November 20, 2026 is the last day for the forums at discussions.apple.com. The Apple Support Community shutdown was announced in a short banner on the site, which now reads: “The Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026.” Until then, the whole place is frozen in read-only mode.
In practice, you can no longer ask a question, add a reply or post a fix there. Old threads are still visible for now. Apple gave no reason for the decision and simply sends visitors to its official support site instead.
What the Apple Support Community shutdown changes
The change came in two steps, and the first one is already live. Here is how the timeline looks for anyone who used the forums to troubleshoot an iPhone, iPad or Mac.
| When | What you can do | What you cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Now, through November 19 | Browse and read existing threads | Start a thread, reply or mark a solution |
| November 20, 2026 | Nothing on the forum itself | The site closes permanently |
The notice also thanks the members who gave “their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.” That is a fair description. For years, volunteers answered the odd, specific problems that an official article rarely covers, like a stubborn sync bug on one particular Mac model.
Five ways to get Apple help after November 20
The Apple Support Community shutdown does not mean losing support. Apple’s own channels are still open, and some of them are faster than waiting for a stranger to reply. These are the routes listed on the Contact Apple Support page.
- Search Apple Support. The main support site has tiles for iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch, Vision and AirPods, plus a search box for everything else. Start here for how-to articles and known fixes.
- Use the Apple Support app. It is free and lets you chat with Apple, start a repair, manage subscriptions and reset an Apple Account password. It needs iOS 26.0 or iPadOS 26.0 or later, and it is only offered in some countries and regions.
- Call Apple. The Contact us link on that same page shows which Apple phone line to dial where you live.
- Start a repair online. If the problem is hardware, the Start a repair option books service with technicians using genuine Apple parts.
- Book the Genius Bar. The Support app can find a nearby Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider and set up an in-person visit.
Billing questions are a common reason people ended up on the forums. If yours is about an unexpected charge, our guide on how to get an Apple subscription charge refund on iPhone walks through the official route.
Save the threads you still need
If a forum post once rescued your printer setup or a Time Machine backup, grab a copy before the Apple Support Community shutdown takes effect. Open the thread in your browser and save it as a PDF, or copy the steps into the Notes app.
Bookmarks alone are risky. Apple has not said whether the old discussions will stay reachable after November 20, so a link that works today could lead nowhere next week.
What Apple has not explained yet
The notice is three sentences long, so the Apple Support Community shutdown leaves plenty unanswered. Apple has not given a reason for closing the forums. It has not said whether the archive will be preserved, or whether a new community space of any kind will replace it.
The loss is real. Official support is careful and reliable, but a busy public forum was often the first place a new bug got spotted, sometimes days before an official fix existed. That early-warning role does not have an obvious replacement inside Apple’s own channels.
Apple Support Community shutdown questions
Is Apple Support closed?
No. Only the Apple Support Community forum is closing. The Apple Support website, the Apple Support app, phone support, online repairs and Genius Bar visits all continue.
What is the Apple Support Community closing date?
The forum closes permanently on November 20, 2026. It is already read-only, so new posts and replies are blocked until then.
Can I still log in to Apple Support Community?
You can still visit the site and read threads, but posting is switched off. Apple has not said what happens to community accounts or old threads after the closing date.
What forum regulars should do before the shutdown
If you leaned on the forums, spend ten minutes this week saving the threads that matter and installing the Apple Support app. Everyone else can shrug at the Apple Support Community shutdown, since every official help channel stays exactly where it was. Official help is not going anywhere; the volunteers who filled the gaps just lost their front porch.
