The AirPort Utility app, which has been available for Apple devices since the mid-2000s, is going away. Buried in iOS 27 and macOS 27 beta 2 release notes, Apple says it is removing the app that lets anyone configure an AirPort router from the App Store.
If you are still using an AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express or Time Capsule with your home Wi-Fi, this is your warning. Once the app disappears, new users won’t be able to download it again from the App Store. Even if it’s already on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, Apple says it will stop working the moment you update to iOS 27 or macOS 27 Golden Gate.
What’s happening with the AirPort Utility app?
Apple’s AirPort routers were a line of Wi-Fi networking products designed to make home networking simple for Mac, iPhone and iPad users. Introduced in 1999, routers were known for their easy setup through Apple software. The routers were discontinued years ago, but the setup software for them stayed around… until now.
Per iOS 27 and macOS 27 beta 2 release notes, AirPort Utility is now marked as deprecated on both platforms. New downloads are cut off, but anyone who’s installed it before can still re-download it from Purchase History.
With iOS 27 and macOS 27, Apple says “functionality is no longer guaranteed”. Also, it will no longer ship with clean installs of macOS 27. But, at the time of writing, Apple hasn’t mentioned an exit date for the app’s departure from the App Store.
Why this stings more than it should
Apple hasn’t sold an AirPort router since 2018, so this might appear like the company is just cleaning up its act. But AirPort Utility remains the only iOS app that scans Wi-Fi channel strength and checks local network MAC addresses.
This is because Apple has locked down low-level networking APIs for everything else. Kill this app, and iPhone users will lose the ability to use one of the few network diagnostic tools they’ve ever had.
Time Capsule backups are already under fire
This isn’t an isolated case. The news comes days after macOS 27 Golden Gate confirmed it’s dropping AFP, the protocol that backs up your Mac over Wi-Fi.
A Microsoft engineer has already shared a workaround to keep the Time Machine talking to the Time Capsule. But between that and AirPort Utility’s exit, Apple is clearly done maintaining old hardware.
Also, nothing is broken in the latest betas, so there’s no need to panic. But if your network still relies on AirPort, it’s time to start looking at a mesh system or a NAS system before Apple decides for you.
iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate full release are expected in September, so you still have some time to make the switch.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
