Apple Stops Signing iOS 26.2, Downgrades and Restores No Longer Possible

Apple has officially stopped signing iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 following the release of iOS 26.2.1 and iPadOS 26.2.1. This means iPhone and iPad users who have already upgraded can no longer downgrade to that specific software version.



The move comes just days after Apple released iOS 26.2.1. The update was deployed primarily to support the second-generation AirTag, which began arriving to customers this week. It ensures iPhones can properly pair with and track the accessory's upgraded Ultra Wideband chip.


Apple released iOS 26.2 back in December. That version introduced several system changes, including a new opacity slider for the Liquid Glass Lock Screen clock, verification codes for AirDrop transfers with non-contacts, and AI-generated chapters in Apple Podcasts.

As is typical after a point update, Apple has now closed the signing window for the previous release, preventing users from installing older builds.

For most users, this change will go unnoticed. It mainly affects those who ran into issues with the latest update and hoped to revert, as well as the jailbreak community, which often depends on remaining on older firmware versions. However, there is currently no publicly available jailbreak for iOS 26, and recent updates have continued to close known exploit paths.

Users looking to check signing status or download available firmware can use the iClarified IPSW Download Wizard.