News Organization Urges Users to Download New App as Old Version Stops Updates

Q: Will users' saved articles and personalized settings be lost, or does this 'fresh start' guarantee a seamless data transfer?

There is no guarantee from the announcement that saved articles or personalized settings will transfer seamlessly. The notice says users must delete the old app and download a new one, but it does not mention account migration, data syncing, or preservation of preferences. In app migrations, data can often be carried over if it is tied to a user account and the publisher has built a migration process. Industry practice allows saved content, login state, and preferences to be preserved through shared back-end systems or dedicated migration tools. But that only happens when the company explicitly supports it. The risk is that a “fresh start” sometimes means exactly that: a new app experience without automatic transfer of locally stored items such as downloaded editions, saved articles kept only on-device, notification settings, or reading preferences. If those items are stored in the cloud under a logged-in account, they are more likely to reappear after sign-in. If they were stored only in the retired app, they could be lost. The practical answer for users is to assume nothing until the publisher confirms it. Before deleting the old app, users should check whether saved items are linked to their account, make sure they know their login credentials, and look for any help-page guidance on migration. Without that explicit assurance, the announcement does not support a promise of seamless data transfer.

3 articles · Updated · Duluth News Tribune · Jun 5

Users must switch to the new app to keep getting breaking news alerts, e-paper access, and local sports, weather, and community coverage after the old app was retired.
The organization said the previous app is no longer being updated and asked users to delete it and download the replacement from the App Store or Google Play.
The new version is being pitched as a faster, smoother product with easier navigation and quicker access to the e-paper and local coverage.
The move consolidates the outlet's core digital offerings into one updated platform as it phases out support for the older app.