iOS 17 is the latest update for iPhone users, recently announced by Apple on June 5 at the WWDC event. This new update introduces a plethora of useful features that truly enhance the user experience, making the update truly remarkable.
The developer beta of iOS 17 is already available for users, and the best part is that it is free which means you don’t need a paid developer account. Since it’s free many users who are eager to try out the new update may have already installed the iOS 17 developer beta on their iPhones.
Indeed, upgrading to iOS 17 offers a plethora of exciting new features like Standby Mode, Contact Posters, Offline Maps, an abundance of stickers, and more. However, since iOS 17 has just been released, it is possible that there may be some issues that could potentially disrupt your daily routine. In such cases, you can always consider the option to downgrade your iPhone.
How to Downgrade iOS 17 to iOS 16
There can be various reasons to opt for a downgrade, such as experiencing instability, encountering multiple bugs, or simply being done with testing. Regardless of the specific reason, you can follow this guide to assist you through the downgrade process.
Note: This will also work if you want to downgrade your iPad.
Requirements:
- You need a Mac on Windows PC
- Lightning Cable
- Internet Connection
- Backup from iOS 16 build (if you want to restore your data)
- Take a backup from your latest iOS 16 build if you are thinking of trying iOS 17 (you can take iCloud or Local backup on your PC/Mac)
Download IPSW
You need the latest signed IPSW for your iPhone which you need to install on your iPhone if you want to downgrade. So how to download it? It’s free and simple.
Go to IPSW.me webpage and select your iPhone Model. It will show the signed IPSW file on top with green text. Download the IPSW and remember its location.
Download iTunes (For Windows PC)
If you have a Windows PC, you need to download and install iTunes software on your PC. You might already have the software if you are using iPhone with Windows PC. In that case, install the latest version. You can use the official website to download iTunes.
Restore your iPhone
- On your iPhone, Turn off the Find My iPhone option in Settings.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC using the original Cable. Don’t lock your iPhone.
- Your PC or Mac will ask for different permissions, grant all required permission.
- There will also be a prompt on your iPhone, Tap the Trust button.
- Open Finder on your Mac or iTunes on your PC.
- On Finder/iTunes you will see your iPhone on the left pane. Click on it. The iPhone icon could be on the top part of iTunes.
- This will show options for your iPhone. Here’s what you need to do:
- On Mac: Press the Option button and while holding the button, left click the Restore iPhone button.
- On Windows: Press the Shift button and while holding the button, left click the Restore iPhone button.
- After the last step, you will see the files window. Choose the IPSW file that you downloaded earlier and click the Open button. In the confirmation screen click Restore.
- This will start restoring your iPhone. Wait for the process which can take a long time. When it’s complete your iPhone will reboot and you will see the Hello screen. Until then you only need to wait.
Restore your Data
To restore your data after downgrading from iOS 17, it is essential to have taken a backup before upgrading. Currently, this is the only way to restore your data. If you haven’t upgraded to iOS 17 yet, it is highly recommended that you take a backup of your device running the latest iOS 16 build. Backing up your data is always a good practice and ensures that you can restore your important information and settings in case of any issues or downgrades.
- When your device reboots to the system, you need to set up your device.
- During setup, you will get the option to restore your data.
- Choose Restore from iCloud Backup, if you have taken the backup online to your iCloud account.
- If you have an offline backup as a file, choose Restore from Mac or PC and then use the Restore button from Finder or iTunes while holding the Option (for Mac) or Shift (for PC).
This way you can get your data back on your iPhone.
Related:
