If the App Store method fails, you must manually sideload a decrypted Facebook IPA file using a computer. Sideloadly is currently the most stable tool for this process. Prerequisites: A computer running Windows or macOS. A USB cable to connect your iOS device. A free Apple ID account.
The app is attempting to fetch data from an old API endpoint that Meta has shut down.
iOS 9.3.5 is the final operating system update for several iconic Apple devices. The steps outlined below apply to the following hardware: iPad (3rd Generation) iPad Mini (1st Generation) iPod Touch (5th Generation) Methods to Install Facebook on iOS 9.3.5
The modern Facebook application requires iOS 13.4 or later to run. When you attempt to download Facebook from the App Store on an iOS 9.3.5 device, you will generally encounter one of two roadblocks:
: The App Store throws a connection error because older encryption protocols (TLS 1.0/1.1) used by iOS 9 are no longer supported by Apple’s modern servers.
If you have previously downloaded Facebook on your Apple ID (even on a different, newer device), you can install a working version on your older device: Open the on your iOS 9.3.5 device. Tap on the Purchased tab at the bottom. Search for Facebook and tap the cloud icon .
How to Download and Install Facebook IPA for iOS 9.3.5: A Complete Legacy Guide
Once installed, this tweak removes the App Store's version restriction, forcing the "download last compatible version" prompt to appear even for apps that previously showed as incompatible. Downloading and Installing Facebook IPA Files
If the app installs but gives a "Please Update the App" block screen, you can trick the app into thinking it is a newer version: On a jailbroken device, use a file manager like . Navigate to /User/Applications/Facebook/Facebook.app/ . Locate the Info.plist file and open it.
Older Apple devices like the iPad 2, iPad Mini 1, iPhone 4S, and iPod Touch 5 are permanently locked out of modern software updates. For these legacy devices, iOS 9.3.5 is the end of the road.
To bypass these restrictions, users must turn to IPA files. An IPA (iOS App Store Package) file is the standard archive format used to distribute apps for Apple devices. By sourcing an older version of the Facebook IPA that was compiled specifically for 32-bit systems and iOS 9, you can theoretically breathe new life into your vintage hardware. Finding a Safe Facebook IPA for iOS 9.3.5
As of October 2023, Facebook is slowly rolling out mandatory TLS 1.3 encryption. iOS 9.3.5 only supports TLS 1.2. By Q2 2024, the old IPA may stop connecting entirely. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Note: Cydia Impactor is technically deprecated, but old versions (v0.9.43 or earlier) still work offline for basic signing on older iOS versions.