Cannot accept "New iCloud Terms & Conditions" on iPhone SE 2016, iOS 15.8.3

Hallo, I checked this with Apple and the matter regarding iOS 15.8.3 on older iPhones is being looked into. A solution should be forthcoming soon.

I also have this issue, exactly the same as the OP describes it. I was on chat last night with apple tech support for nearly 2 hours trying numerous things. The tech rep said that signing out of iCloud on the phone and back in was the last resort, because ofc it unsyncs everything and then has to sync it back again. I didn't do that step because I didn't want to risk the phone potentially not being able to sign back in and then god knows what state the phone would be left in.

But I did try resetting the network settings, uninstalling my VPN, signing out of iCloud on an old iPad and signing back in, signing out of iCloud on my Windows laptop and signing back in. After each sign out I would try and accept the new T&Cs on my iPhone, then reboot and trying accepting again, then signing back in on the device etc. etc. following the same pattern. So I tried every combination I could think of trying to accept terms on another device but you just don't seem to get the option, you can just sign in and out. I also signed out of purchases and then tried downloading a free app to force me to sign back in, back that didn't work either.

Thing is I've lost my recent phone history I'm sure because of this as it's not being synced with iCloud, and I think Whatsapp does it's backups to iCloud if I remember right. So at the moment I, and presumably everyone else, in the same position has just lost access to whatever gets synced to iCloud. Also I pay for a bit of extra storage, not a lot - just the 99p option for 50GB, so technically I'm paying for something I can't get access to.

I note that English_in_Berlin above said the matter is being looked into and a solution should be forthcoming soon, but that's not what I was told by tech support. They told me that Apple are aware of the issue and it is being looked into, but it's not definite they will provide a bug fix for older phones. His exact words were "they *may* provide a fix if they feel it is necessary", which doesn't exactly inspire confidence. I think that if not enough people complain about the issue on older versions of iOS then they just won't bother.

I suspect the “new iCloud terms & conditions” will be the end of iCloud services for 2016 SE IOS 15.8.3 phone. Apple has no financial interest in customers keeping their Apple products for more than a few years. I have kept my 2016 SE because my physical disability makes the size and weight appropriate for me to use. I love this phone and by using a biometric password manager with VPN service have been able to bypass Apple’s lack of OS support & security updates. The incompatibility of IOS 15.8.3 with iCloud will require finding cloud service completely independent of Apple. Hopefully Apple will eventually stop asking me to agree to iCloud terms.

Next up… maybe a complete abandonment of all Apple products. However, I’ll keep my Apple stock because they are one of the best tech companies at selling obsolescence at a premium. 

Re: Cannot accept "New iCloud Terms & Conditions" on iPhone SE 2016, iOS 15.8.3

You might want to try updating your iPhone SE to the newest compatible iOS version:

However :

About iOS 15 Updates - Apple Support does say iOS 15.8.3 is the newest!:

and "This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users".

(Apple support's new article:

See what to do: If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions - Apple Support )

having the same issue. Apple walked me thru the whole install an updated 15.8.3 o/s. Total pain and did not solve the problem. The next step is to do a total reset of the o/s which seems like a bad idea. The icloud backups are still occurring so I guess I'll wait it out.

... sure I read the whole thread ... for me it seems that icloud is fully working – even after logging out and back in; and only the new T&C cannot be accepted ... and we don't know how long the solution from Apple will take ...

Thank you for taking the time to reply! Sorry it does not seem possible to accept the new T & C in earlier iOS versions at the moment.

You might want to send feedback to reach those who work behind-the-scenes at Apple. They may make changes in a future update, if others are also experiencing a similar issue: Web-form for feedback: Feedback - iCloud - Apple

Apple provides a Feedback website where your feedback can reach those who work on the software behind-the-scenes at Apple. They can make changes if others are also requesting them. They will likely not reply, yet your feedback is carefully read and logged. I understand feedback is welcomed, and provides information on which iPhone models, and iOS versions are affected.

@English_in_Berlin: what's meant with "soon"? It's now soon two months passed that a solution is lacking ...

Same problem here with 1st-Gen. SE on iOS 15.8.3 ... logging out resulted in email to tell that find my phone is disabled ... but I could log in again without further clues and also reactivate "find my" again (showing in the devices list along using it again as a trusted device). But still same problem with accepting new terms that result in the "continue ..." til perpetuity ...

@Apple: if you regularly (as yesterday again) remind us to accept the new terms & conditions, you're kindly requested to establish a way that we can do what you ask for!!! It is now exactly three months ago that this problem was posted here!

I have here iPhone 5 (iOS 10.3.4 (14G61)), iPhone SE (iOS 15.8.3 (19H386)) and iPhone 12 mini (iOS 18.3.1 (22D72)); only on SE the the problem persists – and accepting new T&C on other devices does not accept them for this device. The question is where the bug is – in iOS 15.8.3 or in iPhone SE (or some specific code only in iPhone SE)?

Btw: calendar sync is working: entering events in one of the devices makes them appear in the others – also in SE.

It's now the end of March and apparently no fix for the iOS 15.8.3 iPad user either. This device works perfectly well otherwise, and I've had it for years. I'm not interested in buying new products to replace functional devices, and I'm really irritated that with our innovative tech savviness, we somehow can't support those who have no interest/no additional income/high interest in reducing our carbon footprint, etc. to continuously upgrade their devices. I suppose I will just delete a bunch of stuff I've been storing in my photos which is the only reason I'm paying 2.99/mo. for storage that is no longer supported anyway.

Thanks, Apple, I'll just keep my money instead and use it for something more tangible and worthwhile. Here's an idea for us all: Put down your devices, step outside and smile at the next person you see. It's a beautiful world out there. Let's not miss out on it.