The launch of iOS 4 has received a mixed response from users. While a vast majority of iPhone users are really enjoying the new features and performance improvement in the latest iOS, some iPhone 3G users have reported that iOS 4 has slowed down their iPhone.
If you have seen a performance deterioration and want to downgrade your iPhone 3G to the previous version then this tutorial will take you through the step-by-step process to downgrade from iOS 4 to iPhone OS 3.1.3.
Before you proceed, please note the following caveats:
- This guide may not offer consistent results. So please proceed at your own risk.
- Do not forget to backup your iPhone before you proceed. You can refer to this post for instructions on how to backup your iPhone 3G.
- This procedure is strictly for iPhone 3G users. Apple has stopped signing the iOS 3.1.3 firmware and hence this guide will not work on iPhone 3GS as Apple has stopped signing the older iPhone OS 3.1.3 files that is required to restore iPhone 3GS.
Step 1: Download iPhone OS 3.1.3
In all likelihood, users may already have a copy of the older iOS firmware stored on their computer. If you are a Mac user, navigate to ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates and look out for a file named iPhone1,1_3.1.3_7E18_Restore.ipsw or iPhone1,2_3.1.3_7E18_Restore.ipsw. Windows users may check out this file at C:Documents and Settings[username]Application DataApple ComputeriTunesiPhone Software Updates. Alternately, you can click here to download a fresh copy of the iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware to your computer.
Save a copy of this iOS firmware on your computer desktop
Step 2 : Download RecBoot
RecBoot is an important utility that will help in completing the downgrade process. Download this tool by clicking here and save it to your computer desktop.
Step 3 : Set iPhone To DFU Mode
(a) Plug your iPhone to the computer
(b) Switch OFF the iPhone by pressing the Sleep/Wake button. Swipe across the 'Slide to Power Off' option to turn your iPhone off
(c) With the Sleep/Wake button pressed, press and hold the iPhone Home button for ten seconds.
(d) You can now release the Sleep/Wake button while the Home button is kept in the pressed state.
(e) iTunes will display a window that reads, "iTunes has detected an iPhone in recover mode". The iPhone screen will now turn black. This indicates that your iPhone is in the DFU mode. Click 'OK' to close the iTunes pop-up message
Step 4: Restore iPhone 3G using iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware
(a) Under the 'Devices' section on the left pane of iTunes, click on your iPhone device.
(b) Hold the Option/Alt key down and click on the 'Restore' button
(c) Navigate to the computer desktop and click on the downloaded iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware to restore.
(d) iTunes will now begin the restoration process. This process will take close to 10 minutes or more for completion.
(e) iTunes might throw 1011, 1013 or 1015 error as seen below. You don't have to panic. It's normal, just ignore this error as the firmware has been successfully installed on your iPhone 3G. You need to use RecBoot utility to exit out of recovery mode.
Step 5: Exiting Recovery Mode
For Mac users:
Navigate to your computer desktop and launch RecBoot. Click 'Exit Recovery Mode'. This will reboot the iPhone to the newly downgraded iPhone OS 3.1.3.
For Windows users:
(a) You may require .NET 4.0 firmware for the application to work. Click here to download Microsoft .NET 4 firmware.
(b) Navigate to the desktop. Right click on RecBoot and choose Properties -> Compatibility -> Run this program in compatibility mode -> Windows XP. You may skip this step if you are already on a Windows XP platform.
(c) Click here to download and install Libusb. You can checkout this link if you're trying this on a 64-bit system. WARNING: Some of our readers have reported issues installing Libusb on their 64-bit systems, so please proceed with caution and read their comments below to figure out possible workarounds.
(d) From the computer desktop, launch RecBoot. Select the 'Exit Recovery Mode' option. This will reboot your iPhone to the downgraded iOS 3.1.3 platform
Step 6: Restoring Backup
iTunes will now prompt you to set up your iPhone. You can restore from a backup that you had created before upgrading to iOS 4 to sync your apps and data or set it up as a new iPhone. Please note that it is only possible to sync with a pre-4.0 backup. Any backup file created after upgrading to iOS 4 might not be supported.
The downgrade process is complete. We hope you enjoyed this tutorial. As always, do not forget to drop us a line about how it goes.
[via LifeHacker]
You should mention in the instructions that on the Mac side RecBoot only works on Intel machines.
Not if they actually read the instructions above.
I'm having one slight problem.
My iPhone isn't being detected by any computers ever since i updated to 4.0 and jail broke it. Does anyone have any ideas of what to do?
worked very fine
thanks
Used this to downgrade both my and my wife's phones (both 3G). iOS4 brought them to a crawl, they wouldn't keep up with the most simple text typing. Now they are back to normal. Thanks!
i tried on my ipod touch 3g OS 4.0 but it did not work..
itunes extracts the stuff and verifies with apple then boom!!!
the freakin ipod "ipod" cannot be restored device not eligible for the request build
Help me out please….
uninstall and you will be able to use your USBs again.
plug in a keyboard/mouse into port (non USB) and it should work to get you out of this dilema
I was able to downgrade easily to 3.1.3 by following these instructions, but had a lot of problems with jailbreaking afterwards. Finally found this solution: download redsn0w 0.9.2 (do not use the latest version) and the 3G IPSW 3.1.2 (not 3.1.3). This allows you to jailbreak and not get the error of "Unable to recognize specified IPSW."
did you need those SHSHs to downgrade/jailbreak?
me too, i dunno where to find the RecBoot exe?
Worked perfectly Thanks
This worked perfectly for me
Thanks!
(on a Mac)
awesome it worked …. downgraded to 3.1.2
libusb worked (some what confusing but after u figure out how to install it ,it is awesome)
recboot worked (nice software)
and used windows 7
awesome tutorial…
Thank you so much Dave! This helped immensely.
The tutorial was great until the Libusb part. I couldn't figure out how to install it so I googled it & used this link;
http://www.4shared.com/file/-WXR_PqE/Install_LIBUSB.html?start=
Afterwards, my only issue was jailbreaking. I was afraid I'd be stuck on the activation screen but sure enough redsn0w activates the phone for you, no sim card needed. So I downloaded redsn0w 0.9.2 & used the IPSW 3.1.2. Now I'm on jailbroken & unlocked. Hope this helps anyone else who's stuck.
mine just says…your device is being kicked out of recovery mode. and it's just stuck there
OKAY I GOT IT WORKING WOOOT!
Libusb download link: http://sourceforge.net/projects/libusb-win32/files/libusb-win32-releases/1.1.14.3/libusb-win32-filter-bin-1.1.14.3.exe/download
I could not get recboot to work either. I dragged the application out of the unzipped file. Once I put the application icon back in the correct place it "kicked" it right out. Restoring now. Having a hard time picking the correct restore file…..
Worked great! Phone runs so much better. Well worth it on the Iphone 3g. GO FOR IT!
Thanks. I was able to downgrade my iPhone 3G without any trouble. The RecBoot that I downloaded today worked on my PC (Vista 64-bit) without .Net or LIBUSB installation. iPhone 3G working great again
Downgraded my 3G from 4.0 to 3.1.3 using a Mac. Worked like a charm. Thanks!
Worked flawlessly for me with Windows7 64bit. My phone is usable again.
Thanks
Step 1's Windows system path for iTunes OS files is incorrect for Windows 7. It's at C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates
Thanks. Just finished downgrading flawlessly.
Yes. Before a second attempt, I renamed my version 4 IPSW file. Then, in step 4b I used Shift-Restore (not Alt-), for Windows 7-64. I made both changes between attempts 1 and 2 so don't know which one mattered.
it worked but i lost all content including all apps. very frustrating!
does anyone know if this works with ipod touches too?
Worked a treat for me….whooppeeeee
I didn't backup my data when my iPhone 3g was on 3.1.3. Now it is on 4.0. If I downgrade to 3.1.3 could I simply set up a new phone and sync with iTunes and not lose any data? In other words can I simply sync a brand new phone with my old iTunes library and have all my music, apps, and contacts match what is on iTunes?
Thanks for any help
perfekt
Yes!! After downloading iOS 4 it was a nightmare doing anything on my iPhone. Decided to look up how to restore the previous version and found this – worked perfectly! Now I can actually use my iPhone again! XD
Yes….I did
Make sure it's running in win xp if u r running vista or win 7
Thanks!! iOS4 turned my 3G into a total piece of crap. I was ready to pitch it for a 3GS or 4G replacement. This cure for going back to iOS 3.1.3 worked perfectly!! I don't know why some folks had problems, but I suspect they might be related to Bill Gates (iTunes running on a PC). I used a MacBook Pro running OS X 10.5.8. It was extremely simple.
Aloha, Greg S.
I'm on net book that cost me sod all and it's runnin winxp and it worked a treat for me too. Seems that paying ten times more makes no difference
Thank you so much it worked. My iPhone is back to normal!
Thank you soooooo much! My iPhone 3G is blazing fast again and all my apps are working!
Thank you so much.I ran it on windows 7.i didnt install Libusb and instead of hitting alt i hit the shift button.Thanks again
This didn't work for me. I was not able to open the downloaded 3.1.3os. Ended up restoring back to 4.0.1
I tried to follow the instructions but when it hit ALT=restore.. it dorectly went on to restore the latest version of os 4.0… How on earth am Isupposed to navigate to point it to the zipped pack of the 3.1.3 version??? Took a hell of a while doing the same shit it did before.. its back to the os4…. Please help..
This part is not very clear to me….
(b) Hold the Option/Alt key down and click on the 'Restore' button
(c) Navigate to the computer desktop and click on the downloaded iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware to restore.
(C- never happened… oit just automatically updated to os4)
my phone tells me It "can not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible"
after I chose the 3.1.3 file and AlT clicking restore.
It is sooooo sloooooow please help me.
Hi, I did the process of downgrade a jailbreak 3g phone from 4.0 to 3.1.3 At the end itunes did not prompt any error message and went to reset the phone, now it says the sim card is not supported and the phone is stuck on emergency calls connect to itunes window. Please help
Yeah it was shift on windows 7 ..thanks
All went really, really well – until the restore. The back-up file was made in OS4 and isn't compatible with 3.1.3 – therefore having to go back to OS4.
You have to install it using dos prompt (add -i)
Got stuck with "can not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible" but after some googling I wound this downgrade file instead and it worked well:
http://jaxov.com/2009/10/apple-iphone-firmware-os-3-1-2-available-now/
After figuring out libusb needs a -i to actually install it worked like a charm. Unfortunately i was not aware that the backup file would be lost useless and i had quite some important information in my notes and agenda, so now going back to OS4 to recover this info, and next back to good old speedy 3.1.3
Thanks!
i was able to downgrade successfully after a couple of tries… took me 2.5 hours because i had issues with recboot and libusb but was able to resolve everything using the resources on this page and the recboot page link.
thank you very very much!!!
is there any ways to restore content (sms, contacts, pictures) from back up which was running on 4.0.1 to 3.1.3???
Works perfectly ! I use mac downgraded from OS 4.0.2 to 3.1.3