iPod touch Signing in to iOS 6 during set up no longer works

[winxmac]

Sometime around January 2025, the Mail app on iPod touch can no longer download email messages from my Apple iCloud account.

I tried to Erase All Content and Settings of a 4th gen iPod touch just a few minutes ago and although it can still be activated via Wi-Fi, I can no longer sign in giving an error about unable to connect to the server or a certificate issue.

Not only can I no longer download apps due to incompatibility with iOS 6.1.6 but because signing in or attempting to create a new Apple ID no longer works, the only way to download content to it is through iTunes sync, although I doubt it would still work. In a way, the 4th gen iPod touch is just a bit better when compared to an iPod classic due to its touch screen.

 

[FeliApple]

That is insane. I get app incompatibility on iOS 6, but sign-in? That should work forever.

I have an iPod Touch 4G running iOS 5. I’ll give it a shot sometime and report back. It’s been years though. Last I checked it worked. So I reckon iMessage doesn’t work either?

 

[headlessmike]

I'm seeing the same thing. I am already logged in to iCloud on my iPod Touch running iOS 6.1.6 but I am unable to reactivate iMessage and it is no longer syncing photos or calendars with iCloud. I can transfer songs, podcasts, movies, and photos from macOS Sequoia on an M1 Mac just fine, but anything requiring signing in to iCloud is a no go at the moment.

 

[BigBlur]

iOS 6 doesn't support two-factor authentication, so you probably need to sign in using [password][verification code] (i.e. myPassword123456). Are you doing that?

You can generate a 6-digit verification code from another device that supports 2FA and signed into the same account. It's usually found somewhere under Settings -> Apple Account -> Sign-In & Security. (In iOS 18, you need to go offline or turn on Airplane mode first, for whatever reason...)

 

[headlessmike]

iOS 6 doesn't support two-factor authentication, so you probably need to sign in using [password][verification code] (i.e. myPassword123456). Are you doing that?

You can generate a 6-digit verification code from another device that supports 2FA and signed into the same account. It's usually found somewhere under Settings -> Apple Account -> Sign-In & Security. (In iOS 18, you need to go offline or turn on Airplane mode first, for whatever reason...)

In the past that has always worked but it isn’t any longer. Attempting to log in with iOS 6 would usually trigger the 2FA popup on one of my other devices, which it no longer does. I even tried triggering this from another device and using the verification code on the iPod touch and still no luck.