Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.3 Following iOS 15.3.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.3 Following iOS 15.3.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible

Following the release of iOS 15.3.1 on February 10, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.3, the previously available version of iOS that came out in late January. Because iOS 15.3 is no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version of iOS if you've updated to iOS 15.3.1.

ios 15
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 15.3 was a bug fix update that addressed a significant Safari bug that could leak browsing activity, while iOS 15.3.1 was another bug fix update further addressing WebKit vulnerabilities.

Popular Stories

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 This Year

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 Launch This Year

Wednesday August 12, 2026 6:59 am PDT by
Apple supplier Pegatron today indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 model will not be released until next year, according to a new report. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Pegatron held an earnings call for the second quarter of 2026 today. On the call, Taiwan's Economic Daily News said Pegatron indicated that one of its customers will be changing its...
iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Tuesday August 11, 2026 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a recent report, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition, the...

Top Rated Comments

59 months ago
This is one of those things that lawmakers should step up to the plate and end. You should always be allowed to go back to whatever iOS you want, as long as it's not older than the original version that came with your phone.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
59 months ago
Apple should allow the ability to reinstall the original iOS version for each device and then the user can upgrade to each successive iOS major releases just like they allowed my iPhone 4S to reinstall iOS 6 and then iOS 8 and then iOS 9. I stopped at iOS 8.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaltimoreMediaBlog Avatar
59 months ago

This is one of those things that lawmakers should step up to the plate and end. You should always be allowed to go back to whatever iOS you want, as long as it's not older than the original version that came with your phone.
I totally AGREE and the IOS 10 to 11 transition should have resulted in a Class Action lawsuit for deleting nearly a hundred apps from my iPhone 5s without my permission, and Apple shipping it back to me less functional after a battery repair that I paid for too when others got them for free. So for me it was a kick in the balls bigtime!

THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
59 months ago
I despise the whole “no longer signing” garbage. If there’s an issue and you NEEEEEED to downgrade it, it isn’t possible. You’re just plain screwed.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
59 months ago

I despise the whole “no longer signing” garbage. If there’s an issue and you NEEEEEED to downgrade it, it isn’t possible. You’re just plain screwed.
You would think if congress wanted to do something useful they would look into something like th....never mind.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Octavius8 Avatar
59 months ago
How about first fixing the Bluetooth issue on the cars?. (Disconnecting every few seconds after iOS 15.3).
Apple support suggest “car issue”, of course… 4 iPhone generations, no problem, iOS 15 on my 13Pro, no problem, iOS 15.3 dissaster!. Will Apple Pay me a new car now that they broke basic Bluetooth calling with a car????
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)