Apple Prevents Downgrading to iOS 17.6.1 Following iOS 18 Release

[MacRumors]

Apple today stopped signing iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 for all devices except the latest-generation iPad Pro models with the M4 chip.

Apple routinely stops signing older iOS releases over time in order to prevent users from downgrading to an outdated software version. iOS 17.6.1 no longer being signed comes one week after Apple released iOS 18 to the public.

iPadOS 17.6.1 is likely still signed for iPad Pro models with the M4 chip only because iPadOS 18 has been temporary pulled for those devices.

If you still want to downgrade your iPhone to iOS 17, time is running out, with only iOS 17.7 remaining signed for the iPhone at this time.

Article Link: Apple Prevents Downgrading to iOS 17.6.1 Following iOS 18 Release

 

[now i see it]

The day is coming when iOS 17 will no longer be available…..

 

[ps3zocker]

I wonder if this is a thing the EU will think of next.

 

[Sasparilla]

Brutal

lol, well with v17.70 still available you can still go to v17 if you want to. But typically the ability to downgrade only lasts a week or two, so folks agonizing about going back down - go ahead and get it done while you can.

I've enjoyed v18 quite alot and will be sticking with it, but now's your chance to go v17 if you want.

 

[mondaiguy]

You'll have to pry my 17.6.1 iPhone SE from my cold dead hands

 

[MrGimper]

The day is coming when iOS 17 will no longer be available…..

Well yes, that's how it works.

 

[JosephAW]

iOS 17.7 was still a major update for my iPhone 14 Pro.
After updating, my computer running macOS Sonoma required a download from Apple servers to be able to access the device again just like my computers running high sierra, unbelievable.

 

[JosephAW]

My brother‘s iPhone 13 mini updated to iOS 17.7 and all of his contacts were double. It was working fine under 17.6.1.

 

[citysnaps]

That makes sense.

 

[Adora]

Hmm... Downgrading everything to 17.7 as fast as possible or staying on the beta track? Only thing I really miss will be the new Password app. But until 1Password 7 for iOS and 1Password 6 for macOS still work. I don't really need it.

I need to clean up my iPhones and iPads anyway, they are overloaded with TestFlight betas and Apps I never need, only bought because they were free for one day. 🙈

I installed so much last week that there aren't even enough sites to display all icons. And I wonder why there is a limit...

Would be a hassle to delete them one by one. A clean install might even be faster. Of course this is not on all devices, but on my main iPhone.

 

[Adora]

My brother‘s iPhone 13 mini updated to iOS 17.7 and all of his contacts were double. It was working fine under 17.6.1.

Wouldn't bother me. I only a few family members in there, maybe 5 contacts. Other contacts are saved in some messengers' own lists, they have no access to the main contacts.

 

[jonnyb098]

Wow…and still no fix for bricked iPads a week later

 

[c47v3770]

Since there’s no IPSW for 17.7, what’s the easiest/best way to downgrade from iOS 18?

 

[Adora]

Since there’s no IPSW for 17.7, what’s the easiest/best way to downgrade from iOS 18?

There is no way.

Forgot about that. It's only iPadOS 17.7 and only for those iPads who don't support iOS 18. Since there is no iPhone that stopped at iOS 17, they offer no IPSW.

At least that saves me time for not thinking about downgrading.

But the 17.6.1 IPSWs are all still there on the official download website in the developer account.

Did anyone try if it really doesn't work anymore already?

 

[c47v3770]

There is no way.

Forgot about that. It's only iPadOS 17.7 and only for those iPads who don't support iOS 18. Since there is no iPhone that stopped at iOS 17, they offer no IPSW.

At least that saves me time to think about downgrading.

But the 17.6.1 IPSWs are all still there on the official download website in the developer account.

Did anyone try if it really doesn't work anymore already?

I was just curious. iOS 18 has been running OK on my 13PM so far. Still trying to gauge the battery life but I think it’s better than I expected.

 

[Adora]

I was just curious. iOS 18 has been running OK on my 13PM so far. Still trying to gauge the battery life but I think it’s better than I expected.

I just wanted to try if it still works, but couldn't turn off "Find My", the I wanted to log out of iCloud and there is a one hour "Security Delay" for stolen phones, because I'm not at a familiar location, although I am at home like always. 😬

Same for second phone. I never turn this on again.

 

[platinumaqua]

Since there’s no IPSW for 17.7, what’s the easiest/best way to downgrade from iOS 18?

theapplewiki has the links to 17.7 RC, which is the same as the release version.

Same exact link too for the 2 iPads listed as available for 17.7 on Apple Developer site

 

[Adora]

theapplewiki has the links to 17.7 RC, which is the same as the release version.

Same exact link too for the 2 iPads listed as available for 17.7 on Apple Developer site

Thanks I found it and it is downloading now for my two iPhones.

Is iPadOS 17.6.1 still signed?

 

[platinumaqua]

Thanks I found it and it is downloading now for my two iPhones.

Is iPadOS 17.6.1 still signed?

iPadOS 17.6.1 not signed except for M4 iPad Pros, though the official 17.7 IPSW is available for them without needing to go through hoops

 

[Adora]

I made a list:

15 Pro Max iPhone16,2_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

15 Pro iPhone16,1_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

15 Plus iPhone15,5_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

15 iPhone15,4_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

14 Pro Max iPhone15,3_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

14 Pro iPhone15,2_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

14 Plus iPhone14,8_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

14 iPhone14,7_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

SE 3 iPhone14,6_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

13 Pro Max iPhone14,3_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

13 Pro iPhone14,2_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

13 iPhone14,5_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

13 mini iPhone14,4_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

12 Pro Max iPhone13,4_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

12 Pro iPhone13,2,iPhone13,3_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

12 iPhone13,1_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

SE2 iPhone12,8_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

11 Pro Max iPhone12,3,iPhone12,5_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

11 Pro iPhone12,3,iPhone12,5_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

XS Max iPhone11,2,iPhone11,4,iPhone11,6_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

XS iPhone11,2,iPhone11,4,iPhone11,6_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

XR iPhone11,8_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw

 

[Artsketch]

Batch conversion of 48MP ProRAW images to 48MP HEIC isn't working either on iOS17.7 using Quick Actions>Image Conversion>File Format: HEIF>Image Size: Original, resulting in 4032x3024 HEIC images.

 

[jasonsmith_88]

I wonder if this is a thing the EU will think of next.

It’s possible. Apple often removes features in iOS updates, which means devices can lose features that people explicitly paid for. However, the downgrade window is so small that it’s very easy to get stuck with an operating system that no longer functions the same as the one that was purchased.

You should be able to restore an iPhone to the original iOS it shipped with.

This goes for all devices including vehicles. If a manufacturer OTA update turns my infotainment system into a steaming pile of ****, I should be able to revert the change.

 

[Adora]

Tried both...

Interrupted without any error message.

This woked. Before it looked like that.

And after...

 

[jasonsmith_88]

I just wanted to try if it still works, but couldn't turn off "Find My", the I wanted to log out of iCloud and there is a one hour "Security Delay" for stolen phones, because I'm not at a familiar location, although I am at home like always. 😬

Same for second phone. I never turn this on again.

Keep in mind that if FaceID breaks (eg you drop your phone or the hardware just fails), and iOS fails to recognize your significant locations (a completely opaque setting that cannot be explicitly configured by the user), then your phone is completely bricked, because there is no passcode/password override.

Stolen Device Protection is quite literally the worst possible way Apple could have solved the issue - the issue being that the device passcode can be used to reset the associated Apple ID password.

 

[Adora]

Keep in mind that if FaceID breaks (eg you drop your phone or the hardware just fails), and iOS fails to recognize your significant locations (a completely opaque setting that cannot be explicitly configured by the user), then your phone is completely bricked, because there is no passcode/password override.

Stolen Device Protection is quite literally the worst possible way Apple could have solved the issue - the issue being that the device passcode can be used to reset the associated Apple ID password.

I have only TouchID ond my only location is at home for 99% of life since many years and when I am somewhere else it's in Airplane mode that might be turned of for a few minutes to write an iMessage or phone call. I don't even use location services. But thanks for the info. Didn't know this could happen.

FaceID is able to use without having a Passcode?