What to do when an Apple Rapid Security Response update causes issues

If a Rapid Security Response update from Apple has caused compatibility problems with your favorite apps or other issues, follow these steps to remove it quickly.

The optional Rapid Security Response feature in iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.2 or later was designed to deliver essential security fixes before they become part of a future software update. Still, it could cause apps incompatible with the latest security release to stop working correctly.

Of course, inexperienced users will have no clue why some of their installed apps suddenly stopped working for seemingly no apparent reason. That’s why Apple lets you remove a problematic Rapid Security Response update from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to fix any compatibility issues, and we show you how.

How to remove a Rapid Security Response update

Young man holding an iPhone 12 Pro Max in front of his work desk. In the background, there's a monitor using the Big Sur wallpaper and Apple's space gray keyboard and trackpad
Get important security updates more quickly | Image: Jonas Leupe/Unsplash

You can turn the Rapid Security Response feature on or off and remove any installed updates in the Software Update settings on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Remove a Rapid Security Response update in iOS and iPadOS

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Choose General from the root list.
  3. Select the About option.
  4. Touch the iOS Version entry on the About screen.
  5. Choose Remove Security Response.

This will roll back the latest Rapid Security Response update. To avoid future compatibility issues, turn off automatic Rapid Security Response releases.

Remove a Rapid Security Response update in macOS

  1. Choose System Settings from the Apple menu or the Dock.
  2. Select General from the root list.
  3. Select the About option.
  4. Hit the ⓘ (Info) button next to the macOS version.
  5. Hit the Remove button under the Latest Security Response heading.

macOS will now remove the most recently installed Rapid Security Response update from your computer, which may require a restart to complete.

How to manage automatic updates for Rapid Security Response

You can choose whether Rapid Security Response updates are downloaded and installed automatically in the Software Update settings on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Manage automatic updates for Rapid Security Response in iOS and iPadOS

Automatic update settings for Rapid Security Responses in iOS 16.3 on iPhone
Automatic security updates keep you protected | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Choose General from the root list.
  3. Select Software Update.
  4. Touch the Automatic Updates option.
  5. Toggle the Security Responses & System Files option.

Most people should use automatic updates to ensure their device has the latest security protections from Apple. Turning off automatic updates for Rapid Security Response defeats the purpose—we recommend leaving this feature on auto-pilot.

Manage automatic updates for Rapid Security Response in macOS

Automatic updates settings in the macOS Software Update section
Automatic Rapid Security Responses are on by default | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
  1. Choose System Settings from the Apple menu or the Dock.
  2. Select General from the root list.
  3. Choose the Software Update option.
  4. Hit the ⓘ (Info) button next to Automatic updates.
  5. Toggle the Install Security Responses and system files option.

With automatic updates for Rapid Security Responses, your computer will receive crucial vulnerability patches without intervention. Some updates may require a restart, and others may not. Inexperienced users are suggested to leave this switch turned on to ensure their Mac receives necessary security improvements more quickly.

How the Rapid Security Response feature works

iOS 16 icon set against a solid light-gray background

Rapid Security Response is a feature that lets your device automatically receive early patches for vulnerabilities like zero-day exploits. “Rapid Security Response gets important security improvements to your devices even faster, as they can be applied automatically between standard software updates,” Apple notes.

By delivering security fixes without a complete iOS update, this feature is meant to make Apple’s devices even more secure by installing patches for the latest exploits as soon as Apple builds them. Some Rapid Security Response updates require a restart to complete, and you can roll them back if you encounter issues.

Suppose you decline a prompt to install a Rapid Security Response update. In that case, you can install it manually or wait for it to be installed permanently as part of a standard software update. For further information on how this feature works, read Apple’s support document titled “Rapid Security Responses on Apple devices.”

Why Rapid Security Responses may break some apps

MacRumors spotted curious wording related to the Rapid Security Response feature, with one of the messages warning the users that “Some apps may be closing unexpectedly due to incompatibility with the latest iOS rapid security response.”

The prompt explains that removing the latest security response may fix this. Another alert informs the user of a “Possible iOS Security Response Issue.”

You may see such a message if the Software Update mechanism discovers potential app compatibility problems with the latest Rapid Security Response update. So far, Apple has released several test updates on iOS and iPadOS to test Rapid Security Responses, but those updates didn’t include any security fixes.

But when Apple actually does issue a quick security update—and if you find it to cause headaches by breaking some apps—you’ll know how to fix such issues by rolling back the update without altering the current macOS version.

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