ipsw download?

[csonni]

I've always eventually deleted the ipsw downloads after updating my iOS devices. Is there any particular reason to keep them?

 

[Shirasaki]

Rollback due to a failed install? Save particular version for "legacy" devices? Save file download bandwidth if there are multiple devices updating basically the same version of the firmware? Want to do a clean install?
Those above are all valid reasons to keep ipsw around, not so much for versions that Apple stopped signing of course unless the reason is very specific. (Forensic research? OS bug hunting? Security Audit? Government compliance?)

 

[csonni]

Thanks for that info. As for multiple devices, I don't think I've ever been able to use the download file on any more than one device.

 

[Cobold]

ipsw files are always device-specific. Keep them in case you have to restore again, otherwise delete them.
Up to you