Downgrading an iPhone From iOS 17 to iOS 16 is No Longer Possible

[MacRumors]

Following the release of iOS 17.0.3 earlier today, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.6.1, iOS 17, and iOS 17.0.1, preventing iPhone users from downgrading to any of those software versions. Apple continues to sign iOS 17.0.2 for now.

Notably, this means that it is no longer possible to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 17 to iOS 16. It is not possible to downgrade to iOS 16.7.

Apple routinely stops signing older iOS releases over time in order to prevent users from downgrading to previous software versions.

iOS 17.1 is expected to be released later this month.

Article Link: Downgrading an iPhone From iOS 17 to iOS 16 is No Longer Possible

 

[ImperialForces]

... and now, you can never go back!!!

 

[btrach144]

IDK, iOS 17 is pretty stable. Only real issue was a warm 15 PM but 17.0.3 seems to have solved that today.

 

[TheMountainLife]

RIP

 

[ebika]

Reading the iOS 17 forum, it seems like 17 is still a mess. I normally update fairly soon after releases, but I'm waiting for at least 17.1 this time.

 

[Steviejobz]

 

[JosephAW]

iOS 10 was my favorite because of 32bit support. iOS 8 was the last version you could sync apps and download apps using iTunes.

 

[williambloke]

Tim Cook just keeps popping onscreen to say "Users lovveee subscriptions!"

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Users should always have the right to downgrade to the iOS version the iPhone came with. Apple does not have to nanny its users. If they prefer an old version, they should be able to keep it.

At the moment only rich users have the option of downgrading by buying a second iPhone in the first place just to have the option to return to the old version.

"Signing" iOS should only be a security measure to make sure that it really came from Apple, but Apple uses signing to make users keep a new version against their will.

 

[bousozoku]

I still remember when downloading 238 MB was a struggle and I had to think about whether I wanted to take a chance on a new version. Patience was my best friend, and kept me from making hasty mistakes on my 2nd generation iPod touch.

These updates happen so frequently and they're often so large that I'd think I was running a supercomputer (of the 1990s).

 

[svish]

Good to know about this.

 

[jdavid_rp]

Users should always have the right to downgrade to the iOS version the iPhone came with. Apple does not have to nanny its users. If they prefer an old version, they should be able to keep it.

At the moment only rich users have the option of downgrading by buying a second iPhone in the first place just to have the option to return to the old version.

"Signing" iOS should only be a security measure to make sure that it really came from Apple, but Apple uses signing to make users keep a new version against their will.

I hope the UE can do something about it too. I don’t know why we can’t install an oficial Apple OS in an owned and activated apple device apart from security. If it’s about the user data, just force a clean install if you wanna downgrade. MacOS allows it and I think android does too…

 

[platinumaqua]

Reading the iOS 17 forum, it seems like 17 is still a mess. I normally update fairly soon after releases, but I'm waiting for at least 17.1 this time.

only the last version of every major release is worth upgrading to if reliability is important

 

[Reverend Benny]

Good, people need to stop using old OS. There is always 16.7 if you want to run the older version that has the latest updates and can be considered secure. And I'm guessing theres a 16.7.1. around the corner since 17.0.3 was released yesterday.

 

[coolfactor]

Users should always have the right to downgrade to the iOS version the iPhone came with. Apple does not have to nanny its users. If they prefer an old version, they should be able to keep it.

At the moment only rich users have the option of downgrading by buying a second iPhone in the first place just to have the option to return to the old version.

"Signing" iOS should only be a security measure to make sure that it really came from Apple, but Apple uses signing to make users keep a new version against their will.

That's a loaded topic.

1. User chooses to remain on an older version of the operating system.
2. Developers have moved on and only support the latest.
3. User has an issue with an app due to an incompatibility between the app and their chosen operating system.

Should Apple or the developer have the burden of providing support because a user is refusing to keep up with the latest?

Users *do* have the choice to keep using a particular operating system by turning off automatic updates and never upgrading, so that argument doesn't hold water. The signing prevents downgrading *after* an upgrade has already taken place — either automatically, or manually. In both cases, the user is responsible for the upgrade happening, not Apple.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Users *do* have the choice to keep using a particular operating system by turning off automatic updates and never upgrading, so that argument doesn't hold water. The signing prevents downgrading *after* an upgrade has already taken place — either automatically, or manually. In both cases, the user is responsible for the upgrade happening, not Apple.

The user can't know the downsides of a new OS. He trusts Apple and hopes that there are no major downsides or even bugs. Of course there is a period when the user can test the new OS and still has the chance to downgrade, but what happens if the user discovers a flaw later?

If it is possible not to upgrade at all, why is it than not possible to downgrade later? I do not mean a real downgrade software, which would be complicate to implement, as you would need ways from every version down to every other version the phone technically supports. I was just thinking about reinstalling from a backup while keeping at least the compatible user data.

 

[Populus]

Phew! At least I had time to update to 16.6.1. To be fair, I thought Apple would stop signing iOS 16.6.1 much earlier. I’ve had more than a week to update all my devices using the IPSW.

I find iOS 16.6.1 to be rock solid. Hopefully iOS 17 will be that way much sooner than that.

 

[winxmac]

I was thinking they will stop signing iOS 16.6.1 [and iOS 16.7 OTA] on Sept 28 but it seems they waited until iOS 17.0.3 was released before doing so...

I have updated the iPad 6 from iPadOS 13.7 to iPad 16.7
Same with iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max to iOS 16.7

I would downgrade the iPhone 11 Pro Max to iOS 15.x or even to iOS 13.x if Apple would re-sign the old versions...

In both cases, the user is responsible for the upgrade happening, not Apple.

By default, iOS updates get downloaded and installed unless the user, which usually tech users, change the setting and disable auto-download and auto-install...

 

[winxmac]

iOS 10 was my favorite because of 32bit support. iOS 8 was the last version you could sync apps and download apps using iTunes.

You can download and sync apps so long as you are using iTunes 12.6.x (on Windows and older macOS)

You can only install iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7 OTA for A12 Bionic devices and newer... A11 Bionic devices have iOS 16.7 IPSW...

iOS 16.6.1 is the last IPSW available for A12 Bionic devices and newer...

 

[H2SO4]

Users should always have the right to downgrade to the iOS version the iPhone came with. Apple does not have to nanny its users. If they prefer an old version, they should be able to keep it.

At the moment only rich users have the option of downgrading by buying a second iPhone in the first place just to have the option to return to the old version.

"Signing" iOS should only be a security measure to make sure that it really came from Apple, but Apple uses signing to make users keep a new version against their will.

This!
A bug that makes the phone or an app unusable, (or partly unusable), can be showstopper. Downgrading can be a temporary fix whilst they address the issue.
It's why I wait for quite some time before upgrading to 'x' version.

 

[Kottu]

You can check in at any time you want but you can never leave. ....

 

[3xBoom]

How I cannot install ANY and ALL iOS versions compatible with my iPhone is beyond me.

 

[tonmischa]

But iOS 16.7 is still signed by Apple?
Then why is downgrading to 16.7 no longer possible?

 

[winxmac]

But iOS 16.7 is still signed by Apple?
Then why is downgrading to 16.7 no longer possible?

To downgrade an A12 Bionic devices and newer to iOS 16.7, you need to install iOS 16.6.1 IPSW… iOS 16.7 was never offered as IPSW for A12 Bionic devices and newer, only A11 Bionic devices have the iOS 16.7 IPSW since they cannot be upgraded to iOS 17.x

Once you installed iOS 16.6.1, you can either download iOS 16.7 OTA or enable iOS 16 Developer beta updates first then download and install iOS 16.7 RC then turn off iOS 16 Developer beta then download and install iOS 16.7 OTA final non-beta release…

 

[sparkinstx]

Well, 17 is slowly improving. One thing I'd like to see fixed is the ability to turn on Do Not Disturb for the duration of a calendar event from the Calendar app. The last time that worked was in 16.3.9.