Apple halts iOS 13.2.2 code signing following release of iOS 13.2.3

Following the release of iOS 13.2.3 in November, Apple on Monday stopped signing code for iOS 13.2.2 to ensure iPhone and iPad users are running the most up-to-date operating system.

The halt to iOS 13.2.2 code signing arrives roughly two weeks after Apple issued iOS 13.2.3 in mid-November.

Apple's latest iOS version launched alongside iPadOS 13.2.3 to fix issues with Messages and Mail, as well as a problem that caused apps running in the background to close unexpectedly. Prior to release, users reported system management issues that forced apps to shut down or refresh in the background despite only moderate foreground RAM usage.

With the change, users can no longer download iOS 13.2.2 from Apple servers.

Apple routinely stops signing legacy code after the release of a new iOS build in part to protect customers from nefarious actors attempting to take advantage of newly discovered vulnerabilities. In addition to security, preventing users from downloading older code allows Apple to keep more iOS devices on the latest, feature-rich software.

Apple is currently testing a beta version of iOS 13.3, which delivers Safari compatibility with NFC, USB and Lightning security keys compatible with the WebAuthn standard. The upcoming update also includes a handful of minor graphical tweaks and bug fixes.