Apple Prevents Downgrading to iOS 17.6.1 Following iOS 18 Release

[ypl]

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.

Stolen Device Protection protects you from loosing your account, not stolen device. You can't turn off SDP without working FaceID/TouchID, but you can erase it remotely (not factory reset), providing you remember Apple Account credentials. Broken FaceID doesn't brick your phone.

EDIT: It's not the first time I see such strange claims concerning SDP, so I verified the procedure in reality, using my iPhone with SDP turned on. So:

- I checked whether I can change my Apple Account password without FaceID (no I can't)
- I checked whether I can factory reset iPhone without FaceID (no I can't)
- I erased device remotely (EDIT2: eSIM is erased as well)
- I set up device using my Apple Account credentials
- FaceID is not set, you have to configure it from scratch (if you need it and it's not broken)
- SDP is turned off initially

 

[svish]

Good to know. Nothing new. Hopefully the iOS 18 update for M4 iPad Pro is fixed

 

[lkrupp]

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

It will always be available to users whose older iPhones can’t update to iOS 18. And owners of newer iPhones can remain on iOS 17 if they wish.

 

[Adora]

It will always be available to users whose older iPhones can’t update to iOS 18. And owners of newer iPhones can remain on iOS 17 if they wish.

No, they already didn't get iOS 17 and are still on 16. And the other ones can't reinstall it if it is not signed anymore in a few days or weeks.

It's only iPadOS that has 2 or 3 devices where it will be available "forever" because they can't update.

 

[lkrupp]

No, they already didn't get iOS 17 and are still on 16. And the other ones can't reinstall it if it is not signed anymore in a few days or weeks.

It's only iPadOS that has 2 or 3 devices where it will be available "forever" because they can't update.

I think you are wrong. If you have an iPhone that will run iOS 17 but not iOS 18 you will have the option to update to iOS 17. iPhones can always be updated to the latest iOS version their device supports. Now if your iPhone supports iOs 18 but you chose not to stay on iOS 16 then yes, your only option will be to move to iOS 18

 

[Adora]

I think you are wrong. If you have an iPhone that will run iOS 17 but not iOS 18 you will have the option to update to iOS 17. iPhones can always be updated to the latest iOS version their device supports. Now if your iPhone supports iOs 18 but you chose not to stay on iOS 16 then yes, your only option will be to move to iOS 18

There ist not such a Phone. 8 (Plus) and X only support iOS 16. XS (Max) and XR support iOS 18.

 

[npmacuser5]

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?

Not true, my iPads fully support IOS 18 and was offered IOS 17.7 also. Which I did install 17.7. Will get to 18 when 18.1 comes out or later.

 

[Adora]

Not true, my iPads fully support IOS 18 and was offered IOS 17.7 also. Which I did install 17.7. Will get to 18 when 18.1 comes out or later.

You are talking about updates but not full firmwares to restore from. And it won't be signed forever. Just a short period. If you restore now, you might get updated automatically, because there is only the RC (same build) available. But Apple hides the RC, so I made a list, at least for the phones. The website where it's coming from was mentioned here.

Two posts above yours I mentioned that there are 2-3 iPads not supporting 18 although they have iPadOS, what is not exactly the same as iOS anymore. I even have one of those. The 12.9" (2nd Gen.). And he was talking about phones.

They had been there the whole time, but iPhones never.

Edit: I hope nobody read this directly. I edited it about 100 times because I am still half asleep and first misunderstood what he wrote. So I hat to put a paragraph in front of my first text.