Apple stops signing iOS 16.3. downgrades from iOS 16.3.1 no longer possible

Last week, Apple released iOS 16.3.1 update to everyone. Now, the company has stopped signing iOS 16.3 which means users can not downgrade their devices from iOS 16.3.1.

As a routine, Apple stops signing the previous iOS version after the release of the latest update because it includes performance improvements and security updates to enhance user experience and protection them from malicious malware or security vulnerabilities.

The tech company also stops signing the older iOS version to make jailbreaking tools ineffective. Jailbreak tools remove Apple’s restrictions and download unauthorized apps, the company is strongly against jailbreaking iPhones because it increases the chance of installing malware on the device that would weaken iOS security and jeopardize users’ privacy.

However, jailbreak developers do not release the jailbreak of the latest version immediately after its release. So, updating to the latest iOS update reverses the jailbreak and ensures that all compatible devices have new features and are protected with new security updates.

Should you update to iOS 16.3.1?

The latest iOS 16.3.1 features important bug fixes and security updates like a patch for unresponsive iCloud, Siri requests for Find My not working, and Crash Detection optimizations for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.

Thus, it is recommended that users should update to iOS 16.3.1 version to improve the performance and security of their devices. So far, the only iOS 16.3.1 issue reported was with the Google Photos app which crashed. But Google immediately released an update to patch the issue.

Apple has also seeded iOS 16.4 beta 1 which is expected to release in Spring. The new beta includes new features like Safari web push notifications, emojis, HomeKit Architecture, Focus mode, and more.