How to Downgrade from iOS 7 Back to iOS 6 on your iPhone / iPad
UPDATE: Thanks to Apple no longer signing the iOS 6 package and updates to iTunes, this procedure no longer works. Sorry, guys!
Maybe you’re sick of playing around with iOS 7 or maybe you got stuck while trying to update to iOS 7? Either way you can easily get back to iOS 6 and be back to what you’re used to or back to a good starting point to try and update to iOS 7 again. Here’s how to downgrade your iPhone or iPad from iOS 7 back to iOS 6.
I. Before You Begin
1. Yes, I did use an iPhone for this procedure, but it will also work on an iPad or iPod Touch as well (just choose the right firmware for your specific device when prompted in the procedure).
2. You must have the latest version of iTunes installed. If you don’t, download it from Apple here.
II. Download the Stock Firmware
1. Head here and select your device’s firmware in the drop down box under iPhone and select Download (remember to select the firmware for your specific iPhone model, if you need help figuring out which is yours, see this here).
III. Put Your Device into DFU Mode
1. With the device plugged in to the computer via USB, turn it off.
2. Hold down Power and the Home button at the same time until you see the screen go from the Apple logo to black (approx. 10 seconds) then let go of the Power button but continue to hold the Home button until iTunes pops up a dialog box saying it has discovered an iPhone in recovery mode.
IV. Flash the Stock Firmware
1. In iTunes, select your iPhone from the sidebar on the left.
2. Now, hold Option on your keyboard (or Shift for Windows) and click on Restore.
3. When the selector appears, choose the firmware file you downloaded earlier and click OK.
4. When the device restarts and is done, select the backup you made of the device before you upgraded to iOS 7 when prompted to restore your apps, contacts, etc. (if you made a backup before updating to iOS 7, of course).
Want to give updating to iOS 7 Beta another chance? Head to our How to Update to iOS 7 Beta Right Now on Your iPhone procedure.
when i do all of the above it says that the firmware is incompatible
download TransMac
Ok I had same problem as Tom, I downloaded TransMac, now what to do????
What do you do if you don’t have a back up, can it still be downgraded?
yes
will this delete all the content i currently have on my iphone such as contacts, photos, etc?
First u have to back up. When backup completes then u downgrade and then u click whatever from iPhone
o yea i did it and it works perfect u r the man . if any one out ther tried to unlock sprint iphon4s but couldnt because of the new update do this and it works for real thanks follow my instagram @jerzey_pro
The firmware is not accepted by iTunes, now what???
if i have a Ipad 2. which firmware should i use?
iPad2,2_6.x.x_10B146_Restore.ipsw
it doesn’t work! Help?!
Apple has stopped signing the earlier versions of the firmware. Untill someone finds out how to come across this blocker,you are stuck with IOS 7 – which sucks because it smashes the iphone 4 – I operated briefly an iPhone 4 with IOS7 and it basically sucks as Things haven’t sucked before – That is just not OK Apple.
If you have a developer account, Xcode can take you backwards. Now, I save all the IPSW Files. I’m unsure whether they are still up on the Apple servers.
during the installation stops and displays the following:
An unknown error occurred /3194/
where I wrong?
You went with Apple.
ANYONE READING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do NOT proceed with this method. This article is from July. iOS7 was released in September. This article is describing a method that works in beta version iOS7, not the official release.
If you have downloaded iOS7.0.0/7.0.1/7.0.2, do NOT try to go back to iOS6 using this method.
SO could know which method is right?
why not
My Uncle Brandon got a stunning Toyota Tacoma only from
working part-time off a macbook air… go to this web-site Jam20.ℂom
If I have not backed up my iPhone 5 before installing IOS7, when I do this process do I get everything back to IOS6.1.4?
Or do I get a “clean” iPhone 5 running IOS6?
you will get everything you have if you are “upgrade” to new firmware
do not mix it up with “reset” where it will erase everything you have
Help! My daughter has a iphone 4s that we had unlocked with GPP sim. She upgraded to ios 7 without consulting us and now the unlock won’t work. I want to downgrade her so it will work again. Tried to restore with iPhone4.1.6.1.3 10B329 Restore.ipsw but I got an error message. Did I use the wrong firmware file, or is there something else I have to do? Please don’t tell me there is no way to downgrade…
there is absolutely no way for that iphone 4s to downgrade back to 4.1.6 unless it had been jailbroken at 4.1.6
with the new itune we all have there a function in it where it does not allow the user to downgrade. The reason why it work for him is because he have the Beta ios 7.0 and during that time ios 7.0 wasn’t public release and he allow to downgrade to the latest public which was 6.1.4
if your device were jailbroken at the time feel free to message me at kinsake@gmail.com i can help you go back to that firmware
it says the iphone could not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible
mine tooo!!!
There really be some better support here if you are going to show a help video…
I downloaded the file however it is a zip file. When I extract it, there is no .ipsw file in the zip. So when I try to restore there is no file to select. Can you help?
have to rename the file from a .zip to a .ipsw file manually.
Had the same problem trying to downgrade my ipad2 back to ios6, downloaded the .zip file, but itunes doesn’t see it.I tried to rename it, didn’t help. Maybe I’m doing it wrong. How do I properly rename the zip file or find the .ipsw file?
Ok, was able to rename upon download. I successfully wiped out my Ipad, but the reload gave an error – Unknown error occurred 3194. Now ipad doesn’t work at all. HELP!
i have an iphone 5 and at the end it says that an unknow error ocurred/3194
what can i do?
Not able to downgrade from iOS 7. Error message: the iphone could not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible. Read some posts and looks like Apple is not allowing users to downgrade?! How frustrating!! Has anyone found a loophole to allow users to downgrade?
Bro Same Here Now What To Do ??
An unknown error occurred /3194/ ME TOO
I have a metro iphone 5 and I want to downgrade but I am worry that it will unflash my phone and it won’t be on Metropcs anymore. What do I do
never
not working I didn’t saw the right place ok so it is fake does somebody agrees with me so reply me!
can iphone 4 with ios 7 downgrade to ios 6. can u show me the step?
follow instruction up^ up there ok follow step 2 download firmware firmware is that the thing you wanna downgrade OK asyraf got that
I purchased an Iphone 5 IOS 7.2. I went home and tried to link it to my Apple ID I couldn’t do that and can’t even access or buy or update any app.
ANYONE READING THIS!!!
Do NOT proceed with this method. This article is from July. iOS7 was released in September. This article is describing a method that works in beta version iOS7, not the official release.
If you have downloaded iOS7.0.0/7.0.1/7.0.2, do NOT try to go back to iOS6 using this method.
Yes I downloaded i07. Problem I have , I use my iPad for work (2nd gen wi-fi 16 gig). I can no longer use my pad because the app was deleted. I can not restore i06.1.3 or any i06 version
The developer BINNJ located in Canada has not been able to solve this problem yet, meanwhile I’m considering buying another iPad .
Anyone can help?
If I dont have a backup from before IOS 7, does that mean when i restore it, it will be back at IOS 7 again?
none of this works for me at all the download didnt even go to desktop i hit shift nothing pulls up and it realy sucks to cause i just got a iphone for the first time and i didnt even get to enjoy it because now im on ios7 and it feeels like a fake app that i could have gotten to make it look like a iphone with a android
Can someone please tell me if this will work now with the official version of ios7 (im on 7.1.4) i really have no time to deal with a broken phone. if i get error 3194 like other people are getting will i still be able to use my phone even on ios7?
whats a error 3194
if i have a Ipad mini. which firmware should i use?
It tells me firmware not supported
i downloaded >>>> iPhone3,1_6.1.3_10B329_Restore.ipsw <<< for my Iphone 4… coz it's not compatible… can anyone help?
Please (for your sake) fix the file.
Please read the update at the top of the page on bold letters. This no longer works. Apple stopped signing the file.
If I have a iPad mini which do i pick?
Please read the update at the top of the page on bold letters. This no longer works. Apple stopped signing the file. Sorry!