Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.4.1

Monday May 19, 2025 4:25 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.4.1, a week after releasing the iOS 18.5 update. Because iOS 18.4.1 is no longer being signed, iPhone users who upgraded to iOS 18.5 are no longer able to downgrade to the previous version of iOS.

iOS 18
"Signing" is a server-side verification check that Apple does when iOS is downloaded onto an iPhone. An update can't be downloaded and installed unless it passes the verification check, and the unsigning process prevents customers from installing outdated versions of iOS that are not as secure.

Apple typically stops signing older software about a week after releasing an update, and doing so ensures that customers have the latest security improvements and are not vulnerable to known attacks.

iOS 18.5 added new wallpaper, a Screen Time password change for parents, and support for carrier-provided satellite features on iPhone 13 models. It also addressed more than 30 security vulnerabilities.

Apple has also stopped signing iPadOS 17.7.6, because it released iPadOS 17.7.8 earlier today as a replacement for the iPadOS 17.7.7 update that was causing issues for some people.

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Top Rated Comments

russell_314

19 months ago

Still waiting for iOS 18.5.1. Always feel better about a dot one update. :p 📱

Generally, I would agree with you, but I don’t think Apple is doing anything of a .5. We should probably be on iOS 18.2 but Apple wants to make it look like they are doing something when they’re really not.

For example, here’s what .5 added. A new wallpaper? A point update for a new wallpaper??? Changing the screen time password. I believe this was to try to stop some workaround. That’s not a point update. Added satellite support for iPhone 13? That’s the closest thing because it’s an actual new feature, but it’s for a four year old iPhone. This could’ve been an update sent out to iPhone 13.

iOS 18.5 added ('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-18-5-features/') new wallpaper, a Screen Time password change for parents, and support for carrier-provided satellite features on iPhone 13 models. It also addressed more than 30 security vulnerabilities.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

kitKAC

19 months ago

You don’t have to install it right away. You can wait for a .4 or .5.

People need something to whine about on the internet, they can't wait that long.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iPaulie81

19 months ago

For what its worth, 18.5 has been solid on my 15 Pro Max

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Howard2k

19 months ago

We are still tumbling down the mountain side of the "18" MacOS. We almost know some of the kinks and bumps that require work arounds. In a few short weeks, we will begin the arduous climb up MacOS "19" and struggle to create work arounds for more poorly designed and certainly not well tested "NEW FEATURES" we certainly could have without and not had any suffering.

You don’t have to install it right away. You can wait for a .4 or .5.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

winxmac

19 months ago

We are still tumbling down the mountain side of the "18" MacOS. We almost know some of the kinks and bumps that require work arounds. In a few short weeks, we will begin the arduous climb up MacOS "19" and struggle to create work arounds for more poorly designed and certainly not well tested "NEW FEATURES" we certainly could have without and not had any suffering.

You must be from the future.

The latest release is macOS 15, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)