How to Undo an Update on iPhone 15/14/13? (Proven Tips)

"Just updated to iOS 17.1.1, and I need to revert back to whatever came before this. All of the new changes (and the keyboard) don't work for me at all. None of them are convenient and the keyboard is broken as hell/not calibrated correctly at all."

- from Reddit

Many people have upgraded their iPhone to iOS 17 recently. However, some find they cannot enjoy the latest version for various reasons, like the external keyboard not working, disliking the gadgets and layouts, or the system not performing well. To fix tons of issues with your iPhone, you can restore it to the previous iOS version. But how to undo an update on iPhone?

Well, you can make it with three simple tricks. Let's see how to go back to the previous iOS version on iPhone.

Part 1. Can You Undo an iPhone Update?

Yes. Although Apple generally only allows users to upgrade to the latest iOS version and does not encourage or even prevent users from downgrading to previous versions, there are still some methods that can help us achieve this goal.

Before you know how to revert an iPhone update, it's important to consider the following things:

• Downgrading iOS versions on an iPhone may cause data loss. Thus, we always recommend you back up your iPhone to a computer or elsewhere before undoing an update on the iPhone.
• Ensure that there is enough free space on your iPhone so that you can roll back an iPhone update successfully. (iPhone storage full?)
• You are recommended to turn off the Find My iPhone feature before reverting your iPhone to a previous iOS version. For that, open the device's "Settings" > "iCloud" > "Find My iPhone" and switch the feature off by providing the iCloud credentials.

Part 2. How to Undo an Update on iPhone

Is there a way to unupdate your iPhone? Sure. In this part, we will introduce you to how to un-update the iPhone in three effective ways. Let's check them one by one.

Way 1. How to Roll Back iOS Update Without Data Loss

iOS System Recovery is the best degraded iPhone software that allows you to downgrade your iOS 17/16/15/14 to iOS 12/11 or upgrade the iOS 11 to iOS 14/15/16/17. As long as your iPhone supports the iOS version, it can help you downgrade or upgrade to the wanted version. Besides, it also fixes almost all iOS system problems to normal without data loss.

What does iOS System Recovery do for you?

• Downgrade your iPhone to a previous iOS version or upgrade it to a newer version, including the official and beta versions.
• Automatically scan out the supported iOS version for your iPhone for you to choose from.
• Fix various iPhone system errors to normal without data loss, such as iPhone black screen of death, iPhone won't restore, iPhone stuck on the Apple logo, etc.
• Automatic process, easy operation, and intuitive interface.
• Support all iPhone models (iOS 17 included), such as iPhone 15 Pro Max/15 Pro/15/15 Plus/14 Pro/14/13 Pro/13//12 Pro Max/12 Pro/12/12 mini/SE/11 Pro Max/11 Pro/11/XS Max/XS/XR/X/8/8 Plus/7 Plus/7/6S Plus/6S/6 Plus/6/5S/5C/5/4S/4, etc.

Free Download for PC

 

Free Download for Mac

How to restore iPhone to previous update as you want?

Way 2. How to Revert to Previous iOS with iTunes

iTunes is an excellent tool to roll back a public beta version on your iPhone. To do this, first, you need to boot your device in Recovery mode. Second, you need to restore your iPhone with the latest version of iTunes. However, note that this method will wipe out all the existing data on your iPhone, and you will lose data if there is no previous backup file.

What's worse, even if you have backed up your iPhone before downgrading the iOS version, you cannot restore the backup file from a higher iOS version to a downgraded iOS version after that.

Therefore, if you don't mind the complex operation and data loss, you can give it a try.

How to reverse an iPhone to a previous update via iTunes?

Step 1. Launch the latest version of iTunes on your computer and let it run in the background. Later, connect your iPhone to the computer with a working USB cable and power off your iPhone.

Step 2. Boot your iPhone into the Recovery mode with the correct combination of keys.

On iPhone 8 and later versions:

• Quickly press and release the "Volume Up" button and then the "Volume Down" button.
• Press and hold the "Side" button for a while until the connect-to-iTunes logo appears on the screen.

On iPhone 7/7 Plus:

• Connect your iPhone and press the "Power" + "Volume Down" buttons simultaneously.
• Keep holding the keys until the connect-to-iTunes logo shows up.

On iPhone 6s and earlier versions:

• Press and hold the "Power" + "Home" buttons together.
• Continue holding them until the connect-to-iTunes logo displays on the screen.

Step 3. Once your iPhone gets into the Recovery mode, iTunes will automatically detect your device and display a prompt on the screen. Tap the "Restore" button on the "Restore" or "Update" option.

Step 4. After you agree to the warning message, iTunes will undo the iPhone update by installing a previous iOS version.

Step 5. If asked, authenticate the operation with your Apple ID and password.

Way 3. How to Reverse iPhone Update Using IPSW

An IPSW file is the firmware file for iOS, which can be used to restore an iPhone to a specific version. This way involves the use of iTunes and IPSW files. Check the following instructions to learn how to revert iPhone to older iOS:

Step 1. Open your browser and go to IPSW.me. Locate your iPhone model from the list and select it. Choose the iOS version you want to downgrade to, scroll down, and click "Download".

Step 2. Wait for the download to finish. Then, get your iPhone into Recovery mode with the steps mentioned earlier.

Step 3. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.

Step 4. In iTunes, select your device, then hold down the "Shift" key (Windows) or "Option" key (Mac) and then click the "Restore" button.

Step 5. Choose the downloaded IPSW file, then click "Open".

Step 6. iTunes will start installing the older iOS version, and once completed, your iPhone will be restored to the previous version.

Part 3. How to Remove an iOS 17 on iPhone/iPad

As the iOS beta version is unstable and has bugs, you may wonder how to revert the iOS update to a stable one. Even though you have completed the downgrading process, the iOS 17 profile will still exist on your iPhone. So, to release more storage or avoid any software-related conflicts on your iPhone, you can delete the beta profile from your iPhone with these steps.

Step 1. Open the iPhone's "Settings" > find "General" > scroll down to "iPhone Storage".

Step 2. Tap the iOS software and hit the "Delete Update".

Step 3. Confirm the operation.

Conclusion

How do I un-update my phone? Now, you've got three efficient solutions. As you can see, the easiest and most reliable way is iOS System Recovery. Because it not only resolves how to undo an update on iPhone but also fixes a problematic iPhone to normal without data loss. By comparison, other methods are too complicated to follow and even cause data loss. Thus, I highly recommend you consider iOS System Recovery.

All in all, regardless of the method you choose, it is recommended to back up your important data beforehand to prevent any unforeseen issues.

Related Articles:

How to Remove iOS 17 from iPhone? Things You Need to Know

How to Undo a Restore on iPhone 15/14/13/12/11/XS/X/8 Instantly? (Blow-by-blow Tutorial)

How to Uninstall iOS 16/17 on iPhone? [Preparations and Solutions]

How to Downgrade from iOS 17 to iOS 16 Without Losing Data in 4 Ways