Apple Stops Signing iOS 16.1.2 Following iOS 16.2 Launch

After the launch of iOS 16.2 on December 13, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.1.2, the previously available version of iOS. With iOS 16.1.2 no longer being signed, it is no longer possible to downgrade to an earlier version of iOS after installing the iOS 16.2 update.

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, which means it is not unusual that the updates are no longer being signed.

iOS 16.1.2 was a minor update that added improved compatibility with wireless carriers and crash detection optimizations on iPhone 14 models.

The iOS 16.2 update that replaces it is the biggest update to iOS 16 we've seen yet, with Apple adding the Freeform app, support for Apple Music Sing, expanded iCloud encryption with Advanced Data Protection, and much more, with all of the changes outlined in our dedicated iOS 16.2 guide.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 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. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

iPhone Foldable Display Said to Feature iPad-Style 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Friday March 28, 2025 3:44 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming "iPhone Fold" will feature a foldable screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, according to a Chinese leaker who previously leaked the book-style device's display dimensions. The Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station claims that Apple will adopt a "roughly" 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display in order to achieve consistency between the outer display, as well as to ensure parity...

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
30 months ago
Loving iOS 16.2 so far. It's blazing fast, and well-responsive. I can't believe we're only 6 months away until we see iOS 17. Half way done :D
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
30 months ago
16.2 has been solid for me so far.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
segfaultdotorg Avatar
30 months ago
Apple stops signing iPhoneOS 16.2 following iPhoneOS 17 launch
-- Sent from September 2023
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DuckMe Avatar
30 months ago

Is iOS 15.7.2 still available for devices that are compatible with 16.2 though?

On my iPhone 8, I'm stuck with 15.7.1. I don't want to upgrade to 16.2 and Apple refuses to release 15.7.2 and its security updates to me. Complete crap on Apple's part! My iPhone 6s+, which I use as a backup, got the 15.7.2 release, so it's technically more secure than my newer phone. Rediculous!

15.7.2 isn’t showing up for me in software update, only 16.2. I’m on 15.7 and at least want the security fixes in 15.7.1…

Did they remove 15.7.2? I don't see that option on my 15.7.1 13 Pro :(
For those who want to update their iPhones to 15.7.2, you may have to read my guide:

[GUIDE] How to update to iOS 15.7.2 for iPhone 8/X/XR/Xs/11/12/13 ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guide-how-to-update-to-ios-15-7-2-for-iphone-8-x-xr-xs-11-12-13.2373742/')


According to my calculations, you can still theoretically upgrade to iOS 15.7.2 before January 31, 2023, but you better hurry up because apple can prevent this upgrade in the next second.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zapmymac Avatar
30 months ago

So, is 16.2 good (stable) enough to update from 15.7.1?
Was thinking about waiting until 16.2.1 :)
Wait. my iPad and iPhone and tvOS are glitchy. However, the e2e option is what made me jump immediately. Gotta keep the g/f photos safe ???
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
30 months ago
Now you have iOS 15.7.2 and iOS 16.2 to choose from.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)