6.0.7 6.1.1
  • Caiyun Weather Pro 5.0.10 (last before paid)
  • BaiMiao 2.1.6 (no membership limits, no ads)
  • Documents by Readdle (CN) 5.4 (audio/video sniffing, m3u8 download)
  • TV Assistant 5.5.0 (audio/video download, file export)

Grab Old Versions

Mobile (TrollStore)

  1. Search “新有趣工具箱” in WeChat to install TrollStore online.
  2. Download DowngradeApp.
  3. Open TrollStore and install.

Desktop

If the “i4Tools Lite” catalog lacks the version you want, capture it with iTunes on desktop. iTunes (v12.6.5.3) download: Apple Support. Packet-capture tool (release post: 52pojie): Lanzou.

Steps:

  1. Install iTunes v12.6.5.3 (built-in App Store).
  2. Open iTunes and sign in with Apple ID.
  3. Click the third-row “♫ Music” tile, click “Edit Menu”, check “Apps”, click “Done”, then click “Apps” to switch view.
  4. Download the capture tool. Create a folder for the .exe files, e.g., D:\Program Files\iOS-old-apps (the program creates data files alongside it).
  5. Open the capture tool, enter the app name, press Enter to search.
  6. Double-click the version you want.
  7. Click “Start intercept”.
  8. In iTunes, enter the app name in the top-right search box.
  9. Click “Store” -> “Search in iTunes Store for …”.
  10. Under the correct device tab (iPhone/iPad), click “Get”/“Download”.
  11. After download, click “Library” (third row).
  12. Right-click the app icon -> “Show in Windows Explorer” to find the .ipa.
  13. Back up the package for later use.
  14. Install [i4Tools] (“爱思助手”).
  15. Open i4Tools -> Apps/Games -> Import Install to sideload the .ipa.

Notes:

  • App packages are tied to the Apple ID used to download them. To share, the recipient must log into that Apple ID in App Store before importing via desktop.
  • Once an app is added to the iTunes download queue you can stop intercepting and move on to the next.

Block In-App Update Prompts

  1. Jailbreak.
  2. Install AppSync Unified and Filza File Manager.
  3. Open Filza.
  4. Go to the app install directory /private/var/containers/Bundle/Application/xxx.
  5. Search info.plist and open the largest one.
  6. Expand Root and set the version number to the latest release. If the version is x.x.x but the string is x.x.x.x, change the first three segments, leave the last.

Tips & FAQs

Disable Auto-Updates

Go to Settings -> App Store and turn off Automatic Downloads: App Updates.

App is larger than App Store install

For apps installed via desktop i4Tools, go to Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage, tap Offload App then Reinstall App to shrink size. Apps installed with i4Tools Lite or with iTunesMetadata.plist removed cannot be shrunk.

App removed from sale

If the captured version shows “no longer available,” register a new Apple ID and grab once after first logging into iTunes—the pulled version can still be captured.

Downgrade TIM to the first release (1.0.4)

  1. Use old iTunes to capture these four: 3.1.1, 2.5.1, 1.1.6, 1.0.4.
  2. In i4Tools, overlay-install in order: 3.1.1 → 2.5.1 → 1.1.6 → 1.0.4.
  3. Run the app once after each overlay.
  4. If a version crashes, reopen a few times.
  5. After downgrading to 1.0.4, go to Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage, tap Offload App then Reinstall to reduce size.

Contributors

  • ⑨RealZJMM怪我丑 (Plex)
  • 某年某月某日
  • Sunshine
  • 1053083281
  • 酌酒饮孤单
  • 康晓锋
  • iuuan
  • 偏执又可爱的me
  • 那時明月
  • 阿立
  • 启示录

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