Apple officially closed the window for signing iOS and iPadOS 15.6.1 on Monday after a comprehensive software update consisting of iOS and iPadOS 15.7 and the debut iOS 16.0 for iPhone and iPod touch (iPadOS 16.0 in currently delayed for some time).
It is very unusual for Apple to release two different firmware versions on the same day, but we expect this may become the norm in the future as Apple is expected to continue to release security patch updates for iOS and iPadOS 15 users who do not wish to update. on newer iOS and iPadOS 16.
Because iOS and iPadOS 15.6.1 are now unsigned, this means that iPhone and iPad users cannot use traditional methods to downgrade from iOS or iPadOS 15.7 or newer iOS 16.0 to an earlier version of iOS and iPadOS 15.6. Non-traditional methods, including the DelayOTA method (for users performing an upgrade) and FutureRestore (for users running an earlier version with saved. shsh blobs), are still available.
Apple regularly unsigns older firmware to have more control over which versions of iOS and/or iPadOS its users are using. The company does not want its users to use outdated firmware for a variety of reasons, chief among which is that it opens the door to jailbreaks and the security vulnerabilities that jailbreaks take advantage of.
Another benefit of Apple is that the company can force users to install newer software updates, which pleases the company’s shareholders every time they take the stage to brag about the adoption of new firmware over Android devices. Of course, the numbers are artificially reached, as users have no choice in this matter…
However, jailbreaking is not the only reason someone might want to downgrade the firmware on their device. As it turns out, software updates can introduce new bugs or glitches that interrupt a user’s workflow, in which case downgrading can provide temporary shelter until Apple fixes it. Great examples of how this has happened in the past include:
- iOS and iPadOS 13.2 enforce aggressive background app control that forces background apps to close too soon
- iOS 14.7 prevents you from unlocking a paired Apple Watch using the iPhone host’s Touch ID biometric authentication.
Because of these issues, iDB has always been open about the possibility of downgrading the firmware on your device, as has much of the jailbreak community. Obviously, the inability to downgrade is an inconvenience and frustration for some.
If you’ve ever wondered which version of iOS or iPadOS is signed or unsigned for your device(s), you can check out the handy IPSW.me website to find out. You can also use our downloads page to get a physical copy of any firmware file you might need.
Are you sad to see that Apple is no longer signing iOS or iPadOS 15.6.1 as of today? Discuss in the comments section below.