Apple is no longer signing its older iOS 17.3 firmware after releasing iOS 17.3.1 to the public. The company typically stops signing an iOS update after it seeds a new version to prevent users from downgrading to the previous version. Apple's decision also comes ahead of iOS 17.4 public release next month.
You can no longer downgrade to iOS 17.3 from iOS 17.3.1, even if you are having issues as Apple stops signing the older firmware
Apple released iOS 17.3.1 last week with bug fixes and performance enhancements. Additionally, the update also brings security updates to the table. As mentioned, one of the reasons why Apple stops signing an older firmware is to prevent users from downgrading to the older firmware. The procedure might not be too important for the average user, but those interested in jailbreaking their iPhone hold iOS signing very close.
Sometimes, jailbreak developers release a tool for an older version of iOS. If a certain version of iOS is not signed, users can simply downgrade to that version and jailbreak their iPhone or iPad. However, we have not heard from the jailbreak community for a long time. It appears that the jailbreak on the iPhone is almost non-existent at this stage. Henceforth, Apple's decision will not impact anyone since the latest iOS 17.3.1 update is stable and updated with the latest security patches.
Note that if you are having issues with iOS 17.3.1 on your iPhone, it is now impossible to downgrade to iOS 17.3. This means that you will have to wait for Apple to release iOS 17.4 to the public. The company will potentially release iOS 17.4 to the general public ahead of March 6, which is the deadline imposed by the EU. iOS 17.4 will be a major update, considering the number of additions it will bring to the table.
iOS 17.4 will bring the ability to sideload apps on the iPhone along with the ability to install third-party app stores with their payment methods. The features are part of the EU and the Digital Markets Act in the region, making room for fair competition in the digital market. Note that the features will only be coming in the EU. However, the North American version of iOS 17.4 will bring notable features as well, so be sure to keep an eye out as we will be covering the update in extensive detail.
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