Apple is closing its long-running Support Community on 20 November, bringing an end to a discussion forum where users have spent nearly three decades helping each other troubleshoot problems with their devices.
The company has posted a notice on the Apple Support Community homepage confirming that the forum will no longer accept new posts. The existing discussions aren’t disappearing, though, as Apple plans to keep the website available in read-only mode, allowing users to search through previous questions and answers.
As spotted by MacRumors, Apple has already stopped users from posting on the forum, effectively ending its role as a place to ask questions and receive advice from other Apple customers. Anyone looking for help with an iPhone, Mac or another Apple product will instead need to turn to the company’s official support resources or seek advice elsewhere online.
The closure marks the end of a service that dates back to 1998, when Apple first introduced its online discussion forums. Originally known as Apple Discussions before adopting the Support Community name, the platform became a familiar destination for users dealing with everything from software glitches to unfamiliar settings.
Its discussions have also been a regular fixture in Google search results, particularly when looking up specific error messages or problems that aren’t always covered in official troubleshooting guides. While the answers weren’t necessarily guaranteed to work, there was something useful about finding someone who had encountered the exact same issue and, ideally, figured out how to fix it.
Apple hasn’t given a detailed explanation for the decision. In a statement to MacRumors, the company said it reached the decision following a careful evaluation of its strategy and customer needs. It also directed users towards the official Apple Support website for continued guidance and assistance.
Of course, there are still plenty of places to ask other Apple users for help, including Reddit and dedicated technology forums. What those alternatives don’t offer is the same community space directly hosted by Apple, where discussions about its products have accumulated over more than 25 years.
The Apple Support Community will officially close to new contributions on 20 November, although its existing posts will remain accessible. For anyone who’s ever found the answer to an obscure Mac or iPhone problem buried in an old forum thread, at least that part of the service isn’t going away.
The post Apple is pulling the plug on its long-running support forum appeared first on Trusted Reviews.