As usual, Apple has stopped signing the iOS 17.6 software version, preventing iPhone users from downgrading to this update. This is a well-known Apple technique, which forces users to stay on the latest software version that is considered more beneficial and secure for them.
Why does Apple block downgrade?
Apple regularly stops signing older versions of iOS in order to prevent users from downgrading to less secure versions of the software. This is an action commonly called “downgrading” in English which allows users to return to a previous state in the event of instability, incompatibility or battery problems for example.
Apple typically blocks older versions to ensure customers have the latest security patches installed. But it also does this to block jailbreaking.
The current version
iOS 17.6.1 is currently the latest version available to the public, it brings several important security fixes. The update mentioned brought some new features and it also fixed instabilities that iPhone users were experiencing.
Here’s a quick reminder of what’s added with iOS 17.6:
- Addressed 30 security vulnerabilities
The upcoming version
At the moment, the iOS 17.7 cycle has not yet started, Apple has not released the first beta for developers and public testers. At the moment, it is not known if this software version will see the light of day or if we will go directly to iOS 18 which is expected for mid-September.