Apple has quickly corrected a mistake that allowed iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users to downgrade to older software versions on early Thursday.

ios 6 devices
The situation began on late Wednesday when Apple suddenly stopped signing all iOS versions for select devices, including the iPhone 4s and some very old iPad and iPod touch models, according to the website IPSW.me.

Next, it appears that when Apple went to flip the switch back on, it accidentally began signing several older software versions between iOS 6 and iOS 11.1.2 for any compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models.


Apple routinely stops signing older iOS versions, which effectively closes the window on downgrading. The company stopped signing iOS 11.1.2 in December, for example, while many older versions haven't been signed in years. Yet, suddenly, users found themselves able to downgrade to over five year old software.


Many users turned to Reddit to discuss the bizarre turn of events, which transpired briefly during the early morning hours in the United States.

I literally ran into my parents room to grab my dad's poor old iPhone 5s and iPad mini 2, both of which were suffering on iOS 11. Now I managed to downgrade them to iOS 7.1.1. I then downgraded my old iPhone 5 to iOS 7.1.1 as well and now my iPhone 7 to iOS 10.3 to jailbreak. I'm so happy right now!

While some users rushed to downgrade for the nostalgic factor, the mishap provided others with an iPhone 6 or newer a brief opportunity to revert to iOS versions that aren't affected by Apple's power management changes introduced in iOS 10.2.1 and/or iOS versions that have a publicly released jailbreak.

Apple has yet to comment on the matter.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Top Rated Comments

MacFather Avatar
MacFather
102 months ago
Deleted.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btrach144 Avatar
btrach144
102 months ago
Apple: "90% of users are on iOS 11 and loving it!"
Users: "Not really, it's full of bugs and hidden piss poor power management."
*signs all versions of iOS back to iOS 6*
Users: "Quick, revert our phones!!!"
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xflashx Avatar
xflashx
102 months ago
Wish I knew this earlier...
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mjmar Avatar
Mjmar
102 months ago
Wish I would've known. iOS 6 on iPhone 5 <3
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
44267547
102 months ago
I could never downgrade back to iOS 6. Granted no version of iOS is perfect, iOS has come a long way since iOS 6. I would gladly use iOS 11 today and be grateful for all the improvements over time.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
user1234 Avatar
user1234
102 months ago
And as a nice bonus you're also giving up a bunch of critical security updates by downgrading
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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