Apple is permanently closing the Apple Support Community on Friday 20 November. The official user-to-user help forums, at discussions.apple.com, have already stopped taking new posts, and Apple is directing customers to its official Support site instead.
A notice now sits at the top of the community. “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,” it says. “You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site.”
Apple also thanked “the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.”
The notice appeared at 12:49pm on Wednesday, Melbourne time. Existing threads can still be searched and read, and 9to5Mac says the “Me too” and voting buttons still work, but no new questions or replies can be added. The sign-in button now leads to an internal login for Apple employees.
Apple has not issued a public press release. It told MacRumors it decided to sunset the community after a careful evaluation of strategy and customer needs. It has not said any more than that, and it has not announced a replacement forum.
The community has been around, under one name or another, for almost three decades. It launched in 1998 as the Apple Tech Exchange, was renamed Apple Discussions in 2000, became Apple Support Communities in 2011, and took its current name, Apple Support Community, in 2022. Members earned points and user levels for helpful answers, and a smaller group was invited into the Community+ program, which came with extra recognition and perks. Apple’s English-language notice does not say what happens to those points, levels or the program once the site closes.
The bigger question is what happens to the archive. Apple has not published a way to export threads, and it has not said on the site itself whether the old posts will stay online after 20 November. AppleInsider later reported that Apple confirmed the forums will be taken completely offline. Anyone who still relies on a particular fix should save a copy this week.
Where to get help now
Apple is pointing people to the official Apple Support website. From there, and through the Apple Support app or Get Support, you can still work through support articles, start a chat, request a callback, or book a Genius Bar appointment. That is help from Apple, though, not from other customers comparing notes on a bug the company has not yet acknowledged.
What it means for Australian users
Official help in Australia is unchanged. You can call Apple Support on 1300 321 456, use the Support app or website, chat with Apple, or book time at an Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider. Apple also lists Australian Sign Language support on its contact page.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.