ISPW Installs Via Apple Devices Issues

[walterpaisley]

Never quite understood why some people insist on upgrading via IPSW only. Just an observation and not meant to call anyone out in particular. OTA is by far the most tested install/upgrade method as that’s how the vast majority of people will install the new OS to their phone, and what Apple recommends. There’s a reason IPSW downloads are relegated to the Developer portal and not generally available.

Of course, if you run into issues with the OTA, installing via IPSW makes sense, but for most people OTA is the way to go.

 

[teeshot44]

Never quite understood why some people insist on upgrading via IPSW only. Just an observation and not meant to call anyone out in particular. OTA is by far the most tested install/upgrade method as that’s how the vast majority of people will install the new OS to their phone, and what Apple recommends. There’s a reason IPSW downloads are relegated to the Developer portal and not generally available.

Of course, if you run into issues with the OTA, installing via IPSW makes sense, but for most people OTA is the way to go.

Been an iPhone user since the first one. Used OTA since it was first available and never had an issue.

 

[walterpaisley]

Been an iPhone user since the first one. Used OTA since it was first available and never had an issue.

Yeah, in the early days when iOS betas were developer seeds only, I would occasionally use the IPSW, but realized OTA is part of what needs testing. I don’t install early betas on my primary phone, though, so an update flaking out (which has only happened a few times) isn’t as big of a deal.

 

[gank41]

I already spent hours on the phone with Apple support over this and they came to no conclusion or solution. What is the store going to do? They’re just going to suggest I wipe my device and try again - with no guarantees of that working, and that is alot of time that I really don’t have to lose. Remember that my device was already fully DFU restored immediately before the last time I attempted to reinstall all my apps.

The next time I will be installing apps on a fresh device will be when I buy another one, there is no reason for me to go through such a long and arduous process before then on the same exact phone, to end up with my device in the same exact state except it *might* have a PayPal app on it. Low priority, high investment, minimal to no return.

You've been posting about these issues now for years, though, while all the while still insisting that this is a "well known issue". The only way I even know that this COULD be an issue is from your posts about it.

Last night I installed the iOS 27 RC on my wife's iPhone 14 Pro using the Apple Devices app on Windows. It was a fresh install of the Apple Devices app on a Virtual Machine I haven't had it installed on before. Everything went as it's supposed to. I did this specifically after reading your posts (and the ones from last year, or when any major update comes out).

It'd probably be best to not fill pages of your troubleshooting issues here in the Bug Fixes thread, as your issues are unrelated to things that everyone else will see through a normal release. I'd suggest starting a new thread to try and see if anyone else has had such a niche issue.

 

[ValerieDurden]

Been an iPhone user since the first one. Used OTA since it was first available and never had an issue.

lol same I don’t get people who refuse to do it this way.

 

[gank41]

lol same I don’t get people who refuse to do it this way.

The only reason I can see why you wouldn't update OTA is if you have a Cell Limit or can't connect to WiFi, but then still have a Computer (on Windows, no less) that can download the .ipsw file..

OTA is the Apple Preferred method, though.

 

[MrRom92]

You've been posting about these issues now for years, though, while all the while still insisting that this is a "well known issue". The only way I even know that this COULD be an issue is from your posts about it.

Last night I installed the iOS 27 RC on my wife's iPhone 14 Pro using the Apple Devices app on Windows. It was a fresh install of the Apple Devices app on a Virtual Machine I haven't had it installed on before. Everything went as it's supposed to. I did this specifically after reading your posts (and the ones from last year, or when any major update comes out).

It'd probably be best to not fill pages of your troubleshooting issues here in the Bug Fixes thread, as your issues are unrelated to things that everyone else will see through a normal release. I'd suggest starting a new thread to try and see if anyone else has had such a niche issue.

You’re mistaken, I have not been talking about this for years, I only encountered this particular bug when I freshly set up my current phone in April. And I only reported in this thread that installing iOS 27 has not fixed this bug. There’s really nothing to be contentious about, and it’s very much on topic. The bug is still present and has been since April 2026.
There’s people in this thread complaining about some wifi bug in iOS 27 that I’m not specifically experiencing but I am not calling them out or belittling their experience, or telling them to take it somewhere else. They’re sharing their installation and post installation experience in the thread for the version they installed. It’s just as valid as anyone else’s experience, smooth and trouble free or otherwise.

 

[gank41]

You’re mistaken, I have not been talking about this for years, I only encountered this particular bug when I freshly set up my current phone in April. And I only reported in this thread that installing iOS 27 has not fixed this bug. There’s really nothing to be contentious about, and it’s very much on topic. The bug is still present and has been since April 2026.
There’s people in this thread complaining about some wifi bug in iOS 27 that I’m not specifically experiencing but I am not calling them out or belittling their experience, or telling them to take it somewhere else. They’re sharing their installation and post installation experience in the thread for the version they installed. It’s just as valid as anyone else’s experience, smooth and trouble free or otherwise.

Unfortunately, I can't go back to the posts about this because they've all been removed by moderators, but you have posted about this before 2026. You posted that you use a Windows machine and use the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store. And honestly, some of the people that tried helping you way back then aren't even on Macrumors anymore.I specifically remember helping you back in April, and then before that, and before that. Lots of people provide lots of options or ideas to try and help, and the only response is something to the effect of "Apple Fails Again!" or something like that. There's nothing contentious about my reply. Fool me once, yadda yadda yadda ...

 

[dk001]

Samsung only for now

My Ultra flagged it as out of date and would not allow the install. 😕

 

[MrRom92]

Unfortunately, I can't go back to the posts about this because they've all been removed by moderators, but you have posted about this before 2026. You posted that you use a Windows machine and use the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store. And honestly, some of the people that tried helping you way back then aren't even on Macrumors anymore.I specifically remember helping you back in April, and then before that, and before that. Lots of people provide lots of options or ideas to try and help, and the only response is something to the effect of "Apple Fails Again!" or something like that. There's nothing contentious about my reply. Fool me once, yadda yadda yadda ...

I think you may be conflating several things - you commented on one of my posts regarding the app installation bug, so that’s what I was under the impression we were discussing. The Apple Devices issues do go back further, and yes, in my opinion it is still a despicable failure of a piece of software. The fact that it failed on one out of 2 update attempts yesterday really says everything. I’m just thrilled/shocked it eventually worked at all.
It may not even be limited to Apple Devices. People upthread have posted about severe issues updating the phone on a Mac with Finder. These are things that the 2007-2010 Apple never would’ve let happen, the Apple that launched the iPhone. We are dealing with an entirely different beast these days. Hopefully Ternus will manage to Tern things around.

 

[eyespy03]

I think you may be conflating several things - you commented on one of my posts regarding the app installation bug, so that’s what I was under the impression we were discussing. The Apple Devices issues do go back further, and yes, in my opinion it is still a despicable failure of a piece of software. The fact that it failed on one out of 2 update attempts yesterday really says everything. I’m just thrilled/shocked it eventually worked at all.
It may not even be limited to Apple Devices. People upthread have posted about severe issues updating the phone on a Mac with Finder. These are things that the 2007-2010 Apple never would’ve let happen, the Apple that launched the iPhone. We are dealing with an entirely different beast these days. Hopefully Ternus will manage to Tern things around.

Again... millions of us use the OTA without issue. In fact, I haven't done an IPSW or anything wired to a computer for an iPhone since 2012. That's a lot of updates. And in that time, I have only decided to start "fresh" 2x. All other phone transfers on upgrades, and such, have been done from the backups, and (and I would believe in the words of the great entertainer The Rock) "millions and millions" of others have been doing without issue for years. Why? Because it just works! Every time. Anywhere you have signal, wi-fi, and enough juice in the tank. Mine finished up while I was driving yesterday, then went right into CarPlay and all worked flawlessly. I am sure you drive to the store because everyone else is doing it (and it might make more sense)... or maybe you walk because it is the harder, longer, and more complicated way of getting to the store.

 

[one more]

OTA vs IPSW updates. I use both - OTAs most of the time and IPSW after ending of a beta cycle (like now) or when I encounter an issue I cannot fix otherwise.

 

[MrRom92]

Again... millions of us use the OTA without issue. In fact, I haven't done an IPSW or anything wired to a computer for an iPhone since 2012. That's a lot of updates. And in that time, I have only decided to start "fresh" 2x. All other phone transfers on upgrades, and such, have been done from the backups, and (and I would believe in the words of the great entertainer The Rock) "millions and millions" of others have been doing without issue for years. Why? Because it just works! Every time. Anywhere you have signal, wi-fi, and enough juice in the tank. Mine finished up while I was driving yesterday, then went right into CarPlay and all worked flawlessly. I am sure you drive to the store because everyone else is doing it (and it might make more sense)... or maybe you walk because it is the harder, longer, and more complicated way of getting to the store.

IPSW updates are much faster, and I have to be plugged into my computer to do a backup first anyway.
We have options, I’m not sure why everyone is offended that I don’t do everything the exact way they’re doing it. Millions of people do lots of things. Millions of people dont even use iPhones. I am not really concerned with how others choose to live their lives.

 

[gtmead09]

IPSW updates are much faster, and I have to be plugged into my computer to do a backup first anyway.
We have options, I’m not sure why everyone is offended that I don’t do everything the exact way they’re doing it. Millions of people do lots of things. Millions of people dont even use iPhones. I am not really concerned with how others choose to live their lives.

We certainly have options and everyone can choose to take the path they want to take. But I think the point that is being made is millions of people take the path of least resistance and it works. It might be worthwhile to try and change the path and try the OTA next time. Not sure if you chose in the past to do the OTA, but the experience of doing it this way may have changed as well since the last time you did it. It might work, it might not work. But trying OTA would be a great next step to see if the experience streamlines the process. Maybe it is a little longer time wise, but if it streamlines the experience it might be time well spent.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

IPSW updates are much faster, and I have to be plugged into my computer to do a backup first anyway.
We have options, I’m not sure why everyone is offended that I don’t do everything the exact way they’re doing it. Millions of people do lots of things. Millions of people dont even use iPhones. I am not really concerned with how others choose to live their lives.

Because you’re making things harder on yourself, then complaining about it, due to stubbornness. Is this really how you want to spend your time? Continually talking about this stuff for years?

 

[MrRom92]

Because you’re making things harder on yourself, then complaining about it, due to stubbornness. Is this really how you want to spend your time? Continually talking about this stuff for years?

Yes, I will continue to complain about the poorly functioning thing as long as the poorly functioning thing still functions poorly. Maybe one day it won’t. In the meantime it’s still a valid and official method of updating.

 

[d245770q]

Yes, I will continue to complain about the poorly functioning thing as long as the poorly functioning thing still functions poorly. Maybe one day it won’t. In the meantime it’s still a valid and official method of updating.

Yes but you can get from A to B by plane, car or walking. Which you choosing?

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Yes, I will continue to complain about the poorly functioning thing as long as the poorly functioning thing still functions poorly. Maybe one day it won’t. In the meantime it’s still a valid and official method of updating.

Strange way to spend your time when there’s another method that works perfectly well, but ok.

 

[MrRom92]

Strange way to spend your time when there’s another method that works perfectly well, but ok.

It’s weird that you have more of an issue with my method of choice than the fact that it doesn’t work correctly. I think you should ask more of the $4 trillion tech company. It seems that IPSW upgrades are not reliable regardless of operating system. Instead of arguing with me about it, write to Ternus instead. He can do more about it than I can.

 

[sbailey4]

I see there was an update to Apple Devices today so I will proceed with the update, with caution. For the record, I asked if it was safe to update and I received a lot of laughter, but not one person chimed in with actual helpful firsthand experience. I am glad all of you take this so seriously

Thats because you are the ONLY one that uses it. So no one else would know.

 

[sbailey4]

Couldn’t you just update OTA 🙂

or use iTunes, or iMazing, or 3Utools, or......... (iMazing works great even with betas but no issues with iTunes either for RC or release. Its just not happy with x.0 beta firmware without some hoop jumping)

 

[MrRom92]

Thats because you are the ONLY one that uses it. So no one else would know.

It’s weird that apple rolled out an entire program just for me. Seems inefficient, but I’m flattered.

or use iTunes, or iMazing, or 3Utools, or......... (iMaging works great even with betas but no issues with iTunes either for RC or release. Its just not happy with x.0 beta firmware without some hoop jumping)

As previously mentioned reversion to iTunes is not possible without data loss and it conflicts with apple devices, so both can’t coexist. Everyone likes to suggest iTunes but nobody ever demonstrates a successful changeover.

 

[sbailey4]

It’s weird that apple rolled out an entire program just for me. Seems inefficient, but I’m flattered.

As previously mentioned reversion to iTunes is not possible without data loss and it conflicts with apple devices, so both can’t coexist. Everyone likes to suggest iTunes but nobody ever demonstrates a successful changeover.

Not so sure what you are talking about "data loss" going back to iTunes. I tried AD when it first came out and immediately uninstalled it when it failed at everything I tried to do. Still have iTunes to this day and it works fine. But its your choice. The reality is no one here seems to use that awful application but you, (even you state its terrible but insist on using it ?!?!?!?), so we cannot tell you if its going to work with a particular release or not. You are the AD expert here so how about you tell US if it works or not. There may be some other quite soul here that uses it and that could help him/her perhaps.

 

[MrRom92]

Not so sure what you are talking about "data loss" going back to iTunes. I tried AD when it first came out and immediately uninstalled it when it failed at everything I tried to do. Still have iTunes to this day and it works fine. But its your choice. The reality is no one here seems to use that awful application but you, (even you state its terrible but insist on using it ?!?!?!?), so we cannot tell you if its going to work with a particular release or not. You are the AD expert here so how about you tell US if it works or not. There may be some other quite soul here that uses it and that could help him/her perhaps.

I did that - it failed the first time but worked again after a force restart to recovery mode. Hopefully that info helps someone, although now that info has been moved out of the thread where someone might actually be looking for people’s notes on installation.

As for data loss, my current backup is part of apple devices. It does not transfer to iTunes.