Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.3 Following iOS 15.3.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible

[MacRumors]

Following the release of iOS 15.3.1 on February 10, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.3, the previously available version of iOS that came out in late January. Because iOS 15.3 is no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version of iOS if you've updated to iOS 15.3.1.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.

iOS 15.3 was a bug fix update that addressed a significant Safari bug that could leak browsing activity, while iOS 15.3.1 was another bug fix update further addressing WebKit vulnerabilities.

Article Link: Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.3 Following iOS 15.3.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible

 

[winxmac]

Seems that for quite some time now, 1 week after the release of the latest version, the previous version no longer gets signed so if you want to go back to the earlier version you need to do it within that 1 week time frame or you will be stuck with the latest version unless Apple re-signs old version like how they did back in 2018

Since then until December 2019 iPhone 4s and iPad 2 can be downgraded back to iOS 6.1.3

Apple Accidentally Allowed Downgrades All the Way Back to iOS 6 Early Today

 

[MysticCow]

I despise the whole “no longer signing” garbage. If there’s an issue and you NEEEEEED to downgrade it, it isn’t possible. You’re just plain screwed.

 

[nvmls]

I despise the whole “no longer signing” garbage. If there’s an issue and you NEEEEEED to downgrade it, it isn’t possible. You’re just plain screwed.

Well if they think you're gonna love it, you have to love it with it's baggage.

 

[JosephAW]

Apple should allow the ability to reinstall the original iOS version for each device and then the user can upgrade to each successive iOS major releases just like they allowed my iPhone 4S to reinstall iOS 6 and then iOS 8 and then iOS 9. I stopped at iOS 8.

 

[Octavius8]

How about first fixing the Bluetooth issue on the cars?. (Disconnecting every few seconds after iOS 15.3).
Apple support suggest “car issue”, of course… 4 iPhone generations, no problem, iOS 15 on my 13Pro, no problem, iOS 15.3 dissaster!. Will Apple Pay me a new car now that they broke basic Bluetooth calling with a car????

 

[NMBob]

I despise the whole “no longer signing” garbage. If there’s an issue and you NEEEEEED to downgrade it, it isn’t possible. You’re just plain screwed.

You would think if congress wanted to do something useful they would look into something like th....never mind.

 

[Thebrochure]

This is one of those things that lawmakers should step up to the plate and end. You should always be allowed to go back to whatever iOS you want, as long as it's not older than the original version that came with your phone.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

This is one of those things that lawmakers should step up to the plate and end. You should always be allowed to go back to whatever iOS you want, as long as it's not older than the original version that came with your phone.

I totally AGREE and the IOS 10 to 11 transition should have resulted in a Class Action lawsuit for deleting nearly a hundred apps from my iPhone 5s without my permission, and Apple shipping it back to me less functional after a battery repair that I paid for too when others got them for free. So for me it was a kick in the balls bigtime!

THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

This is one of those things that lawmakers should step up to the plate and end. You should always be allowed to go back to whatever iOS you want, as long as it's not older than the original version that came with your phone.

Why the "as long as it's not older" disclaimer. One of the annoying things about buying Apple hardware, is the lock in to the latest version of the software, which is quite often a broken and buggy version, especially if it is a brand new major version. I would love to be able to buy a new MBP, and be able to put any version (that is still supported w security updates) I like on it, new or old (obviously, the M1 Macs need a version of macOS that supports Apple Silicon too).

 

[Thebrochure]

Why the "as long as it's not older" disclaimer. One of the annoying things about buying Apple hardware, is the lock in to the latest version of the software, which is quite often a broken and buggy version, especially if it is a brand new major version. I would love to be able to buy a new MBP, and be able to put any version (that is still supported w security updates) I like on it, new or old (obviously, the M1 Macs need a version of macOS that supports Apple Silicon too).

I think it's fair because as a consumer, you have the choice not to buy it. These are Apple's inventions and products. If they want to cram them full of junk that may render them lesser, than they should have the right to do so. But equally, you should have the right as a consumer not to buy said product. So if you don't do your homework first and buy a lesser version of a phone or computer, than that's on you. But at least this way, you could remedy a mistake you made down the line and bring the product back to the way it was when you made the purchase.

 

[nt5672]

I think it's fair because as a consumer, you have the choice not to buy it. These are Apple's inventions and products. If they want to cram them full of junk that may render them lesser, than they should have the right to do so. But equally, you should have the right as a consumer not to buy said product. So if you don't do your homework first and buy a lesser version of a phone or computer, than that's on you. But at least this way, you could remedy a mistake you made down the line and bring the product back to the way it was when you made the purchase.

Apple is not a dictatorship, but your right, they should have the choice.

But, as consumers we should also have the choice to chastise Apple about it and get storms of people to chastise Apple about it. If people don't know, they can't make that decision and they won't know unless a lot of people complain.

 

[saudor]

This is one of those things that lawmakers should step up to the plate and end. You should always be allowed to go back to whatever iOS you want, as long as it's not older than the original version that came with your phone.

or at least make it difficult enough like a hackintosh. The average joe won't manage it but those who know what they're doing, still can.

Not sure why they cant do what they do on macs and support the last 3 versions for security

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

I think it's fair because as a consumer, you have the choice not to buy it. These are Apple's inventions and products. If they want to cram them full of junk that may render them lesser, than they should have the right to do so. But equally, you should have the right as a consumer not to buy said product. So if you don't do your homework first and buy a lesser version of a phone or computer, than that's on you. But at least this way, you could remedy a mistake you made down the line and bring the product back to the way it was when you made the purchase.

Oh blah blah, rights rights rights.... spare me the drama.

 

[Thebrochure]

Oh blah blah, rights rights rights.... spare me the drama.

Said the circle to the triangle.

 

[1284814]

Well I think I am only gonna update for extreme security reasons- other than that I am done, my ipad i bricked by this update. An iPad air 4. I am trying to fix it. All my appps are showing as waiting despite the fact that they are all installed. And in addition to that my iPad is installing apps that I deleted years ago ? and you can’t delete them.