Apple has already released beta versions of its upcoming iOS 18 update, but it does not necessarily mean that the company would stop supporting it for older devices. Apple usually releases new updates for its older software, and while they lack new features, the company wants to make sure that they are up-to-date with privacy and security fixes. Today, Apple has stopped signing one of the last updates of iOS 17 as it gears to officially make iOS 18 available to the general public next month.
Users can no longer downgrade from iOS 17.6.1, as Apple has stopped signing iOS 17.6
Apple typically stops signing iOS after a new version is released to the public, and the company does this to prevent users from downgrading to the older firmware. This way the company can ensure that all users are running the latest security updates. Apple has stopped signing iOS 17.6 after releasing iOS 17.6.1, its newest update for the iPhone. Users can no longer downgrade to iOS 17.6 from the latest version, but this does not mean anything to the average user.
iOS signing is very important for some users who are encountering issues with the latest build, which gives them the option to wait for a subsequent build with a fix for an issue and the company gives a week long time for the new update to sit well. We believe that once the update steers clear of an issue, the company stops signing the older version and to be fair, it makes sense for the company and the end user.
Another group of people who hold Apple's iOS signing important is the jailbreak community. For years, the jailbreak community has been pretty silent, as no new tools have been released for iOS. One reason why the jailbreak community is silent is that the company has bridged all the loopholes and exploits in its software, which puts developers in a very tough spot to crack the code. In simple words, there are no vulnerabilities that can be used for a potential jailbreak.
It has been years since the release of a new jailbreak tool, and we suspect that there will not be a new one any time soon. If there was a running jailbreak that supports iOS 17, we would have advised users to stick to their firmware and not update to the latest version, but at this stage, sticking to the older version of iOS would not make any sense. We will still keep a close eye on the jailbreak and will let you guys know as soon as there is an update.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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