Apple ceases iOS 14.1 code signing, blocks downgrades from iOS 14.2

Apple on Thursday stopped signing code for iOS 14.1 following the release of iOS 14.2, effectively blocking downgrades to the previous operating system version.

The halt of iOS 14.1 code signing comes a week after Apple issued iOS 14.2 with new emoji, a dedicated Shazam toggle in Control Center and bug fixes.

The current iOS release also delivered HomePod 14.2 firmware.

With Apple no longer authenticating iOS 14.1 code, device users are unable to download or install the now out-of-date operating system.

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.

Earlier on Thursday, Apple pushed out the first beta version of iOS 14.3, which delivers ProRAW support for iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, as well as support for the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller and Amazon's Luna controller.

Hints of upcoming Apple products were also discovered in the beta. A setup video for Find My revealed iconography resembling an unreleased "AirPods Studio" headphone, while code strings offered new information about "AirTags" setup and operation.