Overview
- Apple placed the Apple Support Community into read-only this week and posted a notice saying the forums will permanently close on November 20, 2026.
- The site notice thanks volunteer contributors and tells users to use the official Apple Support website and app for help going forward.
- Reporters and users note uncertainty over what will happen to the forum archive, and some outlets observed the sign-in button now leads to an internal Apple login page that suggests public access is restricted.
- Longtime contributors say the abrupt move left volunteers with no chance to post goodbyes or export content, raising concerns that niche troubleshooting answers and reputations could be lost.
- The forums dated to 1998 and over time lost regular Apple staff participation, and coverage suggests the shutdown reflects a push toward centralized support, third-party communities like Reddit and MacRumors, and automated tools such as AI assistants.