We, iPhone users, started this direction because we feel that Apple’s involvement with the product should end in the moment when we buy it. Instead of this, Apple is forcing its customers to update to newer iOS firmware even if the customer doesn’t want to. Quick search through the internet reveals the dirty tactics Apple is using, it keeps displaying annoying prompts about updating, they can be dismissed, but it will only make them appear later or even install new software in the night when you are asleep. This is not pro-customer behavior.

It is a well known fact that every iPhone is being slowed down with new iOS releases, of course the logical explanation says that that is because of new features that every new iOS release brings, but why is user deprived of the choice to go back to the iOS version his device was running very smoothly on? If, for example you own iPhone 5S and you are curious about iOS11 and you update, you will be surprised by terrible performance of the UI (UI, not benchmarks, benchmarks don’t mean a thing in real world usage) and you will have no choice but to stay on this firmware and „enjoy” your phone. YOUR phone. Recently it became even bigger issue after the CPU throttling scandal in iOS post-10.2.1. Customer should be allowed to downgrade if he/she chooses so.

Of course there are counter-arguments, for example the one saying that by downgrading you are exposing your device to viruses and other exploits. That is true, but that is customer responsibility, if he/she cares about security, stay on newest firmware. If not, feel free to downgrade, even if it voids warranty.

We know that Apple likes to show the statistics for every iOS update, how many people installed it, etc. but it would be very interesting to see a real satisfaction rate for those updates, because after every iOS update, there appear many threads on many forums about dissatisfaction after updating.

We want Apple to give its customers control over their devices, for which they paid even 1000$ per device and not using dirty tactics to force customers to update.

Thank you very much.

“You know, what if we were able to start a petition to send apple requesting to open the signing window for older firmwares? I mean we are all Apple costumers and feel like we should be able to use the software that suits our individual devices best. It really is unfair for those of us who pay hundreds of dollars if not over a thousand to be stuck on a software that is problematic and unsatisfactory. Just as we are able to choose in our household computers, we should absolutely be able to choose the software we run on our mobile computers! I mean you can see the amount of interest and demand for earlier software versions not only for the jailbreak community but elseware. It is simply unfair and unacceptable from Apple to withhold our ability to choose. If it’s a security issue pute it in the fine print like you do your terms and conditions Apple. We are adults and we can make our own decisions.”

 - @Spark3y

“Yes it does? Most people don't even know how to downgrade to signed firmware and they wouldn't care, but thise who decide to do it would be informed that downgrading can be dangerous and they should make the decision, not Apple. I don't recall anybody suing any Apple for some security issues on older versions of OS X despite the fact that many users choose to stay on them or install them instead of the new buggy releases.

And speaking as a developer, it would help me test my apps on older firmwares, testing on Simulator doesn't solve all problems“

 - @wiencheck

“Agreed. Apple should use the signing only to prevent installation of corrupted it tampered firmware. This should be part of the right to repair our devices to install any firmware released during the lifetime of a device. New version running too slow? Downgrade. New version has annoying bug or feature? Downgrade. Want to test an app you are writing on old version? Downgrade.“
 - @tk_ios

“I think that this could workout if and only if the people that are suing Apple know that this is the main cause of the low performance.
Not being able to downgrade = slow performance on older devices
The suing right now is for making devices slower without Apple telling us "telling us" because you need to be blind if you don't realize this.
The main reason of the slow performance is not being able to downgrade. “
 - @OERIVERS

''I'm signing this campaign because not all of us have latest and greatest iPhone's like X, 8 and 8+ or else. Therefore, forcing us to install latest iOS version isn't always pleasant. Like using iOS 11 on 5s, or iOS 9.3.5 on 4s etc. I understand that Apple is trying to achieve best user experince and make our phones more secure, but forcing to the latest iOS isn't the right way to do this. Well, even if Apple doesn't sign all versions, at least they can sign every last version of iOS's. Like signing iOS 7.1.2, 8.4.1, 9.3.5 or 10.3.3. Maybe they are not up to date for security reasons or for apps from App Store, but they are most bug free versions for every iOS releases (I mean, I'm pretty sure that a lot of bug fixes is included in 8.4.1 but not in 8.0). I think Apple, at least should consider this; signing every last and stable version of iOS.''
- Türkay Leblebicioğlu

''We need to downgrade, there is no reason to force to stay on lastest firmware, I know that there are a lot of security patches, but if they could slow down perfomance, I prefer to stay where I am''

- Santiago Falquet

''We need to install a iOS that works for all devices and not recommended security and performance updates to the point that your devices are unresponsive. If we spend money on these expensive devices, we need to install a iOS that is responsive to our liking.''
 - J G

''I paid over 3K total on 3 devices, if I want to be on 10.1.1 or 11.1.2 on any of does devices I should be allowed to, I shouldn’t be tricked into updating, or forced to update by tricking me with ‘update later’ notifications. I pay big money so I can own my devices, I should have access to something I won and not crontolled.''
 - Christian Oropeza

''I find it stupid that they are allowed to hinder the performance of devices and pretty much spam users to update to get it that way. I also don't understand why it's a big deal for them to sign IOS firmwares considering not everyone in the world jailbreaks their idevices, and I doubt they are losing any money because of it.''
 - Matthew Doyle

''To be honest I’m an Apple fan for years now, but seeing the iOS updates go wrong every time again, well it’s unacceptable. I know the iOS updates get bigger and more functions are demanded, but they’re also issues like rotation issues on iOS 11 and stuff not to mention a respring bug the worst of its kind. So yeah I would like to downgrade my devices too whenever I want! Not for jailbreaking just for stability, and or iOS research as I’m an iOS developer.''
- Bas van Turnhout

Source: change