Apple stops signing iOS 16.2 to prevent iOS 16.3 downgrade

Following the release of iOS and iPadOS 16.3 to the public last week, almost anyone could have guessed that Apple would soon stop signing older versions of iOS and iPadOS 16.2, and now it seems the time has come.

With iOS and iPadOS 16.2 unsigned, iPhone and iPad users will no longer be able to use Finder or iTunes to force downgrade their device’s firmware. This also means that anyone with a firmware older than iOS or iPadOS 16.2 will not be able to update to iOS or iPadOS 16.2 – instead they will be forced to update to the newer iOS or iPadOS 16.3.

While it’s technically still possible to install an unsigned version of an iPhone or iPad firmware, either using the DelayOTA method to update to iOS or iPadOS 16.2 from an older version, or using FutureRestore to downgrade the firmware when you have SHSH blobs and other prerequisites ok, these methods are considered unofficial and require more effort from the end user compared to the normal Finder or downgrading iTunes.

As to why Apple is blocking downgrades, the most obvious reason is that they want to prevent users from installing firmware that can be hacked. Since newer firmware usually fixes exploits used to jailbreak and other iPhone hacks, it’s reasonable to assume that Apple wants to coax as many people as possible into updating, even if it means playing games with signed statuses.

But jailbreaking isn’t the only reason people like to roll back their firmware or have more options for choosing which version of iOS or iPadOS they install. In some cases, newer firmware versions introduce more bugs than are fixed, leading to user dissatisfaction. Some notable cases in recent memory of bugs caused by iPhone and iPad software updates include the following:

• iOS 16.0 excessively prompts users for clipboard access when pasting copied content into another app
• iOS 14.7 breaks the ability to unlock the Apple Watch using the Touch ID sensor of the host iPhone.
• iOS and iPadOS 13.2 impose incredibly aggressive background control on apps running in the background.

While iDB supports the idea that users should be able to choose which version of iOS or iPadOS to install on the device they rightfully own, Apple clearly doesn’t see it that way. The company has long followed a “walled garden”approach, usually taking control on the basis that they know better than their users and it works well for them.

Forcing people to use new firmware against their will not only gives Apple the pleasure of blocking jailbreaks and ensuring that users can enjoy new features and improvements, but it also gives pleasure to shareholders who see Apple’s new software adoption numbers when they are presented on Keynote.. Events.

Since it’s unlikely that Apple will stop re-signing old firmware anytime soon, it’s a good idea to get into the rhythm of the company’s re-signing process by paying attention to reports like this. Typically, users have one or two weeks after a new software update before Apple stops them from downgrading. You can use the handy IPSW.me website to find out if a particular version of iOS or iPadOS is signed, and you can get any firmware file you need from our on-demand downloads page.

Did Apple’s decision to stop signing iOS and iPadOS 16.2 affect you in any way? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.