How to Downgrade and Restore Older Versions of iOS on iPhone

Download Article

Return to a previous version of iOS to resolve software issues on your iPhone

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: November 8, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Preparing to Downgrade
|
• Downgrading Your iPhone
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

This wikiHow teaches you how to downgrade iOS on your iPhone using iTunes on your Windows PC or Finder on your Mac. Before you restore a previous version of iOS, it's important that you back up your data to iCloud or your computer in case anything goes wrong.

Things You Should Know

• You’ll only be able to downgrade to the most recent version of iOS that’s still signed by Apple unless you’re willing to jailbreak your phone.
• Get an iOS version you want from IPSW.me, then open iTunes with your phone connected and put your phone in Recovery Mode.
• Press "Shift/Opt" and click "Restore" to start downgrading your iOS.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Downgrade

Download Article

1. 1
   Check your current iOS version. You can see what version of iOS you're currently running by opening the

   

   Settings app, selecting General, and then tapping About. Knowing your current version can help you find the appropriate version to downgrade to.

   • You can downgrade iOS to any version that Apple continues to sign. Apple typically stops signing previous versions in as little as a few days after a new release, so your downgrade option will be limited to the previous version only, and you won’t have much time to do it.
   • If you jailbreak your iPhone, you may be able to install an older unsigned version of iOS. However, since these versions are not signed by Apple, this is not recommended.
2. 2
   Back up your iPhone. Going to a previous iOS version requires you to erase all of the data on your iPhone. Backing up your iPhone ensures you won’t lose any of your data such as your photos, contacts, and installed apps.

   • You will be prompted to restore your backup during the setup process.
   • Keep in mind that if you back up your iPhone after updating to a new version of iOS, restoring it from that backup will reinstall the newer iOS. Ideally, you should back up your phone before updating to the next version of iOS in case you don’t like the new one.
     • To avoid reinstalling the newer version of iOS when you restore your iPhone, you can always just back up the files you want to keep (such as your photos and contacts instead of all your phone’s data and settings.
   Advertisement
3. 3
   Find the IPSW file for the iOS version you want. You will need an iPhone Software File (IPSW) to manually install the older version of iOS. Try https://ipsw.me, a known reliable source for iOS software downloads. If you can't find the version you want there, you can search the web for the version of iOS you want and "IPSW."

   • If you're using IPSW.me, click iPhone and select your model to see available versions. Any version in the "Signed IPSWs" section is an Apple-signed download, which means you can easily make the downgrade. Versions in the "Unsigned IPSWs" section will require you to root (or jailbreak) your iPhone first.
     • If you’re not sure what model of iPhone you have, you can find that by going to Settings > General > About and checking the information next to Model Name.
   • When searching for an IPSW file elsewhere, include the model of your iPhone in your search. For example, if you want to install iOS 17.0.2 on your iPhone 13 Pro, include “IPSW iOS 17.0.2 iPhone 13 Pro” in your search.
4. 4
   Download the IPSW file to your computer. These files are usually about 6 GB, so the download will take a while, especially if a lot of other users are downloading the file at the same time. You can delete it from your computer after you’re done installing it on your iPhone.
5. 5
   Disable Find My iPhone. You'll need to do this before you can restore your iPhone. To disable this feature:

   • Open your iPhone's Settings.
   • Tap your name at the top.
   • Tap Find My.
   • Tap Find My iPhone.
   • Tap the switch next to "Find My iPhone" to turn it off.
Advertisement

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Downgrading Your iPhone

Download Article

1. 1
   Connect your iPhone to the computer. Use the USB cable that came with your iPhone or one that's compatible.
2. 2
   Open iTunes (PC) or Finder (Mac) on your computer. If you're using Windows, launch iTunes from the Windows Start menu. If a newer version of iTunes is available, you will be prompted to update it—follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade before you continue. If you're using a Mac, click the

   

   Finder icon on the Dock to open Finder.
3. 3
   Put your iPhone into recovery mode. Once your phone is in recovery mode, iTunes or Finder will detect it. The steps to do this vary by iPhone:

   • iPhone 8 and newer (includes iPhone SE 2020): Press and release the Volume Up button, and then press and release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the side button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
   • iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the top or side button and Volume Down buttons at the same time—you can release the buttons when your iPhone boots to the Recovery Mode screen.
   • iPhone 6s, 6, and original iPhone SE: Press and hold the top and Home buttons until you see "Connect to iTunes."
4. 4
   Click your iPhone in iTunes or Finder. If you're using iTunes, click the iPhone button in the upper-left area of the app. If you're using a Mac, click the name of your iPhone in the left panel. You will see a message that says your iPhone is in Recovery Mode, as well as a pop-up window that says there is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.
5. 5
   Press ⇧ Shift (PC) or ⌥ Option (Mac) as you click Restore. This button appears on the pop-up window. Make sure you're holding down the correct key as you click the button, as this is what makes it possible to downgrade.
6. 6
   Select the IPSW file you downloaded and click Open. If you didn't choose an alternate folder, it should be in your Downloads folder. A confirmation message will appear once you select the file.
7. 7
   Click Restore to confirm. Your iPhone will begin to restore. iTunes or Finder will delete your current software and replace it with the version you downloaded. Once the restore is complete, you will be prompted to set it up as new.
8. 8
   Restore your backed-up data. After your iPhone restarts, it'll be like you're setting it up for the first time. Follow the on-screen instructions to select a language, wireless network, and other preferences. When you are prompted to restore your iPhone from backup, follow the on-screen instructions to do so.

   • If you do this, be careful not to restore from a backup that you made after installing the newer version of iOS. If you don’t have an older backup, just back up any files you want to keep before installing the IPSW file.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  Can you go back to an earlier version of iOS?

  

  Luigi Oppido
  Computer & Tech Specialist

  Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

  

  Luigi Oppido

  Computer & Tech Specialist

  Expert Answer

  You can, but it's a time-consuming process. You aren't just taking a step back and restoring the previous version—you're completely gutting and reinstalling a blank operating system at a specific state in time.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 6 Helpful 6
• Question

  Can I uninstall an update on my phone?

  

  Luigi Oppido
  Computer & Tech Specialist

  Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

  

  Luigi Oppido

  Computer & Tech Specialist

  Expert Answer

  If you do go back to an older version, you have to completely wipe your phone and reinstall the software.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 17 Helpful 7
• Question

  How can I restore unsigned software?

  

  Futurevixion

  Community Answer

  You can only go back to versions that Apple signs; if it is unsigned, you cannot revert back to that version.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 34 Helpful 38

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

• If you like your current version of iOS, you can make a copy to keep and reinstall if you installed it through Finder or iTunes, as long as it’s still being signed. To find it on your Mac, open the Finder and go to Go > Library > iTunes > iPhone Software Update. On a PC, go to C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates. Copy the file and save it someplace where you can easily find it, then follow the steps above to reinstall it.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement