iPhone: Undo iOS update - how it works

If you have problems after updating your iPhone software, you may be able to undo the update. We show you whether and how to do it.

iOS: Prepare firmware downgrade

Apple often stops signing the previous version after releasing a new iOS version. However, this is required so that you can downgrade via iTunes.

1. Make sure that Apple has not yet turned off the signing of the iOS version you want to downgrade to. You can use this page, for example. There you select your iOS device and can see for which software version the signing is still activated and therefore has a green background.
2. Update your iTunes version and download the desired iOS version, for example with this free tool.
3. Now connect your iPhone to the computer with the cable, start iTunes and back up your iPhone for security.
4. You must also turn off the "Find my iPhone" option on your iPhone under "Settings", "iCloud" and "Find my iPhone" so that iTunes allows you to install it.

iOS: Prepare firmware downgrade

Apple often stops signing the previous version after releasing a new iOS version. However, this is required so that you can downgrade via iTunes.

1. Make sure that Apple has not yet turned off the signing of the iOS version you want to downgrade to. You can use this page, for example. There you select your iOS device and can see for which software version the signing is still activated and therefore has a green background.
2. Update your iTunes version and download the desired iOS version, for example with this free tool.
3. Now connect your iPhone to the computer with the cable, start iTunes and back up your iPhone for security.
4. You must also turn off the "Find my iPhone" option on your iPhone under "Settings", "iCloud" and "Find my iPhone" so that iTunes allows you to install it.

iPhone: Undo firmware update

If you have downloaded a suitable .ipsw file, connected your iPhone to the computer and started iTunes, you can start to downgrade your iPhone:

1. In iTunes, click on the icon of your iPhone and then, while holding the Shift key, click on "Restore iPhone ..." in the phone overview. On the Mac, use the [alt] key in the same way.
2. Now search for the downloaded .ipsw file on your computer, select it and confirm with "Open".
3. iTunes will then install the selected iOS version on your iPhone. Then you can restore the backup created before the downgrade and reactivate the "Find my iPhone" option in the settings.

The next page shows you how to jailbreak your iPhone with the older firmware.