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    Apple unsigns iOS 18.6, preventing downgrades from iOS 18.6.1 or 18.6.2

    Apple stopped signing iOS 18.6 on Thursday, just one week after releasing iOS 18.6.1 alongside watchOS 11.6.1 to enable the Blood Oxygen monitoring feature on Apple Watches that were previously barred from offering the feature to end users under an International Trade Commission ruling – but later circumvented by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruling that patent troll Masimo is now once again suing over.

    By unsigning iOS 18.6, Apple has configured its software update servers to reject any restore requests made by end users to install this particular firmware version, instead pushing them to install a newer version. At the time of this writing, both iOS 18.6.1 and the newer iOS 18.6.2 update that Apple released this week are still being signed as viable restorable versions of iOS.

    In essence, this means that if a user downloads the iOS 18.6 firmware and then tries to restore their device to it using the Shift key + Restore button in iTunes for Windows, or the Option key + Restore button in macOS, then it will no longer work as expected.

    Firmware downgrades have long been used by users who wanted to jailbreak their iPhone or iPad, as older firmware typically has the greatest chance of being vulnerable to bugs and exploits. Apple got wise to this, and that’s why they unsign older firmware so frequently today.

    It’s worth noting, however, that jailbreaking isn’t the only reason why firmware downgrades are important. Sometimes, when Apple releases a software update, unexpected bugs arise that can affect the performance or user experience of certain devices, such as in the various examples listed below:

    • iPadOS 18.0 bricking M4 chip-equipped iPad Pros
    • iOS 16.0 over-prompting users on clipboard access when pasting copied content into another app
    • iOS 14.7 breaking the Apple Watch’s ability to be unlocked with the host iPhone’s Touch ID sensor
    • iOS & iPadOS 13.2 imposing incredibly aggressive background management on backgrounded apps

    When this happens, a firmware downgrade can act as a temporary remedy, allowing users to continue using their device until Apple can pull and re-issue the update, or release another software update that fixes the root problem.

    Even though downgrades to iOS 18.6 from a newer firmware like iOS 18.6.1 or 18.6.2 is no longer possible, it’s worth noting that upgrades from an older firmware to iOS 18.6 should still be possible via the DelayOTA method, which takes advantage of an Enterprise-grade feature that allows upgrading to unsigned firmware within a 90-day grace period of being unsigned.

    The iDB team has steadfastly supported the idea that iPhone and iPad users should be able to install any firmware they want on their device, regardless of the consequences. There should at least be an option for advanced users or Developer Account owners who wish to do this, despite Apple’s argument that they know best. Perhaps government regulation could force their hand at some point in the future.

    As always, you can see what firmware is or isn’t being signed for your particular device by using the IPSW.me website. You can also download whatever firmware you might need for your device from our Downloads page.

    Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/08/21/apple-stops-signing-ios-18-6/

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    Masimo sues U.S. Customs and Border Protection in bid to block green light to enable blood oxygen monitoring on Apple Watches

    When Apple released iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 last week, bringing Blood Oxygen monitoring to previously excluded models following a U.S. Customs and Border Protection approval that allowed Apple to move forward with the “redesigned” experience on those devices, we had a gut feeling that patent troll Masimo wouldn’t let that go very far without a fight.

    The new ruling effectively circumvented a previous ruling made by the International Trade Commission, which said that Apple couldn’t sell Apple Watches with a functional on-device Blood Monitoring feature, as the technology that Apple was using was found to infringe on pulse-oximetry patents held by medical technology company Masimo. If they didn’t comply, they wouldn’t be able to import the devices and sell them in the U.S.

    Apple’s long-term solution was to keep the hardware on affected Apple Watches, but to use software to disable it. Up until just last week, owners of Apple Watches purchased after that ruling didn’t have a way to monitor their Blood Oxygen level, while Apple Watches sold before that ruling have enjoyed access to this feature even up until now.

    And that’s exactly what the iOS 18.6.1 and watchOS 11.6.1 software updates were released for – to re-enable the hardware. On the other hand, the user experience has been “redesigned” from that on the original Apple Watches that sill have the feature, as monitoring occurs on the host iPhone rather than on the Apple Watch itself.

    Somewhat expectedly, however, Masimo isn’t too happy that Apple found a way to keep using the supposedly ‘patent-infringed’ tech. Masimo has officially filed a lawsuit this week against U.S. Customs and Border Protection in an attempt to halt the aforementioned approval that Apple scored, which could have far-reaching consequences.

    Litigation could take some time. If Masimo wins, then Apple could be forced to disable the feature on affected Apple Watches yet again; but if Apple wins, then Masimo may have to grin and bear the loss, effectively dealing with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection nod in Apple’s favor.

    It will be interesting to see what happens next, as we’re sure many Apple Watch users have been waiting for the return of this feature, and attempts to take it away from them again is sure to anger those customers.

    Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/08/21/masimo-sues-u-s-customs-border-protection-apple-watch-blood-oxygen-monitoring/