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Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.1.1, Downgrading No Longer an Option

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Apple has stopped signing iOS 18.1.1, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.2 from downgrading to that version of iOS. Apple released iOS 18.2 a week ago on December 11.

ios 18 1 1 security feature
Apple often stops signing an older version of iOS, usually within a week or two after a new version is released. When an update is no longer signed, it can't be installed on an ‌iPhone‌ due to a server-side software verification check.

This policy encourages users to keep their operating systems up to date, ensuring they have the latest security enhancements. Apple also stopped signing iOS 17.7.2 on Wednesday.

The iOS 18.1.1 update provided important security fixes, but no other notable changes. In contrast, the iOS 18.2 update brought several new Apple Intelligence features to compatible iPhones. You can find all the details in our comprehensive guide.

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Top Rated Comments

contacos Avatar
contacos
18 months ago
Thankfully I was able to go back to iPadOS 17 on my iPad Air 4 by using an iOS 17 beta that was still being signed for some reason because it got unreasonable slow on iPadOS 18.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
nickelro
18 months ago
They actually stopped signing it since yesterday.
Fingers crossed they will release 18.2.1 soon enough to correct the blue / red mess in photos while shooting in night mode at 30 sec exposure with the stock camera app. I won't hold my breath though.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BornAgainMac Avatar
BornAgainMac
18 months ago
The only time I wanted to downgrade was to save some 32-bit apps and games that had no other equivalent available and the developer ghosted.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
V
Villarrealadrian
18 months ago
This should be illegal
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3
3304614
18 months ago

See if there’s a cached update in iPhone storage. Delete it, reboot, then try again.

See the section:
Remove and download the update again
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108905
Thank you for the suggestion. But nope. I didn’t have any update file listed for me to delete.

I finally gave up and updated my phone using my computer. I wanted to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it without my computer (in case it ever happened again in the future). But after days of this, I just let my computer download and install the update. On 18.2 now.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
X
xpxp2002
18 months ago

Good time to ask this question:

Does anybody know what to do when the software update gets stuck at “Update Requested…”?

I have been attempting to download and install iOS 18.2 for days. But each time I start it just gets stuck at “Update Requested…”.

I have tried all the obvious things of making sure there is enough free space (have over 12GB of free space). I’ve tired to turn my phone off and back on. I’ve tried to “Update Now” and “Update Tonight”. I’ve tried to let the “Automatic Updates” do its thing at night or such. I’ve also turned off Automatic Updates.

It’s been days of this! Lol. Except for this update problem, my phone doesn’t seem to be having any issues. Everything else seems fine.

The only other obvious thing I haven’t yet tried is to erase my iPhone and restore from a backup. That would, of course, be the last thing I would want to attempt. Does anybody have any other ideas of what I could do (before I try to erase and restore)?
See if there’s a cached update in iPhone storage. Delete it, reboot, then try again.

See the section:
Remove and download the update again
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108905
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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