The same old trick: Apple is blocking downgrades from iOS 18.6 to iOS 18.5.
Just over a week after the release of iOS 18.6, Apple completely blocked downgrades to iOS 18.5 and iOS 17.7.8, preventing users from reverting to previous versions.
Quick summary:
Apple has stopped making downloads for iOS 18.5 and iOS 17.7.8 available, completely blocking downgrades.
iOS 18.6 was released on July 29th, fixing security vulnerabilities, optimizing performance, and changing App Store policies in the EU.
Vietnamese users may be affected in terms of performance, jailbreaking, buying and selling used devices, and testing applications.
Apple blocks iOS 18.5 downgrades after iOS 18.6 is released.
On July 29th, Apple officially released iOS 18.6, which includes numerous bug fixes, security improvements, and performance optimizations, most notably addressing performance issues with the "Memories" feature in the Photos app. The update also adjusts how third-party app stores operate in the European Union.
Just over a week later, Apple stopped downloading iOS 18.5, making any attempts to downgrade from iOS 18.6 impossible. This is a common move to ensure users remain on the latest version, where security vulnerabilities have been addressed.
Not only iOS 18, but iOS 17 is also affected.
Alongside iOS 18.6, Apple also released iOS 17.7.9 for devices that don't support iOS 18. As of today, iOS 17.7.8 is no longer available for download, meaning users can no longer downgrade from iOS 17.7.9.
Why Apple frequently stops downloading older iOS versions.
Apple typically locks older iOS versions after releasing a new one to prevent security risks from exploited vulnerabilities. New updates usually include a detailed list of security improvements, such as the recently announced iOS 18.6. This helps minimize risk for users, but also means losing the ability to revert to the previous version.
Impact on iPhone users
Apple's decision to block iOS downgrades could significantly impact the iPhone user community:
Users experiencing errors or performance degradation after upgrading will not be able to revert to the more stable older version. This is especially important for older iPhone models like the iPhone X, XS, and 11, where performance may be affected by new updates.
Users who jailbreak their devices will be severely limited because jailbreaking tools often only work on older versions of iOS.
Buyers of used iPhones face difficulties if customers require a device running a specific iOS version (for example, to be compatible with certain apps or games).
Users in the application testing field must adapt quickly to the new version, as it is no longer possible to run tests on older, locked iOS versions.
Before each update, Vietnamese users usually have to think carefully before updating, especially with iPhone models that are no longer at their peak performance.
