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Apple Stops Signing iOS 16 and iOS 16.0.1, Downgrading From iOS 16.0.2 No Longer Possible

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Following the launch of iOS 16.0.2 last Thursday, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16 and iOS 16.0.1, the two previously available versions that came out in mid-September. Since the two versions are no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to those versions of iOS after installing iOS 16.0.2.

iOS 16
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, so it is not unusual that iOS 16 and iOS 16.0.1 are no longer being signed.

Apple released iOS 16 to the general public on September 12 following several months of beta testing. Key new features include a highly customizable Lock Screen, the ability to temporarily edit or unsend iMessages, improvements to Focus modes, and more. The free software update is compatible with the iPhone 8 and newer.

Apple then released iOS 16.0.1 as a day-one update for the iPhone 14 models to fix bugs including an issue with activation and migration during setup, a problem that could cause photos to appear soft when zooming in in landscape orientation on iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a bug that could cause enterprise single sign-on apps to fail to authenticate.

Although it's no longer possible to downgrade to the earlier versions of iOS outlined above, users can still revert to iOS 15 by connecting to a Mac or PC, thanks to a security fix that Apple issued alongside iOS 16 in the form of iOS 15.7.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

Wildkraut Avatar
Wildkraut
46 months ago
The day will soon come that Apple is forced to stop these customer unfriendly signing practices, it's part of EU's RightToRepair bill.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
JosephAW
46 months ago
Well Apple is restraining themselves by continuing to sign iOS 15.7:rolleyes:
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
I7guy
46 months ago
That was fast. Although not sure why anybody would want to downgrade to those versions anyway.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FeliApple Avatar
FeliApple
46 months ago
Funny choice of words here: “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”.

I’d say: “In order to force customers to keep their operating systems up to date if they have any issues which require restoring, or if Apple has a bug in their own activation servers which forcibly deactivate devices, rendering the user helpless and irreversibly shattering battery life and performance in the process”. Yes, I think that would be the accurate way to say it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
MacD
46 months ago
Why is this news?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
cyanite
46 months ago

The day will soon come that Apple is forced to stop these customer unfriendly signing practices, it's part of EU's RightToRepair bill.
In many cases iOS release address important security bugs. You could argue that it's customer unfriendly to supply known security bugged firmware.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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