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Apple Stops Signing iOS 11.3 Following iOS 11.3.1 Release

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IPSWFollowing the release of iOS 11.3.1 on April 24, Apple has stopped signing iOS 11.3, the previous version of iOS that was available to consumers.

iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch owners who have upgraded to iOS 11.3.1 will no longer be able to downgrade to earlier versions of iOS.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.

iOS 11.3.1 is now the only version of iOS 11 that can be installed on iOS devices by the general public, but developers and public beta testers can download iOS 11.4, an update that is currently being beta tested.

Top Rated Comments

106 months ago
It still makes no sense why Apple stops signing their own iOS especially when they still work perfectly on new and older devices. Let the customer choose which iOS they want to keep on their phone. If the iOS can be verified that it belongs to an apple approved device why don't they continue to sign their own updates and let the customer take the risk (which is really low of anything happening)

The reason is because they are always graphing and charting comparing how many are on the latest iOS compared to android when they stop signing prior iOS that's how they achieve those pie results.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
john123 Avatar
106 months ago
Your theory makes no sense because the number of users who would actively downgrade or otherwise choose to install an old version of iOS would make up such an infinitesimally small percentage of total users that it would have absolutely no effect on the overall stats at all. You need a very good reason to not use the latest iOS, and for most users, such a reason does not exist.

Additionally, you don't appear to understand how iOS signing and upgrades work. Customers can choose which iOS they want to keep on their phone. They just can't downgrade, or do a fresh install to an unsigned iOS.

Instead of coming up with wild conspiracy theories, you can try this newfangled tool called "Google" which lets you type in a question and receive answers. You will find that Google, combined with your question, will yield the exact reason why Apple stops signing older versions of iOS. Because, strangely enough, this topic has in fact been covered to death many times before.
It's not "infinitesimal." The number of people who choose to stick with iOS 10 is illustrative of this fact. And there are plenty of perfectly valid reasons why users may prefer not to update.

And the guy clearly did understand how signing and upgrades work. Things happen to devices that require a fresh install.

Lastly, he didn't ask a question, so I'm not sure what the point of your final paragraph was. In fact, he stated a hypothesis (and a somewhat reasonable one at that). It should be noted that his hypothesis is not mutually exclusive with benevolent reasons to stop signing older versions too.

Less snark, less condescension, and more reading next time, please.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tamagotchi Avatar
106 months ago
Your theory makes no sense because the number of users who would actively downgrade or otherwise choose to install an old version of iOS would make up such an infinitesimally small percentage of total users that it would have absolutely no effect on the overall stats at all. You need a very good reason to not use the latest iOS, and for most users, such a reason does not exist.

Additionally, you don't appear to understand how iOS signing and upgrades work. Customers can choose which iOS they want to keep on their phone. They just can't downgrade, or do a fresh install to an unsigned iOS.

Instead of coming up with wild conspiracy theories, you can try this newfangled tool called "Google" which lets you type in a question and receive answers. You will find that Google, combined with your question, will yield the exact reason why Apple stops signing older versions of iOS. Because, strangely enough, this topic has in fact been covered to death many times before.
What a condescending answer.. please get off the interner and take a walk to get some fresh air.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
106 months ago
It still makes no sense why Apple stops signing their own iOS especially when they still work perfectly on new and older devices. Let the customer choose which iOS they want to keep on their phone. If the iOS can be verified that it belongs to an apple approved device why don't they continue to sign their own updates and let the customer take the risk (which is really low of anything happening)

The reason is because they are always graphing and charting comparing how many are on the latest iOS compared to android when they stop signing prior iOS that's how they achieve those pie results.
Your theory makes no sense because the number of users who would actively downgrade or otherwise choose to install an old version of iOS would make up such an infinitesimally small percentage of total users that it would have absolutely no effect on the overall stats at all. You need a very good reason to not use the latest iOS, and for most users, such a reason does not exist.

Additionally, you don't appear to understand how iOS signing and upgrades work. Customers can choose which iOS they want to keep on their phone. They just can't downgrade, or do a fresh install to an unsigned iOS.

Instead of coming up with wild conspiracy theories, you can try this newfangled tool called "Google" which lets you type in a question and receive answers. You will find that Google, combined with your question, will yield the exact reason why Apple stops signing older versions of iOS. Because, strangely enough, this topic has in fact been covered to death many times before.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
106 months ago
I theorize there's some exploit they're trying to conceal. "... Nothing to see here. Keep it moving!"

It was signed for only 35 days - seems quick
Nailed it:

http://www.redmondpie.com/ios-11.3-jailbreak-exploit-incoming-ian-beer-of-project-zero-to-give-kernel-debugger-talk-at-mosec-2018/
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
john123 Avatar
106 months ago
My daily driver is a 6s Plus with iOS 10.2. For me, it satisfies all of my (technological!) needs.
Yeah, I'm on a 6S with 10.3.3. I've traditionally been an early adopter, including as an Apple beta tester long before public betas were even a thing. But the volume and severity of iOS 11 bug reports gave me cause for pause—and no, to pre-empt what I know someone will say, I'm not just talking about people complaining on Macrumors. And while those bugs are pretty much all ironed out now, every time I think about switching to iOS 11, I realize I can't actually find a very compelling reason to make change, and there are a few things I actively dislike about iOS 11. If it ain't broke...

I'll probably do the switch eventually, if for no other reason than that the current iOS gets more love when it comes to critical security vulnerabilities. But I can't fault anyone who has decided to stick with iOS 10, and there are myriad reasons why that's a perfectly reasonable decision.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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