Apple’s iOS Bootloader Renamed to ‘mBoot’ in Latest Developer Beta
In a recent development, Apple has rebranded its longstanding iOS bootloader from ‘iBoot’ to ‘mBoot’ with the release of the second iOS 26.4 developer beta. This marks the first name change for the bootloader since the operating system’s inception nearly two decades ago.
The bootloader is a critical component responsible for verifying the iOS kernel’s integrity and ensuring a secure startup process. The transition from ‘iBoot’ to ‘mBoot’ was identified through a detailed file comparison between the first and second developer betas of iOS 26.4. Additionally, the bootloader’s version number has experienced a significant leap, now starting at 18000, up from 13822 in the previous beta. This substantial increase in versioning is unprecedented and raises questions about potential underlying changes.
Despite these alterations, Apple has not provided an official explanation for the renaming or the version number jump. It’s unclear whether ‘mBoot’ introduces new functionalities or if the change is purely nominal. For end-users, this rebranding is unlikely to result in noticeable differences, as the bootloader operates behind the scenes to facilitate the secure loading of iOS.
Historically, Apple has made significant changes to its bootloader to enhance security and functionality. For instance, in 2009, Apple updated the BootROM for the iPhone 3GS to prevent unauthorized modifications, reflecting the company’s ongoing efforts to maintain device integrity. Similarly, in 2016, Apple left certain components of iOS 10 unencrypted to optimize system performance and encourage developer scrutiny.
The renaming to ‘mBoot’ could signal upcoming hardware or software developments. Notably, Apple is anticipated to unveil several new products during its March 4 invite-only event, which may provide further context to this change.
