Apple will permanently close its official Apple Support Community forums on November 20, 2026, ending a dedicated user-to-user support platform that has operated for nearly three decades.
Apple Shuts Down Forum Access
The company placed the forums into a read-only state on November 10, 2026, effective immediately. The final message on the platform was submitted at 5:49 p.m. Pacific Time that day.
“The Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026. Starting today, the site will no longer accept new posts and is available in a read-only state,” Apple said in a banner notice displayed to site visitors. The company directed users toward its official support channels for future assistance.
Users can still use the Me too and voting buttons on existing threads. The Sign In button now leads exclusively to an internal portal labeled AC Communities Web – Internal, restricting access to corporate employees. Apple has not provided an export tool for users to download their own content, and the company has not clarified whether the archive of threads will remain accessible or be removed entirely after the November 20 deadline.
Apple Evaluates Support Strategy
“after a careful evaluation of strategy and customer needs,” Apple told MacRumors said the company decided to sunset the community platform. Observers note that as users migrate toward AI tools, sustaining community activity becomes difficult.
“You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site. We want to thank the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products,” Apple said in its public announcement.
Apple Forums Evolved Through Multiple Rebrands Since 1998
The forum’s roots extend back to 1998, when it launched as the Apple Tech Exchange. The platform underwent multiple rebrands over 28 years, becoming Apple Discussions in 2000 and later relaunching as Apple Support Communities in April 2011.
This reputation system included ten levels, ranging from Level 1 at zero points to Level 10 at 80,000 points. Users earned 6 points each time someone upvoted a reply as helpful, up to 30 per reply, and 10 points each time someone upvoted a User Tip.
Higher levels provided perks: Level 3 allowed for a custom avatar, Level 4 granted exclusive news and My Subscriptions features, Level 5 enabled the creation of User Tips, and Level 6 provided access to The Lounge and community meetups.
“reserves the right to delete any Submission, or take action against any account, at any time, for any reason,” the Apple Support Communities Use Agreement says.
The company withdrew human customer assistance through its @AppleSupport account on X in 2023. The platform had seen changes in how it was moderated and managed.
Users Face Forum Closure
Apple is directing customers to its official support website, which hosts troubleshooting articles and contact options for live agent assistance. Customers can also get help through the Apple Support app, which provides troubleshooting guidance and ways to arrange service or visit a Genius Bar for hardware issues.
Some users expressed disappointment, noting that the forums were a valuable resource for finding solutions to technical problems. Others were less saddened, with some commenters on social media platforms like Reddit describing the forums as routinely a useless top hit on Google.
Contributors are left without clear information on whether their points, profiles, or Community+ recognition program will continue in any other form. The platform operated for nearly three decades before reaching the November 20, 2026 deadline.