If you made the move to iOS 8 but now are suffering from upgrader remorse, you're out of luck because Apple has stopped signing iOS 7.1.2. In muggle speak that means Apple won't let you downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7.1.2 any more.
Apple drops iOS 7.1.2 installation on devices for support iOS 8
Apple digitally signs operating system versions to ensure customers aren't tricked into installing software that isn't legit, which is good for security and — hopefully — stability. The downside is that once Apple stops signing an OS version, there isn't an option for installing it any more outside of the jailbreak community.
iOS 8 was released about a week and a half ago, and iOS 7.1.2 remained an option for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users who wanted to roll back, which was handy for anyone that wasn't pleased with the new operating system version.
Following the botched release of iOS 8.0.1 that disabled cell phone radios and Touch ID sensors in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple left iOS 7.1.2 as an installation option. Now that iOS 8.0.2 is out and seems to be free of iPhone crippling bugs, Apple decided it was time to put iOS 7.1.2 to rest.
Dropping support for previous iOS installation is normal and typically happens only a couple days after the new version is released. Apple waited longer than usual this time, which may have been a hint that the company was still seeing a high number of iOS 7.1.2 installs following iOS 8's release.
If you're using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that doesn't support iOS 8, you aren't out of luck. Apple is still signing iOS 7 for older devices such as the iPhone 4 and original iPad.
[Thanks to AppleInsider for the heads up]
Comments
I was quite surprised when Apple included the iPad 2 on the list of iOS 8 compatible devices, and against my better judgement, I upgraded my iPad 2 to it. Now I wish I hadn’t, because performance really suffers and AirPlay is basically broken. I tried to downgrade Friday evening, but Apple had stopped signing the 7.1.2 build by then.
I know a lot of people tout Apple’s ability to include more older devices on their new iOS compatibility list (as opposed to Android), but I really wish Apple would not include an older device if it makes it run noticeably worse than it did before the update. Surely they test these things.
Having said this, I have noticed some improvement with 8.0.2, so perhaps future updates will improve performance on the iPad 2.
My iPad 2 was issued to me by the school where I teach, so there is no hope of getting a newer model.
Same here, and I too tried to go back. Yesterday I afternoon I bought myself a new iPad Air.
Not sure why anybody would install an OS withing hours of it’s release. Apple is as capable as any company of releasing buggy software, going all the way back to the early MacOSes.
Log in to comment (TMO, Twitter or Facebook) or Register for a TMO account