Have you installed the iOS 15 beta but want to go back to the more stable iOS 14? Which can! We show how downgrading works in six steps.
iOS 15 beta downgrading to iOS 14 explained
Whether you’re on iOS 15’s developer beta or public beta, there will come a time for many people to want to go back to iOS 14. Since iOS 15 is still in early testing, there are bugs in the software that can be quite annoying. can be. Think of a less good battery life, apps that suddenly no longer work, problems with GPS and other inconveniences.
Depending on how you use your iPhone, these bugs could be a reason to say goodbye to the beta and go back to the public, stable version of the software.
If you made a backup (or backup) of your iPhone before installing the beta, you can restore the device to the moment before you activated iOS 15. If you didn’t make a backup, you can go back to iOS 14, but you won’t be able to restore the device to its original state.
Pay attention: did you also install the watchOS 8 beta on your Apple Watch? Keep in mind that you will no longer be able to use the Watch if you go back to iOS 14. In addition, watchOS 8 downgrading is not possible unless you send the watch to Apple.
How to downgrade iOS 15 beta to iOS 14
- Open the Finder app on your Mac;
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a Lightning cable;
- Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode (learn how to do this below);
- Click “Restore” in the window that now appears in Finder;
- Wait for iOS 14 to download and follow the on-screen steps;
- Install the iOS 14 backup via your Mac or iCloud.
The way you activate recovery mode differs per iPhone. Therefore, check carefully which method applies to your device.
- iPhone 8 or later: short press Volume Up, then Volume Down. After that, press and hold the Lock button until Recovery Mode appears.
- iPhone 7 (Plus) and iPod touch: Press and hold the lock button and home button until recovery mode appears.
A number of new beta versions will appear in the run-up to the final release of iOS 15 in September. These make the software more and more stable, until most of the bugs have been removed.
Also read: To install iOS 15 beta or not? The risks and benefits at a glance
