How to downgrade to IOS 8 using IOS9 backup

[conepwnd]

So I recently updated my phone to IOS 9, everything was pretty good until my action camera app couldn't work with my phone because of IOS 9. I know this because I tried it on my friends Iphone and it worked fine.

Now I would like to downgrade my phone back to IOS 8, I know you click Restore iPhone then use a backup but the problem is it won't be able to use the IOS 9 backup.

Is there anyway to downgrade my phone to an IOS 8 version using a IOS 9 backup of the phone?

Thanks, Enoc

http://i.imgur.com/B9E2pun.png

 

[lagwagon]

So I recently updated my phone to IOS 9, everything was pretty good until my action camera app couldn't work with my phone because of IOS 9. I know this because I tried it on my friends Iphone and it worked fine.

Now I would like to downgrade my phone back to IOS 8, I know you click Restore iPhone then use a backup but the problem is it won't be able to use the IOS 9 backup.

Is there anyway to downgrade my phone to an IOS 8 version using a IOS 9 backup of the phone?

Thanks, Enoc

http://i.imgur.com/B9E2pun.png

I do not think backups are allowed cross version. At least not from a higher version of iOS to a lower (9 to 8, 8 to 7, 7 to 6...and so on.)

 

[daijholt]

One of my colleagues mentioned this to me earlier this month, but I suggest you make a copy of the entire backup folder before doing this, as I've been meaning to verify if this actually works but just haven't yet had the time.

On Windows, go to %appdata%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\ or to wherever your iOS 9 backup is stored in OS X.

If you have multiple folders in this directory, You can find which is your iOS 9 backup by checking the time and date of each folder's creation against the time and date shown for this backup in iTunes.

Find and Edit the Info.plist file with a text editor.

Look for this inside the file:
<key>Product Version</key>
<string>9.0</string>

Change the iOS version from 9.0 to whatever version you're restoring to and save it. Then try restoring your backup to an iOS 8 device.

Also, if you do give it a go before I do, let us know if it works!

 

[conepwnd]

One of my colleagues mentioned this to me earlier this month, but I suggest you make a copy of the entire backup folder before doing this, as I've been meaning to verify if this actually works but just haven't yet had the time.

On Windows, go to %appdata%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\ or to wherever your iOS 9 backup is stored in OS X.

If you have multiple folders in this directory, You can find which is your iOS 9 backup by checking the time and date of each folder's creation against the time and date shown for this backup in iTunes.

Find and Edit the Info.plist file with a text editor.

Look for this inside the file:
<key>Product Version</key>
<string>9.0</string>

Change the iOS version from 9.0 to whatever version you're restoring to and save it. Then try restoring your backup to an iOS 8 device.

Also, if you do give it a go before I do, let us know if it works!

Thanks for the reply, I am a little scared to try it but I have created a backup of the folder and it should be fine. I'll try it out tomorrow seeing that I need my phone for tomorrow.

I'll be sure to get back to you

 

[Shirasaki]

Before trying out this method, I would recommend you do a backup of your current iOS 9, downgrade, and make a backup of iOS 8 once completed.

If I were you, I would try to manually merge them by copying app Data to new iOS 8 backup. Plus, if you simply change that version number to 8.4, for example, new settings and removed settings from iOS 8 to iOS 9 would cause problems.

 

[techspin]

For the sake of tinkering, I attempted to move the PB1 messages file to an 8.4 backup. Received an error message before backup could begin.

 

[The Doctor11]

One of my colleagues mentioned this to me earlier this month, but I suggest you make a copy of the entire backup folder before doing this, as I've been meaning to verify if this actually works but just haven't yet had the time.

On Windows, go to %appdata%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\ or to wherever your iOS 9 backup is stored in OS X.

If you have multiple folders in this directory, You can find which is your iOS 9 backup by checking the time and date of each folder's creation against the time and date shown for this backup in iTunes.

Find and Edit the Info.plist file with a text editor.

Look for this inside the file:
<key>Product Version</key>
<string>9.0</string>

Change the iOS version from 9.0 to whatever version you're restoring to and save it. Then try restoring your backup to an iOS 8 device.

Also, if you do give it a go before I do, let us know if it works!

This is interesting. Can't wait to see if someone can do it successfully.

 

[saudor]

It was possible in previous versions.. havent tried it with 9 to 8. One thing for sure is, you'll lose app data since sandbox is no longer accessible in 8.3+

Messages may be another story

 

[zorinlynx]

I have hacked the version number in a backup to restore to an earlier OS version before.

It broke things in subtle, very annoying ways. I had to revert to the last "real" backup I made using that version.

It's not worth the risk of doing this; you might lose data or find yourself unable to use your device. Either revert to the last iOS 8 backup you made, or just sweat out the iOS 9 irritations until they are fixed.

 

[bushido]

i think the last time this method worked was ging from iOS 6 to 5

 

[v1597psh]

Done this with iOS 7 last summer. Messages haven't been restored