Downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7

How to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7

Is it possible to delete iOS 8 and go back to iOS 7? Yes - but time is limited. Here's our advice on downgrading your iPhone or iPad, including how to reinstall iOS 8 if iOS 8.0.1 broke your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.

Can I remove iOS 8 from my iPad and iPhone, and reinstall iOS 7? I'm sure it's slowed them both down.

Removing iOS 8 (or any other version of iOS) and downgrading to the previous version is relatively straightforward, provided you do so within a few days of launch. There's a brief window (generally just a few days) after Apple releases a new full version of iOS, during which the company continues to 'sign' (or authorise) the previous version. In those few days you can downgrade reasonably easily.

In this article we show how to downgrade your iPhone or iPad from iOS 8 to iOS 7 - the pitfalls, the problems, and the preparations you can make before upgrading in the first place.

Update: iOS 8.0.1 has caused major issues for some iPhone users. We've added a section to this article that explains what to do if iOS 8.0.1 has broken your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.

How to reinstall iOS 8 if iOS 8.0.1 has broken your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus

Apple on 24 September released iOS 8.0.1, but quickly pulled the update when iPhone and iPad users reported major issues.

Many of those with iOS 8.0.1 installed found that they were no longer able to connect to their cellular network – instead they were faced with never-ending 'No Service.'

The Touch ID fingerprint scanner also suffered from the update, with some users finding that they could no longer unlock their iPhone with the technology – instead being forced to use their passcode.

Apple has said: "We have a workaround for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users who lost cellular service and Touch ID functionality after updating to iOS 8.0.1. Affected users can reinstall iOS 8 through iTunes."

"We apologise for the great inconvenience experienced by users, and are working around the clock to prepare iOS 8.0.2 with a fix for the issue, and will release it as soon as it is ready in the next few days."

Below is a list of the bugs Apple's iOS 8.0.1 update aimed to fix, as described in Apple's Software Update release notes.

• Fixes a bug so HealthKit apps can now be made available on the App Store.
• Addresses an issue where 3rd party keyboards could become deselected when a user enters their passcode
• Fixes an issue that prevented some apps from accessing photos from the Photo Library
• Improves the reliability of the Reachability feature on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
• Fixes an issue that could cause unexpected cellular data usage when receiving SMS/MMS messages
• Better support of Ask To Buy for Family Sharing for In-App Purchases
• Fixes an issue where ringtones where sometimes not restored from iCloud backups
• Fixes a but that prevented uploading photos and videos from Safari.

If you've got an iPhone 6 or an iPhone 6 Plus and have found that iOS 8.0.1 has broken it, Apple has provided instructions for a "workaround."

The first thing you'll need to do is make sure your version of iTunes on your Mac or PC is up to date by going to iTunes > Check for Updates, then connect your iPhone to iTunes.

Make sure your iPhone is backed up to iTunes (Apple says iCloud backups won't restore to earlier versions).

On Apple's support page, you'll find links to files that you'll need to download depending on which device you've got.

You can then open iTunes, and press the Option key (Mac) or Shift key (PC) and click Check for Update.

Then press Update, and iOS 8 will be reinstalled on your iPhone.

If you've got iOS 8 and want to go right back to iOS 7, you can do so too. Read on to find out how.

Downgrade iOS 8 to iOS 7: Back up. Really! Back up now

During the reinstallation process, iOS will wipe all of the apps and data from your iPhone or iPad (except for the undeleteable, stock apps). Make a backup  of the device - in iTunes or iCloud - before you begin the following procedure.

Downgrade iOS 8 to iOS 7: Get an .ipsw file for the previous version of iOS 7

To reinstall iOS 7, you need the relevant .ipsw file - in this case you're looking for 7.1.2.ipsw. If it's stored on your hard drive you can find it by following the path youruserfolder/Library/iTunes/ and then within a folder called iPad Software Updates, iPhone Software Updates or iPad Software Updates.

If you can't find the latest one on your Mac - which is fairly likely, giving the Mac's tendency to delete them periodically - then don't worry. Simply run a search for download ipsw and select and download the appropriate file for your device. There are plenty of sites to choose from.

Downgrade iOS 8 to iOS 7: Open the .ipsw file

Assuming that Apple is still signing iOS 7, the following steps should be fairly easy. Plug your iPhone or iPad into your Mac (or PC - the steps are essentially the same), then launch iTunes. Click on your device in the iTunes interface and select Summary. Now hold down the Alt/Option key, and click the Restore button. (You'll need to disable the Find My feature on the device if you've enabled it.)

Now navigate to the iOS 7.1.2.ipsw file and click Open. The Mac will now reinstall iOS 7 on your iPad or iPhone.

Downgrade iOS 8 to iOS 7: If necessary, go into Recovery mode

There are some potential obstacles, however.

If iTunes says you're already running the latest version of iOS on your device, you may need to use Recovery mode. Shut down the device, plug one end of the syncing cable into your computer and hold down the Home button on the iPhone/iPad while you connect the cable to it. When the Connect to iTunes screen appears, release the Home button.

iTunes will say that your device is now in Recovery mode. Hold down the Option key (Alt), click Restore, navigate to the iOS 7.1.2.ipsw file, and install it on your device.

Downgrade iOS 8 to iOS 7: How to tell if Apple has stopped signing iOS 7

At some point in the next few days, Apple is going to stop signing iOS 7, and this procedure will get a lot more complicated.

If you get an alert that says this version of iOS is not compatible with your device, that means Apple has closed the window. You're probably stuck with iOS 8, but we'll look into any remaining methods of downgrading when we next update this article.

Good luck!