How Tos

[Update] How to downgrade your iPhone or iPad from iOS 8 to iOS 7 in 3 easy steps

Revert before it's too late (Updated: It's too late)

[Update] How to downgrade your iPhone or iPad from iOS 8 to iOS 7 in 3 easy steps
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iOS
Updated on September 29th, at 8:03: I'm afraid it's no longer possible to downgrade your device using this method. After the launch of iOS 8.0.2, Apple has stopped signing iOS 7.1.2.

Until some smart coder creates a jailbreak for iOS 8, you're going to be stuck on the new operating system. Sorry!


So you regret installing iOS 8. It's nothing to be ashamed of. We've all woken up one morning with a strange operating system on our phone, and we wish we could take it back.

We wanted to put together a quick article on how to downgrade your phone back to iOS 7, in case you regret turning your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 into a slow and sluggish lump of coal.

And we mean quick, because this loophole will shut soon and Apple will stop you from reverting your phone or tablet to older the OS. So make your mind up now.

First things first, you need to check that Apple will still allow you to install the old iOS on your device. Otherwise you'll get through the process and be hit with an error message.

Check this page. Find your device (we've translated the Identifier to actual device names, below), and make sure it has a green 'YES' icon in the signing column next to Version 7.1.2.

  • iPad 2 - iPad2,1 to 2,4
  • iPad 3 - iPad3,1 to 3,2
  • iPad 4 - iPad3,3 to 3,6
  • iPad Air - iPad4,1 to 4,3
  • iPad mini - iPad2,5 to 2,7
  • iPad mini with Retina - iPad4,4 to 4,6
  • iPhone 4S - iPhone4,1
  • iPhone 5 - iPhone5,1 to 5,2
  • iPhone 5C - iPhone5,3 to 5,4
  • iPhone 5S - iPhone6,1 to 6,2
  • iPod touch 5 - iPod5,1

If it says 'yes', go to Redmond Pie to download the old OS for your specific device (note: GSM is for iPhones in Europe, CDMA for those in the US). Find your gizmo and start downloading the massive IPSW file.

Restore

Got it? Good. Plug your iOS 8 device into iTunes and then find your device in the column on the left.

In the Summary tab, look for the 'Restore iPad' or 'Restore iPhone' button. Hold down your alt button (if you're on a Mac) or shift button (if you're running Windows) and then click the button.

This will make a 'Open' window appear. Simply find the IPSW file you downloaded early and click it. This will now restore your iPad back to iOS 7.1.2 and you can stop complaining all the time.

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer