Apple Stops Signing iOS 11.3.1 Following iOS 11.4 Release - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Stops Signing iOS 11.3.1 Following iOS 11.4 Release

by

IPSWFollowing the release of iOS 11.4 on May 29, Apple has stopped signing iOS 11.3.1, the previous version of iOS that was available to consumers.

iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch owners who have upgraded to iOS 11.4 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 11.4 is now the only version of iOS 11 that can be installed on iOS devices by the general public, but developers can download iOS 12, the next-generation version of iOS that's in beta testing ahead of a fall release.

Top Rated Comments

1
1050792
106 months ago
How dare they allow people to go back to security threat prone versions of their software when those folks generally have no reason to do so?!
Perhaps people are having issues with the new updated version and giving a choice to go back would be a life saver for them? Oh I forgot it's Apple... choices... :rolleyes:
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
OldSchoolMacGuy
106 months ago
I hate that they do this.
How dare they allow people to go back to security threat prone versions of their software when those folks generally have no reason to do so?!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
witherwings Avatar
witherwings
106 months ago
Funny that they stoped signing 11.3.1 the same time after jailbreak for that version was released :rolleyes:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
C DM
106 months ago
So they should leave a security risk there for the 0.000000001% of users, potentially opening more problems by leaving those gates open? Got it.
That would be pretty much the percentage of the users who would even know about something like downgrading in general or more specifically would even bother try to figure out how to do it in iOS, let alone actually go through with it. Leaving it signed would more than likely be a effectively moot as far as it causing any realistic issues.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
now i see it
106 months ago
unless ios 12 screwsthepooch, the sooner everyone can put iOS 11 behind them the better.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThunderSkunk Avatar
ThunderSkunk
106 months ago
So they should leave a security risk there for the 0.000000001% of users, potentially opening more problems by leaving those gates open? Got it.
The same way they have no problem leaving hundreds of millions of macs exposed to security threats when they decide to quit allowing new OS's & software updates to be installed on them.

"Security" is not an argument, its a half baked excuse, & does not justify removing peoples ability to undo damage that upgrades may cause to their devices performance or functionality. It's unethical.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Feature

'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30 am PDT by
Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during...
Read Full Article • 203 comments
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Tuesday July 21, 2026 6:22 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
Read Full Article
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
Read Full Article • 58 comments