Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.6 Following iOS 15.6.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Stops Signing iOS 15.6 Following iOS 15.6.1 Release, Downgrading No Longer Possible

Following the launch of iOS 15.6.1 last Wednesday, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.6, the previously available version that came out in mid-July. Since iOS 15.6 is no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version of iOS after installing iOS 15.6.1.

iOS 15
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 iOS 15.6 is no longer being signed.

iOS 15.6 was minor in scale, introducing an option to restart, pause, rewind, and fast-forward a live sports game that's in progress, plus it addressed an issue that could cause the Settings app to continue to display that device storage is full even when it's not.

Released on August 17, iOS 15.6.1 had no new feature additions, but it does include a critical security fix that addresses kernel and Webkit vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

Apple TV 4K HomeView HomePod Mini tweaked

New Apple TV 4K, HomeView, and HomePod Mini: 16 Details Just Leaked

Sunday October 11, 2026 12:56 pm PDT by
Just two days before Apple's "Welcome home" experience in New York, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has leaked several details about the new products set to be unveiled, including an all-new smart home hub, a HomePod mini 2, and a new Apple TV 4K. Here is an all-in-one summary of the details shared by Gurman:Apple's home hub with a touch-enabled display will be named HomeView, seemingly confirming a ...
Apple HomeView lineup feature1

Apple Announces 'HomeView' Smart Home Hub

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:00 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "HomeView," an all-new kind of smart home hub featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and Siri AI. Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said: Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user. It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience,...
Apple TV 4K 4th Generation feature4

New Apple TV 4K Announced With A19 Chip, Updated Siri Remote, More

Tuesday October 13, 2026 6:08 am PDT by
Apple today announced the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with key features including an A19 chip, Siri AI support, an updated Siri Remote that has Find My support with Precision Finding, built in far-field microphones, support for surround sound with four HomePods in front and rear pairs, and more. The A19 chip in the new Apple TV 4K delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice...

Top Rated Comments

cmcbhi Avatar
54 months ago

Once the EU Right To Repair to become officially active by law, it will force Apple to stop doing this and we will be able to freely downgrade.
I presume you can read.
"Released on August 17, iOS 15.6.1 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/17/apple-releases-ios-15-6-1/') had no new feature additions, but it does include a critical security fix that addresses kernel and Webkit vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution."
Only an idiot would want to downgrade.
Oh.......wait.......
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

Once the EU Right To Repair to become officially active by law, it will force Apple to stop doing this and we will be able to freely downgrade.
I must have missed your point. Downgrading doesn’t feel a right to repair
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

If we take 15.6.1 as an example, it doesn't matter because it inherits the features that came with prior iOS releases, and in the future we will be able to downgrade.

So a device that came with e.g. 15.0 will be able to downgrade till 15.0 per law.
Like it or not, your personal opinion does not override the upcoming EU Right to Repair law that will become active 2023.

Let's see if Apple has "courage" and risk being fined as much as 10% of their annual worldwide turnover.
I hope so, I would LMAO.
Let’s make it a proper EU law then. If you downgrade and your phone is breached you are required to notify every entity that has any of their personal data on your device (photo, contact, text communications, email) and you will pay fines GDPR style while any notified member can ask for compensation for damages. GDPR has done this to the rest of world how about they hold their own people accountable who think they know cybersecurity.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wildkraut Avatar
54 months ago

I must have missed your point. Downgrading doesn’t feel a right to repair
Yep you missed it.

It's based on Apple Batterygate...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate

...to allow customers go back to previous versions and set their smartphones back to a working state.

Page 4 number 10 of:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/IMCO/DV/2022/03-16/MfR_RighttoRepair_EN.pdf


Highlights that goods with digital elements require specific attention; stresses in
particular that software updates have to be made available for a minimum period of time
in line with the Digital Content Directive;
demands that consumers should be fully
informed on update availability at the time of purchase; adds that functionality updates
should be reversible and not lead to diminished performance of the device; notes that
practices, which unduly constrain the right to repair or lead to obsolescence could be
considered as unfair commercial practices and therefore be added to the Annex I of the
[B]Unfair Commercial Practices Directive;
[/B]
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrMacintoshIII Avatar
54 months ago
It’s about time we switch out our batteries anyway. My launch 13 mini is at 91% health. Not bad, but not great either, and it’s only about to get worse.

I now require two MagSafe battery packs throughout my day, as I found one to be barely insufficient for especially long and phone-heavy days, which was unacceptable.

Strongly considering a 14 Pro just for the battery life, but the mini size is to die for.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
54 months ago

Betas are never calibrated to be good on battery life until the very end..?

But yeah 16 is a huge change anyway. How could we expect all the new features on year old hardware with NO loss in battery life?

I’m struggling not to use more question marks here.
Oh yea, the switch is never easy, and it’ll get polished out for sure. I’m used to betas and not getting the performance I’m used to right off the bat.

Actually where I’m noticing the most drain is standby throughout the night. I’m dropping 5-6% in 7 hours, but usually it only budges 1%.

Not too worried about it. 😃
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
1 hour ago
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
1 hour ago
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
3 hours ago
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
3 hours ago
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
4 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
5 hours ago
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
6 hours ago
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
6 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
7 hours ago
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
7 hours ago
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
8 hours ago
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
8 hours ago
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
8 hours ago
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
9 hours ago
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
20 hours ago
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
21 hours ago
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
22 hours ago
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
23 hours ago
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
1 day ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
1 day ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
1 day ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
1 day ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
1 day ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
1 day ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
1 day ago
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
1 day ago
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
1 day ago
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
1 day ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors