Downgrade from the iOS 7 Beta

The iOS 7 beta is out and available for practically anyone to try months ahead of the fall iOS 7 release. While there is officially no way to downgrade from the iOS 7 beta to iOS 6, after running into some issues we’ve discovered how to revert to iOS 6.

Apple doesn’t support this with an easy one click and done downgrade from the iOS 7 beta, but the process is easy to follow.

If you think you will need to downgrade from the iOS 7 beta we recommend not backing up while on iOS 7 to your computer or iCloud. Apple does not let users restore form a backup made on a later version of iOS, which will leave you without a backup and possibly some data.

Downgrade from iOS 7 beta to iOS 6.

If you make a backup before upgrading to the iOS 7 beta, use the beta and then decide to downgrade to iOS 6, you should be ok to restore as long as you didn’t make a new backup.

When downgrading from iOS 7 to iOS 6, users can only downgrade to the current versions, iOS 6.1.3 and iOS 6.1.4. This means there is no way to try the iOS 7 beta and jump back to an iOS 6 jailbreak as there is no iOS 6.1.3 jailbreak or iOS 6.1.4 jailbreak.

How to Downgrade from iOS 7 Beta to iOS 6

To downgrade from the iOS 7 beta to iOS 6 you will need to first download the iOS 6 file for your iPhone. Apple doesn’t offer a direct download to non-developers, but iOSday.com does offer iOS 6.1.3 and iOS 6.1.4 downloads free of charge, and with speedy downloads too.

1. Download the right iOS 6 ipsw file for your iPhone. Check this support page if you need help figuring out which iPhone model you have.

2. Open iTunes. It’s a good idea to be on the latest version of iTunes.

3. Put the iPhone into Recovery mode. This is also called DFU mode. While in recovery mode, you will be able to install the earlier version of iOS.

• Turn the iPhone off and plug it in to your computer.
• To do this press and hold the power button and the home button. You need to do this at the same time.
• Hold both buttons for 10 seconds.
  
  

  Put the iPhone into DFU mode to downgrade from the iOS 7 beta to iOS 6.
• Release the power button and keep holding the home button until the message above pops up telling you the iPhone is in recovery mode.
• Click OK.

The video above explains how to put the iPhone into DFU Restore mode.

4. From here, it’s just like installing the iOS 7 beta. In iTunes we need to click on Restore and pick the iOS 6 file downloaded at the start of this guide.

• On Mac, Option click restore.
• On PC Shift click restore.

The last major step to downgrade from iOS 7 to iOS 6.

Next, find the file you downloaded and click on it then click Open.

When prompted click Restore and wait for the iPhone to restart to a stock iOS 6 installation.

5. If you have a valid iOS 6 backup, you can restore from that, if not you will need to start as a new iPhone.