Apple Closing the Apple Support Community on November 20: A 28-Year-Old Forum Goes Read-Only

One of the longest-running places for Apple users to help each other is coming to an end. On November 10, 2026, Apple announced that the Apple Support Community will permanently close on Friday, November 20, 2026. The change started immediately: the forums no longer accept new posts and are now read-only, so people can still read and search existing threads but cannot ask new questions or reply.

Apple directs users to its official Apple Support site for guidance after the closure. Here is a clear guide to what was announced, how the forum's history unfolded, what remains unclear and where to find help once the community is gone.

Key Takeaways

• Closing date: Friday, November 20, 2026.
• Already read-only: New posts stopped on November 10, and the last message appears to have been posted at about 5:49 p.m. Pacific Time that day.
• Sign-in: The sign-in button still appears but now leads to an internal portal for Apple's corporate employees.
• Apple's alternative: The official Apple Support site and Apple's support contact options.
• Unclear: Whether existing threads stay available to read after November 20 or are removed entirely.

What Apple Said

Apple posted a notice on the community's home page. It says the Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026, that the site stopped accepting new posts from the day of the announcement and is available in a read-only state, and that users can continue to find trusted guidance on the official Apple Support site. It also thanks the members who contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.

Apple told media that it decided to retire the community after a careful evaluation of its strategy and customer needs. It has not published further detail on why, or on what will happen to the archive.

Timeline of the Closure

What Has Changed Right Now

What Remains Unclear

• The archive. It is not known whether the old threads will remain readable in some form, be redirected to Apple Support pages or disappear.
• Member data. Apple has not said what happens to profiles, points and the knowledge-sharing tips that top contributors wrote over the years.
• Reasons. Apple has only described the move as the result of a strategy and customer-needs review.

Where to Get Help After November 20

What Users Can Do Before the Site Closes

• Save useful threads. If a past answer solved a problem, bookmark it or save a copy, since it is not clear that the page will exist later.
• Note down tips. Long guides written by experienced members, such as macOS and Apple Watch tips, may be worth saving.
• Use official channels for open issues. For unresolved problems, contacting Apple Support directly is now the main route to a reply from Apple.

Why It Matters for App Developers and Marketers

This section is ASOWorld's editorial analysis, not an Apple statement.

A community forum is more than a help desk. It is a large archive of questions that people search for, and its closure can shift where users go for answers:

• Support traffic moves elsewhere. Many users reached troubleshooting answers through search results that pointed to community threads. As those pages disappear or change, that attention is likely to flow to Apple's own support pages, third-party forums, video tutorials and AI assistants.
• Developers carry more of the load. Users with problems in a specific app, such as subscription or sync issues, may now turn to the developer's support channels and App Store reviews, since the shared community answer will no longer exist.
• A content opening. Questions that used to be answered in community threads still need good answers. Clear, accurate help content for specific apps and common problems can capture that search demand.
• Review management matters. With fewer public places to ask for help, frustrated users may post issues as reviews. Fast, helpful replies and visible support links in the listing can reduce that risk.

For more coverage of Apple news and its impact on app businesses, browse the Apple News section on Marketing Trending.

What to Watch Next

• What happens on November 20. Whether the site goes offline, redirects to Apple Support or stays as a read-only archive.
• Any further statement from Apple. Details on the reasons and on the fate of member content.
• Expansion of official support. Whether Apple adds new help tools, such as AI-assisted support, to replace community answers.
• Where users go. Growth in third-party communities and video tutorials as the main places for peer support.

Quick Answers: Apple Support Community Closure

When is the Apple Support Community closing?
Permanently on Friday, November 20, 2026.

Can I still post questions?
No. The site stopped accepting new posts on November 10 and is read-only.

Can I still read old threads?
Yes, until the closure. Apple has not said whether they will remain available afterwards.

Where does Apple want me to go for help?
The official Apple Support site, and Apple's support contact options for problems that need an agent.

How long did the community exist?
Since 1998, when it launched as Apple Tech Exchange, and it was later renamed Apple Discussions and then Apple Support Communities before becoming the Apple Support Community.

Why is Apple closing it?
Apple says it made the decision after a careful evaluation of its strategy and customer needs, without giving further detail.