Apple switches support forum to read-only mode and will shut it down on November 20

Until the closure, old discussions remain open for viewing and searching for answers, but posting new questions and leaving comments is no longer possible. According to PCMag, cited by 3DNews, regular users can still use the "I have this question too" button and voting tools. As Habr notes, logging in to the portal is now available only to Apple employees. For technical assistance, the company directs users to the official Apple Support website.

Apple explained its decision by stating that it had reviewed its strategy and customer needs. "Thank you to the community members who gave their time and shared their expertise to help other Apple product users," the company's statement reads. As Kursiv reports citing AppleInsider, the publication suggests that competition with AI chatbots and specialized communities on Reddit was among the reasons.

The platform, where owners of iPhone, Mac, and other devices helped one another, appeared in 1998 under the name Apple Tech Exchange, later became Apple Discussions, and was relaunched in 2011 with member profiles and reputation points for helping others. According to Kursiv, in 2023 Apple already abandoned user support on social networks and eliminated the role of specialists who assisted forum members.