Apple no longer signs iOS 15.5 after new iOS 15.6 software update

Just last week, Apple released iOS and iPadOS 15.6 to the mainstream after an extended beta period that included both developers and public beta testers. Fast forward to today and Apple doesn’t want anyone to go back.

In a predictable move by the Cupertino tech giant, Apple has not signed iOS and iPadOS 15.5, which limits those who have upgraded to iOS and iPadOS 15.6 from downgrading through official means.

Apple regularly removes old firmware after releasing something new to encourage adoption of the new firmware. The move benefits the company in other ways as well, such as preventing jailbreaks by blocking upgrades to more vulnerable firmware versions, as well as satisfying shareholders who know that iPhone and iPad users are adopting the company’s latest and greatest software at a rapid pace, rather than necessarily voluntary, however.

Unofficial ways to install iOS or iPadOS 15.5 after unsigning certainly exist, such as using the DelayOTA method when upgrading from an even older firmware, or using futurerestore to downgrade using user-saved SHSH blogs. These methods, however, have serious prerequisites that not all users meet the criteria for.

Besides installing older firmware that is more prone to hacking, other reasons to install older firmware include installing a previously stable version of iOS or iPadOS when the update contains new bugs that affect the user experience. Examples where this has happened in the past include when iOS 14.7 broke the ability to unlock a paired Apple Watch with iPhone Touch ID authentication, and when iOS and iPadOS 13.2 introduced overly aggressive background app control.

You can actively check which versions of iOS or iPadOS are signed on the handy IPSW.me website, and you can download any version of iOS or iPadOS you might need from our Downloads page.

Are you sad to see that iOS and iPadOS 15.5 are no longer signed? Let us know in the comments section below.