Apple Stops Signing iOS 26.2, Blocking Downgrades From iO...

What’s Happening

Okay so Apple today stopped signing iOS 26.

2, which means that iPhone users who have updated to iOS 26. 1 are no longer able to downgrade to the earlier version of iOS. (we’re not making this up)

1 last week with support for the AirTags 2.

The Details

Software “signing” means that it has passed the server-side verification check that Apple performs when a user downloads a new version of iOS on an iPhone . An update can’t be installed unless it passes the verification check.

Apple does not show user Apple Stops Signing iOS 26. 2, Blocking Downgrades From iOS 26.

Why This Matters

1 Monday 4:15 pm PST by Juli Clover Apple today stopped signing iOS 26. Apple does not show users earlier versions of iOS once an upgrade has come out, but when software is still signed, it is possible to downgrade using the macOS Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC. Until today, users would have been able to downgrade from iOS 26.

This is part of the broader shift happening across the tech industry right now.

Key Takeaways

• Apple has also stopped signing several older versions of iOS provided for devices unable to update to iOS 26 , including iOS 12.
• 4 were dropped last week, while an updated version of iOS 16 came out today .

The Bottom Line

Apple has also stopped signing several older versions of iOS provided for devices unable to update to iOS 26 , including iOS 12. 4 were dropped last week, while an updated version of iOS 16 came out today .

How do you feel about this development?