A new iOS update can slow an older iPhone, break an app you depend on, or change a feature you liked. Going back to a previous version of iOS is possible, but only within a short window: Apple must still be “signing” the older version, which usually stops a week or two after a new release. This guide explains how to check whether a downgrade is possible, how to do it with a Mac or Windows PC, how to leave the iOS beta, and what happens to your data.
Quick Answer
Check whether Apple is still signing the older iOS version for your iPhone model (sites like ipsw.me list signed versions). If it is, download that version’s .ipsw file, connect your iPhone to a computer, open Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app or iTunes (Windows), hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) while clicking Restore iPhone, and select the file. If the version isn’t signed, you can’t downgrade.
Before You Start: Important Limits
- Apple signing window: Your iPhone can install only iOS versions Apple currently signs. After a new release, the previous version is usually signed for a short time, then blocked for good.
- Restoring erases your iPhone. Downgrading wipes everything and installs the older iOS.
- Backups don’t go backward. A backup made on a newer iOS can’t be restored onto an older iOS. You can only restore an older backup (made before you updated), or set up as new and use iCloud to re-sync photos, contacts, and other data.
- Some devices can’t downgrade to certain versions (for example, a model that shipped with the newer version).
Step 1: Check Whether the Older Version Is Signed
- Find your exact model in Settings > General > About (tap the model name to see the model number, such as A2846).
- Visit a firmware tracking site such as ipsw.me, choose your iPhone, and look for versions marked as signed.
- If only the current version is signed, a downgrade isn’t possible right now.
Step 2: Prepare
- Back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer (useful if you need to return to the current version).
- If you have an archived backup from before you updated, locate it; that’s the one you’ll restore afterward.
- Turn off Find My: Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone. Restoring requires it.
- Download the signed .ipsw file for your exact model from Apple’s servers (tracking sites link to them).
Step 3: Restore the Older iOS on a Mac
- Connect your iPhone with a cable and unlock it. Tap Trust if asked.
- Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
- Hold Option and click Restore iPhone.
- Select the .ipsw file you downloaded and click Open, then confirm.
- Wait while the Mac verifies and installs the older iOS. Keep the iPhone connected.
Step 3 (Windows): Apple Devices App or iTunes
- Install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store (or use iTunes on older Windows versions).
- Connect and unlock your iPhone, and select it in the app.
- Hold Shift and click Restore iPhone.
- Choose the .ipsw file and confirm.
If the Restore Fails: Recovery Mode
If you see an error, put the iPhone in recovery mode (on iPhone 8 and later: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the recovery screen appears), then repeat the Option/Shift-click Restore with the .ipsw file. Error messages like “This device isn’t eligible for the requested build” mean the version is no longer signed.
Leaving the iOS Beta
- Easiest: Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose Off. When the next public version newer than your beta comes out, install it normally. No data loss.
- Immediately: Restore the current public (signed) iOS using recovery mode. This erases the iPhone, and backups made on the beta won’t restore to the older public version.
Step 4: Restore Your Data
- Restore an archived backup made on the older iOS, or
- Set up as new and sign in with your Apple Account. iCloud syncs photos (if iCloud Photos was on), contacts, calendars, notes, and messages (if Messages in iCloud was on). Reinstall apps from the App Store.
Alternatives to Downgrading
- Wait for a bug-fix update; Apple often releases x.0.1 or x.1 updates within weeks.
- Restart your iPhone and give it a day or two after a major update; indexing can temporarily slow it down.
- Turn off Automatic Updates in Settings > General > Software Update to avoid future surprises.
Summary
- Check that Apple still signs the older iOS for your model.
- Back up, turn off Find My, and download the matching .ipsw.
- Option-click (Mac) or Shift-click (Windows) Restore iPhone and select the file.
- Restore an older backup or set up with iCloud.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.