How to Restore Your iPhone Without Updating

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: September 5, 2020 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to restore a previous backup on your iPhone without updating it to the latest version of iOS in the process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:
Using Recovery Mode (iPhone 7)

1
Connect your iPhone to your computer. Do so by plugging the USB end of your iPhone into the computer's USB port, then plugging the charger side into your iPhone's charging port at the bottom of the phone.
2
Open iTunes. It's a white app with a multicolored musical note on its icon.
- In cases where you have auto-sync enabled for iTunes, it will open automatically when you plug in your phone.
- If iTunes is already open when you connect your iPhone, close it and re-open it.
3
Click the device icon. It's an iPhone-shaped icon in the upper-left side of the iTunes window.
4
Click Backup Now. It's beneath the "Manually Backup and Restore" heading in the "Backups" section.
- This process will take a few minutes.
5
Turn off your iPhone. To do so, hold down the Lock button on the right side of the phone's casing, then slide the slide to power down switch at the top of the screen right.
6
Press and hold the Lock button for three seconds. At the end of the three seconds, do not let go of the Lock button.
7
Begin pressing the Volume Down button as well. You'll hold the Volume Down button and the Home button for the next ten seconds.
- You hold the lock button for thirteen seconds total during this process.
8
Release the Lock button at the end of ten seconds. You'll need to keep holding down the Volume Down button until you see a window pop up in iTunes telling you that it has detected a device in recovery mode.
9
Click Restore iPhone on your computer. It should pop up as an option window in the iTunes window on your computer. Doing so will prompt you to pick a restore date.
10
Click the box next to "iPhone Name". This option will appear in a pop-up window. You'll see a few of your most recent backups, including the one you performed today, listed in a drop-down menu.
11
Click a backup, then click Restore. Doing so will restore your iPhone without updating it to the latest iOS version.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:
Using Recovery Mode (iPhone 6S and Older)

1
Connect your iPhone to your computer. Do so by plugging the USB end of your iPhone into the computer's USB port, then plugging the charger side into your iPhone's charging port at the bottom of the phone.
2
Open iTunes. It's a white app with a multicolored musical note on its icon.
- In cases where you have auto-sync enabled for iTunes, it will open automatically when you plug in your phone.
- If iTunes is already open when you connect your iPhone, close it and re-open it.
3
Click the device icon. It's an iPhone-shaped icon in the upper-left side of the iTunes window.
4
Click Backup Now. It's beneath the "Manually Backup and Restore" heading in the "Backups" section.
- This process will take a few minutes.
5
Disconnect your iPhone from iTunes. You'll be reconnecting it in a minute, so don't close iTunes.
6
Turn off your iPhone. You'll do this by holding down the Lock button that's either on the right side of your phone's casing (iPhone 6 and up) or the top of the casing (iPhone 5S and down) and then sliding the slide to power down switch at the top of the screen right.
7
Hold down your iPhone's Home button. It's the circular button at the bottom of the phone. As soon as you begin holding it down, proceed to the next step.
8
Re-attach your iPhone to your computer. You'll do so while holding down the Home button.
- This process doesn't always work. If doing this takes you to the Lock Screen, turn off your phone and try again.
9
Release the Home button when you see the iTunes logo. The iTunes logo will appear on your iPhone's screen after the Apple logo appears. You should see an image of a charger cable below the iTunes logo.
10
Click Restore iPhone on your computer. It should pop up as an option window in the iTunes window on your computer. Doing so will prompt you to pick a restore date.
11
Click the box next to "iPhone Name". This option will appear in a pop-up window. You'll see a few of your most recent backups, including the one you performed today, listed in a drop-down menu.
12
Click a backup, then click Restore. Doing so will restore your iPhone without updating it to the latest iOS version.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:
Using Cydia on a Jailbroken iPhone

1
Backup your important data. Make sure that your important files are backed up, as this process will delete everything on your iPhone (but keep your jailbreak and iOS version).
- You won't be able to use the iTunes backup, as restoring it would remove your jailbreak.
2
Open Cydia on your jailbroken iPhone. If you have a jailbroken iPhone, following the first method will leave your iPhone in an endless loop.
3
Tap Sources. This will display the repositories that Cydia can find packages from.
4
Tap Edit, then tap Add. This will allow you to enter a new repository.
5
Type the new Cydia repository address. Enter the following URL into the text field that appears when you tap Add:
- http://cydia.myrepospace.com/ilexinfo/.
6
Tap Add Source. This will add the repository that you typed to your list of Cydia sources.
7
Search for "iLEX RAT" in Cydia. This will display several search results.
8
Tap the iLEX R.A.T. option. Make sure this is the exact one you choose.
9
Tap Install, then tap Confirm. This will begin installing the iLEX R.A.T. package.
10
Launch the iLEX R.A.T. app from your Home screen. It resembles a rat on a yellow background. You'll see several different options pop up.
11
Tap iLEX RESTORE, then tap Confirm. This will begin the custom restore process. All of your data will be erased and your firmware will be restored. You will not lose your jailbreak performing this restore, and you will not be forced to install the latest version of iOS.^{[1]
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Community Q&A

Question

It will not let me restore without updating. What should I do?

Community Answer

Restore it physically from the device instead of using iTunes. Back up EVERYTHING beforehand, though.
Question

Can I restore my phone to factory clean without updating from iOS 7?

Community Answer

No.
Question

How can I do this on an Android device (specifically, a Galaxy S5)?

Community Answer

Turn off the phone and enter the Recovery Mode by holding Power+Home+Volume Up, then select Wipe Data/Factory Reset by selecting it with the volume buttons and choosing it with the Power button. Confirm the factory reset, reboot the phone, and that's all. This wipes the internal memory without losing or updating the firmware. Also, you will get rid of the firmware update notification.
Question

How do I make iPhone 4 stop turning on and off by itself?

Community Answer

Hold the power button and the home button simultaneously to set the phone in restore mode. Then connect it to your computer and restore it using iTunes.

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References

↑ http://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/02/12/how-to-restore-an-iphone-without-losing-ios-8-1-2-jailbreak/

About This Article

JL

Written by:

Tech Specialist

This article was written by Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 389,694 times.

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Co-authors: 14

Updated: September 5, 2020

Views: 389,694

Categories: IPhone