How to roll back to ios 11 (if you’re using the ios 12 beta)

Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times and Reader’s Digest, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more.

So you’ve installed the iOS 12 beta and, well, you’re experiencing some bugs. That’s okay, because you can quickly downgrade to the stable iOS 11.4.1.

Let’s Start with a Few Warnings

Downgrading will completely wipe your iPhone or iPad, and that can present a problem. Let’s say you didn’t follow our advice to do a full backup before installing the iOS 12 beta. In that case, if you downgrade to iOS 11, you’re looking at a full device wipe and any data you don’t have backed up in another way (like photos copied to your computer outside of iTunes or iCloud) will be erased.

And, even if you did back up your device while it was on iOS 11, any changes made or data created on your phone between the iOS 12 beta update and the rollback will be lost.

If you were just playing around with the iOS 12 beta on a spare device, that’s not a big problem. If you installed the iOS 12 beta on your primary device and you didn’t back it up first, however, you might want to consider just sticking with iOS 12 to save yourself the lost data. It should get more and more stable as Apple releases new beta updates, anyway.

Lastly, this tutorial will only help you downgrade from the iOS 12 beta to iOS 11 and it will only work up until the public release of iOS 12. After that, Apple will stop signing older iOS firmware versions and you will not be able to downgrade from iOS 12.

Those cautions aside, let’s jump right into the pretty easy rollback process.

What You Need

To follow along today, you need just a few things. You’ll need your device, a USB data cable for said device, an up-to-date copy of iTunes, and you’ll need to download the appropriate iPSW file for your device. For the unfamiliar, iPSW files are the firmware files for iOS devices. Using an iPSW file to reset or restore your device is like performing a complete factory reset.

You can get the latest iPSW file for your device on a website like IPSW.me. This website links to the actual iPSW files on Apple’s servers, so you know your download is coming straight from Apple. Just select your device, and then download the latest signed iPSW file for it. You can only use signed iPSW files. At the time of writing, the latest version was iOS 11.4.1.

Unsure exactly which device you have? Check the model number on the case and use this iOS device list to make sure.

After carefully confirming which iPSW file you need for your device, download the file to your computer and head on to the next section.

How to Roll Your Device Back to iOS 11

First, if you’ve enabled the “Find My iPhone” feature for your iPhone or iPad, you will need to turn that feature off. You must do this from the iPhone or iPad itself. Head to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Find My iPhone (or Find My iPad) and make sure the feature is turned off.

With the iPSW file in hand, plug your iOS device into your PC or Mac with the USB cable, and then fire up iTunes. Inside iTunes, click on the device icon (located in the upper left corner and highlighted in the screenshot below).

Within the device’s “Summary” page (the default view), locate the “Restore [Device Name]” button. Press and hold the Option key (Mac) or Shift key (Windows) and click the button. You must press the keyboard key while clicking the button in order to load the file browser to select a custom restore file. If you don’t, iTunes will only allow you to select from local backups you’ve made.

When you click the Restore button, you won’t be prompted to back up your device, get any data off it, or warned in any fashion. The presumption is that, because you know this super secret key combination, you know what you’re doing.

In the file browser that pops up, navigate to the iPSW file for your device in the location you saved the download. Select it (if you have multiple devices, make sure you select the correct one for the device you’re currently wiping and restoring), and then click “Open” to start the process.

Click “Restore” to continue and erase the contents of your iPhone or iPad.

If you see an error message instead, you probably downloaded the wrong iPSW file for your device.

Once you click that “Restore” button, it’s go time: your iOS device will be wiped and the iOS software will be downgraded from iOS 12 Beta to the latest version of iOS 11. When the process is finished, your device will boot back up as if you’d just turned it on for the first time—welcome screen and all. At that point, you can either start with a totally fresh copy of iOS 11 or you can copy your old iOS 11 backup (if you made one) from iTunes or iCloud.

If you made a backup in iTunes, iTunes will ask you if you want to restore that backup to your device right after it finishes installing iOS 11. Select the backup and click “Continue” to do so.

At this point, be it with a fresh install or your old iOS 11 backup restored, you’re back on iOS 11 and can stay there as long as you want. However, you’ll probably want to upgrade to iOS 12 when the final, stable version is released later in 2018.

Apple’s goal with iOS 12 is to smooth out the problems with its famously flawed predecessor. Of course, change isn’t for everyone, and by iOS 11.4.1, Apple had a pretty stable thing going. If you’re not digging all the bugs and new features included in iOS 12, here’s how to downgrade your iPhone back to iOS 11.4.1.

Since Apple just released iOS 12 on Monday, Sept. 17, it’s a good guess that the company will stop signing iOS 11.4.1 in October sometime. When Apple released iOS 11, they stopped signing iOS 10.3.3 just 15 days after, so you can expect a similar time frame. After this point, it will be impossible to downgrade from iOS 12 unless you saved your SHSH2 blobs, which I’m guessing many of you have never even heard of.

You’ll be able to go back to the last version of iOS 11 using iTunes for macOS or Windows, as long as you archived an iOS 11 backup before updating to iOS 12. However, you can still downgrade to iOS 11 without a backup, only you will have to start with a clean slate.

Step 1: Disable ‘Find My iPhone’

As with any restore, you’ll want to disable Find My iPhone, though this can be done later when erasing the device since you’ll be prompted to do so. It’s just easier to get it out of the way first so there are no hiccups later.

First, open the Settings app, then tap your name at the top of the list and select “iCloud.” On the following page, scroll down and tap “Find My iPhone,” then disable “Find My iPhone.” Enter your Apple ID password when prompted, and Find My iPhone will be disabled.

Step 2: Download the IPSW File for Your iPhone

Next, download the iOS 11.4.1 IPSW file for your particular iPhone using the links below. We’ve included iPad and iPod Touch links for your convenience. This is the firmware file you’ll use with iTunes to roll back your device. All of the links below are from Apple’s servers, so you don’t have to worry about security.

The files above are rather large, so it may take a while to download the one your device needs. If you’re on a Mac, it the download file should appear in your “Downloads” folder.

Step 3: Connect Your iPhone to iTunes

Once the appropriate file has finished downloading, connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows computer using a Lightning to USB or Lightning to USB-C cable, whichever works best for your computer. Hopefully, iTunes opens automatically. If not .

You may have to unlock your iPhone. Check to see if an “Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories” notification is on your lock screen. If so, unlock your device. After doing so, you may also have to trust your computer if it’s the first time connecting to the computer. Also, iTunes may prompt you to install an update in order to connect the iOS 12 device, so make sure to do so.

Once it’s connected to iTunes, you should see the phone icon appear next to the media dropdown as well as under “Devices” in the sidebar. Click on either options to go to your Summary screen for your device.

Step 4: Install iOS 11.4.1 on Your iPhone

If you’re using a Mac, hold down the Option key and click on “Restore iPhone” in the Summary screen for your iPhone in iTunes. For PC users, hold down Shift instead while doing the same thing.

A file browser menu will appear, so when it does, find and select the IPSW file that you downloaded in Step 2 above. Click “Open” once it’s selected.

Next, a popup will appear in iTunes informing you that iOS 11.4.1 will be installed on your iPhone. Click “Restore” on this prompt to confirm, then it’s just a waiting game from here. During the installation process, you may need to enter your passcode on the iPhone, so don’t walk away while it’s doing its magic.

When your iPhone has finally rebooted and appears on the welcome screen to start setting up iOS 11.4.1, it’s okay to disconnect your iPhone from the computer. The rest can be down wirelessly.

Step 5: Restore Your iPhone from a Backup

Since your iPhone has essentially erased itself, you’ll need to run through the initial setup steps.

• If you want to start from scratch, select “Set Up as New iPhone.”
• If you want all your apps and data back, you can try “Restore from iCloud Backup” as long as you have a proper backup for iOS 11. Try updating to an iOS 12 iCloud backup, and it will make you install iOS 12 during the setup process, which is not what you want at all.
• If you want all your apps and data back, you can also tap “Restore from iTunes Backup,” in which case, you’ll need an iOS 11.4.1 archived backup. The process below outlines this step since it’s not as intuitive.

When restoring with your archived backup, make sure you’re still connected to iTunes and select your iPhone in the application. From there, select “Restore Backup,” then choose your archived backup file from the list, and hit “Restore.” (An archived backup will have the data and time in the actual backup name, as opposed to other backups that will just have the device name only.)

If your archived backup of iOS 11.4.1 is encrypted, you’ll need to enter your password to continue.

Wait for the restore to complete before disconnecting your iPhone. It should restart, and it will need to sync with iTunes. Once it’s done syncing, you have successfully downgraded to iOS 11.4.1 with all your data intact.

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Downgrading from iOS 12 beta back to iOS 11.4 is easy, but keeping your data in the process isn’t: after downgrading, your iOS device will be completely reset and restoring an iOS 12 backup will not be possible.

If you made an iTunes or iMazing backup before upgrading to the beta, you can always restore that, but you’ll lose newer data that isn’t synced via iCloud.

Fortunately, data formats have not changed that much between iOS 11.4 and iOS 12. Thanks to abundant similarities, it is in fact possible to restore an iOS 12 beta backup to an iOS 11.4 device with just a little bit of cunning. And for data types which have changed too much and can’t make it across the Great Downgrade Barrier, iCloud sync can help. Follow the guide, and downgrade safely!

How to downgrade from iOS 12 Beta to iOS 11 and restore a backup:

1. If you sync photo albums, music tracks, or videos to your iOS device with iTunes or iMazing, make sure you have a copy of your synced content on your computer: locally synced media is not backed up by iOS and will need to be synced again after downgrading.
2. Make sure iCloud sync is enabled in your iOS device’s Settings app for the following apps: Contacts, Messages, Notes, and Reminders. These cannot be migrated via a backup restore because of differences in the databases. Photos, Voice Memos, Calendars, Health Data, Safari Bookmarks and Reading Lists, Apps and App Data should make it across fine even without being synced via iCloud.
3. If you did have to enable iCloud sync for an app listed above, wait until all your data is uploaded to the cloud. Messages especially can take a while.
4. Back up your iOS 12 device with iMazing or iTunes on your PC or Mac.
5. Find your device backup folder on your computer: right click your device in iMazing’s sidebar and click “Reveal Backup in Finder” (Or “Reveal Backup in File Explorer” on Windows)
6. Edit the file Info.plist and change the key Product Version from 12.0 to 11.4.1. For details on how to edit the Info.plist file, see our explanations further down.
7. Downgrade your device to iOS 11 with iTunes, or with iMazing’s Reinstall iOS feature
8. Restore your modified iOS 12 backup to your downgraded device
9. Resync media synced locally from your computer to your device with iTunes or iMazing: synced Music, Videos, Photo Albums and Books.

How to edit the Info.plist file

On macOS

If you have Xcode installed, you can simply double click the file to open it and edit the Product Version field. Otherwise, you can use Property List Editor to Edit Plist files.

On Windows

Get Plist Pad, it’s a nice free little app with which you can edit your Info.plist file easily.

What are the risks?

iOS 11.4.1 was not conceived to accept restoring an iOS 12 backup, so this procedure is inherently hacky and is a strictly at your own risk proposal.

That said, we have found that downgrading in this fashion works well, with only a few caveats: call history was lost in our tests, and notifications had to be reconfigured.

Jason Fitzpatrick is the Senior Smart Home Editor at How-To Geek. He has over a decade of experience in publishing and has authored thousands of articles at How-To Geek, Review Geek, LifeSavvy, and Lifehacker. Jason served as Lifehacker’s Weekend Editor before he joined How-To Geek. Read more.

Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times and Reader’s Digest, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more.

So you’ve installed the iOS 11 beta and, well, you don’t love it. No problem, because you can roll right back to iOS 10.

However, note that this will wipe your device completely, which could pose a problem. Let’s say you didn’t follow our advice to do a full backup before leaping into iOS 11 beta. In that case, if you downgrade to iOS 10, you’re looking at a full device wipe and any data you don’t have backed up in another way (like photos copied to your computer outside of iTunes or iCloud), will be erased.

In addition, regardless of whether or not you backed up the device when it was on iOS 10, any changes made or data created on your phone between the iOS 11 beta update and the rollback will be lost.

If you were just playing around with iOS 11 beta on a spare device, that’s not such a big deal. If you somehow found yourself in the unenviable position of installing iOS 11 beta on your primary device and you didn’t back it up first, however, you might want to consider just chugging along with iOS 11 to save yourself the lost data.

Lastly, this tutorial will only help you downgrade from the iOS 11 beta to iOS 10.3.3, and it will only work up until the public release of iOS 11. After that, Apple will stop signing older iOS firmware versions and you will not be able to downgrade to them.

Those cautions aside, let’s jump right into the pretty easy rollback process.

What You Need

To follow along today, you need just a few things. You’ll need your device, a USB data cable for said device, an up-to-date copy of iTunes, and you’ll need to download the appropriate iPSW file for your device. For the unfamiliar, iPSW files are the firmware files for iOS devices. Using an iPSW file to reset or restore your device is like performing a complete factory reset.

All of the files listed below, organized by device model, are hosted directly by Apple. We’ve merely organized the direct links for ease of use. When you’re ready to roll back, download the matching iPSW file for your device. Unsure exactly which file you should download for your device? Check the model number on the case and use this iOS device list to confirm which device you have.

iPhone iPSW Files:

iPad iPSW Files:

iPod Touch iPSW Files:

After carefully confirming which iPSW file you need for your device, download the file to your computer and head on to the next section.

How to Roll Your Device Back to iOS 10

First, if you’ve enabled the “Find My iPhone” feature for your iPhone or iPad, you will need to turn that feature off first. You must do this from the iPhone or iPad itself. Head to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Find My iPhone or Find My iPad and ensure the feature is turned off.

With the iPSW file in hand, plug your iOS device into your PC or Mac with the USB cable and fire up iTunes. Inside iTunes, click on the device icon (located in the upper left corner and highlighted in the screenshot below).

Within the device’s “Summary” page (the default view), locate the “Restore [Device Name]…” button in the Summary panel. Press and hold the Option key (Mac) or Shift key (Windows) and click the button. You must press the keyboard key while clicking the button in order to load the file browser to select a custom restore file. If you don’t, iTunes will only allow you to select from local backups you’ve made.

When you click the Restore button, you won’t be prompted to back up your device, get any data off it, or warned in any fashion. The presumption is that, because you know this super secret key combination, you know what you’re doing.

In the file browser that pops up, navigate to the iPSW file for your device in the location you saved the download. Select it (make sure, if you have multiple devices, you select the correct one for the device you’re currently wiping and restoring) and then click “Open” to start the process.

Click “Restore” to continue and erase the contents of your iPhone or iPad.

If you see an error message instead, you probably downloaded the wrong iPSW file for your device.

Once you click “Restore”, it’s go time: your iOS device will be wiped and the iOS software will be downgraded from iOS 11 Beta to iOS 10.3.3. When the process is finished, your device will boot back up as if you’d just turned it on for the first time, welcome screen and all. At that point you can either start with a totally fresh copy of iOS 10 or you can copy your old iOS 10 backup (if you made one) from iTunes or iCloud.

If you made a backup in iTunes, iTunes will ask you if you want to restore that backup to your device right after it finishes installing iOS 10. Select the backup and click “Continue” to do so.

At this point, be it with a fresh install or your old iOS 10 backup restored, you’re back on iOS 10 and can linger there as long as you want. However, you’ll probably want to upgrade to iOS 11 when the final, stable version is released later in 2017.

Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times and Reader’s Digest, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more.

Apple wants to keep your iPhone and iPad up-to-date. But you may want to go back to an older operating system. This is especially true if you’re trying out a beta version of iOS on your iPhone or iPad.

When a new stable version of iOS comes out, it’s usually only possible to downgrade back to the old version for a few days, although there’s a trick you can use. It’s easier to downgrade to the current stable version if you’re trying out a beta version of iOS.

Downgrade From Beta to Stable

If you’re using a beta, or preview, release of iOS on your phone or tablet, downgrading is easy. This process will erase everything on your iPhone or iPad, however. Device backups created using the beta version of iOS won’t restore to the old version of iOS, so you’ll need to either restore an old backup or set things up from scratch afterwards.

To restore your device to the stable version of iOS, you’ll need a Mac or PC running iTunes and a cable to connect your iPhone or iPad to that computer. Turn off your iPhone or iPad by holding down the Sleep/Wake (Power) button until the Power switch appears and sliding it to the right. Plug the cable into the computer, but not the iPhone or iPad. Press and hold the Home button on your iPhone or iPad — and keep holding it down. Plug the cable into your iPhone or iPad and keep holding the Home button down until the “Connect to iTunes” screen appears. You’ll see a cable pointing at an iTunes icon.

Launch iTunes if it doesn’t automatically appear. iTunes will inform you that there’s a problem with your device. Click the “Restore,” button and then click “Restore and Update.” iTunes will wipe the data stored on your iPhone or iPad and reinstall the current stable version of iOS rather than the preview version of the iOS software is was previously running.

If you have a backup created prior to installing the beta version of iOS, you can click “Restore Backup” from the device’s screen in iTunes to restore it onto the device after iTunes finishes restoring its operating system.

Restore Using an IPSW

Apple only allows you to load “signed” firmware images, or versions of iOS, onto its devices. Apple generally stops signing the previous version of iOS a few days after a new version is released.

This means that it’s often possible to downgrade back to your previous version of iOS for a few days after you upgrade — assuming the latest version was just released and you upgraded to it quickly.

To do this, you’ll need an .ipsw file. These may be stored on your computer if you used iTunes to upgrade to them, but they’re regularly deleted to free up space. You’ll probably need to download the IPSW file from a website like IPSW.me. Remember: You can only restore iOS images marked as signed. If the version of iOS you want to restore is marked as unsigned, you just can’t restore it.

Once it’s downloaded, connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and open iTunes. Click over to the device’s page in iTunes.

On a Mac, hold down the Option key and click the “Restore iPhone” or “Restore iPad” button. On a Windows PC, hold down the Shift key and click the “Restore iPhone” or “Restore iPad” button. You’ll see a file browser dialog — browse to the downloaded .ipsw file and double-click it to restore that specific version of iOS to your device.

Save SHSH Blobs So You Can Restore Later

Those are the only two official ways to downgrade to previous versions of iOS. You can either downgrade from a beta version to a stable version, or downgrade to the previous stable version during a short window where the old IPSW files are still signed by Apple.

But, if a version of iOS is signed by Apple, you can use a tool to capture that “authorization” to run the previous version of iOS — in the form of “SHSH blob” files. These are device-specific digital signature files that control which versions of iOS can run on a device. Once you’ve received that authorization for your device, you can keep those files and restore that old version of iOS at any point.

For example, if you’re using an older version of iOS with a jailbreak available but you want to play with the current version, you’d want to get local copies of those SHSH blobs before upgrading to the current version. This way, you can then downgrade to the older, unsigned version and continue using your jailbroken software.

You can use TinyUmbrella — and possibly other tools — to create local copies of these SHSH blobs. Afterwards, you can use it to force iTunes to restore older IPSW files.

Apple doesn’t really want you running a previous version of iOS on its devices. Apple might occasionally let you downgrade to a previous version of iOS if there’s a big problem with the latest version, but that’s it.

You can choose to sit on the sidelines, if you like — your iPhone and iPad won’t force you to upgrade. But, after you do upgrade, it’s not generally possible to downgrade again.

This article was written by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. 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.

The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article’s instructions and verified that they work.

This article has been viewed 132,930 times.

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.

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist Expert Interview. 24 March 2021 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.

Members of the Apple Beta Software Program, Customer Seed Program and Apple Developer Program can try iOS or iPadOS beta releases. This article will explain how to go back to the latest publicly released version of iOS or iPadOS if you’ve installed a version of iOS beta and no longer want it.

Remove the public beta

Remove the developer beta

Update when new iOS or iPadOS becomes available

Remove the public beta by deleting the beta profile

If you used a computer to install an iOS or iPadOS beta, you’ll need to restore iOS or iPadOS to remove the beta version.

The easiest way to remove the public beta is to delete the beta profile, then wait for the next software update. Here’s what to do:

1. Go to Settings > General, and tap VPN & Device Management.
2. Tap the iOS Beta Software Profile.
3. Tap Remove Profile, then restart your device.

When the next public version of iOS or iPadOS becomes available, install it to move back to a non-beta version of iOS or iPadOS. If an update is already available, you can install it by going to Settings > General > Software Update, but the iOS or iPadOS version must be later than the version you have.

If you don’t want to wait for a software update to install a non-beta version of iOS or iPadOS, follow the steps to restore iOS or iPadOS.

Remove the developer beta by restoring your device

To remove the developer beta immediately, you need to erase and restore your device. Then — if you have an archived backup — you can set up your device again from that backup.

Note that backups created while using beta software may not be compatible with older versions of iOS or iPadOS. If you don’t have an older backup that was made using the current version of iOS or iPadOS, you may not be able to restore your device with your most recent backup.

1. Make sure that your Mac has the latest version of macOS or the latest version of iTunes.
2. Connect your device to your computer, then put your device in recovery mode by following these steps:
   • On an iPad without a Home button: Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button. Press and quickly release the volume button furthest from the top button. Press and hold the top button until your iPad begins to restart. If you’re not sure, check which buttons you need to press to restart your iPad. Continue holding the top button until your iPad goes into recovery mode.
   • For iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume-down button. Then press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
   • For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus or iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and volume down buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
   • For iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with a Home button or iPod touch (6th generation or earlier): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
3. Click the Restore option when it appears. This will erase your device and install the current non-beta version of iOS or iPadOS. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then repeat step 2.
4. Wait for the restore to finish. If asked, enter your Apple ID and password, which disables Activation Lock. If the restore process won’t finish, learn what to do.

After the restore process has finished, you can set up your device from your archived backup, which must be from an earlier version of iOS or iPadOS.

If you back up a device that has iOS or iPadOS beta to iCloud or your computer, the backup won’t work with earlier versions of iOS or iPadOS. For example, if you go back to iOS 11.4.1 from iOS 12 beta, a backup made while using iOS beta won’t restore. Instead, restore from a backup that you made before you installed iOS or iPadOS beta.

If you regret the upgrade, you can go back to where you started

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Share All sharing options for: How to restore your iPhone from iOS 15 beta back to iOS 14

iOS 15 comes with a number of new features and tweaks Image: Apple

Beta versions of new software are great to try out, but sometimes you realize that they’re not so good for day-to-day usage. If you’ve upgraded your iPhone to the iOS 15 beta, which is now available to the public, and you realize that you need to go back to the stable world of iOS 14.6, you can do that.

The simplest way to go back to a stable version is to delete the iOS 15 beta profile and wait until the next update shows up:

• Go to “Settings” > “General”
• Select “Profiles and & Device Management”
• Select “Remove Profile” and restart your iPhone

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to return to a non-beta version of iOS until a new update is available. (You can check if one is available by going to “Settings” > “General” > “Software Update.”) If you don’t want to wait, you can do a more thorough recovery — it’s more complicated, but it will get you back to where you were sooner.

The first thing you have to do is put your iPhone into Recovery Mode. This is done by connecting your iPhone to your computer (making sure it’s up to date first). I tested these instructions using a MacBook Pro, but they should work using a PC as well.

How to install the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 public betas

You then begin by doing the following (the following three bulleted directions are directly quoted from Apple’s support page):

• For iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
• For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
• For iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with Home button, or iPod touch (6th generation or earlier): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

Whichever iPhone you have, once you follow the above directions, you should see a symbol showing a cable connecting to a computer on your iPhone. Turn your attention to your computer.

• There will be a notice asking if you want to update, restore, or cancel. Select “Restore.”

• You’ll be asked whether you’re sure you want to restore your phone since you’re about to wipe out any personalization and go back to factory settings. Select “Restore and Update.”

• You’ll be told that you’re going to be updated to iOS 14.6 (which is the most recent version of iOS 14). Select “Next.”

• At this point, you’ll be asked to agree to all of the various licensing data that you agreed to last time that you began using your iPhone. Click on “Agree.”
• You’ll then be told that your computer is downloading the software for the iPhone. It should take a while, maybe 15 minutes or so, depending on your system and your network.

• Once the OS has been downloaded, you’ll be told that it is being installed on your phone (and the phone will visibly begin uploading the software and will probably restart once or twice). When it’s done, you’ll be told via your computer screen.

Okay, now you should have restored your iPhone back to iOS 14.6. That’s all well and good, but you’ve got what is essentially a clean slate — you want to restore all your apps, personalization, and other stuff, right? This is where your backup comes in. (You did back up your phone before you installed the iOS 15 beta, right?)

• You’ll be asked if you want to set up your iPhone using the settings from another phone. If you’ve got another with all of your settings on it, well and good — just follow the directions. But assuming that you’re going to restore from a backup, tap on “Set Up Manually.”
• At this point, you’ll enter your Wi-Fi connection.
• You then choose how you want to restore your backup: from iCloud, from a Mac or PC, from an iPhone, or from an Android phone. You can also decide not to transfer any data at all. Let’s assume you’ve backed up to iCloud.
• Once you’ve made that choice, you’ll be asked to enter your Apple ID name and password and to enter a verification code sent to your computer.
• If you’ve made more than one backup recently, you’ll be able to choose which. (Hopefully it will not be a backup from iOS 15, which will not be transferable.)
• Once you’ve chosen your backup, it will be transferred to your iPhone, and you should be back where you started before you installed iOS 15. You should be able to use your iPhone fairly quickly; however, it will take a few minutes before everything is uploaded from your backup.

Patrick Lucas Austin

Congratulations, you’ve downloaded the iOS 11 beta! No doubt you’ve by now had your fun experimenting with Apple’s latest operating system packed with new features like a QR code-friendly camera app, a customisable control centre, and a file manager app (named, unfortunately, Files).

Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty

But you might also be experiencing a few growing pains as you use your new, not-too-stable OS. So here’s how to get the damn thing off your iOS device and head back to iOS 10 so your smartphone doesn’t randomly reboot at the worst possible moment. The best part? It’s Apple-approved.

Step One: Download the iOS 10 restore image

Since you’re using iOS 11, you’ll have to download the older iOS 10 image. Luckily, you can get the right software image straight from Apple. From there you can choose the corresponding restore image (in this case, iOS 10.3.3) for your device and wait for the multi-gigabyte file to download.

Step Two: Connect your iOS device to your computer

This is pretty self-explanatory.

Step Three: Put your device into recovery mode

To restore your device you’ll have to put it into Recovery Mode with a few timed button presses. If you’re using an iPad, iPhone 6s or earlier, or iPod touch, you can hold the Sleep/Wake button and Home button at the same time. Hold and wait until your device enters recovery mode.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users have to follow a different set of button presses and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Down button at the same time, then wait until the recovery mode screen pops up.

Step Four: Restore your iOS device

After you enter Recovery Mode, iTunes will present you with the option to restore your device. From there you’ll need to hold the Option key (hold Shift if you’re using Windows) and press Restore. Select the previously downloaded iOS software image and wait for your device to install it.

After your restore is complete you can activate your device and restore from an iTunes backup, and wait for your device to restore itself to its former glory.

Luckily, the process is extremely straightforward.

The public betas of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 are here, with anyone without a developer account now able to check out the next iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system before its full release in the fall. While the temptation of those new features is strong, just remember that all pre-release software often has unintended bugs and issues that could be more of a hindrance to you.

Have you taken the plunge already? Is iOS 14 not living up to your expectations? Have you experienced random reboots, apps breaking, or other glitches? Regretting your impulsive nature to upgrade everything once available?

That’s fine, really. Apple makes it fairly simple to roll back to the prior version of iOS, although if you didn’t back up your device before upgrading to iOS 14 beta, you’ll start with a fresh, empty iPhone afterward.

Here’s how to reinstall iOS 13 on your iPhone or iPad

Before we start, just know that this process starts with wiping your device, then restoring it from iTunes. You’ll be losing any data or files you created since you installed the iOS 14 beta, so make sure you back your device up to iCloud before starting.

You’ll need iTunes installed if you’re using a Windows computer, or your Mac’s software fully updated if using a Mac. Double-check this by clicking on the Apple logo at the top-left, then going to System Preferences > Software Update.

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using either a Lightning or USB-C cable

Image: Joe Rice-Jones/KnowTechie

Now you are back on iOS 13, with all of your apps working again. Maybe they’ll get all the bugs worked out by the time the public release comes in the fall.

What do you think? Regretting downloading the iOS 14 beta? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Here’s how to downgrade iOS 15 beta to iOS 14.6 / 14.7 on a compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch device.

Now that Apple’s iOS 15 beta is out in the wild we’re all keen to see what all of the fuss is about. But that means that some of us are a little too keen, installing the beta releases on hardware that we need to function properly.

Sometimes beta releases go very, very wrong and if that’s the case for you, now is the time to downgrade to something that we know works – a version of iOS that’s available to the public.

The act of handling the downgrade is actually a fairly simple one, but there are still caveatas. For example, downgrading to an older version of iOS is easy – but restoring from a backup might not be. If that backup was created with iOS 15, you’re out of luck. You can’t restore to an older version of iOS and install a newer backup onto it. It just doesn’t work like that, unfortunately.

With that said, and assuming you’re all squared away and ready to go, here’s what you need to do to downgrade.

Step 1: Make sure you’re using the latest version of iTunes if applicable, or the latest version of macOS if you’re using a recent Mac.

Step 2: You will also need to have the relevant IPSW file for the device that you are trying to downgrade. You can download the right iOS 14.6 / iOS 14.7 IPSW file for your specific device from here: Download iOS 14.6 Final IPSW Links For iPhone, iPad, iPod touch.

Step 3: You will now need to turn off the Find My iPhone feature. Navigate to Settings > iCloud > Find My and toggle the switch into the Off position. You will need to provide the correct Apple ID password when the system requests it.

Note: You can bypass DFU mode altogether in Step 4 below and restore to iOS 14.6 / iOS 14.7 just like normal and then restore with iTunes from Step 5 onwards, but we recommend using DFU mode to avoid any potential issues.

Step 4: Use the provided USB cable to connect your device to the computer and ensure that iTunes or the Finder launches. You’re now going to need to put the connected device into DFU or Recovery mode. You can follow these guides depending on the device you’re using:

• iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, iPhone X / XR / XS / XS Max / 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max, or 2018/2020 iPad Pro owners can follow this guide.
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus owners: Enter DFU Mode On iPhone 7 Or iPhone 7 Plus, Here’s How
• If you have an iPhone 6s / 6s Plus or any other iPad, then follow the instructions here.

Step 5: Now, in iTunes or Finder, press and hold the Option key (Mac), or SHIFT key (Windows), and select the Restore iPhone… option in the main device window. Select the iOS 14.6 / iOS 14.7 IPSW file from your computer that you want to downgrade to.

Step 6: iTunes or Finder will instantly go about its business and restore the iOS firmware file to the device.

Once that’s all done, your device should restart and you’ll be off to the races.

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on Twitter, or Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.

Is it possible to downgrade iOS?

Not unreasonably, Apple doesn’t encourage downgrading to a previous version of iOS, but it is possible.

Currently Apple’s servers are still signing iOS 11.4.

You can’t go back any further, unfortunately, which could be an issue if your most recent backup was made while running an older version of iOS.

How do I go back to previous iOS?

How to Go Back to a Previous Version of iOS on an iPhone

• Check your current iOS version.
• Back up your iPhone.
• Search Google for an IPSW file.
• Download an IPSW file on your computer.
• Open iTunes on your computer.
• Connect your iPhone to your computer.
• Click on the iPhone icon.
• Click Summary on the left navigation menu.

How do I downgrade to iOS 11 without a computer?

However, you can still downgrade to iOS 11 without a backup, only you will have to start with a clean slate.

1. Step 1Disable ‘Find My iPhone’
2. Step 2Download the IPSW File for Your iPhone.
3. Step 3Connect Your iPhone to iTunes.
4. Step 4Install iOS 11.4.1 on Your iPhone.
5. Step 5Restore Your iPhone from a Backup.

Can you downgrade from iOS 12?

iOS 12 backups won’t restore to your device once it’s running iOS 11. If you downgrade without a backup, be prepared to start from scratch. To get started with the downgrade, backup your iOS device to either iTunes or iCloud.

Can you downgrade to iOS 12.1 2?

Hold the Alt/Option key on the Mac or Shift Key in Windows on your keyboard and click on the Check for Update option, instead of restoring. Select the iOS 12.1.1 IPSW firmware file you had downloaded earlier. iTunes should now downgrade your iOS device to iOS 12.1.2 or iOS 12.1.1.

How do I downgrade from iOS 12 to IOS 10?

To downgrade iOS 12 to iOS 11.4.1 you need to download the proper IPSW. IPSW.me

• Visit IPSW.me and select your device.
• You’ll be taken to a list of iOS versions Apple is still signing. Click on version 11.4.1.
• Download and save the software to your computer desktop or another location where you can easily find it.

Can you downgrade to an unsigned iOS?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to restore to an unsigned iOS firmware like iOS 11.1.2 which can be jailbroken. So the ability to upgrade or downgrade to an unsigned iOS firmware version can be very useful if you want to jailbreak your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

How do I downgrade to iOS 12 without a computer?

The Safest Way to Downgrade iOS 12.2/12.1 without Data Loss

1. Step 1: Install the program on your PC. After installing Tenorshare iAnyGo on your computer, launch it and then connect your iPhone using a lightning cable.
2. Step 2: Enter your iPhone details.
3. Step 3: Downgrade to the old version.

Can I downgrade iOS 12 to 11?

There’s still time for you to downgrade from iOS 12/12.1 to iOS 11.4, but it won’t be available for long. When iOS 12 is released to the public in September, Apple will stop signing iOS 11.4 or other prior releases, and then you will no longer be able to downgrade to iOS 11.

Can I revert back to iOS 11?

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to download the iOS 11.4.1 IPSW file to a desktop or laptop. Then plug in your iPhone, select it in iTunes, and hold down Shift or Option when clicking on the Restore button. If you kept a backup of your iOS 11 device before upgrading to iOS 12, you’re golden.

How do I downgrade iOS from iTunes?

From a backup in iTunes

• Download the IPSW file for your device and iOS 11.4 here.
• Disable Find My Phone or Find My iPad by heading to Settings, then tapping iCloud, and turning off the feature.
• Plug your iPhone or iPad into your computer and launch iTunes.
• Hold down Option (or Shift on a PC) and press Restore iPhone.

Can I downgrade to iOS 12.1 2?

Apple today has stopped signing iOS 12.1.2 and iOS 12.1.1, which means it is no longer possible to downgrade from iOS 12.1.3. Apple regularly stops signing older versions of iOS to ensures users stay on the most up-to-date builds for security and stability reasons.

How do you undo an iPhone update?

How to Reverse iPhone to Previous Update

1. Download and install the version of iOS to which you wish to revert using the links in the Resources section.
2. Connect the iPhone to your computer using the included USB data cable.
3. Highlight your iPhone in the list under the Devices heading in the left column.
4. Browse to the location where you saved your iOS firmware.

How do I uninstall an iOS 11 update?

For Versions before iOS 11

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to “General”.
• Select “Storage & iCloud Usage”.
• Go to “Manage Storage”.
• Locate the nagging iOS software update and tap on it.
• Tap “Delete Update” and confirm that you want to delete the update.

Is there a jailbreak for iOS 12.1 3?

Following Jailbreak solutions are compatible with all iOS device models (even iPhone XS, XR) and All iOS versions including iOS 12.1.3 and iOS 12.1.4. You can Jailbreak your iOS 12.1 iPhone / iPad very easily with online method. Some 3rd party app stores provide an online version of Unc0ver IPA.

Is iOS 12.1 2 beta still being signed?

Apple Has Stopped Signing iOS 12.1.1 Beta 3, Killing New Jailbreaks Via Unc0ver. Apple has officially stopped internally signing iOS 12.1.1 beta 3. The decision means that would-be jailbreakers are no longer able to roll back their firmware from iOS 12.1.3/12.1.4 in order to successfully jailbreak using unc0ver v3.0.0.

How do I revert to an older version of iOS?

Press and hold the “Shift” key, then click the “Restore” button in the bottom right of the window to choose which iOS file you want to restore with. Select the file for your previous iOS version from the “iPhone Software Updates” folder you accessed in Step 2. The file will have a “.ipsw” extension.

How can I downgrade my iPhone 6?

6. Search your device icon on iTunes and click it > Choose Summary tab and, (For Mac) press “Option” and click “Restore iPhone (or iPad/iPod)…”; (For Windows) press “Shift” and click “Restore iPhone (or iPad/iPod)…”. 7. Find previous iOS ipsw file you have downloaded, select it and click “Open”.

How do I downgrade Icloud storage?

Downgrade your iCloud storage from any device

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage or iCloud Storage. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage.
2. Tap Change Storage Plan.
3. Tap Downgrade Options and enter your Apple ID password.
4. Choose a different plan.
5. Tap Done.

If you overly-excitedly updated to iOS 14 and are now faced with regret (you should have read our guide to everything you need to know about iOS 14), you can always downgrade your iPhone from the beta or public release back to iOS 13. All you need is an archived backup of your device from prior to installing the beta of iOS 14 on your Mac or Windows PC, and to follow the steps below!

Note: If you’re reading this article on the iPhone you want to revert, either print it out first or open it on another iPhone, iPad, or computer so that you can read along as you go.

Jump to:

• How to put your iPhone and iPad into recovery mode
• How to downgrade to iOS 13 on your iPhone or iPad
• How to restore your archived iOS 13 backup to your iPhone or iPad

Remember to make sure you have an archived copy of the previous version of iOS so you don’t have to start from scratch when you downgrade your iPhone from the beta or public release.

How to put your iPhone or iPad into recovery mode

There’s no button tap to revert your device back to the standard version of iOS. So, to get started, you’ll need to put your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into Recovery Mode.

Turn off your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch following the steps below for your device:

• On iPhone and iPad devices with Face ID, Press and hold the Side button and either volume button until Slide to Power Off appears, and then drag your finger across the slider.
• On iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, hold down the Side button until Slide to Power Off appears, and then drag your finger across the slider.
• On iPhone 7, and older, all iPads with a Home button, and all iPod touch models, press and hold either the Side or Top button until Slide to Power Off appears, and then drag your finger across the slider.

If for some reason, Recovery Mode doesn’t trigger to let you downgrade your iPhone from a beta or public release, you can also try putting your iPhone or iPad into DFU mode. Device Firmware Update mode is a little trickier to get into, but will often force a restore even when nothing else works.

How to downgrade to an older version of iOS on your iPhone or iPad

If Finder on your Mac or iTunes on your Windows PC doesn’t launch automatically, launch it manually. iTunes will detect your device in recovery mode and ask you what you want to do.

Note: in macOS Mojave and older, your device will connect to iTunes instead of Finder.

1. Click Restore on the Finder popup.
2. Click Restore and Update to confirm.

Click Next on the iOS 13 Software Updater.

Click Agree to accept the Terms and Conditions and start downloading iOS 13.

If your device reboots to iOS 14 before the download is complete, simply repeat the steps above and put it back into Recovery Mode. Once the download is complete, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will be restored to the older version of iOS.

How to restore your archived iOS backup to your iPhone or iPad

Once your device is restored, it’ll have a clean copy of the latest standard version of iOS. To get your data back, you’ll need to restore from a previous backup. If you’ve been running the newest software for more than a day, your standard iCloud or iTunes backup will likely be based on that software release and may not restore properly to a device running the older version of iOS. That’s where the archived backup you made prior to installing the new software comes in. (You did make a backup, right?)

1. Select Restore from this backup in iTunes (or Finder in macOS Catalina).
2. Choose the archived backup you made before installing the beta software update.

Once the restore is completed, your iPhone or iPad should be back to where it was before you installed the new software. If you’ve made any major changes since then, and they don’t sync back some other way, you may have to repeat them to get back to exactly where you were before downgrading.

If you are fed up with your iPhone’s performance because it’s so dang old, we have some advice for how you can pick the best iPhone for your needs.

If you run into any trouble or have any questions, ask away in the comments!

Updated Sept. 2020: Updated for iOS 14.

Members of the Apple Beta Software Program, Customer Seed Program and Apple Developer Program can try iOS or iPadOS beta releases. This article will explain how to go back to the latest publicly released version of iOS or iPadOS if you’ve installed a version of iOS beta and no longer want it.

Remove the public beta

Remove the developer beta

Update when new iOS or iPadOS becomes available

Remove the public beta by deleting the beta profile

If you used a computer to install an iOS or iPadOS beta, you’ll need to restore iOS or iPadOS to remove the beta version.

The easiest way to remove the public beta is to delete the beta profile, then wait for the next software update. Here’s what to do:

1. Go to Settings > General, and tap VPN & Device Management.
2. Tap the iOS Beta Software Profile.
3. Tap Remove Profile, then restart your device.

When the next public version of iOS or iPadOS becomes available, install it to move back to a non-beta version of iOS or iPadOS. If an update is already available, you can install it by going to Settings > General > Software Update, but the iOS or iPadOS version must be later than the version you have.

If you don’t want to wait for a software update to install a non-beta version of iOS or iPadOS, follow the steps to restore iOS or iPadOS.

Remove the developer beta by restoring your device

To remove the developer beta immediately, you need to erase and restore your device. Then, if you have an archived backup, you can set up your device again from that backup.

Note that backups created while using beta software may not be compatible with older versions of iOS or iPadOS. If you don’t have an older backup that was made using the current version of iOS or iPadOS, you may not be able to restore your device with your most recent backup.

1. Make sure your Mac has the latest version of macOS or the latest version of iTunes.
2. Connect your device to your computer, then put your device into recovery mode by following these steps:
   • On an iPad without a Home button: press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button. Press and quickly release the volume button furthest from the top button. Press and hold the top button until your iPad begins to restart. If you’re not sure, check which buttons you need to press to restart your iPad. Continue holding the top button until your iPad goes into recovery mode.
   • For iPhone 8 or later: press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Then press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
   • For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus or iPod touch (7th generation): press and hold the Sleep/Wake and volume down buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
   • For iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with a Home button or iPod touch (6th generation or earlier): press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
3. Click the Restore option when it appears. This will erase your device and install the current non-beta version of iOS or iPadOS. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then repeat step 2.
4. Wait for the restore to finish. If asked, enter your Apple ID and password, which disables Activation Lock. If the restore process won’t complete, find out what to do.

After the restore process has finished, you can set up your device from your archived backup, which must be from an earlier version of iOS or iPadOS.

If you back up a device that has iOS or iPadOS beta to iCloud or your computer, the backup won’t work with earlier versions of iOS or iPadOS. For example, if you go back to iOS 11.4.1 from iOS 12 beta, a backup made while using iOS beta won’t be restored. Instead, restore from a backup made before you installed iOS or iPadOS beta.

Apple’s iOS 15 update arrives in just a few days. But if you can’t put up with those beta bugs any longer, follow these steps to downgrade in the meantime.

Contributing Writer, ZDNet

Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.

Lisa Eadicicco is a senior editor for CNET covering mobile devices. Prior to joining CNET, Lisa served as a senior tech correspondent at Insider covering Apple and the broader consumer tech industry. She was also previously a tech columnist for Time Magazine and got her start as a staff writer for Laptop Mag and Tom’s Guide.

Apple’s iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 updates are launching on Sept. 20 , meaning a bunch of new features are about to arrive on your iPhone and iPad. If you’ve been using the beta version of iOS 15 over the past few weeks, you’ve already gotten a taste of what Apple’s latest update has to offer.

But as the name implies, beta software should be considered a work in progress, with features changing and sometimes breaking as Apple refines iOS 15 in preparation for its release. Apple typically releases an update every two weeks during the beta cycle; sometimes a release will fix bugs, and sometimes it introduces new ones.

Because the software is unfinished, you’ve probably been encountering bugs, poor battery life and other random issues. We’ve been using the developer beta for two months now, and can personally attest to horrible battery life — which is normal during Apple’s beta release cycle. We’ve also experienced plenty of apps crashing and repeatedly being signed out of iCloud accounts.

If you’ve taken the iOS 15 beta plunge only to decide that you can’t live with a beta operating system on your iPhone or iPad , there’s good news: You can go back to iOS 14. Keep in mind, however, that reverting to the current official release will require you to factory-reset your phone or tablet. If you created a backup before joining the beta, you can use that to restore your iPhone or iPad, but any changes or new information since installing the beta will be lost.

With all of that out of the way, here’s how to get out of the beta and back to a stable version of iOS. We’ve also got instructions on how to remove the beta from your device before installing the final version.

How do I restore my iPhone or iPad to iOS 14?

To complete the uninstall process, you’ll need a Mac or PC and the appropriate cable to connect your iPhone or tablet to the computer, and if you’re on Windows, you’ll need to install iTunes.

If you’re on a Mac, make sure your Mac’s software is updated by clicking on the Apple logo at the top of your screen, then selecting System Preferences > Software Update.

Start by connecting your phone or tablet to your computer, and then placing it in Recovery Mode. This will tell your computer that the connected device needs to have its operating system reinstalled. To enter Recovery Mode, you’ll need to use the steps specific to your device listed below. You’ll know you’re in Recovery Mode when your device’s screen is black and shows a cable pointing toward a MacBook.

When you use the button combination below, your iPhone or iPad will restart during the process, but it’s important not to let go of the button(s) until you see the Recovery Mode screen.

If you let go too early, repeat the steps.

• If you have an iPhone 6S or older, an iPad with a home button or an iPod Touch 6th generation or older, hold in the sleep/wake button and the home button at the same time until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
• For an iPhone 7, 7 Plus or iPod Touch 7th generation, hold the sleep/wake button and the volume-up button at the same time until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
• For iPhone 8 or later, quickly press the volume-up button followed by the volume-down button, and then hold in the side button until you see the recovery screen.
• On an iPad Pro, quickly press the volume-up button, then the volume-down button, followed by holding in the top button until you see the recovery screen.

Hopefully you backed up your iPhone or iPad before installing iOS 15.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

When you put an Apple device into Recovery Mode, you’ll see a prompt on your computer letting you know a device in that mode has been detected. It will ask if you want to Restore or Update your device: Select Restore. Your computer will download and install the latest official version of iOS 14 on your device (currently that’s iOS 14.6.)

If you don’t see a prompt, you’ll need to open Finder (on a Mac) or iTunes (on a PC), select your device and then Restore.

If you’re using the same computer where you created a backup of your phone or tablet before installing the beta, you’ll be asked if you want to use that backup to restore your device after it’s back on iOS 14. If you didn’t create a backup, you’ll have to start from a fresh install.

There’s no shame in going back to iOS 14. There are a ton of features we can’t get enough of , and Apple keeps adding to them with regular updates — here are the hidden features we keep finding in iOS 14 .

How to uninstall the iOS 15 beta before updating to iOS 15

If you can hang in there until the final iOS 15 software launches on Monday, there’s an easy way to uninstall the beta and upgrade to iOS 15 once it debuts.

Open Settings, choose General, and tap Profiles & Device Management (this may also appear as VPN & Device Management). Choose the iOS 15 & iPadOS 15 Beta Software Profile, and press Remove Profile.

This will allow you to install the next public version of iOS when it becomes available and remove the beta. But keep in mind, you can only update to a public version of iOS that’s newer than the version you have. That means you can’t revert back to iOS 14 using this method and will have to wait for the final public version of iOS 15 to move off the beta.

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Every year, Apple debuts a new version of iOS in beta form. Every year, you get excited and want to test it before it’s ready for public consumption. Every year, you will regret doing so.

The first beta of iOS 11 launched on Monday for iPhone and iPad (and the sixth-generation iPod touch as well, if we’re being thorough). It’s pretty neat!

AppleInsider staff uses iOS 11 on older, secondary, or nonessential device — because it crashes.

It’s also not ready for primetime.

Every year, AppleInsider sees the horror stories from near-sighted users who, in a moment of pure excitement over a software overhaul, regrettably installed a new beta on their iPhone. “How do I downgrade?” they want to know.

The first beta of iOS 11 is, thus far, for developers only. A public beta will launch later this month, and perhaps that version will be less buggy, but you should still wait.

AppleInsider staff has been testing iOS 11 for a few days, and all of us have installed it on older, secondary, or nonessential devices. For good reason — it crashes.

Just today, my iPhone randomly reset as I was removing items from Control Center for a story. Inexplicably, my 12.9-inch iPad Pro actually loses power when it’s charging on my Logitech Smart Connector dock. Copy and paste is completely nonfunctional on my iPhone 6s. 3D Touch to invoke app switcher does not work at all.

All of this is fine. It’s a beta. I was prepared.

Most users who haphazardly install betas, however, don’t seem to realize or expect this. And then they’re in a world of hurt when their iPhone becomes problematic to the point of being potentially unusable.

Things are a little better on the Mac. There, you could install macOS 10.13 High Sierra to a partition, and keep your regular macOS 10.12 Sierra install separate and buttery smooth. If you know how to do that (and you have a developer account required for the first beta), have fun playing around.

You’d better put it on a partition, too. We’re using a 2015 MacBook Pro to test it out, and we had to pull the drive and format it in an external enclosure on a machine without the beta installed to recover the drive after a particularly nasty crash. For now, that machine is fine, but we’re keeping a wary eye on it.

Things are way worse on the Apple Watch. There, you simply cannot downgrade from the watchOS 4 beta to watchOS 3. If your watch gives you problems and you want to roll back the software, you have to actually mail it in to Apple and get it replaced. Just don’t.

Whether you’re eyeing iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, or watchOS 4, please take our word for it and do not install it on a mission-critical machine intended for everyday use. You’ll regret it.

If you made the shameful mistake of updating to iOS 11 already on your primary iPhone, and you inevitably regret your decision and want to roll it back to iOS 10, you can visit ipsw.me and find your model number to download the appropriate install file. Then you’ll need to disable Find My iPhone, put your device into DFU mode, and queue up iTunes on your Mac or PC to select “Restore and Update,” installing the latest publicly available version of iOS.

But really, don’t let it come to that. Because now you know better.

Comments (65)

randominternetperson

Excellent advice. And if you are really risk averse, don’t jump on the next OS the first day it gets released out of beta. But we all knew that already and will have a harder time avoiding that temptation.

razormaid

This is BS. I have it running on my 2016 Touch Bar laptop, 2011 17” laptop, 2 2011 iMacs, 3 iPads (mini, large pro and smaller pro), 2 iPhone 7+, TV4 and 2 Watches series 2.

We have not encountered anything yet. In fact I was just talking to my business partner saying “they must have had this done & sitting around waiting for awhile because I don’t recall a “beta 1” feeling and running so “done” feeling across so many platforms.

TV is the star here by the way. Really nice changes to the interface. Much better. Much easier.

The only thing i can I can think of as to why someone MIGHT run into problems – if any – would be if they did a “rape & scrape” (that’s what we call reformatting a device or computer) and installing from scratch. I don’t know why someone would do that but since we DONT do that, all I can say is running it like an update resulting in a smooth running cross platform update.

teaearlegreyhot

Are PSA’s really needed for stuff that is in beta and not available to the PUBLIC?

How about modifying the headline to clarify that you’re rallying against iOS 11 BETA. Because in a year, when the final iOS 11 is released, this article will still be indexed, and still be proclaiming that iOS 11 is a fail. Which by then it won’t be. Shirley. 😉

nhughes

Are PSA’s really needed for stuff that is in beta and not available to the PUBLIC?

How about modifying the headline to clarify that you’re rallying against iOS 11 BETA. Because in a year, when the final iOS 11 is released, this article will still be indexed, and still be proclaiming that iOS 11 is a fail. Which by then it won’t be. Shirley. 😉

Good point, I added the word beta to the headline. Thanks.

AppleZulu

This is BS. I have it running on my 2016 Touch Bar laptop, 2011 17” laptop, 2 2011 iMacs, 3 iPads (mini, large pro and smaller pro), 2 iPhone 7+, TV4 and 2 Watches series 2.

We have not encountered anything yet. In fact I was just talking to my business partner saying “they must have had this done & sitting around waiting for awhile because I don’t recall a “beta 1” feeling and running so “done” feeling across so many platforms.

TV is the star here by the way. Really nice changes to the interface. Much better. Much easier.

The only thing i can I can think of as to why someone MIGHT run into problems – if any – would be if they did a “rape & scrape” (that’s what we call reformatting a device or computer) and installing from scratch. I don’t know why someone would do that but since we DONT do that, all I can say is running it like an update resulting in a smooth running cross platform update.

It’s not BS. The whole point of beta testing is that they know the software isn’t ready for primetime. There will be bugs and crashes. Beta testers are the guinea pigs willing to wander into the landmines just to find them. Your bizarre suggestion that there’s no reason to expect that anyone would run into problems is way off base.

Tired of dealing with bugs or poor battery life during the beta? You can leave and go back to iOS 13 on your iPhone or iPad. It just takes a bit of work.

Contributing Writer, ZDNet

Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.

Anyone can sign up to try out the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 beta , which gives iPhone and iPad owners a preview of the features coming later this fall . But as with any beta program, there are bugs and issues that have the potential to frustrate those who decide to install it. In fact, there are four reasons you shouldn’t install it right now .

If you want to try it out, here’s how to download iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 on your iPhone and iPad. But if at any point you have installer’s remorse after joining the public beta program, we’ll show you how to retreat back to iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 .

Wiping the beta from your iPhone or iPad takes a little bit of effort and time. It’s a process that goes a whole lot smoother if you back up your device before installing the beta. To roll back to iOS 13, you’ll need to have access to a computer and a Lightning or USB-C cable to connect your device to your Mac or PC .

If you roll back to iOS 13, you’ll still want to use iOS 14 once it becomes finalized this fall.

Restore your iPhone or iPad to iOS 13

1. In order to uninstall iOS 14 or iPadOS 14, you’ll have to completely wipe and restore your device. If you’re using a Windows computer, you need to have iTunes installed and updated to the latest version. If you’re on a Mac, make sure your Mac’s software is updated by clicking on the Apple logo at the top of your screen then selecting System Preferences > Software Update.

2. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a Lightning or USB-C cable.

3. Place your iPhone or iPad into recovery mode by using the steps, which are specific to your device, listed below. You’ll know when you’re in recovery mode when your device’s screen is black, showing a cable pointing toward a MacBook (like the picture at the top of this post). Your iPhone or iPad will likely restart during this process, but don’t let go of the button(s) until you see the recovery mode screen.

• If you have an iPhone 6S or older, an iPad with a home button or iPod Touch sixth generation or older, hold in the sleep/wake button and the home button at the same time until you see the recovery mode screen.
• For an iPhone 7, 7 Plus or iPod Touch seventh generation, hold in the sleep/wake button and the volume-up button at the same time until you see the recovery mode screen.
• For iPhone 8 or later, quickly press the volume-up followed by volume-down buttons, and then hold in the side button until you see the recovery screen.
• iPad Pro users will quickly press the volume-up, then the volume-down buttons, followed by holding in the top button until you see the recovery screen.

Restoring to iOS 13 is the only way to uninstall iOS 14.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

4. You should see a prompt on your computer, letting you know a device in recovery mode has been detected. It will ask if you want to Restore or Update your device, select Restore. Your computer will download and install the latest official version of iOS 13 on your device.

If you don’t see a prompt, you’ll need to open Finder (on a Mac) or iTunes (on a PC), select your device, and then select Restore.

If created a backup of your phone or tablet before joining the beta program, once iOS 13 is installed you’ll be asked if you want to use that backup to restore your device. If you didn’t back up, you’ll have to start from a fresh install.

There’s nothing wrong with going back to iOS 13 — there are plenty of features worth your attention . There’s even a bunch of hidden features we thoroughly enjoy . Of course, if you’re tempted by iOS 14, you can always install the beta again , closer to its full launch.

Learn how to downgrade from iOS 14 and go back to iOS 13. Follow the step-by-step guide and refer to the prerequisites to carry out this process.

iOS 14 has been live now for a few days. A vast majority of iPhone users have upgraded to this version of iOS. iOS 14 brings a lot of changes to the design and user experience of the iPhone. The addition of widgets has been a never-expected, shocking new feature update for the latest version of iOS and it has been widely accepted by the fans and users.

Sometimes the upgrades to a new iOS can be a little buggy, as Apple hasn’t worked out all the problems for every iPhone yet. As it is a new feature update it can cause some crashes and bugs in the previous iPhones and sometimes newer ones too. This is a common issue with new feature updates and is also faced by Android updates too. In such situations, the users should either hold out on the upgrade or opt to downgrade from iOS 14.

How to Downgrade from iOS 14?

Downgrading is not always the easiest option. Users consider downgrading as an option when they experience issues with the existing iOS version, or they want to jailbreak their iPhone and the latest iOS version doesn’t support that. Keep in mind that there are some prerequisites to perform this action, most important of all being that Apple does not stop digitally signing the previous iOS versions. If Apple stops the digital signing, then downgrading to that version would be close to impossible. Here are the prerequisites and the steps on how to downgrade from iOS 14:

System Requirements

• Apple signing the version to be downgraded to is of utmost importance. IPSW for iOS 13 should be available. The IPSW should also match the iPhone device in use.
• Users should have a backup of their data before performing this action as this risks the chances of the users facing data loss.
• Users will also need a backup already in place for the version they are downgrading to, or their iPhones will be formatted. If a user is downgrading from iOS 14 to iOS 13, they will need a backup of data in the iOS 13 version already in place to carry over their data during the downgrade process.
• The computer they are using for this process should be updated with the latest version of iTunes to perform the downgrade
• The user should have a stable and fast internet connection

Steps on How to downgrade from iOS 14 to iOS 13

• Connect the iPhone to the computer
• Open iTunes for Windows and Finder for Mac
• Click on the iPhone icon
• Now select the Restore iPhone option and simultaneously keep the left option key on Mac or the left shift key on Windows pressed.
• Users will be asked to which version they want to restore their iPhone too. Users will have to select the iOS 13.7 IPSW file as that’s the only iOS 13 version that is still being digitally signed by Apple.
• And that’s about it. Now, the user has to just wait for their device to carry out this process. This can take up some time so the user needs that have some patience as well.

Promo image source: iSpeedTestOS twitter handle

You’re allowed to downgrade your iDevice from higher iOS version to lower iOS version only when Apple is still signing the old firmware. To downgrade your iDevice, the following stuff are necessary. For instance, a computer, the latest version of 3uTools or iTunes and a stable network.

First of all, you need to download and install the latest 3uTools on your computer. When it’s done, connect your iPhone to a computer using the USB cable.

Note: The downgrading process is the same for every Apple iDevice. Ensure you have backed up your iPhone if you don’t like to lose iDevice’s data.

From 3uTools, you can easily know the iOS version of your iDevice, 3uTools will automatically show you the matching firmware for your iDevice also (only available firmware for your iDevice will be displayed in 3uTools Easy Flash).

Then you need to select one firmware you want to downgrade and click “Flash”. You’re not suggested to choose the checkbox that “Retain User’s Data While Flashing” while downgrading.

Keep waiting till the flash process is finished, it takes 10 minutes generally. Then iDevice has been successfully downgraded.

Except knowing the matching firmware form 3uTools Easy Flash, you’re able to check the available firmware for your iDevice in 3uTools Firmware. As shown below, the green dot means that this firmware can be used to flash or jailbreak, while the white dot means this firmware is not available for your iDevice, you can’t use it to flash or jailbreak.

If you’ve installed iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 through Apple’s developer program or the public beta now it’s been released, you may decide you want to downgrade because of usability or stability issues. Keep reading to learn how it’s done.

Apple usually only releases the public betas of ‌iOS and ‌iPadOS‌ once the developer versions are relatively stable. That said, Apple’s beta versions of its major software updates can be notoriously buggy, especially the early releases.

You may find apps not working properly, poor battery life, device crashes, and features that don’t do what they’re supposed to. Fortunately, you can restore your iPhone or iPad to the previous version of iOS.

If you made an archived backup before you installed the beta, you can remove the ‌‌iOS 15‌ beta and restore the backup. If you didn’t make a backup, you can still downgrade, but you won’t be able to restore your device to its original state before you upgraded.

Also, if you’ve installed watchOS 8 on your Apple Watch, it’s important to note that you won’t be able to use it with your ‌‌iPhone‌‌ once you’ve gone back to iOS 14. And downgrading an Apple Watch to a previous version of watchOS can’t be done manually either – if you want to remove ‌‌watchOS 8‌‌, you’ll have to send your watch in to Apple.

How to Downgrade from iOS 15 or iPadOS 15

1. Launch Finder on your Mac.
2. Connect your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to your Mac using a Lightning cable.
3. Put your device into recovery mode. The method of doing this depends on your device, so check the list below these steps to find your model. Apple also provides more information on Recovery mode in this support article.

How to Enter Recovery Mode on Your iOS Device

• iPad models with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Top button until your device begins to restart. Continue holding the Top button until your device goes into recovery mode.

iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold the Top (or Side) and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the recovery mode screen.

One you’ve followed the above steps, you can restore a backup of your device from iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 using your Mac or iCloud.

Made a mistake updating to iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 RC? Here’s how you can downgrade back to iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 in a few easy steps.

Download iOS 15 / iPadOS 15 RC to iOS 14 / iPadOS 15 on iPhone and iPad in a Few Easy Steps

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 RC is out now for developers and public beta testers. It is super stable, works like magic and something which many are eager to try out. But, if you think you made a mistake updating to the software, then you can downgrade back to iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 as long as Apple is signing both, and at the time of writing, it is.

Before you do anything at all, please know that you have to backup everything otherwise you will lose your data. You can either use iTunes, Finder or iCloud. It is entirely up to you as long as it leads to your data being absolutely safe and sound somewhere. You can always restore this backup whenever you like.

Download the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 Firmware

Download the latest iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 firmware from here and save it to your desktop:

Restore Firmware Using iTunes or Finder

Step 1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC or Mac using a cable (Lightning or USB-C, whichever applies).

Step 2. Launch iTunes or Finder.

Step 3. Your device should show up in the left hand side as a tiny little iPhone-like icon. Click on it to reveal more options.

Step 4. Hold down the left Shift key (Windows) or the left Option key (Mac) and click on the Restore iPhone button.

Step 5. Select the iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 firmware file you saved on your desktop and let iTunes and Finder restore it.

This whole thing may take a while and it is extremely important that you do not touch anything during the process, too. Once the restoration is complete, you can start setting up your device as you normally would. You can choose to restore the backup or start fresh if you like.

While you are here, check out the following:

Here’s how to downgrade iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 to iOS 14.1 and iPadOS 14.1 on your compatible iPhone or iPad device. This process is perfect for device owners who have upgraded to Apple’s latest release but ultimately feel more comfortable in the earlier version.

There are a number of reasons why an iPhone or iPad owner may want to roll back their firmware to an earlier version. There is always a temptation to try out the latest release but sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

The power management performance could be worse. There could be a showstopping bug, and so on. Whatever your reasons for wanting to jump back to iOS 14.1 or iPadOS 14.1, then the relatively simple-to-follow process is listed below. Let’s jump right in.

Step 1: Make sure that the latest version of iTunes is running on your PC or Mac. If you have a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher installed, then you don’t need to worry yourself with iTunes.

Step 2: You will need to download the correct IPSW iOS/iPadOS 14.1 file that has been built and released for your specific device. You can grab that from here.

Step 3: Part of the process is to make sure that the Find My feature is disabled on your iPhone or iPad. Launch Settings > iCloud > Find My and toggle the switch into the Off position. When your device asks you to enter the password for the Apple ID, make sure it gets entered correctly.

Step 4: Connect your device to your PC or Mac using a Lightning cable and launch iTunes. If you’re running macOS Catalina, then a Finder window will suffice. Put your device into DFU mode using the quick guides below (if you don’t already know how to do it):

• iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, iPhone X / XR / XS / XS Max / 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max, or 2018/2020 iPad Pro owners can follow this guide.
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus owners: Enter DFU Mode On iPhone 7 Or iPhone 7 Plus, Here’s How
• If you have an iPhone 6s / 6s Plus or any other iPad, then follow the instructions here.

Step 5: Once the device has been recognized in DFU mode, head into iTunes or Finder and press and hold the Option key on a Mac or the Shift key on a PC and click the Restore iPhone/iPad option.

Step 6: Choose the IPSW file that you downloaded in the earlier steps. This is the file that you are downgrading to. Allow iTunes/Finder to do its business and ultimately leave you with an iPhone or iPad that has been downgraded from iOS/iPadOS 14.2 to the version of your choice.

You may also like to check out:

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You can downgrade iOS 11.0.1 to either iOS 11 or iOS 10.3.3 right now on iPhone or iPad. This is a limited opportunity window which Apple will likely close soon.

Here’s How You Can Downgrade iOS 11.0.1 to iOS 11 or iOS 10.3.3.

With the release of iOS 11.0.1 yesterday, Apple introduced a new update that squashed plenty of bugs, making things snappier for iPhone and iPad users around the globe. But, regardless of what Apple does at this point in time, there will always be someone out there that will find a reason or two to stick to older firmware. If you you are one of those people, then you’ll be pleased to learn that you can downgrade iOS 11.0.1 to iOS 11. But that’s not all, since Apple is still signing iOS 10.3.3, therefore you can downgrade back to iOS 10 as well. So without further ado, let’s jump into the downgrade process.

Downgrade iOS 11.0.1 to iOS 11 or iOS 10.3.3.

Warning: Downgrading to older firmware will delete everything off your device including your settings. Be very considerate of what you’re doing.

1. Download iOS 11 or iOS 10.3.3 firmware file for your device. Once the IPSW file is done downloading, save it on your desktop for easier access later on.

2. Download and install iTunes if you haven’t already and launch it. Windows users can get iTunes from:

3. Now plug in your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a Lightning cable.

4. As soon as iTunes detects your device, it will show in the top left hand corner. Click on the little icon that looks like your iPhone / iPad to view more options.

5. You should see a button labeled ‘Restore iPhone.’ Click on it while holding down the left Option key (Mac) or the left Shift key (Windows). A new window will open up.

6. Select the IPSW file you downloaded in step 1.

7. iTunes will now prepare your device, restore it, and verify the installation with Apple. Once everything is done, you’ll boot straight into the welcome screen, all set to set up your device as brand new.

Having used iOS 11.0.1 for a few hours, it’s safe to say that Apple has done a good job in polishing the initial release of its mighty big firmware. These refinements will only come through at a rapid pace as we move forward. But then again, regardless of what Apple does, someone out there might not agree with the Cupertino company’s decisions. If you believe otherwise, then you can install iOS 11 / iOS 11.0.1 today by following our guides below.

Here’s how to downgrade iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to iOS 13.7 on your compatible iPhone or iPad device. If you have taken the opportunity to get the latest major release but now want to roll back, then this is the process that you will need.

There are endless reasons why someone may want to roll back from iOS/iPadOS 14 to iOS/iPadOS 13.7.

Those reasons only need to be personal to each and every person but thankfully the whole process is extremely simple and won’t take much time at all. Here is the process that you will need to follow:

Step 1: First and foremost, ensure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your PC or Mac if you’re running something older than macOS Catalina (on the Mac). If you’re using macOS Catalina or later, you don’t need to worry about iTunes as Apple has integrated all of that functionality into Finder.

Step 2: Now, with iTunes up and running, you will need to download the relevant IPSW iOS/iPadOS 13.7 file that has been pre-compiled for your specific device. You can get that from here.

Step 3: You will also need to disable the Find My feature on the device. Jump over to Settings > iCloud > Find My and then turn the switch into the Off position. Provide the correct password for your Apple ID to confirm the decision.

Step 4: Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and make sure that iTunes is open on your pre-macOS Catalina Mac or your PC. Alternatively, ensure that a Finder window is open if you are running macOS Catalina or above. Put your device into DFU mode. We’ve covered that before and all the guides are below.

• iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, iPhone X / XR / XS / XS Max / 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max, or 2018/2020 iPad Pro owners can follow this guide.
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus owners: Enter DFU Mode On iPhone 7 Or iPhone 7 Plus, Here’s How
• If you have an iPhone 6s / 6s Plus or any other iPad, then follow the instructions here.

Step 5: Once the device is detected in DFU Mode, iTunes or Finder will detect it and ask if you want to restore the phone. Press and hold the Option key on a Mac or the Shift key on a PC and click the Restore iPhone/iPad option.

Step 6: Next, you need to select the relevant IPSW file – this will, of course, be the iOS/iPadOS 13.7 IPSW that you downloaded in the earlier steps. Select that IPSW file from your computer and you are good to go.

During the process, your device will restart a couple of times during the process and then ultimately leave you running a fresh installation of iOS 13.7 or iPadOS 13.7.

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on Twitter, or Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.

Going back to an older version of iOS or iPadOS is possible, but it’s not easy or recommended.

Contributing Writer, ZDNet

Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.

Whenever Apple releases a new software update for the iPhone and iPad , you have to decide how soon you should update. Do you wait to see if there are any bugs? Or do you take the plunge right away and hope that it’s smooth sailing? If you choose the latter, there’s a slim chance you’ll be able to go back to the previous version of iOS or iPadOS — but you probably shouldn’t.

Every once in a while, someone asks me if it’s possible to go back to an older version of iOS on the iPhone because insert random bug here. For example, Apple recently pushed out iOS 14.5 . If you upgraded right away and ran into issues with battery life, there was a small window during which you could go back to iOS 14.4. But, my response is always the same. It is possible, but you shouldn’t do it. Either start waiting a little longer before updating to the latest iOS or iPadOS , or wait for the next update that will hopefully fix the issue.

Going back to a previous version of iOS isn’t easy, and honestly, it’s not something I recommend. You have a small window of time to make the switch, you’ll need to factory-reset your phone, and most importantly, you’ll have to download the update from an unknown third party. Let me explain.

Rolling back from iOS 14.5 to iOS 14.4 is possible but not recommended.

You don’t have a lot of time

Every time your iPhone installs a software update, Apple verifies the installation by digitally “signing” the update. By doing so, Apple essentially gives your iPhone a big thumbs-up to indicate it’s safe to install the update. The problem is, when new updates are released, Apple stops signing the previous version within a few days.

The recent release of iOS 14.5, which was quickly followed by iOS 14.5.1 serves as a good example. After releasing 14.5 on April 26, and iOS 14.5.1 on May 3, Apple stopped signing iOS 14.4.2 according to 9to5Mac. Meaning that anyone with an iPhone or iPad with iOS 14.5 or 14.5.1 installed no longer had the option of going back to iOS 14.4.2. But, Apple didn’t stop there. One week later, on May 10, Apple stopped signing iOS 14.5. That means you can only install iOS 14.5.1 on your iPhone or iPad, and the option of going back to the original iOS 14.5 release is no longer available.

You never know how long Apple will wait until it stops signing the previous OS, thus preventing you from going back to an earlier version. In the two scenarios above, you had exactly one week before Apple stopped signing the previous software. That’s not a lot of time.

To go back, you’ll have to fully restore your iPhone.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Going back requires a factory reset

Loading an older version of iOS on your iPhone requires you to completely wipe and restore your phone. That means, if you install iOS 14.5 and decide to go back to iOS 14.4 before Apple stops signing it, you may run into another issue. If the last backup of your iPhone was made on iOS 14.5, you can’t use it to restore all of your apps and information.

You either have to have created a backup of your phone or tablet on your computer before updating to iOS 14.5 that you can then use to restore your device, or you’ll have to accept the fact that going back to an older version of iOS will force you to erase your Apple device and start fresh.

Downloading updates from unknown sources can be scary.

You have to download the update from an unknown source

When Apple releases an update, that’s the only version of the operating system that you can download directly from its servers. So unless you’re saving every OS update on your computer, odds are you’re going to have to look for the update elsewhere.

There are several third-party websites that host the IPSW files (what Apple calls its iOS update files) for anyone to download.

Downloading software updates from anyone or anywhere else other than the direct source, in this case, Apple, is always risky and something I don’t recommend.

Some of those third-party sites provide direct links to Apples’ servers where older updates are still stored, but the amount of trust you have to have in third-party sites is high for such a critical piece of software.

It doesn’t take much of an imagination to realize the damage a would-be bad actor can do by tampering with an OS update and tricking people into thinking it was safe. So stick with official updates directly from Apple for the best security.

Speaking of updates (again, we recommend waiting a few days before updating ), check out what’s new in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, such as a new Face ID feature to make using your iPhone easier with a face mask on. There are also several new Siri voices you can pick from — they all sound great. And if you’re looking for some hidden features, well, I have your back .

Here’s how to downgrade iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 to a previous version on your compatible iPhone or iPad device.

If you’ve updated to iOS 14.6 or iPadOS 14.6 and find that you need to downgrade again for reasons known only to you, then rest assured that it isn’t particularly difficult to do. The process can, however, be a little daunting to some people, so we are going to show you exactly what you need to do.

If you’re ready, then we are ready, so let’s dive right in and look at the process.

Step 1: Ensure that you have upgraded to, and are running, the latest version of iTunes on your PC or Mac. If you are running macOS Catalina or Big Sur, then you don’t need to worry about iTunes as this is all handled by the Finder app built directly into the OS.

Step 2: You will need to be in possession of the correct IPSW iOS/iPadOS 14.5.1 file that has been compiled by Apple and that is intended for your device. Will be downgrading to this file and can grab it from here.

Step 3: Now, you will need to make sure that the Find My feature is disabled on your iPhone or iPad. In order to do that, launch Settings > iCloud > Find My and toggle the switch into the Off position. Input the Apple ID and correct password to confirm your decision.

Step 4: Connect your device to your PC or Mac. If iTunes doesn’t load automatically you’ll need to do it manually and make sure that it’s running. If you’re running Catalina or Big Sur, then just launch a Finder window.

Put your device into DFU mode using the quick guides below (if you don’t already know how to do it):

• iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, iPhone X / XR / XS / XS Max / 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max, or 2018/2020 iPad Pro owners can follow this guide.
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus owners: Enter DFU Mode On iPhone 7 Or iPhone 7 Plus, Here’s How
• If you have an iPhone 6s / 6s Plus or any other iPad, then follow the instructions here.

Step 5: With the DFU mode step out of the way, head into iTunes or Finder and press and hold the Option key on a Mac or the Shift key on a PC and click the Restore iPhone/iPad option.

Step 6: Choose the IPSW file (iOS/iPadOS 14.5.1) that you downloaded earlier in the process. Exercise some patience and allow iTunes/Finder to go through the standard process and leave you with an iPhone or iPad that has been downgraded from iOS/iPadOS 14.6 to the version included within the IPSW file that you’ve chosen.

Thankfully, that’s the process fully complete. You will be left with an iPhone or iPad that has been downgraded to your chosen version of iOS/iPadOS.

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on Twitter, or Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.

> How-tos > iPhone > 3 Ways to Downgrade iOS 14 Beta to iOS 13.5.1

According to some iOS users, iOS 14 occupies 30G storage on iPhone. And it’s said it’s more stable than the early iOS 13 betas. But still there are problems. Do not urge to upgrade. You can wait and learn more from people’s comments then make a considerable decision. If you’ve installed iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 due to Apple’s developer program or the public beta after it’s been released, and now you’re running into problems, you may consider how to downgrade iOS 14 beta to iOS 13.5.1 now. If you feel regret, do something now, otherwise you may never go back after an official release of iOS 14. We’ll walk you through the downgrading process in this step-by-step guide and tell you how to safely downgrade without any data loss.

• Method 1. Downgrade from iOS 14 Beta to iOS 13.5.1 Using Recovery Mode
• Method 2. Downgrade from iOS 14 Beta to iOS 13.5.1 Using iTunes
• Method 3. Wait for A New iOS 13 Version

Guide Before All Starts:

There are three things you need to know before downgrading your iOS 14 device.

1. Get the latest iTunes app installed on your PC. And make sure your Mac is up-to-date.

2. If you back up a device that has iOS 14 beta to iCloud or your computer, the backup won’t work with earlier versions of iOS. For example, if you go back to iOS 13.5.1 from iOS 14 beta, a backup you made while using iOS 14 beta won’t restore. Instead, restore from a backup that you made before you installed iOS 14 beta. So you need a third-party tool to make a full backup to your iOS 14 device, otherwise you could not recover some important data forever. Or you own an iTunes/iCloud backup from old iOS version, you can check if it works before downgrading.

3. If you’ve updated your Apple Watch to the watchOS 7 beta, you won’t be able to use your wearable once you return to iOS 13. It cannot be downgraded, and watchOS 7 isn’t compatible with iOS 13.

It’s a risk to downgrade for losing existing data. Check all backups you have now and here we go. Once you’re ready to downgrade, follow solutions provided below.

Method 1. Downgrade from iOS 14 Beta to iOS 13.5.1 Using Recovery Mode

Step 1: Take a complete backup to your iOS 14 device. Then download iOS 13.5.1 firmware file for your device from Apple official website according to your iOS device type.

Step 2: Run the latest iTunes on your PC. Get your iPhone or iPad connected with your Mac or Windows PC. Then put your iPhone or iPad into recovery mode. Choose the way according to your device type.

For iPad Pro with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Top button until your device begins to restart. Continue holding the Top button until your device goes into Recovery Mode.

For iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery-mode screen.

For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

For iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with Home button, or iPod touch (6th generation or earlier): Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. Don’t release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.q

Step 3: Once you enter the recovery mode, you will be prompted by iTunes that you choose to restore or update your iOS device. Click the Restore option.

Step 4 Your iPhone or iPad will now be erased and the latest non-beta version of iOS 13 will be installed. Once the restore process is done, you’ll get the Hello screen and go through the initial setup process on your device. When set up this iPhone or iPad, you are able to choose to restore an iCloud backup or local backup from your Mac or PC. Note that you can only restore local backups from before you upgraded to the iOS 14 beta. You can also choose to restore a Syncios backup you’ve made at the first step after initialization.

Method 2. Downgrade from iOS 14 Beta to iOS 13.5.1 Using iTunes

Step 1: On iOS 14 device, open Settings app then go to iCloud > Find my iPhone to turn off Find my iPhone option. Download the iOS 13.5.1 firmware file for your device from Apple official website according to your iOS device type.

Step 2: Getthe iOS device running iOS 14 beta connected to your computer. Launch the latest iTunes on your Windows PC or up-to-date Mac. On iTunes, from the top left corner you can select the iOS device. Then click on Summary in the left-hand sidebar.

Step 3: Hold the Alt/Option key on the Mac or Shift Key in Windows on your keyboard. Choose the Check for Update option, instead of restoring.

Step 4: From a pop-up window, select the iOS 13.5.1 IPSW firmware file you had downloaded at the first step. Click Update when you are asked if you need to update the device to iOS 13.5.1. Then your idevice will be downgraded to iOS 13.5.1 successfully. You can then set your idevice as a new one or restore the previous backup file to your idevice.

Step 5 If you are using a Mac running macOS Catalina, the steps to downgrade your device to iOS 13.5.1 remains almost the same. Since there’s no iTunes, you will have to open a new Finder window and access your device from there.

Method 3. Wait for A New iOS 13 Version

There is a simpler way to downgrade that involves removing the iOS 14 Beta Software Profile, then simply waiting for a new iOS 13 update. But it means you’re stuck with iOS 14 until a new version of iOS 13 rolls out — and who knows when that will be. It possibly never comes.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2: Tap General, then tap Profiles & Device Management.

Step 3: Select the iOS 14 Beta Software Profile.

Step 4: Tap Remove Profile then restart your device.

Step 5: Wait for a new iOS 13 update to arrive.

Conclusion

It’s risk downgrading to iOS 13 if you have no backup. Take a full backup before any further action. Then follow our steps to downgrade iOS 14 beta to iOS 13 when you still be able to. If you like our tips, please share this article with people you are familiar with.

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