Apple Stops Signing Older Versions of iOS 11 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Stops Signing Older Versions of iOS 11

by

IPSWFollowing the release of iOS 11.2.5 on January 23, Apple stopped signing older versions of iOS 11, including iOS 11.2, iOS 11.2.1, and iOS 11.2.2.

iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch owners who have upgraded to iOS 11.2.5 will no longer be able to downgrade to earlier versions of iOS.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.

iOS 11.2.5 is now the only version of iOS 11 that can be installed on iOS devices by the general public, but developers and public beta testers can download iOS 11.3, an update that is being beta tested ahead of a spring release.

Top Rated Comments

Ds6778 Avatar
113 months ago
11.2.5 is currently the best version of iOS 11 so far, so I don't think very many people will mind this.
That’s not saying a lot.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
iOS 10 is still working fast on my 7+
Those Spectre and Meltdown bugs will run super smooth when you're device is attacked, then. Just saying - there is a cost to staying on old versions. :D

Which does annoy me - love me some Apple but I am majorly miffed they don't at least do major security fixes for older versions of iOS, even if it's just one major version back. :mad:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sracer Avatar
113 months ago
I think that Apple should stop signing ALL versions of iOS 11.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wanted797 Avatar
113 months ago
Why they still have an old iPod in the LEGO brick image is strange.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ILikeAllOS Avatar
113 months ago
11.2.5 is currently the best version of iOS 11 so far, so I don't think very many people will mind this.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hal~9000 Avatar
113 months ago
Which does annoy me - love me some Apple but I am majorly miffed they don't at least do major security fixes for older versions of iOS, even if it's just one major version back :mad:
Agreed. Why not put out a quick security patch for customers who have older devices and want to stay on iOS 9 or 10?

Apple already puts out security updates for older versions of OSX so there's no real reason, besides greed / planned obsolescence, that they shouldn't be able to do the same for iOS...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....