Apple Stops Signing iOS 16.0.3, Downgrading From iOS 16.1 No Longer Possible

[MacRumors]

Following the launch of iOS 16.1 on October 24, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.0.3, the previously available version of iOS that launched on October 10. As iOS 16.0.3 is no longer being signed, it is no longer possible to downgrade to that version of iOS after installing iOS 16.1.

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, so it is not unusual that iOS 16.0.3 is no longer being signed.

iOS 16.0.3 was a smaller bug fix update that addressed bugs that were plaguing the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.

The iOS 16.1 update that replaced it is much larger in scale, introducing iCloud Shared Photo Library, Live Activities for the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, support for the Matter smart home standard, Clean Energy Charging, and more, with details available in our iOS 16.1 guide.

Article Link: Apple Stops Signing iOS 16.0.3, Downgrading From iOS 16.1 No Longer Possible

 

[winxmac]

The pattern for the most part, 1 week after the newest update is released, the prior update is no longer signed for use with iTunes/Finder restore/downgrade...

 

[thadoggfather]

That’s for the better

 

[hydropsyche]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

 

[sorgo †]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

Sounds like a government-agency problem

 

[ThomasJL]

iOS 16.1 is a buggy mess. I wish I had stayed on 15.7 and instead updated to 15.7.1.

I learned my lesson: In the future, I will only consider updating to a new iOS or macOS when the x.2 version is released.

 

[WoodTableFromIkea]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

And?

That sounds a "your government agency" problem and not Apple's, lol.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

If your government's IT doesn't allow new iOS versions until they give approval then they should manage the devices in a way that won't allow individual users to upgrade by themselves.

 

[pdaholic]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

How does it get upgraded by mistake? My company uses a profile that blocks upgrades and only allows the last accepted iOS version to be installed. I would have to manually delete the profile or do a complete wipe and install the newest OS. And an upgraded OS shouldn’t “brick” the phone, you just can’t use your company’s software on it until IT catches up.

 

[Sciomar]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

Obviously an incompetent IT department within that agency. They make mobile device management software for just such a reason, preventing users from doing things. We need less government overreach in making things illegal thanks.

 

[Phnwhowhen]

16.1 made multiple Apple Watch use with my iPhone 14 Pro unusable. Sticking with 16.0.3 until hopefully 16.2 fixes it.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Thanks, Obama!

 

[Scottsoapbox]

iOS 16.1 is a buggy mess. I wish I had stayed on 15.7 and instead updated to 15.7.1.

I learned my lesson: In the future, I will only consider updating to a new iOS or macOS when the x.2 version is released.

Yeah I no longer upgrade until at least the holidays. The new features are so minor these days it isn't worth the buggy mess.

iOS really should go to a n every other year upgrade for software.

 

[31 Flavas]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

Please allow me a "Well, Ackchyually" moment here. A silly, maybe humorous, discussion on pedantics.

I'd like to argue the better word would be that the phone is technically bricked. As in, an actually correct use of the term "technically". The phone is literally usable and literally -not- bricked. Not that you were trying to claim otherwise. But, there is an administrative or procedural reason why the phone has to be shunned / can't be used.

IMO, a temporarily bricked (i)phone could be one where the wrong passcode was entered 5+ times and it has disabled / "bricked" for 1+ min(s).

Not that we were concerned about this issue.

</ "Well, Ackchyually" >

 

[Gasu E.]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

I don't understand what you mean by "bricked"? Do you mean some proprietary app provided by your agency doesn't work?

 

[Shirasaki]

Please allow me a "Well, Ackchyually" moment here. A silly, maybe humorous, discussion on pedantics.

I'd like to argue the better word would be that the phone is technically bricked. As in, an actually correct use of the term "technically". The phone is literally usable and literally -not- bricked. Not that you were trying to claim otherwise. But, there is an administrative or procedural reason why the phone has to be shunned / can't be used.

IMO, a temporarily bricked (i)phone could be one where the wrong passcode was entered 5+ times and it has disabled / "bricked" for 1+ min(s).

Not that we were concerned about this issue.

</ "Well, Ackchyually" >

However, with MDM, the device would have to be enrolled to access company data, apps etc. If the MDM profile is not installed properly on a managed device, that device cannot access company data, which means they are just as useful as a restored device with factory settings. In that sense, "bricked" is not that far off.

 

[PhilBoogie]

iOS 16.1 is a buggy mess. I wish I had stayed on 15.7 and instead updated to 15.7.1.

I learned my lesson: In the future, I will only consider updating to a new iOS or macOS when the x.2 version is released.

I simply never update. Anything. Only getting new software when I buy new hardware. I can live with the bugs, like Copy/Paste approval popup, but I don't get all the new bugs.

 

[bushman4]

iOS 16.1 is a buggy mess. I wish I had stayed on 15.7 and instead updated to 15.7.1.

I learned my lesson: In the future, I will only consider updating to a new iOS or macOS when the x.2 version is released.

16.1 has some serious bugs like Wi-Fi connectivity among others
Apple Support says they are aware of it (good start). Fix is coming soon

 

[Ryan H]

If you're a professional you should be screening updates before rolling out anyway.

 

[JosephAW]

But you can still downgrade to iOS 15.7.1, weird?
Unless you have an iPhone 14 in which your stuck on iOS 16.

 

[belvdr]

But you can still downgrade to iOS 15.7.1, weird?

Once they stop updating iOS 15, I think they will stop signing that.

 

[Sasparilla]

iOS 16.1 is a buggy mess. I wish I had stayed on 15.7 and instead updated to 15.7.1...

Thanks for saying that BTW, am on 15.7.1 and was wondering how problematic 16.1 was. Will wait.

 

[H2SO4]

Has anybody noticed if there is a (more often than not), minimum period before Apple stop signing the previous firmware?

 

[Beautiful Opinion]

Wow great news

 

[HSVCR8TOURER]

That practice should be illegal. My government agency doesn't OK new IOS versions for months and if a phone gets upgraded by mistake we can't go back to an older version. The phone is temporarily bricked.

And especially with the way on the last updates of the phone like on iPhone 5s where they would purposely make your phone slow so you’d buy a new one because you couldn’t downgrade again is just greedy