How is iOS 17.7 IPSW avaliable? Wasn't it only OTA?

[ThomasJL]

I am looking at the ipsw.me website right now, and it's showing IPSW 17.7 files avaliable and still signed. Am I mistaken for thinking that iOS 17.7 was OTA only?

I don't remember seeing any iOS 17.7 IPSW files on ipsw.me even a few days after it was released. I didn't see it on the Finder interface (the one similar in appearance to iTunes) when the OTA was released, and I'm still not seeing it right now on the Finder (my iPhone is connected by wire to my Mac right now). I only see iOS 18 as avalable on the Finder.

How did the ipsw.me website get iOS 17.7 IPSW files if Apple never released them via the Finder/iTunes?

 

[winxmac]

iOS 17.7 RC and iOS 17.7 final [non-beta] release are the same build...

https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Beta_Firmware/iPhone/17.x
https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Firmware/iPhone/17.x

iOS 16.7 IPSW was only available for iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X while iOS 17.7 IPSW is available for iPhone XR up to iPhone 15 series...

 

[FridgeToaster]

There was a RC built IPSW file on Apple Developer website. But Apple removed the download link after 17.7 was released.

 

[arw]

I can at least confirm that the full iOS/iPadOS 17.7 ipsws linked at 'theapplewiki.com' installed perfectly via iTunes on different iPhones and iPads.
Those devices are technically capable of iOS/iPadOS 18 and not enrolled in any dev/beta program.
(Like the iPhone 15 (iPhone15,4_17.7_21H16_Restore.ipsw)
https://theapplewiki.com/wiki/Firmware/iPhone/17.x#iPhone_15