Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.0 Following iOS 15.0.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible

Following the release of iOS 15.0.1 on October 1, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.0, the previously available version of iOS that saw a public release on September 20. With iOS 15.0 no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version if you've already updated to iOS 15.0.1.

iOS 15 General Feature Blue
Apple last week stopped signing iOS 14.8 as well, which means iOS 15.0.1 is the only publicly available version of iOS at this time, and those who have upgraded to iOS 15 cannot downgrade to iOS 14.

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 15.0 marks a major version update introducing Focus Mode, Live Text, on-device Siri, iCloud+, Safari changes, and tons more, with details available in our iOS 15 roundup.

iOS 15.0.1 introduced a fix for a bug that prevented an authenticated Apple Watch from being used to unlock an iPhone 13 model when wearing a face mask. It also addressed a bug that could cause the Settings app to incorrectly display a storage full alert and it fixed a bug with audio meditations for Fitness+ subscribers.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iphone 17 pro majin bu sky blue

iPhone 17 Pro Allegedly Coming in Sky Blue Color Used for MacBook Air

Tuesday April 22, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 Pro in a new Sky Blue color, the same color that debuted on the latest M4 MacBook Air models Apple released in March. That's according to the leaker Majin Bu. Concept mockup from Majin Bu Writing on his website, Bu claims that "sources close to the supply chain confirm that several iPhone 17 Pro prototypes have been made in various colors, with Sky Blue...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...

Top Rated Comments

i.am.apple.corporate Avatar
46 months ago
I am staying on iOS 14.8 until Apple provides more clarity on their CSAM feature rollout plans.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexiaa Avatar
46 months ago

I thought that Apple was going to be supporting iOS 14 with security updates for a period of time for users who did not move to iOS 15 right away? Is that not a thing anymore? (Users on 14.x below 14.8 now have nowhere to go except 15, if I am reading this right.)
No, users on iOS 14.5 and above can still update to iOS 14.8, because Apple introduced a new mechanism called AlternateSU (Alternate Software Update) that allows OTA updates to 14.8 but not restores in iTunes/Finder, therefore blocking downgrades while still keeping 14.x supported for users who are not ready to update. But this also means that if your phone bootloops, you have no other choice than to update to iOS 15.

On iOS 14.4.2 and below, you can only update to iOS 15 as the AlternateSU mechanism didn't exist yet (unless you use the delayed software updates feature meant for enterprise managed devices, which works in a very similar way only allowing upgrades and not downgrades: https://support.apple.com/guide/mdm/managing-software-updates-mdm02df57e2a/web)
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lkrupp Avatar
46 months ago

Is it safe to upgrade to 15 yet or should I keep waiting?
Wait forever if you want. You’ll get no straight answer from a tech blog. 50% will say it’s a dumpster fire and 50% will say it’s fine. You can’t believe either side. But know that no software will ever be perfect and free of bugs.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
46 months ago

No, users on iOS 14.5 and above can still update to iOS 14.8, because Apple introduced a new mechanism called AlternateSU (Alternate Software Update) that allows OTA updates to 14.8 but not restores in iTunes/Finder, therefore blocking downgrades while still keeping 14.x supported for users who are not ready to update. But this also means that if your phone bootloops, you have no other choice than to update to iOS 15.

On iOS 14.4.2 and below, you can only update to iOS 15 as the AlternateSU mechanism didn't exist yet (unless you use the delayed software updates feature meant for enterprise managed devices, which works in a very similar way only allowing upgrades and not downgrades: https://support.apple.com/guide/mdm/managing-software-updates-mdm02df57e2a/web)
So the gist of this is that Apple will let you stay on iOS 14, will still supply security updates if you stay, but they really don't want you to. If they didn't mind people being on 14 they'd keep the last version of it signed.

This is disappointing because it means Apple's continuing support for iOS 14 will be half-arsed. They really should continue signing the last release of iOS 14 if they're still supporting it.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
46 months ago

I am staying on iOS 14.8 until Apple provides more clarity on their CSAM feature rollout plans.
My guess is that they have already made up their mind on CSAM. They will not listen to customers, or the security experts, or the inventors of this technology who called it "dangerous". The backlash is causing only a short delay. They will not cancel it. Perhaps after they've rolled out other features that are supposed to appear with iOS 15, the new macOS, rolled out some of the hardware that are supposed to come these months (MacBook etc), they will turn their attention back to this and flip the switch on CSAM. And soon they will not even update iOS 14 anymore. I don't think anything will change, except moving this to the back of the queue so the other things don't get derailed.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
legis_arvum Avatar
46 months ago
iOS 6 forever. The later trash sucks and is not needed.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)