Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.6 Following iOS 15.6.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible

Following the launch of iOS 15.6.1 last Wednesday, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.6, the previously available version that came out in mid-July. Since iOS 15.6 is no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version of iOS after installing iOS 15.6.1.

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, so it is not unusual that iOS 15.6 is no longer being signed.

iOS 15.6 was minor in scale, introducing an option to restart, pause, rewind, and fast-forward a live sports game that's in progress, plus it addressed an issue that could cause the Settings app to continue to display that device storage is full even when it's not.

Released on August 17, iOS 15.6.1 had no new feature additions, but it does include a critical security fix that addresses kernel and Webkit vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

Wednesday July 9, 2025 10:59 pm PDT by
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports. The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...

Top Rated Comments

cmcbhi Avatar
38 months ago

Once the EU Right To Repair to become officially active by law, it will force Apple to stop doing this and we will be able to freely downgrade.
I presume you can read.
"Released on August 17, iOS 15.6.1 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/17/apple-releases-ios-15-6-1/') had no new feature additions, but it does include a critical security fix that addresses kernel and Webkit vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution."
Only an idiot would want to downgrade.
Oh.......wait.......
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macachia Avatar
38 months ago

Once the EU Right To Repair to become officially active by law, it will force Apple to stop doing this and we will be able to freely downgrade.
I must have missed your point. Downgrading doesn’t feel a right to repair
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stromos Avatar
38 months ago

If we take 15.6.1 as an example, it doesn't matter because it inherits the features that came with prior iOS releases, and in the future we will be able to downgrade.

So a device that came with e.g. 15.0 will be able to downgrade till 15.0 per law.
Like it or not, your personal opinion does not override the upcoming EU Right to Repair law that will become active 2023.

Let's see if Apple has "courage" and risk being fined as much as 10% of their annual worldwide turnover.
I hope so, I would LMAO.
Let’s make it a proper EU law then. If you downgrade and your phone is breached you are required to notify every entity that has any of their personal data on your device (photo, contact, text communications, email) and you will pay fines GDPR style while any notified member can ask for compensation for damages. GDPR has done this to the rest of world how about they hold their own people accountable who think they know cybersecurity.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrMacintoshIII Avatar
38 months ago
Alas… my iOS 15.6, whom I loved like a woman, is… disabled…
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
38 months ago
Once the EU Right To Repair to become officially active by law, it will force Apple to stop doing this and we will be able to freely downgrade.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrMacintoshIII Avatar
38 months ago

I’ll miss the amazing battery life I got with 15.6. Really noticeable difference between it and the 16 beta.

15.6 was a good build for me.
Betas are never calibrated to be good on battery life until the very end..?

But yeah 16 is a huge change anyway. How could we expect all the new features on year old hardware with NO loss in battery life?

I’m struggling not to use more question marks here.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)