Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.6.1 Forcing Upgrade to 18.6.2

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Key Takeaways:

iOS 18.6.2 fixes ImageIO exploit: The update patches CVE-2025-43300, a flaw where malicious images could trigger memory corruption, making immediate installation important for security.
Apple blocks iOS 18.6.1 downgrades: With signing closed, you can’t revert from iOS 18.6.2, locking devices to the newest build for safety and stability.
Update is security-only, no new features: Unlike bigger releases, iOS 18.6.2 strictly focuses on exploit prevention and hardens devices against image-based attack vectors.
Older iPads still receive protection: Apple rolled out iPadOS 17.7.10 for legacy models, extending the same vulnerability patch to users on older hardware.
iOS 18 cycle nears its end: iOS 18.6.2 is among the last maintenance updates before Apple shifts focus to iOS 26, expected to deliver a major redesign.

Apple has quietly closed the door on iOS 18.6.1. Just over a week after releasing iOS 18.6.2, the company has stopped signing the previous version, which means iPhone users can no longer downgrade. If you’ve already updated to iOS 18.6.2, there’s no way to roll back, and if you’re still on an older build, this is now your only upgrade option.

iOS 18.6.2 Fixes a Critical Security Flaw in Images

Unlike some iOS updates that add new features, 18.6.2 is all about security. The update patches a critical vulnerability in ImageIO, the system framework that handles how images are displayed on your device. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-43300, allowed maliciously crafted images to cause memory corruption. Apple confirmed that it may have already been exploited in targeted attacks. In simple terms, simply receiving a malicious image could have put your iPhone at risk.

That makes this release essential for anyone who regularly receives images via Messages, Mail, or third-party apps. Apple has also extended protection to older iPads through iPadOS 17.7.10, so even legacy devices are covered against the same security hole.

Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.6.1: No More Downgrades

With iOS 18.6.1 no longer being signed, there’s no option to roll back if you run into performance issues or bugs on 18.6.2. For most users, that won’t matter much. The update doesn’t change how your iPhone looks or works; it simply makes it safer.. Still, for those who like keeping the option of downgrading open, that flexibility is now gone.

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Looking Ahead to iOS 26

The timing makes this move even clearer: iOS 26 is just around the corner. Apple is preparing to roll out a major redesign, dubbed Liquid Glass, along with a wave of new features. That means iOS 18.6.2 is almost certainly one of the final maintenance updates of the iOS 18 cycle. Unless a last-minute 18.6.3 arrives, this will be the software most users stay on until the big upgrade lands.

For now, Apple wants everyone on the same page, and that page is iOS 18.6.2.

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