Downgrade iOS beta: this is how it works in 7 steps

Have you installed a beta version of iOS and run into too many problems? Then it is possible to go back to the latest official version of iOS. In this article we explain how.

Downgrade iOS beta

For a while now, iOS betas have been publicly available. That means that anyone who signs up will install a beta version of iOS to test new features. That’s great, because you can now, for example, already use iOS 9.3 and its dimming function, while it is not yet off.

But it remains a beta and that means it is still under development. As a result, there may still be some errors. For example, it happens that apps crash and that your battery runs out faster.

That is how it works

Downgrade iOS beta: this is how it works in 7 steps

If you want to go back to the latest stable and official version of iOS, you can. Before installing a beta version, you need to make a backup of your iPhone or iPad. You do this in iTunes, where the backup is stored. Follow the steps below to go back to an earlier version, but please note: if you do not have a backup, your device will be deleted.

Go to the ‘Settings’ app and check under ‘iCloud’ that ‘Find My iPhone’ is turned off;
Switch off your iOS device;
Connect the iPhone or iPad to a PC or Mac with iTunes and press and hold the home button;
Hold the button until the iTunes logo appears (if you don’t see it, try the steps above again);
If recovery mode works, you will see a popup window in iTunes on the Mac or PC, choose ‘Recover’ (you will receive another warning that the device will be erased);
Then click on ‘Restore and Update’ to open the iPhone Software Update menu, which contains the current official version of iOS, click on ‘Next’ and agree;
iTunes will now put the official version of iOS back on it.

Restore backup

This does result in a clean version of iOS. That means that all your apps and data are not there yet. That’s why you need the backup to restore your information. You get that option after iTunes has installed the latest version of iOS.

Then click on ‘Restore backup’ in iTunes and select the correct backup. Then click on ‘Restore’ and your apps and data will be restored.

After installation, your device will be back to where you were before the beta. Again: without a backup, your iOS device is completely bare again. You will then have to reinstall everything.

Downgrade iOS beta: this is how it works in 7 steps