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Apple today released iOS 15.7.1 and iPadOS 15.7.1, operating system updates that are designed for older iPhones and iPads unable to run iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. The updates are also available to those who have chosen not to update to iOS 16 at this time.

iOS-15-General-Feature-Purple.jpg

The ‌iOS and iPadOS 15.7.1‌ updates can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

iOS 15.7.1's launch was delayed because during the beta testing period, it was found that the update was breaking Face ID for some people. Apple has presumably fixed the Face ID issue before releasing the new software.

According to Apple's release notes, the update includes important security fixes and is recommended for all users. iOS 15.7.1 addresses a long list of vulnerabilities, including a kernel vulnerability that Apple says may have been actively exploited, so all users should update as soon as possible. iOS 16 users received these fixes in the iOS 16.1 update.


Article Link: Apple Releases iPadOS and iOS 15.7.1 With Important Security Fixes
 
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iOS 15.7.1's launch was delayed because during the beta testing period, it was found that the update was breaking Face ID for some people. Apple has presumably fixed the Face ID issue before releasing the new software.

Some of the writers on Macrumors has a very bad pattern of presenting conjecture/speculation/wishful thinking as fact. How do we know that 15.7.1's release was delayed because of the FaceID bug? I see no reports or statements from anybody stating 15.7.1 was delayed, let alone that the Face ID bug was the reason for the phantom delay. The original article that reported this bug was published on October 20 and reported that 15.7.1's expected release was "to the public next week." In other words, it appears that the release of 15.7.1 was on the expected schedule.

And why would you "presumably" think Apple fixed this issue - because Apple never releases software with known and flagged bugs? As the previous Macrumors article about this problem noted, this bug was showing up in the Release Candidate for 15.7.1 which is usually the same as the version that is released. If there had been a bug fix implemented, as the original article noted, Apple would usually released another version of the Release Candidate with that bug fix. Since there has been no other Release Candidate, the presumption is the opposite - the released version stll has the FaceID bug, not the other way around [edited because user maryland below pointed out the release version build number is different from the Release Candidate].
 
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This public release version is not the same as the RC. RC build number ends with 115, today’s release ends with 117.
I stand corrected and thank you for pointing out an actual indicator of change from the Release Candidate and the release version. The Macrumors article should have pointed to this and not relied on a presumption - of course, we still have to see if the bug was quashed.
 
Nice, was looking forward to them dropping this - will be waiting on 16 just a bit longer.
Right there with you. I'm glad I downgraded back after trying the RC. It did not run very well on my 2020 12.9 and I attributed the lag with Stage Manager. Just seemed unpolished and from the feedback we're hearing, still is a bit unpolished.
 
Thank you, that’s just what I was looking for.

Now it’s time to search the IPSW just like I did with iOS 15.7

I'm seeing it in all of the usual places.. iClarified, IPSW.me, etc. My download of it just completed as I post this.

BL.
 
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Nice, was looking forward to them dropping this - will be waiting on 16 just a bit longer.
I wish I was as smart as you. I was running 15.7 on my 2020 iPhone SE and updated to 16.1. I regret it due to the graphical glitches and various other bugs in 16.1.
 
I wish I was as smart as you. I was running 15.7 on my 2020 iPhone SE and updated to 16.1. I regret it due to the graphical glitches and various other bugs in 16.1.
I’ve been reading that pretty much everywhere. My family has a XS Max, SE 2020 and an 8. I’ve been holding off. I’ve never held off this long, but no way I’m jumping in if I can’t even change the freaking wallpaper without having to rebuild the Lock Screen. It’s so stupid.
 
I’ve been reading that pretty much everywhere. My family has a XS Max, SE 2020 and an 8. I’ve been holding off. I’ve never held off this long, but no way I’m jumping in if I can’t even change the freaking wallpaper without having to rebuild the Lock Screen. It’s so stupid.
I wish I was as smart as you. I was running 15.7 on my 2020 iPhone SE and updated to 16.1. I regret it due to the graphical glitches and various other bugs in 16.1.
why not downgrade while 15.7.x is still signed then?
 
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why not downgrade while 15.7.x is still signed then?
I’d like to do that. However, I backup my iPhone to my Mac, so my backup will be from 16.1. Is it possible to get the 15.7.1 ISPW file and restore from a backup that was made while using 16.1?
 
I’d like to do that. However, I backup my iPhone to my Mac, so my backup will be from 16.1. Is it possible to get the 15.7.1 ISPW file and restore from a backup that was made while using 16.1?

Unfortunately, no. To be able to downgrade to iOS 15, you need to at least have a backup that was made while the device had iOS 15 running on it. If you don't have that, then you won't be able to downgrade. In short, if you're on iOS 16, you're stuck on iOS 16.

I found that out the hard way when I saw the slight battery drain issue on my dad's iPhone 8 Plus, and didn't have a backup of it when it had iOS 15. iOS 16.1 is working better on it.

BL.
 
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I'm installing it now on my Air 2. Wondering how much longer I'll get security updates for iPadOs 15 since I can't get iPadOS 16.
Apple hasn’t specifically commented, but based on what happened with the iOS 12 on the iPad Air and Mini 2 I suspect you’ll continue to receive critical security patches for a couple years. No guarantees that apps will continue to support iOS 15 for that long though.
 
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