Apple is no longer signing iOS or iPadOS 16.1.2 as of Tuesday evening, a move that could’ve been predicted by almost anybody given that it’s been around a week since the company released the newer iOS & iPadOS 16.2 software update to the general public.
Downgrade
Apple no longer signing iOS 16.1 or iOS 16.1.1, stopping voluntary downgrades from iOS 16.1.2
With the official rollout of iOS & iPadOS 16.1.1 a several Wednesdays ago, and the release of iOS 16.1.2 just last week, Apple has made a predictable move this evening by unsigning iOS & iPadOS 16.1 and 16.1.1.
Apple ends signing period for iOS 15.7, stopping downgrades from iOS 15.7.1
Following a move earlier this week by Apple to unsign iOS 16.0.3 about a week after launching iOS & iPadOS 16.1 to the general public, Apple on Friday appears to have also unsigned iOS & iPadOS 15.7 after subsequently releasing iOS & iPadOS 15.7.1 with bug fixes and security patches for the iPhone and iPad.
Apple unsigns iOS 16.0.3 following iOS 16.1 launch, halting firmware downgrades
Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.0.3 on Monday following the official public release of iOS & iPadOS 16.1 just over a week ago.
Apple no longer signing iOS 16.0.2, blocking downgrades from iOS 16.0.3
Apple just last week released iOS 16.0.3 to address a multitude of bugs affecting various handsets in the iPhone 14 lineup. And as expected, the company is now leveraging its firmware signing mechanism to stop downgrades to the previous iOS 16.0.2 firmware.
Apple stops signing iOS 16.0 & 16.0.1, halting downgrades from iOS 16.0.2
Just last Thursday, Apple publicly released iOS 16.0.2 with a patchwork of bug fixes for the company’s latest mobile operating system – iOS 16. Just some of the remedies included with the update were a solution for the freaky camera vibration when using third-party apps and a resolution for the excessive clipboard permission prompts users would get upon pasting text copied from one app to another, among other things.
Apple stops signing iOS 15.6.1 following last week’s newer iOS 15.7 & 16.0 releases
Apple has officially closed the signing window for iOS & iPadOS 15.6.1 on Monday after just last week dropping a multi-pronged software update comprised of both iOS & iPadOS 15.7 and the debut iOS 16.0 for the iPhone & iPod touch (iPadOS 16.0 is currently delayed for a while longer).
Apple no longer signing iOS 15.6 following last week’s iOS 15.6.1 software update
After releasing iOS & iPadOS 15.6.1 last week with bug fixes and security improvements for the iPhone and iPad, Apple is at it again this week with the company’s standard process of unsigning older firmware after pulling the plug on the previous iOS & iPadOS 15.6 release.
Hyperixa’s firmware signing status checking app IPSW also available for non-jailbroken devices
Just this week, Hyperixa released a neat little app called IPSW, which could be used to see if a particular iPhone or iPad firmware version was being signed by Apple at the time of checking. The IPSW app was first made available for jailbroken iPhones and iPads via package managers such as Cydia, Sileo, and Zebra.
New IPSW app by Hyperixa lets jailbreakers learn which firmware is signed for their device
One thing jailbreakers and jailbreak hopefuls must pay close attention to is their handset’s firmware. Apple intently unsigns older versions of iOS and iPadOS to prevent users from downgrading to them from newer versions — an effort that makes jailbreaking more difficult as Apple pushes software updates frequently to patch the bugs and exploits used by jailbreak tools.
Apple no longer signing iOS 15.5 following newer iOS 15.6 software update
Apple just last week released iOS & iPadOS 15.6 to the masses following an extensive beta testing period involving both developers and public beta participants. Fast-forward to today, and Apple doesn’t want anyone turning back.
Apple stops signing iOS 15.4.1 following release of iOS 15.5
Just last Monday, Apple released iOS & iPadOS 15.5 to the general public with changes for Apple Cash and the Podcasts app, and as many would come to expect, this move also meant that Apple would stop signing the older iOS & iPadOS 15.4.1 in the near future.