Apple simply final week launched iOS & iPadOS 16.3.1 with bugs fixes and enhancements for iPhone and iPad customers, and as you’ve most likely come to count on, the corporate is correct again at its common shenanigans of stopping customers from downgrading to the older iOS & iPadOS 16.3 firmware.
The information comes as Apple simply this night stopped signing iOS & iPadOS 16.3, a transfer that stops iPhone and iPad customers from utilizing iTunes or Finder to easily Shift + Click on the restore button on Home windows or Choice + Click on the restore button on macOS to pick the older firmware file to put in. As an alternative, customers can be prompted to replace to the most recent model as a substitute, which right now is model 16.3.1.
Apple repeatedly unsigns older firmware wherever from one to 2 weeks after releasing a more moderen replace, and that’s as a result of the corporate needs its customers working the most recent software program. This advantages Apple in two main methods: 1) blocking jailbreaks; and a couple of) making certain that customers are making the most of the most recent options and safety enhancements.
The latter is as a result of jailbreaks usually goal older firmware variations which have the mandatory safety holes to permit arbitrary code execution. By blocking a pathway to put in these model(s) of iOS or iPadOS, Apple can stop extra individuals from jailbreaking after they’ve already up to date to a non-jailbreakable firmware.
Whereas putting in unsigned iPhone and iPad firmware continues to be technically attainable utilizing non-official strategies akin to futurerestore to downgrade and DelayOTA to improve, these strategies are extra convoluted and require the person to leap via extra hoops.
Moreover jailbreaking, nevertheless, there are different the explanation why somebody is perhaps inclined to downgrade their handset’s firmware model. Among the finest examples of that is when a software program replace introduces new bugs that get in the way in which of a person’s common workflow. Nice examples of this occurring prior to now embody the next:
- iOS 16.0 over-prompting customers on clipboard entry when pasting copied content material into one other app
- iOS 14.7 breaking the Apple Watch’s capability to be unlocked with the host iPhone’s Contact ID sensor
- iOS & iPadOS 13.2 imposing extremely aggressive background administration on backgrounded apps
At iDB, we expect that Apple ought to permit customers to put in any firmware model they need on their iPhone or iPad, and lots of system tinkerers would agree. Sadly, it appears unlikely that Apple will change these foolish insurance policies until compelled to by authorities motion.
As at all times, you should use the useful ipsw.me on-line utility to search out out what firmware model(s) are being signed on your iPhone or iPad. You can even use our Downloads web page to accumulate any firmware file you would possibly want on your system.
