Following the public release of iOS 18.3, Apple has now ceased signing iOS 18.2.1 just one week later. This action prevents users from downgrading to this prior version of the software if their iPhone or iPad is already updated to a more recent release.
Apple disables downgrade from iOS 18.3 to iOS 18.2.1
Initial release of iOS 18.2.1 occurred on January 6, and it included “significant bug fixes,” although Apple did not specify the exact issues addressed. The subsequent update, iOS 18.3, was made available on January 27 and introduced enhancements to Apple Intelligence features along with several security fixes.
For example, iOS 18.3 patched a security vulnerability in AirPlay that posed a risk of causing an “unexpected system termination or corrupt process memory” through the local network. Another flaw could enable attackers to disrupt applications unexpectedly. It’s crucial to keep devices up to date to ensure they possess the most recent security updates.
Regrettably, if you are facing any problems following your upgrade to iOS 18.3, reverting to iOS 18.2.1 is no longer a viable option.
Once Apple halts the signing of a particular iOS version, that version cannot be installed on iPhones and iPads. This measure is intended to stop users from rolling back to older operating systems that contain vulnerabilities already resolved by the company. The downgrade capability is frequently used for jailbreaking purposes, which further motivates Apple to discontinue support for older iOS versions.
If you haven’t updated your device to iOS 18.3 yet, you can do so by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update.
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