Is it possible to return to iOS 9. Returning an Apple device to an older version of iOS. Saving important data

Have you jumped at the chance to update your iPhone and iPad to iOS 10, only to find out that the firmware is causing problems that you no longer want to endure?

You are not alone - many users have encountered problems with rapid battery drain or performance degradation. If you are one of those users who are wondering how to restore an old version of iOS, then you should know the whole truth about the situation with rolling back to previous versions.

Just a month after the release of iOS 10, Apple stopped signing the iOS 9.3.5 version, which means it is impossible to roll back from new versions. The same thing happened with versions 10.1 and 10.2. According to Apple, all the bugs that previously prevented users from fully enjoying iOS 10 have been eliminated and there is no need to return to older versions that could threaten the security of user data.

Until the end of 2016, users could use the standard method - downloading the IPSW file of the previous version of iOS using iTunes. But now Apple has closed this opportunity and users who rushed to try new features have no choice but to look for unconventional methods to solve the problem.

In December 2016, a hacker using the nickname tihmstar released the Prometheus utility, which, provided that SHSH blobs digital certificates were saved, could be used to roll back to older versions of iOS. But right before the New Year, Apple blocked the utility by adjusting the operation of the servers for issuing digital signatures. After this, everyone who tried to retrieve digital certificates only received an error from the server.

By February 2017, the author of the utility managed to find a solution to bypass the blocking and some users were able to use the utility to downgrade (downgrade or rollback). But the tool only worked inside 10.0.x - 10.2.1 if SHSH blobs were saved in advance. For example, with Prometheus you can save SHSH blobs certificates for iOS 10.2, upgrade to 10.2.1, and then return back to the previous version.

As for the rollback from iOS 10.Х.Х to iOS 9.Х.Х, Apple has put an end to it, closing any possibility of switching to the old version. When you try to install an older version of iOS, iTunes contacts the certificate issuing server in order to activate the firmware. Since Apple considers firmware below 10.2 obsolete, the user simply receives an error due to the lack of digital signatures.

Thus, iOS users are left to look for the advantages of existing firmware versions and update only when they are sure that the new versions being released do not contain errors.
If there are any new ways to downgrade to older versions in the future, we will definitely inform you about it.

Developers from Apple quite often publish new versions of the operating system. But the updated version will not always be better than the previous iOS. Luckily, if you want to downgrade to an earlier version, it's not that hard to do.

In updates, developers change the way some applications work, optimize programs, and fix bugs. But it happens that new opportunities are not to your liking, while the old ones are no longer available. Yes, and the occurrence of errors in the updated version is also possible, and it will take a lot of time before they are corrected. It is in these situations that a rollback to a previous version of iOS may come in handy.

There can be many reasons to roll back to a previous version of iOS.

The easiest way to roll back to the old version is the official one. But it has a number of limitations. Officially, you can “roll back” only to the previous version of the system and only for a short time after the update is released. Then developers block the rollback option, and users have to look for other ways.

Preparatory steps before downgrading to an earlier version of iOS

Before you begin the rollback process itself, you need to perform preparatory steps. To do this you need:

• create a backup copy of your files so as not to lose the data stored on your device;
• select and download the firmware - it is very important that the firmware is downloaded from a reliable source and does not contain errors;
• disable the Find My iPhone feature.

Backup

There are two ways to copy data from your Apple device: iCloud backup or copying data using iTunes.

Copying data using iCloud

Once the process of transferring data to iCloud is completed, it will be contained in cloud storage. To copy, do the following:

After this, the backup will be created. To avoid having to repeat manual steps on a regular basis, you can set up the entire process automatically. However, to create a copy before rolling back to the previous version, this is not necessary.

Copying Data Using iTunes

To create a backup using iTunes, you will need to install the media player on your computer. After that do the following:

You can get one of the latest firmware versions for your device on third-party sites. Read reviews beforehand to make sure the site can be trusted. Most likely, during the download process you will be asked to indicate which Apple device you use, specify the model and then select the proposed version from the list. After downloading the version you need, be sure to remember where you downloaded the file. You will need it later.

Disabling the Find My iPhone feature

If you did everything correctly, you will receive a message by email notifying you that the “Find iPhone” option has been turned off on your device.

Reverting to a previous version of the operating system

Firmware rollback is a safe function, and in any case you can return your device to its previous state. However, you still act at your own risk. Be careful and you won't have any problems.

To rollback, follow these steps:

This way you can go back to one of the previous versions of iOS. But is it possible to choose the old version? No, you will not be allowed to download it from the site. Even if you find it in third-party sources, the correct installation will not be carried out. These are restrictions from Apple, and nothing can be solved in an official way.

Officially, you can downgrade your iOS device to one of the previous versions

Rolling back the iOS version using a special program

In addition to the ability to return the previous version using iTunes, there is another way. You can roll back your device using a special program. For example, a program called RedShow copes well with this task. But it is worth noting the following:

• this method is much more complicated and may require you to install a jailbreak (unless, of course, you have already installed it);
• if you want to rollback not only to the previous version, but also to earlier ones, you will need a SHSH certificate from the old version. Saving occurs automatically if jailbroken. Or you can save the data manually after each update using the TinyUmbrella program;
• The rollback option is not available for all devices. iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G are ideal, and rollback is also available on iPad 2. Until recently, this feature was not available on other devices, but now the developers have added support for several more phones.

The rollback process itself using this program is done as follows:

1. Download the program.
2. Put your device into DFU mode. This mode is specifically designed for updating. You can call it by simultaneously pressing the Power and Home keys when the device is turned off. Then, after ten seconds, you need to release the Power button, but continue to hold Home. The device will be switched to the desired mode.
   Hold the Home and Power buttons, then release Power
3. Wait until the Redshow program sees your device.
4. Click the Extra button, select Even more, and then click Restore. You will see the IPSW button, which you also need to press. Click the Restore button to select the firmware file
5. Specify the path to the firmware file (this is the IPSW file). If you need to find an older version, try searching the Internet for the firmware for your device on one of the many specialized forums.
6. Wait for the paths to be created and the specified firmware file to be processed. You will then be asked for a SHSH certificate. As stated above, you can download it from your jailbreak (click Cydia) or select a previously saved file from your computer (local button).
   Wait until the firmware file is processed
7. Wait for the firmware rollback to complete. If the program displays a problem message, try putting the device into DFU mode again.
   If everything went well, the following message will appear on the screen

Rolling back applications on iOS

We figured out how to roll back the operating system. But what if you need to roll back one of your installed applications? After all, unsuccessful updates happen there too. There is an official Charles Proxy tool for this. It allows you to access older versions of apps or games on your iPhone or iPad. Using this program is not very easy, so this is a topic for a separate article.

You can roll back apps on iOS to one of the previous versions

Video: rollback iOS from any version to an older one

For most users, the option of officially returning to one of the latest versions of the device will be enough. The main thing is that this version is still supported by Apple. If you need to revert to an earlier version, you can use one of the unofficial methods. In any case, now, if you install an unsuccessful update, you know what to do.

Not ideal. It offers a few new features, but is not much different from the previous version. At the same time, users of older devices may experience various difficulties due to the fact that their devices are not powerful enough for the new firmware. In this connection, there may be a desire to return to stable. This is quite easy to do, the main thing is to follow the instructions.

1. Make sure your smartphone or tablet is at least 75% charged.
2. Turn off Find My iPhone. To do this, you need to go to “Settings” and go to the iCloud section, and then turn off the Find My iPhone function. The system will ask for your Apple ID password and you will need to enter it.

1. After this, the Apple device needs to be connected to the computer and launch iTunes, and the device itself must be switched to firmware mode (DFU, Device Firmware Update). To do this, simultaneously hold down the Power and Home buttons for 10 seconds. Then release the Power button while continuing to hold the Home button. The system should indicate that the device has been switched to DFU mode and is ready for firmware. Click the "OK" button.

1. Select the "Restore iPhone" (or iPad) option. iTunes will ask you to confirm that you really want to go back to the old firmware. We confirm this by clicking the “Next” and “Agree” buttons, after which the automatic process of installing the old firmware will begin.

1. Typically, updating the firmware takes about 20 minutes, but if problems arise (for example, with Internet access or connecting to Apple servers), you can install the firmware manually using an image file. Simply hold down the Shift button on your keyboard (or Option on MacOS) and click on the “Restore iPhone” option. In the window that opens, find and select the image file you downloaded and successively click the “Open” and “Restore” buttons. You don't need to do anything else, just wait for the result.
2. After returning to the previous firmware version, the system will persistently ask you to update, so you need to disable automatic update in the settings of your device and iTunes.

The differences between iOS 9.3.2 and iOS 10 are minor. The latter received a new beautiful lock screen, a keyboard with tips and a bunch of new emoticons. The system has also become more open (for example, Siri has become friends with third-party applications) and has learned to automatically group photos of people, places and objects into beautifully designed collections. There are no other significant innovations, and those that exist may cause performance degradation on older devices. At the same time, it is unknown what problems will still be discovered and how long it will take to fix them.

On iPhone and iPad, it is possible to roll back to a previous version of the OS. Traditionally, after the release of each new edition of the proprietary “axis,” Apple leaves this opportunity for a short time. A day after the release of the cumulative update, the company is still issuing certificates for iOS 9.2.1.

Released on March 21, iOS 9.3 is a major software release with a large list of changes. The main innovation is support for the Night Shift mode, which at night automatically shifts the color temperature of the display to the warm end of the spectrum. Research has shown that bright blue light in the evening can affect a person's circadian rhythm, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Other innovations include password-protected Notes, an improved version of the Apple News application, and an updated CarPlay interface.

Based on comparison tests, iOS 9.3 performs better than iOS 9.2.1 when it comes to performance. However, some users complain about the accelerated battery drain of their devices and problems with activating gadgets. In such cases, it makes sense to use the instructions for downgrading to a previous version of the OS. Another reason why a user may decide to downgrade is jailbreak. According to preliminary information, the upcoming exploit will not be available for the latest version of the OS, at least for the first time.

Note that we are talking about returning only to iOS 9.2.1 - Apple still issues digital certificates for it. The situation can change at any moment.

Requirements:

• iPhone or iPad running iOS 9.3.
• iOS 9.2.1 IPSW file.
• iTunes 12.3.3 for Mac or Windows.

How to downgrade from iOS 9.3 to iOS 9.2.1:

Step 1: Download iOS 9.2.1 file from Apple servers from this link.

Step 2: Make sure you have iTunes 12.3.3 installed. You can download the latest version on this page.

Step 3: Back up your data. This can be done in the iPhone or iPad settings: iCloud –> Backup –> Create a backup, or by connecting your mobile device to your computer and saving a backup using iTunes.

Step 4: Turn off Touch ID/Passcode in General settings.

Step 5: In this step, you need to disable Find My iPhone. The option is located in the Settings -> iCloud menu.

Step 6: Connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 9.3 to your PC.

Step 7: Open iTunes and select the icon of your gadget in the top bar of the program.

Step 8: Hold Shift on your keyboard (or Alt on OS X) and click the “Restore” button.

Step 9: In the program window, specify the iOS 9.2.1 firmware file that you downloaded in step 1.

Step 10: Wait for the procedure to complete, the OS recovery process will take some time. You can now use your device with iOS 9.2.1.

After updating to a new version of iOS, you may notice that you do not like the firmware. In this case, there is an excellent solution - roll back the software to the optimal version, in your opinion. That is, if you updated to, for example, IOS 10, then you can easily install IOS 8 on your device using the instructions below.

When is it necessary to rollback iOS?

The reasons for installing an older version of the operating system may be the following circumstances:

• With new firmware versions, the design changes, and not all users may like the new design.
• The most common reason is the appearance of freezes and glitches. Such problems happen for two reasons: either a new version of the firmware has become available to users in a too crude form, with errors in the code and shortcomings, or the device that was updated has become outdated for the loads created by the new version of IOS.

Please note that it is not possible to roll back any device to any version; you can view detailed information about which device to which firmware version can be rolled back to on the following website - http://appstudio.org/shsh. All data is located in table format.

How to roll back iOS to a specific version on an Apple device

Before you begin the process, you need to prepare the following things:

• iTunes installed on your computer and updated to the latest version.
• The version of the software you selected, in IPSW format, is downloaded to an easily accessible folder. You can download it from trusted websites that distribute IOS firmware for free, for example, using the following link - http://appstudio.org/ios. Download the firmware strictly for your device model, otherwise problems will arise during installation.
• A USB adapter that will connect your device to your computer.

If you have met all the above conditions, then the next step is to prepare the device itself for the rollback process.

Saving important data

Please note that when you roll back your device, all data, applications and media files from it are permanently erased, so it’s worth taking care of them. There is an option that allows you to delete files from the device, it will be discussed later in the article, but it is no less stable. You can save everything you need using a backup copy created as follows:

Disable password

Another important point is to disable the password and Touch ID, if it is supported and enabled on your device.

Deactivating Find My iPhone

Before any actions with the device’s firmware, you must disable the “Find iPhone” function, since, otherwise, iTunes simply will not allow you to perform any actions:

Firmware rollback

If all previous preparatory work has been carried out, then you can begin the rollback itself. It doesn't matter which device you're downgrading from, or from which version of iOS you're downgrading to.

1. Connect the device to the computer using a USB adapter.
2. Log in to the system.
3. Go to your device's settings by clicking on the icon that looks like a phone or tablet.
4. Hold down the Shift button on your keyboard if you're using Windows, or the Option button if you're using Mac OS. Without releasing the key, click on the “Restore” button.
5. A window with folders will open; you need to specify the path to the firmware that you downloaded earlier.
6. Wait while iTunes extracts the software from the firmware and installs it. The process can last from five minutes to half an hour, do not disconnect the device from the computer or interrupt the process with any actions, otherwise the device may enter endless recovery mode.

Rollback without data loss

This rollback option also exists; it allows you to rollback without losing the data on the device. To do this, in point 4 of the “Rolling Back Firmware” section, you need to click on the “Restore” button and the “Update” button. All other steps are completely the same. The only thing worth considering is that performing a full recovery, that is, resetting the system and installing it from scratch, is safer, since the chance that any elements will remain from the previous version is much lower.

Video tutorial: How to downgrade iOS version

Third party rollback programs

If for some reason the iTunes method does not suit you, then you can use the third-party program RedSnow. It is distributed free of charge for both Windows and Mac OS on the official website of the developer - http://redsnow.ru.

1. After downloading and opening the program, select the Extras section.
2. Click on the Even More button.
3. In the menu that opens, go to the Restore block.
4. Click the IPSW button to specify the path to the previously downloaded firmware.
5. The notification that appears will ask you whether to cancel the modem upgrade or not. Click on the “Yes” option.
6. A window will open in which you will be warned that the device will now need to be put into recovery mode, close it.
7. Connect the device to the computer using a USB adapter and enter it into DFU Mode. How to do this is described step by step in the program itself.
8. If you have not previously performed such rollback operations with this program, then click on the Remote button so that it will automatically find the necessary hashes on its servers.
9. Done, now all you have to do is wait for the process to complete. The device will automatically update to the version you downloaded and turn on, after which you will have to go through the initial setup process.

Is it possible to roll back individual applications?

If the purpose of your system rollback is to install older versions of applications, then you should not do it, since there is a better option - use the special App Admin program. You can download it directly from the App Store for free. Thanks to this application, you can view all available versions of applications installed on your phone and roll back to them. To use the program, just select the applications to roll back and enter the unique version number to which you want to roll back the selected application.

So, installing an older version of software is possible on all Apple devices, but you can not roll back to any version, but only to those that have the SHSH signature. The process can be performed either through the official iTunes application or through third-party programs. The main thing is to download the correct firmware version and not interrupt the update process until it is fully completed.