How To Downgrade From iOS 8 Beta to iOS 7

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Posted June 2, 2014 at 10:39pm by iClarified

These are instructions on how to downgrade from the iOS 8 Beta to iOS 7. You will only be able to downgrade to the latest iOS 7 release, which is iOS 7.1.1.

Before attempting any downgrade, please be sure to backup all of your information.

Step One
Download the latest iOS 7 firmware for your device from here. You can only restore to the latest firmware Apple is signing (7.1.1 in this case)

Step Two
Launch iTunes from your dock.

How To Downgrade From iOS 8 Beta to iOS 7

Step Three
Place your device into DFU Mode by following these steps. Here is a full tutorial on how to put your iPhone into DFU mode if you need additional help.

Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time.

After exactly 10 seconds release the Sleep/Wake button. Continue holding the home button until you iTunes pops up a message telling you that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.

The iPhone screen will remain black like this:

Step Four
Hold down the Alt/Option key (Shift in Windows) and click the Restore iPhone... button.

Step Five
Select the firmware file you downloaded earlier from the window that appears and click the Open button.

When asked to confirm the restore click the Restore button.

Step Six
iTunes will go through the process of the restore/downgrade and after about 10-15 minutes, your device will be freshly restored to iOS 7.

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trivjednom - December 29, 2014 at 9:38am

please help , how to backup , shsh blobs on my iphone 5s ios 8.1.2 tkanks

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Sue - September 30, 2014 at 2:03am

I get an error stating that the firmware is not compatible with the GSM+CDMA for both the 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 versions of iOS for the iPhone 5S. I'm freaking out!

Sue - October 1, 2014 at 1:12am

Well, I ended up restoring my phone's functionality but I had to upgrade to iOS 8.0.2 which further puts me into the zone of 'no going back'. The problem is, iOS 8 broke my hands free functionality in my 2013 BMW X5 so beware of the upgrade, yet again.

EiFonBenutzer - October 3, 2014 at 7:20am

Apple stopped signing iOS 7 so a downgrade is no longer possible. I have the same handsfree problem with my 2010 Volkswagen. According to Apple Support, they skipped an "old" bluetooth protocol assuming, it is not used anymore but the high number of customer complaints proved them wrong. All we can do is wait for 8.1... 2... 3.

EiFonBenutzer - October 3, 2014 at 7:24am

Oh btw dear Sue, as far as I know, BMW offers upgrades for it's latest media systems. You should contact your BMW partner for more information.

Alex - July 8, 2014 at 7:28pm

Just put it in recovery, turn it off and hold down the home button as you plug it in to your computer. Itunes will detect it as a device in recovery, hit restore and your back to stock stable software!

koelnu - July 4, 2014 at 5:56pm

Guys I have a problem that mine iPhone 5 on Ios 8 beta 2 don't want to go into dfu modus ;/ can someone help me?

koelnu - July 4, 2014 at 5:55pm

Dan0 - June 8, 2014 at 11:27pm

Guys listen to me i just went through this. I am a registered apple dev and had ios 8 in my iphone 5 for about a week. I decided to revert back to 7.1.1 and I downloaded the ispw from apples website. I put the phone into dfu mode, But as I try to restore I get error codes. So I read a lot of comments here and as a result I took some peoples advice and put back into dfu mode and hit restore and allowed iTunes to download 7.1.1 and restore my device that way. Worked like a charm. So please save yourselves some trouble and just download and restore through iTunes in dfu mode. Hope this helps!

Wolf06 - June 20, 2014 at 3:02am

Thank you Dan0!!!!!

RaiderDog - September 27, 2014 at 11:28pm

Can't seem to figure out where to download 7.1.1 from with iTunes. Done several searches but no luck... suggestions?

Guy - June 8, 2014 at 10:02pm

Many Thanks. An invaluable guide which I applied to my iPad Mini

ineb - June 6, 2014 at 10:26am

I experienced the same problem with you (Error 3004 always popped up). I used connection in the office network when doing the restore process. And then I tried to use internet from other mobile provider for restore process, and it's working. So it seems connection to apple server is blocked from my office network. I guess :)

Arlen - June 6, 2014 at 9:03am

7.1 is not the latest version of iPhone/iPad software so it doesn't work. You need 7.1.1 which is why allowing iTunes to download the file works. :)

maxxee - June 4, 2014 at 2:43pm

guys, AVOID this buggy crap!! Listen to what I am telling you! I have no idea why but I wanted to try this beta. I made a FULL backup while i was on 7.1.1. Here's the issue...I have a 64gb and have lots of pictures on it and icloud only backsup 5gb unless you pay for more space, which I don't. So anyway, I went back to 7.1.1. by going into dfu mode and letting itunes download the 7.1.1. So everything is fine until I get to the backup process. When I select MY backup, it gives me this error: The backup cannot be restored to this iphone because the software on the iphone is too old. AVOID THIS CRAP!!

Ricker - June 6, 2014 at 5:20am

I did that mistake already. Is there anyway to fix it??

maxxee - June 4, 2014 at 2:38pm

Arjun Menon - June 4, 2014 at 7:50am

Ok here is my problem. I got too excited with OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 beta. I have a developer account. And I upgraded both my iPhone 5S and MacBook Pro (Late 2011 17inch model). Soon I realized the bugs on both and want to go back especially iOS 7.1.1. I can manage with the OS X Yosemite until fall cause it's not that buggy. I tried to restore and failed. First I tried to manually restore by downloading 1.4 GB ipsw but that did not work (error 3004 popped up). Then I tried it the normal way using iTunes that also did not work (no error number just said cannot restore after it downloaded the firmware again from iTunes). I am helpless now. I would really appreciate if someone could help me.

Arjun Menon - June 4, 2014 at 9:11am

UPDATE: Turned on my Macbook today. Tried the restore process again from iTunes after putting the iPhone on DFU (Just like how I did last night), this time the software extracted and iTunes did not give an error... the phone restoration started but half way through the installation, Error 3004 popped up again. Aaaarrrrgh! Now the installation is going on 60% on my iPhone. I am eager to see which version is restored iOS 7.1.1 or the same bloody iOS 8 Beta. Will keep all posted.

Arjun Menon - June 4, 2014 at 11:08am

Update 2: I tried again one last time and the bloody thing finally worked. I think Apple knew and felt sad for me. Now my problem has been resolved and my iPhone 5s and iPad Air are back to 7.1.1. Lesson learnt. Never go for the bloody beta. Will wait for final release in October and trade in the iPhone 5s and iPad Air for the new version perhaps iPhone 6 and iPad Air (2nd version).

Cyberboii - June 5, 2014 at 3:09pm

Hey there, how are you? Glad u were able to get your phone fixed. I was wondering if you would be willing to register my UDiD for me? I'd like to try out the iOS8 beta's

Ander - June 3, 2014 at 7:40pm

If I make a backup using iOS 8, will I be able to restore it on iOS 7?

dheerajverma143 - June 3, 2014 at 3:57pm

i got it now... for all who r nt able to downgrade... well i have old ipsw file... download new as given in link above... then dfu mode. then restore it will work 100% mine is working now :) thankz iclarified :)

gottahavebling - June 3, 2014 at 2:40pm

Worked for me. :-) (DO NOT download the 7.1 manually, let itunes download for you) Here's what did. 1.) Open iTunes 2.) Turn device in DFU mode (Hold Home + Power Off for 10 seconds) 3.) itunes will recognize that the iphone is in recovery mode. 4.) Click on Retore iPhone and follow the directions.

anthonyd - June 3, 2014 at 3:12pm

Thanks! Worked like a charm!!

gottahavebling - June 3, 2014 at 2:39pm

gottahavebling - June 3, 2014 at 2:38pm

gottahavebling - June 3, 2014 at 2:36pm

kiran t d - June 3, 2014 at 12:59pm

its not working. I downloaded the right firmware for my ios from the link specified in iclarified website. i says that the firmware is not supported.

the user - June 3, 2014 at 2:25pm

i had the same error. then all i did was just hit restore instead of trying the shift/alt then click method and it worked like a charm

the user - June 3, 2014 at 2:36pm

just put the phone in dfu mode and just restore. do not use the downloaded link. simply use the itunes 7.1.1

DosRivers - June 3, 2014 at 12:25pm

Its not working. Any tips?

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