How to install the previous version of the application on iPhone. What to do if an app from the App Store requires a new version of iOS or how to install the latest compatible version of the app for your iPhone and iPad. How to roll back iOS to a specific version on Apple

Hi all! Apple constantly releases new versions of iOS and, frankly, many thanks to them for that. Why? Because, thereby, she does not let me get bored - something is constantly happening. Well, okay, let's return to the topic of the article. So, Apple is trying and producing, and game and application developers, in turn, promptly and very quickly rework their programs so that they are fully compatible with the new firmware.

And in the end, this situation may turn out like this - you are trying to download any application from App Store, and your iPhone or iPad tells you that you need to update your gadget to a new one iOS version and nothing will be installed or downloaded until this moment. This is such an unexpected ultimatum from the Apple company and its services. Checkmate! Or not?

This mess looks something like this:

For of this content(application) requires iOS 7.0 (any version can be here) and later. To download and use this application, please update to iOS 7.0 (or higher software version).

And it would seem, what is the problem? Update and download! But:

  • There is not always a need for a new firmware version; someone wants to leave their device on the old and proven version software. "jambs" in iOS 10! Not everyone will want to upgrade.
  • Many people simply cannot install new firmware- , pay attention to the number of comments.
  • On this moment, people still have many gadgets like the iPhone 4 in their hands. And, as we know, for it latest version iOS is 7.1.2. That’s it, you can’t update it further, and many applications and games require iOS 8 and no less when downloaded from the App Store! And this will continue in the future - the next in line is the iPhone 4S, and then it’s not far from the “fives”.

What to do in this case? Leave the gadget without programs and games? Of course not, there is a way to download those applications on iPhone that require more new version iOS than the one that is currently installed.

Updated! Apple surprised everyone and removed the App Store from new versions of iTunes. Therefore, before you start following the instructions, it’s worth checking whether you have access to the games and application store from your computer? No? . All OK"? Let's continue...

True, one smartphone is not enough for this; you will also need a computer. The algorithm is quite simple:


That's it, we managed to install a program that previously required a newer version of iOS on your iPhone and iPad. Moreover, we didn’t even touch the firmware - we didn’t need to update it!

The only thing, as you already understood, is that this way old versions of applications and games are installed (specifically for the iOS that is currently installed on your device). So there may not be any new features (introduced in subsequent editions of the program).

After updating to a new version of iOS, you may notice that you do not like the firmware. In this case, there is an excellent solution - roll back the software to the optimal version, in your opinion. That is, if you updated to, for example, IOS 10, then you can easily install it on your iOS device 8 using the instructions below.

When is it necessary to rollback iOS?

Reasons to install an older version operating system The following circumstances may occur:

  • With new firmware versions, the design changes, and not all users may like the new design.
  • The most common reason is the appearance of freezes and glitches. Happen similar problems for two reasons: either the new version of the firmware became available to users in a too crude form, with errors in the code and shortcomings, or the device that was updated was already outdated for the loads created by the new version of IOS.

Please note that it is not possible to roll back any device for any version, detailed information You can view which device to which firmware version can be rolled back to on the following website - http://appstudio.org/shsh. All data is located in table format.

How to roll back iOS to a specific version on an Apple device

Before you begin the process, you need to prepare the following things:

  • iTunes installed on your computer and updated to the latest version.
  • The version of the software you selected, in IPSW format, is downloaded to an easily accessible folder. You can download it from trusted Internet sites that distribute free of charge iOS firmware, for example, by following link- http://appstudio.org/ios. Download the firmware strictly for your device model, otherwise problems will arise during installation.
  • A USB adapter that will connect your device to your computer.

If all the above conditions are met by you, then next step will prepare the device itself for the rollback process.

Saving important data

Please note that when you roll back your device, all data, applications and media files from it are permanently erased, so it’s worth taking care of them. There is an option that allows you to delete files from the device, it will be discussed later in the article, but it is no less stable. You can save everything you need using backup copy, created as follows:

Disable password

Another important point is to disable the password and Touch ID, if it is supported and enabled on your device.

Deactivating Find My iPhone

Before any actions with the device’s firmware, you must disable the “Find iPhone” function, since, otherwise, iTunes simply will not allow you to perform any actions:

Firmware rollback

If all previous preparatory work have been carried out, then you can begin the rollback itself. It doesn't matter which device you're downgrading from, or from which version of iOS you're downgrading to.

  1. Connect the device to the computer using a USB adapter.
  2. Log in to the system.
  3. Go to your device's settings by clicking on the icon that looks like a phone or tablet.
  4. Clamp Shift button on the keyboard if you are using Windows, or Option button, if you are using Mac OS. Without releasing the key, click on the “Restore” button.
  5. A window with folders will open; you need to specify the path to the firmware that you downloaded earlier.
  6. Wait while iTunes extracts the software from the firmware and installs it. The process can last from five minutes to half an hour, do not disconnect the device from the computer or interrupt the process with any actions, otherwise the device may enter endless recovery mode.

Rollback without data loss

This rollback option also exists; it allows you to rollback without losing the data on the device. To do this, in point 4 of the “Rolling Back Firmware” section, you need to click on the “Restore” button and the “Update” button. All other steps are completely the same. The only thing worth considering is that the execution full recovery, that is, resetting the system and installing it from scratch is safer, since the chance that any elements will remain from the previous version is much lower.

Video tutorial: How to downgrade iOS version

Third party rollback programs

If for some reason the iTunes method does not suit you, then you can use the third-party program RedSnow. It is distributed free of charge for both Windows and Mac OS on the official website of the developer - http://redsnow.ru.

  1. After downloading and opening the program, select the Extras section.
  2. Click on the Even More button.
  3. In the menu that opens, go to the Restore block.
  4. Click the IPSW button to specify the path to the previously downloaded firmware.
  5. The notification that appears will ask you whether to cancel the modem upgrade or not. Click on the “Yes” option.
  6. A window will open in which you will be warned that the device will now need to be put into recovery mode, close it.
  7. Connect the device to the computer using a USB adapter and enter it into DFU Mode. How to do this is described step by step in the program itself.
  8. If you have not performed such rollback operations with this program before, click on the Remote button so that it will automatically find the necessary hashes on its servers.
  9. Done, now all you have to do is wait for the process to complete. The device will automatically update to the version you downloaded and turn on, after which you will have to go through the initial setup process.

Is it possible to roll back individual applications?

If the purpose of your system rollback is to install older versions of applications, then you should not carry it out, since there is a better option - use special program App Admin. You can download it directly from the App Store for free. Thanks to this application, you can view all available versions applications installed on your phone and roll back to them. To use the program, just select the applications to roll back and enter the unique version number to which you want to roll back the selected application.

So, installing an older version of software is possible on all Apple devices, but you can not roll back to any version, but only to those that have the SHSH signature. The process can be completed either through the official iTunes app, and through third party programs. The main thing is to download correct version firmware and do not interrupt the update process until it is fully completed.

Application updates do not always bring something new and useful; some errors are often eliminated, but others immediately appear. It’s worse when ads appear or disappear after an update useful features, and there are a lot of such cases.

In this article we will tell you how to roll back the version of an application on iOS using Charles and iTunes. But before you start, please note:

  • the instructions only work on version Charles 4, tested on Charles 4.0.2 (the program is paid, but has unlimited trial period, trial version stops working every half hour);
  • the maximum version of iTunes for macOS is 12.3.3, for Windows - 12.2.2, on next versions this method no longer works: either iTunes does not start, or there is no Download button (12.4-12.4.3), or an error appears
    "iTunes cannot verify the authenticity of the server. Invalid server certificate" (12.5-12.6.3).

Unfortunately, this method will no longer work on macOS versions High Sierra and higher. When running previous versions of iTunes, you will receive an error because the minimum version for High Sierra is 12.7 (without the App Store).

Attention! Starting with iTunes version 12.7, there is no longer a store in the program Apps Store, so to install the downloaded application on your device, use the latest working version — 12.6.3.

How to roll back an application version on iPhone and iPad

Step 1 Download Charles 4 for your operating system (macOS or Windows) and install it. If the method does not work on a newer version, then download Charles 4.0.2 from here

Step 2 Launch the Charles program. On macOS computers, when you first launch the program, click the Grand Privileges button



Step 4 Go to Charles program and in the Structure panel (on the left) find the line containing “buy.itunes.apple.com”. Click on it right key mouse and select Enable SSL Proxying


Step 5 Go back to iTunes, stop downloading the application and remove it from the download list (click on the downloads icon in the right top corner, select the application to download and press 2 times Delete key). If the download has already completed, then go to the “My Programs” section and delete the downloaded application


Step 6 Search iTunes again and download the app again. If iTunes warns you that it can't verify the server's authenticity, click Continue. The application will start downloading, stop it and uninstall it


Step 7 Go to Charles and find new line containing "buy.itunes.apple.com". Expand it and select "buyProduct"


Step 8 In the right panel of the program, select the Contents tab (instead of Contents, in some OS there may be Response) and specify the display type “XML Text”. Among the lines of code, find:

softwareVersionExternalIdentifier
821085078

In line indicated Current version application, and under it there are already identifiers of all previous versions:

softwareVersionExternalIdentifies
785833618
811158353
811420549
811474632

Select the version you want to install and copy its number


Step 9 Return to the left panel of Structure and on the “buyProduct” line, right-click and select Breakpoints


Step 10 In iTunes, find and download the application again

Step 11 Once you click Load, a new window will appear in the Charles program. Go to it, select the Edit Request and “XML Text” tabs


Step 12 Find the stitch XXXX and instead of XXXX (a set of numbers) insert the version number of the application that you copied earlier and click the Execute button once, and then again


Step 13 iTunes should start downloading the selected version. Once the download is complete, the downloaded application will appear in the “My Programs” section. Look at the program version, call context menu right-click and select Details or press Cmd+I (macOS) / Ctrl+I (Windows). If you are not satisfied with the version, copy another version ID and repeat Steps 10 - 13


Step 14 Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and install the app on your device

After completing all operations, do not forget to return everything to default in Charles, go to the program again, select the “buyProduct” line, right-click on it and click Disable SSL Proxying, and also uncheck Breakpoints or simply uninstall the program.

The instructions are not easy and require effort, but it's worth it if you want to return old version applications.

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Sooner or later every user mobile devices from Apple is faced with the idea that it might be worth returning to the old version of iOS. There may be many factors for this - a new unusual interface that came with next update, errors in the new version associated with defects or poor compatibility with a specific device.

The company itself has never welcomed the return of previous versions of software to the device and, strictly speaking, neither the iPhone nor the iPad support the installation of older versions of iOS. However, after the release of a new iteration of the operating system, users have a couple of weeks to properly study the new version, make a choice and, if desired, do a so-called firmware rollback to the previous version.

WITH iOS release 9, this issue has again become relevant for some users and therefore we want to remind you in these instructions how to return the old version of iOS.

Necessary preparation

First of all, we recommend that you make a complete backup your device both in iTunes on your computer and in the cloud iCloud storage. The procedure for returning a previous firmware version itself involves completely erasing information from your device and restoring absolutely clean software. Accordingly, you should have a backup copy from where you can restore all your personal information and files.

It is advisable to do the copying using both of these methods at once, since on some versions of iOS it was impossible to restore data from a backup made on a more recent firmware.

After this, in your device, be sure to follow the path Settings > iCloud > Find iPhone or iPad and disable this feature. This is done temporarily in order to remove protection from the software of your device and after restoring the firmware, the function will be enabled again automatically.

How to return the old version of iOS

To start restoring the previous version, you need to download the firmware file itself, and to carry out the procedure for installing it on an iPhone or iPad, you will need a computer, the most latest version iTunes software and USB cable.

  • Go to getios.com.
  • In field YOUR DEVICE select one mobile gadget Apple on which you are going to restore the old version of the software.
  • In field THE MODEL indicate the model of your device.
  • In field iOS VERSION select the iOS version you want to restore. Keep in mind that Apple company Supports going back only one firmware back and only for a few weeks after the new version is released.
  • Click the button DOWNLOAD and wait full load firmware file.

Now you can proceed to the recovery process itself:

  • Open iTunes program. For any operations with firmware, it is advisable to use only the latest iTunes version, so before starting the procedure, check for updates and install them if necessary.
  • Connect your device to your computer with a cable and wait until iTunes recognizes your device.
  • Open your device's management page in iTunes.
  • Hold down the Shift button on your keyboard (or Alt if you're using Mac computer), click the Update button in the device management window.
  • In the Explorer window that opens (or Finder if you are using a Mac computer), select the firmware file you downloaded in the previous step.
  • Confirm your intention to install an older version of the iOS operating system.
  • After this, the firmware recovery process will start. You can monitor its progress at the top of the iTunes window.

During the installation of the firmware into the device, it must not be disconnected from the computer and it is advisable not to press anything until white screen with a welcome inscription. It will mean that the process has been completed successfully and the device can be activated.

Since recent since Apple opened access to all versions mobile programs for iOS. Charles Proxy useful tool for Mac and Windows, which allows you to download older versions of games and applications from the App Store.

In what situations might this be useful? The need to roll back from the latest releases may be due to the appearance of software restrictions in updates (such as deleting the VKontakte music section) or various types of glitches.

Below are instructions on how to downgrade applications on iPhone and iPad:

Step 1: Download, install and run Charles. On a Mac, click the Grant Privileges button and enter your administrator password.

Step 2: Launch iTunes and download the app you want to downgrade from the store.

Step 3: In the Charles window you will see several servers that iTunes connects to, you need to find the one that has the word “buy” in it. Right click on it and select Enable SSL Proxying.



Step 4: Go back to iTunes and stop downloading the app.

Step 5: Find this application again in iTunes search and click the Download button.

Step 6: Go back to Charles and look for lines with the word "buy". In the program window you will see a second object labeled “buy”. That's what we need. Go back to iTunes and stop downloading.


Step 7: In the Charles application, expand the branch with the word “buy” to the end and find the buyProduct line. Right click, then Export and select your desktop as the location to save the file.


Step 8: You will have a new XML file on your desktop. Open it in any text editor and find the field:

softwareVersionExternalIdentifiers

Below you will see lines like:

1862841
1998707
2486624
2515121
2549327
2592648
2644032
2767414

This different versions of your application, starting from the oldest to the newest. Copy to clipboard desired number versions (at random).


Step 9: Return to Charles, right click on buyProduct and select Edit.


Step 10: Click at the bottom of Text and find the following line at the top of the page:

appExtVrsId

On top between the keys XXXX you will see the value. Replace it with the one you copied in step 8. After that, click Execute at the bottom.

Step 11: Scroll down on the Response tab to the line bundleShortVersionString. Below you will see the numerical value of the application version. If this is not the version you need, repeat the procedure starting from step 8, copying a different value to the clipboard.


Step 12: Right click on buyProduct again, but this time select Breakpoints.


Step 13: Switch to iTunes, find your application and refresh the page. Click the Download button.

Step 14: Return to Charles, select the object with the word “buy”, and on the right side of the window switch to Edit Request –> XML Text. Here in the field XXX paste the code copied in step 8 from the clipboard. Click the Execute button.


Step 15: When you see Breakpoint, click Execute again.

Step 16: Return to iTunes and the download should continue.

Step 17: Look at the My Programs tab, where the program will be downloaded. Find it in the list and right-click – Details. Pay attention to the version field: this must be the old build of the program.

Step 18: Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and transfer the application icon to your device. Before syncing your gadget, make sure you remove the newer application from your device. After synchronization is complete, your gadget will have the old version of the program.


Step 19: Close and remove Charles.

Below you can watch video instructions for downgrading from iDB: