How To Change Ios To An Earlier Version

Struggling with buggy software or simply dislike the latest features? Apple doesn't brand it easy to revert back to a previous software version. Before you begin, we'll cover some of import things you need to know before you reinstall iOS software, then we'll walk you lot through how to downgrade iOS versions.

Related: The Evolution of the iPhone: Every Model from 2007–2021

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Important! Read Before You lot Downgrade iOS
Step 1: Find Your iPhone Model
Step 2: Create a Total Backup of Your Information
Stride three: Download IPSW File to Figurer
Step 4: Prepare Your iPhone to Downgrade iOS
Footstep 5: Restore Device to Downgraded iOS Version
Stride 6: Restore Backup on iPhone

Important! Read Before You Downgrade iOS

To reinstall an iOS update, you'll need to download the previous software version on your computer, restore your iPhone to manufacturing plant settings, load the downloaded software on your iPhone, then restore your data from a previous backup. Considering of this process, in that location are a few important points yous need to consider before making the decision to uninstall the latest iOS:

Y'all will lose any information from after your latest iOS update. This is considering a afterward version fill-in cannot be used afterward you downgrade to an earlier software version. While yous can withal use an earlier backup, you will still exist losing some data.
Apple Watch users might lose some functionality.If you've already installed the latest watchOS on an Apple Picket, you may non be able to fully use your wear later on downgrading your iPhone software. This is considering in that location is no way to downgrade your watchOS, and this may cause incompatibilities.
Make sure the previous software version is even so signed by Apple. If the software version is no longer signed, Apple has stopped supporting the iOS version and you cannot downgrade. To chop-chop check this, get to ipsw.me and select your device and desired software version to run across if the iOS is nonetheless signed.
Notation: All iOS 14 versions and iOS 15.0 have been unsigned by Apple tree, and then you can no longer downgrade your iPhone software to these versions.

If you feel that reverting to the previous iOS version is still the best option for yous despite the setbacks mentioned above, follow the instructions beneath roofing how to uninstall an iOS update. If you'd like to larn how to make the all-time use of your iPhone, consider signing upwardly for our gratis Tip of the Twenty-four hours.

Footstep i: Find Your iPhone Model

To downgrade your iOS version, you'll need to know your iPhone Model and then you can select the proper software to download. If you lot already know your iPhone Model (such every bit iPhone 13, or iPhone 12 Pro Max), you can skip this section and move to the next. If you're unsure about which iPhone you have, follow the steps below to quickly find your iPhone Model.

Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap Most.
Yous'll come across your iPhone model listed adjacent to Model Name.

Footstep ii: Create a Total Backup of Your Data

Earlier getting started, I recommend creating a total fill-in of your iPhone data to iCloud or to your computer. Equally noted higher up, you cannot use the latest iOS fill-in when you lot downgrade, but this actress backup acts as an additional safe mensurate. By creating the backup, you tin fully restore your information if you change your mind after downgrading the software and want to reinstall the latest version of iPhone software. When in doubt, I find it is ever better to have extra backups.

Stride 3: Download IPSW File to Estimator

The next step is to download the previous iOS for your model of iPhone. Apple does not offering downloads of older versions of software, so I recommend using this site, which provides the downloads for free.

Click the site link listed in the paragraph to a higher place.
Select iPhone from the device listing.
Select your iPhone Model.
Select the earliersoftware version you'd similar to downgrade to.
Click Download.
Click Allow to confirm the download.

An .ispw file will be downloaded. You can either keep this file in your Downloads folder or move it to your desktop so you tin can more than easily find it in the steps beneath.

Pace 4: Gear up Your iPhone to Downgrade iOS

At present, we'll gear up your iPhone for the iOS downgrade. To do and then:

Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac using a Lightning cable.
Place your iPhone in Recovery Mode using the method described in the section beneath.

How to Identify Your iPhone in Recovery Mode

Once in Recovery Way, you'll lose any data from your time with the latest iOS, so if y'all want to create a backup, y'all'll need to do that before following the steps below.

iPhone eight or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation): Press and quickly release the book upwardly push. Press and release the volume down push. Then, printing and hold the side button until y'all see the recovery mode screen.
iPhone 7: Press and hold the Volume Downwards and Ability buttons until you lot reach the recovery mode screen.
iPhone 6s or earlier: Printing and hold the Home button and Power button until y'all accomplish the recovery mode screen.

Step 5: Restore Device to Downgraded iOS Version

Remember that ISPW file nosotros downloaded? Now we're going to make use of it every bit we restore your device to the previous software. With your iPhone notwithstanding connected to your computer, follow the steps below:

If you're using macOS Catalina or later, open up Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar. (Open iTunes if you lot're using a PC or a software older than macOS Catalina.)
Hold the Shift key (PC) or Pick fundamental (Mac) and click the Restore push.
Select the .ipsw file you downloaded earlier.
Click Open.
Click Agree to accept Apple'south Terms and Weather.

The process to restore your device will begin and will take well-nigh 15 minutes.

Step 6: Restore Backup on iPhone

Once your iPhone has been restored, it'll feature a clean copy of the earlier iOS version you lot downloaded. To get your texts, apps and other information dorsum onto the phone, you'll have to restore from a backup. Every bit mentioned earlier, y'all can't restore from a backup fabricated afterward your latest iOS update, then yous'll demand to use an older backup. Hither's how to recover an iPhone backup:

If you're using macOS Catalina or after, open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar. (Open up iTunes if yous're using a PC or a software older than macOS Catalina.)
Select Restore Fill-in.
Select the iOS backup y'all'd like to restore. (Make sure it is the correct one by looking at the appointment of the backup.)
If you're restoring from an encrypted backup, enter your countersign when asked.

Go on your device plugged into your computer while the restore procedure finishes. When it is done, your iPhone will be running your selected version of the software and you'll have all information up to the time of your restored update. That's all there is to it! If you're interested, you can also learn how to cheque the service history on your iPhone.

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