After the release of iOS 16.3.1 on February 13, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.3, the previous version of the operating system.
With that said, it is no longer possible to downgrade to iOS 16.3 after installing the iOS 16.3.1 upgrade since Apple no longer signs iOS 16.3.
The New iOS Version Comes With Different Updates
In order to encourage users to keep their operating systems up to date, Apple often ceases signing older versions of iOS after new releases are made.
With that said, the fact that iOS 16.3 is no longer being signed is not unusual, according to a report by Mac Rumors.
The relatively minor iOS 16.3 update adds support for physical security keys for Apple IDs, expanded Enhanced Data Protection internationally, and more.
While iOS 16.3.1 is still the most recent version available to the general public, Apple this week unveiled the first beta of iOS 16.4, which includes support for new emoji characters, web push notifications, and other features.
According to Geeky Gadgets, Apple has stopped certifying older software since the iOS 16.3.1 upgrade introduced a number of significant security fixes.
With the release of iOS 16.3, Apple expanded the availability of Advanced Data Protection, bringing the total number of iCloud data categories secured by end-to-end encryption to 23.
Additionally, this update added physical Security Keys for Apple ID, giving customers the opportunity to increase the security of their accounts.
This is made possible by needing a physical security key as part of the sign-in process for new devices using two-factor authentication.
In order to discourage people from jailbreaking their iPhones and iPads, one of the reasons Apple stopped signing previous versions of iOS, like iOS 16.3.
Although there are no indications that any jailbreak tools for iOS 16 for the new iPhones are being created, it is also a strategy to encourage people to keep up with Apple's operating systems.
Read More: Apple Releases iOS 16.3 Featuring Physical Security Keys And More
What Else Is There With The iOS 16.3.1 Update
According to CNet, the most recent iOS version contains security and bug fixes for iCloud, Siri, Find My, and crash detection.
According to Apple's security notes, the most recent version fixes a problem that may have been actively exploited on iPhones.
Apple even explicitly states that iPhone 8 models and later are affected by the problem, which has since been fixed by the update.
The update may also resolve a problem with iCloud that some users had after iOS 16.3 was released.
Crash detection on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro devices is another problem that iOS 16.3.1 might fix.
CNet writes that first responders have benefited greatly from crash detection in several cases, alerting them promptly once the signal is triggered by the feature.
However, it has also happened to some users who use their phones while riding roller coasters, which is why Apple has been called on to fix the feature.
In simpler words, here iss what Apple says is fixed with iOS 16.3.1:
iCloud settings may be unresponsive or incorrectly display if apps are using iCloud.
Siri requests for Find My may not work.
Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.
Related Article: iOS 16.3 Beta Brings Updates for Emergency SOS Feature 'Call with Hold'
