Apple Stops Signing iOS 16.1 and iOS 16.1.1 Following iOS 16.1.2 Launch

Following the launch of iOS 16.1.2 on November 30, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.1.1 and iOS 16.1, two previously available versions of iOS.. With iOS 16.1 and iOS 16.1.1 no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to those versions of iOS after upgrading to iOS 16.1.2.

iOS 16
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 the updates are no longer being signed.

iOS 16.1 was a major update that added support for iCloud Photo Library and Live Activities, while iOS 16.1.1 was a bug fix update.

iOS 16.1.2 will soon be replaced with iOS 16.2, a major update that is in testing and should launch next week. iOS 16.2 will introduce Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, the Freeform app, Apple Music Sing, and other new features.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:26 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...

Top Rated Comments

vertsix Avatar
36 months ago
Don't tell anyone - but iOS 15.6 RC1 is still signed and you can downgrade iOS 16 down to it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
russell_314 Avatar
36 months ago

Don't tell anyone - but iOS 15.6 RC1 is still signed and you can downgrade iOS 16 down to it.
It would be nice if I could do that on my iPhone 14 Pro Max

iOS 16 is almost stable, so not a big deal anymore ?‍♂️
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trusso Avatar
36 months ago
There's no technical reason why Apple can't continue to sign older versions of iOS. As much as I understand Apple's desire to push everyone into the current release(s), it really bugs me that they don't trust their users and let them do what they wish with their own devices.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trusso Avatar
36 months ago

Seems the solution would then be to simply not update to 16.1.2. And live with the potential adverse security/privacy consequences that could come your way.

Easy.
Well aren't we smart?

I'm on 16.1.2, thank you, although there have been times in the past when I held off upgrading major versions because doing so would break compatibility between my older devices or computers. And I've since upgraded those as well, although that's beside the point.

What I'm saying - if you traced back to my original post - is that Apple shouldn't force its users to cross a Rubicon they cannot retreat from. It's silly and selfish. Yes, most people will choose the newest updates and stay there, but for the few who can't - or who do but decide it's not for them (or realize it breaks compatibility with something) - they should have the option to downgrade to essentially any software version made since their device shipped (as you can on the Mac). There's no technical law of the universe that forbids this - it's merely Apple forcing decisions upon users and the devices they own.

You don't have to agree with me, but hopefully you can understand what I'm saying instead of making snarky replies that misunderstand and misrepresent my point.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
36 months ago

Is this iPhoneOS or iPadOS?
Both
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaltimoreMediaBlog Avatar
36 months ago
THIS IS THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT I'D REALLY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)