Quick Answer
Apple will permanently close the Apple Support Community forums on Friday, November 20, 2026, ending 28 years of user-to-user support. The forums are already read-only. You can still read existing threads. Posting new questions and replies has ended. Read Apple’s closure notice.
Apple told MacRumors it reviewed its strategy and customer needs before making the decision. As of November 12, Apple has yet to confirm whether old threads will stay online. The official Apple Support site remains available for troubleshooting and service.
Why is Apple shutting down the Apple Support Community?
Apple told MacRumors that it reviewed its strategy and customer needs before deciding to close the forums. That is the extent of Apple’s explanation so far. The closure notice sends readers to Apple’s own support site and gives no indication that an AI assistant will replace the forum.
One plausible reason is that the two services have been doing different jobs. Apple’s support site gives the company a direct way to publish current instructions and route account, billing, or repair cases. Peer troubleshooting already happens on sites such as Reddit and MacRumors. Apple’s decision puts its own help channels front and center, while leaving the job of comparing notes to independent communities.
Why can’t I post or reply on Apple Discussions anymore?
Apple stopped accepting new posts when the notice appeared on November 10 Pacific time. You can still search and read existing threads during the read-only period. If you were waiting for a reply, take your question to another forum or to Apple Support now. Signing in will not reopen posting. See 9to5Mac’s report on the posting change.
Wait, 28 years of Apple Discussions are ending?
Yes. The 28 years go back to Apple Tech Exchange in 1998. It became Apple Discussions in 2000 and Apple Support Communities in 2011. Apple adopted the current name in 2022. Across all four names, an answer from one user could help the next person who searched for the same problem. See the forum’s history.
If you’ve ever typed an exact error message into Google and found the fix in an old thread, you know what made this forum worth keeping. A thread could tell you which macOS version introduced a problem, which steps people had already tried, and which workaround finally worked. It could also answer a simpler question: “Is this happening to anyone else?” Our iPhone Duo display troubleshooting guide shows how reports from other owners can help you recognize symptoms before you ask Apple to assess your device.
Will old Apple Support Community posts disappear after November 20?
Apple has confirmed the closure date. Whether old threads will remain publicly readable, redirect elsewhere, or become inaccessible is still open. The current read-only view is available while the shutdown is pending. See The Verge’s reporting on the archive.
Save the threads you still use
Open the thread while it’s readable and save it as a PDF, or copy the useful steps and the original URL into a note. A bookmark alone depends on the original page staying online.
If a link stops working, paste the original URL into the Wayback Machine to check for a saved copy. Availability depends on whether that page was captured. See the Internet Archive’s guide.
Where can I ask Apple questions now?
Official instructions for your device
Start at Apple Support for setup steps, troubleshooting guides, and instructions specific to your product.
Help with an account, a charge, or a repair
Choose your product or issue on Contact Apple Support, or use the Apple Support app for personalized help and repair options.
Advice from other Apple users
Try the relevant device board at MacRumors Forums or ask in r/applehelp. Include your model, software version, exact symptom, and the fixes you’ve already tried.
Will AppleCare and repairs still work?
Yes. AppleCare and warranty service remain available through Apple Service and Repair, where you can start a repair, check coverage, or track a repair already in progress.
How do I report an iPhone or Mac bug without the forum?
Use Apple Product Feedback to tell Apple about a reproducible bug. Choose the product and describe the steps that trigger the issue, the software version, and what you expected to happen. For an issue that began after an update, check what the update actually changed. For example, see what iOS 27.2.1 changed for iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro.
Related Reading
- iPhone Duo Problems, Specs, and Test Results
- What Apple Has Said About iPhone Duo Inner-Display Problems
- How to Reduce iPhone 18 Pro Camera Glare and Lens Flare
- Mac mini M6 for Logic Pro and Xcode: What Users Report
FAQ
What happens to my forum profile, points, and levels?
Apple’s notice gives no details on whether community profiles or contribution history will stay visible. If you want a record of your contributions, save your public profile and the posts you care about while you can still open them. See The Mac Observer’s coverage.
Are the Apple Developer Forums closing too?
The November 20 notice applies to the Apple Support Community at discussions.apple.com. The Apple Developer Forums are a separate site for questions about building apps and using Apple’s developer tools.
