After Apple's disaster with the launch of iOS 13, there are not a few users who wonder if it is possible to go back to a previous version of iOS , and more specifically to iOS 12 (12.4.1). Days ago we collected some of the main problems of the latest version of iOS: incompatibility with some applications, games that get "caught", audio problems on Instagram, insufficient autonomy in some old models and a long etcetera. Now tens and hundreds of users are looking for a way to download from iOS 13 to iOS 12, and this time we will show you how to proceed step by step.
What you should keep in mind before downgrading to iOS 12
Downgrade from iOS 13 to 12.4.1 is only possible while Apple signs that version, that is, while the latest version of iOS 12 is public.
With the release of iOS 13.1 just around the corner (rumors claim that it will be officially released tomorrow, September 24), the removal of iOS 12.4.1 from Apple's servers is imminent . Checking it is as simple as accessing the IPSW website: we will only have to indicate our iPhone model and the page will automatically show us a list with all the iOS versions signed to date.
Another aspect that we must take into account is that restoring the iPhone to a previous version will mean the total erasure of the device and all its files : images, videos, applications and so on. For this reason, it is recommended to save sensitive information inside the computer and proceed to restore it later. ITunes backups are not worth it, sadly.
How to downgrade from iOS 13 to iOS 12 on iPhone
Once the above is clarified, we can proceed to downgrade our iPhone or iPad (in the case of the latter, iOS 13 under iPadOS is not yet public).
The first thing we will need for this is to have the latest version of iTunes on our Mac or Windows computer and download iOS 12.4.1 from the IPSW page following the steps that we have explained previously. Then, we will go to the iPhone and deactivate the option Find my iPhone that we can find in iCloud within the iOS Settings application.
The next step to restore the iPhone will be to connect the phone to the computer with iTunes closed and force it to start in what is known as Recovery Mode. This mode is accessed as follows:
- iPhone 8 and X onwards : with the phone turned off, keep the Volume Up, Volume Down and Lock buttons pressed for a few seconds until the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
- iPhone 7 and 7 Plus : With the phone turned off, press and hold the Volume Down and Lock buttons for a few seconds until the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
- iPhone 6s backwards : With the phone turned off, press and hold the Home and Lock buttons for a few seconds until the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
As the iPhone itself tells us, we will connect the phone to the computer and open, now, the iTunes application. It will automatically show us a box with two options to choose from: Update and Restore iPhone / iPad. The option that interests us is the latter .
Finally we will select the previously downloaded image in IPWS format and click on Restore and update . It is very important that during the restoration of the terminal the cable is kept connected at all times at the risk of leaving the phone as a paperweight.
When iTunes has finished installing, the iPhone will reboot with iOS version 12.14.1 installed .