With the officialrollout of iOS & iPadOS 16.1.1a several Wednesdays ago, and therelease of iOS 16.1.2just last week, Apple has made a predictable move this evening by unsigning iOS & iPadOS 16.1 and 16.1.1.
Apple’s routine unsigning of older firmware is a strategic method by Apple to compel firmware upgrades as opposed to downgrades when restoring a device or trying to install a different version of iOS or iPadOS on it.
Installing unsigned firmware is still technically possible using non-traditional methods likefuturerestoreorDelayOTA, however Apple unsigning a firmware makes intentional downgrades via Finder onmacOSor iTunes onWindowsusing the Option or Shift key method when clicking the Restore button a near impossibility since it makes Apple’s servers deny requests to install affected versions.
When Apple unsigns older firmware, it’s generally thejailbreakcommunity that suffers the most. That’s because it’s the unsigned version(s) of iOS or iPadOS that are generally vulnerable to the exploits used in jailbreaking, so forcing upgrades undermines this.
Jailbreaking aside, firmware downgrades are sometimes the only way to escape a newly introduced bug when it makes its way into Apple’s mobile operating system. Albeit uncommon, bugs can be so severe that they impact device usability. Examples include the following:
By locking users out of voluntary firmware downgrades, they’re left with no other choice but to upgrade their firmware when the need to restore arises. Users have long critiqued Apple about this practice, but without government reigning in, it seems unlikely of Apple changing its policy as it lets the company artificially inflate new firmware adoption numbers to impress shareholders.
You can always see what version(s) of iOS or iPadOS are being signed for your device by visiting the handyIPSW.mewebsite. Furthermore, you can download any firmware file you might need from our dedicatedDownloadspage.
Has Apple’s unsigning of iOS & iPadOS 16.1 and 16.1.1 hindered you in any way? Be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.
