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

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.