Learn How To Downgrade Or Revert From iOS 15 To iOS 14 Without Losing Data From iPhone/iPad/iPod touch!
Overview: Have you updated your iOS device to iOS 15 but due to some reasons you want to downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14? If so, and you don’t want to lose data from your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch while doing this. Indeed, you won’t use the backup you have created while running iOS 15 on iOS 14. But you don’t need to worry as you can downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14 without data loss.
Before we move further, first look at a real user practical scenario.
Practical Scenario: An iPhone User Want To Know Is There Any Solution To Downgrade From iOS 15 to iOS 14
hi, I’m in to process of selling my iPhone 12 Pro max, as got iPhone 13 now, carphone warehouse is offering me to most money but my local store don’t support iOS 15, is there anyway to downgrade to iOS 14.8 ? I’ve contacted apple they said there no way of doing this etc but I’ve seen plenty of YouTube video that says otherwise. I’ve never dealt with public beta etc but do they actually work ?
Source: Apple Support Community
From the above scenario, you have understood that many iOS users also want to revert to iOS 14 from iOS 15.
So, let’s move to the solution to downgrade from iOS 15 to 14 without losing data.
Note: Please note that you can only downgrade to iOS 14 if you have previously signed in to it. If you have not signed in to iOS 14 then you can revert to iOS 14.0, 14.1, 14.0.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8 and all other iOS 14 versions.
Also Read: iOS 15 Data Recovery: Recover Lost/Missing Data After iOS 15 Update
Prerequisites For iOS 15 Data Restore
There are some tips you need to follow before you downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14.
Backup Before You Downgrade
As you know while downgrading from iOS 15 to iOS 14 your device data will be erased. Therefore, you need to create a backup before you switch to iOS 14.
Follow the below steps to back up your iOS device.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Your Account > iCloud > Find My iPhone and Turn off Find My iPhone option.
Step 2: Now, remove the iOS 15 Beta profile by going to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. You will get a Restart popup, just ignore it.
Step 3: Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your Windows PC or Mac.
Step 4: Now, create a backup of your iPhone using iTunes (for Windows) and Finder (for Mac). Ensure that you backup your device data in Mac or Windows, not in iCloud. You can confirm it by checking “Back up all of the data of your iPhone to your Windows or Mac”.
On Mac: Once you have created a backup, click on Manage Back Up and then open the latest backup file. Now, open Info.plist that is available in the backup file.
On Windows: Run dialog and enter %appdata%. This will take you to the app data location. From that location, you need to go to Apple Computer > Mobilesync > Backup. Choose the latest backup and look for the Info file.
Step 5: Ensure it to open it on a notepad/editor.
Step 6: In the Info Plist, find the Product version and modify its string value to 14.0 in Windows and 14 in Mac and save the file.
Note: You are recommended to backup your device data before you follow any solution to downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14. Because later, you will need this backup file to restore data on your iPhone/iPad.
Also Read: How To Fix iOS Downgrade Stuck Problems
Reset All Settings Before Downgrading To iOS 14 From iOS 15
Another tip you need to follow before you downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14 is resetting all settings. You don’t need to panic as this will only reset the general settings of your iPhone or iPad.
You need to reset all settings as some of the iOS 15 settings can cause issues with some applications on your smartphone when switching to iOS 14.
Follow the below steps to reset all settings.
Step 1: On your iOS device, open Settings.
Step 2: After that, tap on General and then on Reset option.
Step 3: Tap on Reset All Settings option.
Step 4: Now, you will be asked to enter your passcode.
Finally, here are the methods to downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14.
Also Read: Solved: Photos Lost, Missing or Disappeared After iOS Update
Download Latest Version Of iOS 14
After you reset all the settings, you need to download the latest version of iOS 14. For this, you need to connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable. Here, we have used Mac, but you can follow the same steps on your Windows using iTunes. To downgrade to iOS 14 you need a signed version of the operating system.
For this, follow the below steps.
Step 1: On your Mac computer, open any web browser on it and run IPSW’s website.
(IPSW Website)
Step 2: From here, download the latest signed version of iOS 14.
Step 3: Select your product first. Then select the model of your smartphone.
Step 4: Now, you will see a list of IPSWs. Hit on the latest option under Signed IPSWs that is symbolized by a green tick under Apple Signing Status (here is iOS 4.7.1). Next, click on the download button. This will take time because IPSW is around 6 GB.
Also Read: Solved: iCloud Backup Greyed Out On iPhone
How To Downgrade From iOS 15 To iOS 14 Without Data Loss
Check that you have created a backup and then you can downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14. Or if you want to know how to downgrade iOS 15 to 14 with iTunes then below are the steps.
Follow the below steps to do this.
Step 1: On your Mac, run Finder window and under Location, you need to hit on your iPhone.
Step 2: After this, click on Restore iPhone button while holding down Option key on your Mac. (On Windows you need to use Shift)
Step 3: Now, you need to follow the pops up steps. Select the IPSW file that you have downloaded recently and then hit Open button.
Step 4: At last, click on the Restore button. Now, you need to wait for your iPhone/iPad to complete downgrade to iOS 14.
Step 5: Next, do the initial set-up of your iPhone/iPad. While setting up your device when you reach on Apps & Data screen, select the option “Don’t Transfer Apps & Data“. Thereafter you can manually restore the data from the backup that you have created earlier. After that, you can log in to your Apple ID.
Step 6: Now, you have downgraded from iOS 15 to iOS 14 and done the initial set-up, you can restore data from the backup created earlier. Connect your iPhone to computer, make sure to Trust the computer on your iTunes or Finder.
Step 7: Click on your iPhone when iTunes or Finder detects it. Thereafter, click on “Restore Backup“. Browse and select the backup file that you have created earlier in this article. It will start the process of restoring the data from the backup on your iOS 14.
After the reboot, set up your iPhone/iPad again and you will have all your previous data. You can now, enjoy iOS 14 on your device, even you can jailbreak the latest iOS 14.8.
Also Read: [iOS] How To Fix Ghost Touch Problem On iPhone/iPad
Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question 1 – Can You Go Back To iOS 14 From 15?
Answer 1 – YES, you can go back to iOS 14 from iOS 15. But if you have not signed to iOS 14 then you can’t do this.
Question 2 – Will I Lose Data If I Downgrade iOS?
Answer 2 – If you have backed up data then you will not lose data if you downgrade iOS.
Question 3 – How To Downgrade From iOS 15 Without a Computer?
Answer 3 – There is no way to downgrade from iOS 15 without computer as iTunes or other software need computer to downgrade. So, it is not possible to downgrade from iOS without computer.
Question 4 – How Do You Delete The iOS 15 Beta Profile?
Answer 4 – There are two methods to remove or delete iOS 15 beta profile. The public beta gets deleted when you delete the beta profile by going to Settings > General> Profile & Device Management. Next, tap on iOS beta Software Profile and then Remove Profile option and restart your phone.
To delete the developer beta, you need to restore your iPhone using iTunes and the iOS 15 beta profile will be deleted.
Question 5 – What Will Happen If You Remove The iOS 15 Beta Profile?
Answer 5 – If you remove the iOS 15 beta profile then you will lose data from your device. But you can back up the data so that it will lose erase the device’s data.
Wrap Up
So, this guide is all about how to downgrade from iOS 15 to iOS 14 without losing data. You have also learned some tips that you need to follow before downgrading from iOS 15 to iOS 14. I hope you have successfully downgraded to iOS 14.
Max Field
Max Field is a founder of recoveriphone-data.com. He is an iOS lover and loves to write tips, tricks, fixes for errors, data recovery solutions and more related to iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, iTunes and iCloud.
