Why You Might Want to Downgrade iOS 

You might want to downgrade from one version of the iOS to an older one for a few reasons, including:

Bugs: The new version might have bugs that make your iOS device hard to use. You might want to downgrade to the previous, less-buggy version and wait for the bugs to be fixed before upgrading again.Unwelcome Changes: New versions of iOS sometimes introduce significant changes to the user interface or features. Downgrading is appealing if you dislike these changes or interfere with how you want to use your device.Too Slow: If you’ve got an old phone, installing the latest iOS update can make your phone painfully slow. In that case, the newest version isn’t worth it, and you’ll want to go back.

What Gets in the Way of Downgrading iOS 

Downgrading iOS has its appeal, but it’s not always straightforward to do. In most cases, the best you can do is downgrade to the version you just upgraded from, but even then, you’re only able to do this for a short period. If you want to downgrade, you should do it right away, or you’ll miss your chance. The reason for this has to do with how Apple secures its operating systems. When you upgrade or downgrade iOS, your device contacts Apple’s servers to ensure you’re installing an official update, which entails confirming the iOS version is digitally “signed” by Apple. If it’s not signed, you won’t be able to install that version of the OS.  The problem with downgrading is that Apple stops signing older iOS versions pretty soon after a new version is released. 

Before You Downgrade Your iOS

Before you start downgrading your device, it’s crucial to understand what you’re doing. A downgrade means wiping all of the data from your device and re-installing an old OS. The best-case scenario is you backed up your iPhone before installing the latest iOS version. If you did, you could simply restore that backup onto your device. If you didn’t, you’d need to downgrade your device, then separately sync all of your data. That’s tedious, but it’s your only option in this case.

How to Downgrade iOS Without Losing Data 

If you’re ready to downgrade to an older version of the iOS that Apple is still signing, you want to be sure you don’t lose any in the process. Here’s what you need to do: