If you are thinking of returning to iOS 14.4.2, you should know that you will not be able to. If it is already difficult to install previous versions of iOS on an iPhone, the truth is that things are more complicated now because Apple has already stopped signing that version. And it does so after the release of iOS 14.5 last week and a few hours after iOS 14.5.1 released yesterday to correct some problems seen in its predecessor. What does that mean? Is there a problem if you are on that version? We will tell you.
It is a step that Apple always carries out
If you are not very into what the world of Apple software updates entails, you should know that this is not something new. When Apple stops signing an iOS version it means that officially there is no way to return to it and even with extra-official methods it is not possible to do it easily. The reason for this is that the company wants as many users as possible to update their iPhone.
In addition to adding new functionalities or visual changes, which does not happen in each version, Apple does incorporate performance improvements and security patches in all. The latter is precisely one of the company’s strengths, since it always tries to correct any possible vulnerability as quickly as possible. Therefore, if you are on iOS 14.4.2, the company understands that your iPhone is no longer secure and in a way forces you to update. You can continue using your iPhone normally if you decide not to update at your own risk, but for actions such as taking the phone to technical service it will be necessary that you have updated to the latest version.
Next week it will be iOS 14.5
Apple’s deadlines to stop signing iOS versions are usually always the same and it is that they give deadlines of 7 days from the launch of a new version to stop signing the previous one. In the case of iOS 14.4.2 it was fulfilled and probably next week it will be iOS 14.5. Under normal circumstances that version should be the last released by Apple until the arrival of 14.6, however a series of bugs and security problems detected in it forced them to launch the intermediate version of iOS 14.5.1. If we take into account that iOS 14.5 was in beta for many months, it is even more curious that it will “expire” in such a short time, but the truth is that the company has no choice if it wants to guarantee the safety of its users.
At the moment this iOS 14.5 is still a version that is still signed, so during these days until it is stopped signing you can return to it from a later version. If you are in a previous one and you want to jump to the last one, remember that you must go to Settings> General> Software update. In this section you will find the possibility to download and install iOS 14.5.1 later, a version that is compatible with iPhone 6s and later.
