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Can I downgrade iOS 5 back to iOS 4?

j-a-x

j-a-x

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Apr 15, 2005
1,570
286
Houston, Texas
I am a developer and I partially want to test my app in iOS 5 but more than that I want to try iOS 5 out of curiosity. Since I am a poor grad student who only has access to one iPhone, I am wondering if I would be able to downgrade my device back to iOS 4 if iOS 5 isn't stable enough for every day use.

I know that with iOS 4 you could downgrade back to iOS 3 but you'd be stuck at the newer baseband (which was not an issue for me since I don't use a carrier unlock). I assume backing up my SHSH blobs would be a good idea, but does anybody know for sure whether iOS 5 is downgradable or not?

I know it's probably a bit too early for people to report on this but I thought I'd start a thread that could continue once people actually try to downgrade.
 
I would start with the assumption of "no" and go from there. If you install iOS 5, do not expect to go back to 4. If you can, then great but do not be disappointed if you cannot.
 
Think the site has more info there on this. Might want to check there. Pretty sure I saw another developer posting some info on this from the developer site.
 
My understanding is that once you upgrade and iTunes makes a back-up, then when you downgrade back to iOS 4.3.3 you won't be able to Restore from the newest backup (because the backup is of a higher OS).

Your only option will be to Set-up as new.
 
saving107 said:
My understanding is that once you upgrade and iTunes makes a back-up, then when you downgrade back to iOS 4.3.3 you won't be able to Restore from the newest backup (because the backup is of a higher OS).

Your only option will be to Set-up as new.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't you just be able to restore to an older backup from a time machine disk rather than setting up as new?
 
I have the same concern/question. Can you ever go back to the public release cycle or will you always be locked into developer seeds?
 
j-a-x said:
I wonder if I should wait for somebody to confirm or if I should be the first guinea pig...
Click to expand...

Again I would check the developers site as someone had posted some info on this already that they had copied from there. I really didn't pay attention as I'm not a developer.

Here is one post I was referring too...

DDustiNN said:
  1. No. I just looked and the download is a .dmg file (Mac executable/installation file). It looks like it also needs iTunes 10.5 beta, which is also only available for Mac download.
  2. According to the disclaimer, your device cannot be reverted back to a previous version once you install iOS 5.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You can probably downgrade using the Cydia blob like in previous versions. When iOS 4 came out, people could downgrade. You just won't be able to restore from your newest backup, but rather the most recent from 4.3.3.
 
you might be able too since 4.3.3 is still being signed by Apple. normally you need shsh blobs saved. it will be a few days before we know for sure. might want to wait a few days. sights like www.iclarified.com or http://www.redmondpie.com/ will have tutorials. possibly though might pass since it should be limited access. I'd wait for now if you think you might go back. most Dev's have two devices 1 for testing the other for use.
 
D1G1T4L said:
So the disclaimer is incorrect? Should help some people out if it is.
Click to expand...

The disclaimer isn't exactly incorrect. As far as Apple is concerned, you can't downgrade (it's not officially supported) but with 3rd party tools/tricks/hacks you can probably do it. I'm not sure if you need Tiny Umbrella to do it or not but I am guessing you do. I'm going to do my upgrade now. Wish me luck! :)

Out of curiosity, are people downgrading because it is buggy, or just because they want to test it out?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Off Topic:

Does iOS 5 require iTunes 10.3? or will iTunes 10.2.2. work fine (iTunes 10.3 is said to be available on Apple's website, but the link still goes to 10.2.2)

I have iTunes 10.5 beta but I haven't decided if I want to install this version yet on my main computer.
 
j-a-x said:
Out of curiosity, are people downgrading because it is buggy, or just because they want to test it out?
Click to expand...

Yes, This!

I am wanting to install iOS 5 but I'm concerned about the stability of it.

Can anyone give some advice to those of us that use our devices on a daily basis and don"t have a separate device just for testing??

Should we upgrade?
 
It requires 10.5 beta. I already installed 10.5 beta because it should be pretty easy to downgrade from if necessary and it doesn't really seem that different so far.

Almost done upgrading. I can't wait to try wifi sync! And I hope SlothCam still works in iOS 5, otherwise I've got work to do.
 
Yes you can downgrade by putting Iphone in DFU mode, ( I just did) I thought my UDID was registered already but it was not so I had to downgrade. Running Itunes 10.5
 
iClarified says that with the SHSH you can downgrade anything except an Ipad 2. Has anyone tried downgrading an iPad 2? I wonder whether there's a difference between the WiFi and 3G+WiFi versions?
 
peterjcat said:
iClarified says that with the SHSH you can downgrade anything except an Ipad 2. Has anyone tried downgrading an iPad 2? I wonder whether there's a difference between the WiFi and 3G+WiFi versions?
Click to expand...

@musclenerd has said that only 3G is a problem, he said wifi is fine.

I have an iPad 2 wifi. I saved my shsh blobs with Tiny Umbrella, but I was forced to save it locally due to their being a problem with Cydia's storage or something... Any idea how to downgrade, if I choose to update, using an shsh blob saved locally to my Mac? I may choose to downgrade if an iPad 2 jailbreak comes out for 4.x.
 
j-a-x said:
It requires 10.5 beta. I already installed 10.5 beta because it should be pretty easy to downgrade from if necessary and it doesn't really seem that different so far.

Almost done upgrading. I can't wait to try wifi sync! And I hope SlothCam still works in iOS 5, otherwise I've got work to do.
543.jpg
Click to expand...

Will SlothCam run??
 
I just downgraded my iPad 2 Wifi back down to 4.3.3 with no problem. I just clicked restore in iTunes 10.5 and it asked me of I wanted to Restore and Update to the latest firmware, I clicked yes and it took me back to 4.3.3.
 
pettit03 said:
I just downgraded my iPad 2 Wifi back down to 4.3.3 with no problem. I just clicked restore in iTunes 10.5 and it asked me of I wanted to Restore and Update to the latest firmware, I clicked yes and it took me back to 4.3.3.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the iPad does not have the same baseband issues of the iPhone. Thats why there is no problem downgrading to any version iOS.
 
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