While an iOS 11.1.2 jailbreak may still be a little ways out, there are still some actions that are important to take while waiting for developers to take full advantage of Ian Beer’s exploit. As we wait for a solution to drop based on our latest knowledge of iOS firmware, it’s possible to prepare your device for the impending release while staying a step ahead of Apple’s development team.
Apple Closes Off iOS 11.1.2 Downgrades
It’s in Apple’s best interest to avoid allowing jailbreakers to obtain full root access to their operating system, as doing so opens up their phones and tablets to functionality that wasn’t intended. While iOS has a reputation for being a more restrictive operating system, the user experience is consistent and reliable, which is a main advantage that Apple devices have over the many different Android phones out there. The Apple development team’s latest step makes it much harder to jailbreak your device, but there’s a way that many can avoid being affected by this most recent update.
Apple has moved pretty rapidly to stop internally signing iOS 11.1.2 firmware, which means that device owners are no longer able to downgrade their phones in anticipation of the upcoming iOS 11.1.2 jailbreak. This is unfortunate news for those of us who have already upgraded their phones, but for those who are still running the correct operating system, there’s now a way to stop the phone from accidentally or forcefully upgrading to iOS 11.2.x. This functionality is important, as it allows users to remain on an operating system that is far more likely to get a jailbreak sooner rather than later.
What To Do While Waiting For An iOS 11.1.2 Jailbreak
Fortunately, the process to prevent your phone from upgrading is relatively simple. Another important aspect that this solution addresses is the constant annoying alerts that urge you to make the jump to the latest operating system — it also takes care of that reminder icon on your settings section that you can’t get rid of. Failing to address these reminders could spell trouble if you accidentally click in the wrong place.
Simply take the following steps to complete the update, courtesy of redmondpie:
- Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad
- Navigate to tot.wf/NOOTA.mobileconfig
- You will be asked to install a profile. Follow the directions on-screen to complete the installation, and make sure you mark it as “trusted.”
- Reboot your device
- Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. If everything went as planned, you should no longer see a reminder to update to 11.2.x
While it’s definitely unfortunate that Apple has made it impossible for users to downgrade to an operating system that is far more likely to get a jailbreak in the near future, it’s good that there’s still a way to safeguard against upgrading by mistake for those who are already on iOS 11.1.2. Hopefully an 11.2 jailbreak will come sooner rather than later, but for now it seems like a jailbreak will be limited to the previous — now-unattainable — update.
