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How easy is it to downgrade from iOS 6 to 5.1.1?

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macrumors 68040
Original poster
Dec 16, 2011
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Yes, I know it's not smart to have a beta as your main OS for use, but I've had iOS 4 beta and iOS 5 beta as my main OS before, and I also want to try out iOS 6 (and I only have 1 iOS device).

Now, in case I want to go back to iOS 5.1.1, how easy is it? Before I could just restore to the previous generation iOS no problem. Has anyone been able to successfully roll back to to iOS 5.1.1 from iOS 6b1? I have my SHSH blobs saved in case.
 
If an update to iOS 5 is issued, is it still easy to revert back to that version, or do you have to go back to 5.1.1, then update to the new version?

Tempted to put iOS 6 on my primary 4S now.

Thanks.
 
For as long as I have had iPhone and betas (iOS4), all you need to do is place your phone into DFU mode and it will restore in iTunes to the current release (5.1.1)

NOW, that being said, if you made backups or syncs on iOS6, they COULD not restore to 5.1.1, but you can always get a clean 5.1.1 back, at this point.
 
Gjwilly said:
From 6b1 it's easy peasy.
No blobs necessary.
Might not be the case with b2 but right now you're good to go.
Click to expand...

Could you elaborate on why b2 might be hard to downgrade? As far as I know, every beta has been able to downgrade back to current firmware using DFU mode.
 
Parise said:
Correct.

DFU, iTunes, restore.

Done.
Click to expand...

Not correct.
Problems did and do crop up.
Sometimes Xcode is needed to correct some thing.
Sometimes a complete iTunes reinstall is needed.
Sometimes an iTunes beta can't download the previous signed firmware.
It's usually as easy as DFU, iTunes, restore but for some people, sometimes it just isn't.
Even with this first iOS6 beta there are threads of some people having a problem restoring.
 
schizbomb said:
NOW, that being said, if you made backups or syncs on iOS6, they COULD not restore to 5.1.1, but you can always get a clean 5.1.1 back, at this point.
Click to expand...

It's probably good advice to back up your current iOS 5 state to iTunes, then use iCloud syncing again when you install 6b1 so you can revert to a relatively recent 5 backup if things go badly.
 
Gjwilly said:
Not correct.
Problems did and do crop up.
Sometimes Xcode is needed to correct some thing.
Sometimes a complete iTunes reinstall is needed.
Sometimes an iTunes beta can't download the previous signed firmware.
It's usually as easy as DFU, iTunes, restore but for some people, sometimes it just isn't.
Even with this first iOS6 beta there are threads of some people having a problem restoring.
Click to expand...

The only problem I saw was coming from individuals who upgraded from 5.1 not 5.1.1.
 
Thanks guys, so the gist is that usually it's okay and you can use DFU restore to get back to the most recent release version from any beta version.

But, you should go from the most recent release version to the beta version (5.1.1 to 6.0b1).
And, you should backup 5.1.1 to iTunes before so that you have something to go back to.

And sometimes things get screwy and it takes a lot more work, but not usually.
 
They're betas. They let you downgrade with no problem for that reason. I've done it once already. No DFU mode even. Connected, Option (or shift, depending on your comp) restore to the 5.1.1 ipsw on my desktop, done.

People with problems restoring are probably trying to go back to 5.1 or some other unsigned firmware or some hack job way to restore. A straight restore with 5.1.1 works fine.
 
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just figured out that you can downgrade to 5.1.1, BUT cannot restore iCloud backups of 6 into 5 :( maybe iTunes but too late for me.
 
dimab said:
just figured out that you can downgrade to 5.1.1, BUT cannot restore iCloud backups of 6 into 5 :( maybe iTunes but too late for me.
Click to expand...

It's not possible. Re-upgrade to iOS 6 then create a local backup on your computer. Then just restore back to 5.1.1 and restore from local backup.
 
Zcott said:
It's not possible. Re-upgrade to iOS 6 then create a local backup on your computer. Then just restore back to 5.1.1 and restore from local backup.
Click to expand...

You cannot restore a ios6 beta backup to a device running 5.1.1

----------

Here's a foolproof guide.....
Download 5.1.1 from "somewhere" (google it) (Put on desktop for finding easy, or remember exactly where it is....perhaps downloads folder!?

Plug device into iTunes (latest version)

Hold power and home button down for 10 seconds

Release power button and keep holding home button

"iPhone detected in recovery mode" will be the iTunes message.

Hold Shift and press Restore in iTunes. When window opens navigate to and select 5.1.1 ipsw

Let it restore and you ll be back on 5.1.1

As far as then restoring from backup goes...you must have a 5.1.1 backup to do this. If iCloud or iTunes (go to EDIT, PREFERENCES, DEVICES to see if there is one there, use the date it was made to judge what iOS it is) has a 5.1.1 use this.......otherwise you got to set up as a new phone....

Simple!
 
Last edited:
Defender2010 said:
You cannot restore a ios6 beta backup to a device running 5.1.1

----------

Here's a foolproof guide.....
Download 5.1.1 from "somewhere" (google it) (Put on desktop for finding easy, or remember exactly where it is....perhaps downloads folder!?

Plug device into iTunes (latest version)

Hold power and home button down for 10 seconds

Release power button and keep holding home button

"iPhone detected in recovery mode" will be the iTunes message.

Hold Shift and press Retore in iTunes. When window opens navigate to and select 5.1.1 ipsw

Let it restore and you ll be back on 5.1.1

As far as then restoring from backup goes...you must have a 5.1.1 backup to do this. If iCloud or iTunes (go to EDIT, PREFERENCES, DEVICES to see if there is one there, use the date it was made to judge what iOS it is) has a 5.1.1 you this.......otherwise you got to set up as a new phone....

Simple!
Click to expand...
Is this still a viable option?

I posted this (SEE BELOW) and not a single fr____g person answered out of a couple hundred views!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Please help - I had my iPhone 3 GS (OS 5.1.1) unlocked by AT+T and was taken to iTunes for a restore of the iPhone BUT it loaded FULL VERSION (not beta) 6.0 instead of keeping me in 5.1.1 AUTOMATICALLY - I had no choice in the matter - Therefore LOSING my Jail Broken status and my Cydia file. I need help restoring my iPhone back to 5.1.1" "ETC ETC ETC!!!

I have tried several times and iTunes blocks a restore to 5.1.1

I doubt that Apple is still signing 5.1.1 SO is it still possible to go back to 5.1.1. Can anyone here guide me in restoring my iPhone back to 5.1.1 for purposes of a new Jailbreak. ........Thank you for any help with this."

I did do a backup. And I have this on my desktop - iPhone2,1_5.1.1_9B206_Restore
 
Last edited:
deGenova said:
Is this still a viable option?

I posted this (SEE BELOW) and not a single fr____g person answered out of a couple hundred views!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Please help - I had my iPhone 3 GS (OS 5.1.1) unlocked by AT+T and was taken to iTunes for a restore of the iPhone BUT it loaded FULL VERSION (not beta) 6.0 instead of keeping me in 5.1.1 AUTOMATICALLY - I had no choice in the matter - Therefore LOSING my Jail Broken status and my Cydia file. I need help restoring my iPhone back to 5.1.1" "ETC ETC ETC!!!

I have tried several times and iTunes blocks a restore to 5.1.1

I doubt that Apple is still signing 5.1.1 SO is it still possible to go back to 5.1.1. Can anyone here guide me in restoring my iPhone back to 5.1.1 for purposes of a new Jailbreak. ........Thank you for any help with this."

I did do a backup. And I have this on my desktop - iPhone2,1_5.1.1_9B206_Restore
Click to expand...

Well, I guess if iTunes is no longer signing 5.1.1 then it's not possible. Has it stopped signing? I guess so if it is not working...
 
Defender2010

I did succeed finally...so please take a "never mind" on my request - I succeeded thanks to you and to the many posters here in this great forum

BTW they said it couldn't be done and you (the amateur experts here) proved them all wrong.

"Tiny umbrella" http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.com%2F&ei=ZJVxULXmCcHH0QHNy4D4AQ&usg=AFQjCNG_5SLASGx8u8i-reyWeajXavYIwg&sig2=ysfkdhwbuMDqQd8iUDo4cA reminded me that my previously Jailbroken Iphone probably had saved the SHSH blobs in Cydia so I retrieved them and proceeded from there to the 5.1.1 restore (down from 6.0) using mediafire. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediafire.com%2F&ei=JJVxUOOaGOy20AHgyYDgCQ&usg=AFQjCNFMYH8iJGUI-yx_YOkOF8-Ct946lw&sig2=IZuNCO1t50FtvxwwCLbhiw They auto loaded Operamini into iTunes and after synching it I then was set to go on to the JailBreak.

BTW HaroldsForum provided most of the tech info on how to succed in this.
Read page 80 or so to about the end (page 88)http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1599765-Attention-All-T-Mobile-Pre-Paid-Customers!/page80

Link How to Jailbreak iOS 5.1.1 Untethered with Redsn0w

http://osxdaily.com/2012/06/04/how-to-jailbreak-ios-5-1-1-untethered-with-redsn0w/

SO - on an un-locked (by AT+T) iPhone 3GS (32Gig). I was successful in downgrading back to 5.1.1 from 6.0 (SOFTWARE 6.0 BUILD 10A403) using -->(RedSn0w 0.9.14b2.) and then I Jail-broke the phone and all seems to be working fine. My aim in doing so was also to have "unrestricted internet access" by means of u.web2go.com.server4.operamini.com:80 modification - using my TMobile Pre-paid Sim through OperaMini 5.0.2 - APN (wap.voicestream.com)
 
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