How to install old ios. Reverting an Apple device to an older version of iOS. How to install old version of App Store apps on iPhone and iPad without jailbreak
Yesterday we talked about how iPhone and iPad can install outdated versions of applications using the Charlie program. From the comments to that article, it turned out that there is an easier way that does not involve the use of third-party tools. This method only works if the new version of the application is not supported by your device due to system requirements.
If you are using an old Apple smartphone or tablet, or have not updated iOS to version 8 or 9, you will inevitably encounter limitations - the App Store will prompt you to update the operating system first. However, you can cheat and download not a new version of the application, but one compatible with old technology or an outdated build of iOS.
How to install an old version of the application on iOS?
1. Go to the system settings of your iPhone or iPad and enable iCloud synchronization.
2. Launch iTunes on your computer and download the application you need, even if it’s a new version.
3. Open the App Store on your mobile device and find the application that you downloaded through iTunes.
4. Near the name of the application, instead of the “download” button, a button with a cloud will appear, which shows that a “purchase” has already been registered in your account, and you can freely download this application to your device.
5. If your iPhone or iPad is incompatible with this application, the system will display an error and... offer to download the version that was once compatible with it.
6. Wait a while - the outdated version of the application will be downloaded to your device.
We emphasize once again that this installation method can only be used on older devices (iPhone 3, 4, etc.), and install outdated versions of applications on new Apple smartphones and tablets can be accessed using the Charlie application, which we recently wrote about. Charlie works as a proxy that downloads the version of the application you need from Apple servers - more stable than the new one or with features that were later removed by the developers. One of these applications is the official VKontakte client, which once had a full-fledged music section, but now only excerpts from songs are available, leading to the iTunes store.
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While the Internet is buzzing with news on the topic of bypassing Telegram blocking and related problems with hosting companies, I had a more serious problem - the Innologica company has updated the Inoreader application for iOS to version 6.
On a quiet weekday evening, the application on the phone was accidentally updated to the latest version, because... Usually there were no signs of trouble. A couple of days later during the trip, the program was launched to read the news and I began to worry seriously.
You can compare how it was and how it became in two examples:
Of course, the taste and color and the owners of the iPhone X were clearly happy with the optimization for amoled screens, but it was this update that prompted them to look for solutions to roll back the application, which the AppStore does not allow to do by default.
Previously, getting the ipa file of the application was a matter of 2 minutes, it was enough to go to apptrackr and download, but it stopped working and no other similar resources were found that would honestly download the ipa file (but what if you know such ones?).
The following methods remain to obtain the old version of the application:
- You have an old backup of applications from your phone in iTunes and then you can simply copy the application back (but I didn’t have this).
- Use a method quickly described by someone on the Internet using software called Charles. This method is described on resources like 4dpa and copied by many people without understanding what is written there, however, without additional >100 grams it is difficult to understand this writing.
All your torment will begin even before you download Charles. The fact is that if you update iTunes on a Mac, you will not be able to install applications starting from version 12.7. To get it back, you need to install version 12.6.4 back.
Short: download the application via the AppStore in iTunes, then enable the proxy, then download again, edit the request, send the request, get the old version, install.
Details: After launching Charles, you need to install application certificates on your Mac. This is done through the menu Help → SSL Proxying → Install Charles Root Cetrificate. The certificate then needs to be switched to Always Trust status in Keychain Access. If you do not install it, there will be errors and the method will not work.
In iTunes, look for the Inoreader application (this is suitable for any application, but at that moment I was only interested in it), launch Charles and click Download in the application installation window:
In the Charles window you see a similar line with the word “buy” in the address, associated with the apple server:
For information, please note that the size of the downloaded file is 20.4 MB:
Then you need to turn on SSL Proxying to intercept and edit requests:
Since, most likely, you have fast Internet and the application has already been loaded into the application library, you need to remove it from there.
We check once again that SSL Proxying is enabled and proceed to re-download the application from the AppStore; in this case, you need to pause the download so that you have time for the next steps. After clicking on Download, another line will appear in the Charles window in the apple server, containing the word “buy”. Expanding this line you need to find buyProduct:
On the right side of the window, click on Contents and select below XML Text. Scroll down until we find softwareVersionExternalIdentifiers with a list of incomprehensible numbers.
These numbers act as application versions. Accordingly, the lower the number, the older the application version. How do I know which version of the application will be downloaded? For example, I randomly took the value 823964615 from the end of the list:
Now we need to check the application version. To do this, we go to “buyProduct” and select from the menu Compose and on the right side of the window is the Text view.
At the very top of the field there will be a familiar set of numbers after the parameter
Instead of these numbers we substitute the 823964615 copied above and it should turn out like this:
and we do Execute. The program will give you a window and select the display mode XML Text we can find the bundleShortVersionString parameter below and see that the value we selected corresponds to version 5.4.4, which in my case is what is needed, because This version is almost the latest before updating to 6.0
One step left. You need to download this whole thing. To do this, in our last edited request buyProduct with the received version 5.4.4, select in the menu Breakpoints.
Again, go to the AppStore to download the Inoreader application (if the application has already been downloaded to the library and you did not have time to stop it, then simply delete it so that you can download it again).
As soon as you click download in iTunes, the Charles window will pop up, where you will need to click on Edit Request and in the already familiar appExtVrsId parameter, correct the version to 823964615, click Execute, and then again at Execute.
As a result, the application will start loading and you will see that the application size has changed downward:
A program icon with an Update shortcut will appear in the iTunes application library. This will mean that you did everything right. You can do Get Info application and it will be written:
Then we look at the application where it is located in the file system and save it for the future if you suddenly decide to update the application :)
Upon completion of the work, you should do in Charles Disable SSL Proxying by clicking on the server p30-buy.itunes.apple.com.
I must say that I managed to do this procedure 2 times.
I hope this will be as useful to someone as it was to me.
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 get back 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 - you are trying to download an application from the App Store, and your iPhone or iPad tells you that you need to update your gadget to the new version of iOS 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:
This content (application) requires iOS 7.0 (any version can be used here) and newer. 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 of the 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.
- At the moment, people still have many gadgets like the iPhone 4 in their hands. And, as we know, the latest version of iOS for it 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! After all, there is a way to download those applications to the iPhone that require a newer version of 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).
But the main thing is that the application itself will work and you can use it! And this is much better than just a “bare” device without any games or programs.
P.S. Did you manage to download anything this way? Give it a like! Do you have any questions or questions? Then write in the comments!
It happens that after updating an application for iPhone or iPad, you need to rollback and the question arises of how to return to the previous version. User AndreyYu on geektimes.com solved the issue.
Previously, getting the ipa file of the application was a matter of 2 minutes, you just had to go to apptrackr and download, but it stopped working and no other similar resources were found that would allow you to honestly download the ipa file (but what if you know such ones?).
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The following methods remain to obtain the old version of the application:
- You have an old backup of applications from your phone in iTunes and then you can simply copy the application back (but I didn’t have this).
- Use a method quickly described by someone on the Internet using software called Charles. This method is described on resources like 4dpa and copied by many people without understanding what is written there, however, without additional >100 grams it is difficult to understand this writing.
Perhaps I will do this more fully, with pictures and in a simpler, understandable form. In general, to download the old version of software from the AppStore it will take about 5 minutes and in my case Mac OS X. The method will obviously work on Windows, because There is also a Charles app for this system.
All your torment will begin even before you download Charles. The fact is that if you update iTunes on a Mac, you will not be able to install applications starting from version 12.7. To get it back, you need to install version 12.6.4 back. 
What to do next to roll back an application update on iOS
Short: download the application via the AppStore in iTunes, then enable the proxy, then download again, edit the request, send the request, get the old version, install.
Details: After launching Charles, you need to install application certificates on your Mac. This is done through the menu Help → SSL Proxying → Install Charles Root Cetrificate. The certificate then needs to be switched to Always Trust status in Keychain Access. If you do not install it, there will be errors and the method will not work.
In iTunes, look for the Inoreader application (this is suitable for any application, but at that moment I was only interested in it), launch Charles and click Download in the application installation window:
In the Charles window you see a similar line with the word “buy” in the address, associated with the apple server:
For information, please note that the size of the downloaded file is 20.4 MB:
Then you need to turn on SSL Proxying to intercept and edit requests:
Since, most likely, you have fast Internet and the application has already been loaded into the application library, you need to remove it from there.
We check once again that SSL Proxying is enabled and proceed to re-download the application from the AppStore; in this case, you need to pause the download so that you have time for the next steps. After clicking on Download, another line will appear in the Charles window in the apple server, containing the word “buy”. Expanding this line you need to find buyProduct:
On the right side of the window, click on Contents and select below XML Text. Scroll down until we find softwareVersionExternalIdentifiers with a list of incomprehensible numbers.
These numbers act as application versions. Accordingly, the lower the number, the older the application version. How do I know which version of the application will be downloaded? For example, I randomly took the value 823964615 from the end of the list:
Now we need to check the application version. To do this, we go to “buyProduct” and select from the menu Compose and on the right side of the window is the Text view.
At the very top of the field there will be a familiar set of numbers after the parameter
Instead of these numbers we substitute the 823964615 copied above and it should turn out like this:
and we do Execute. The program will give you a window and select the display mode XML Text we can find the bundleShortVersionString parameter below and see that the value we selected corresponds to version 5.4.4, which in my case is what is needed, because This version is almost the latest before updating to 6.0
One step left. You need to download this whole thing. To do this, in our last edited request buyProduct with the received version 5.4.4, select in the menu Breakpoints.
Again, go to the AppStore to download the Inoreader application (if the application has already been downloaded to the library and you did not have time to stop it, then simply delete it so that you can download it again).
As soon as you click download in iTunes, the Charles window will pop up, where you will need to click on Edit Request and in the already familiar appExtVrsId parameter, correct the version to 823964615, click Execute, and then again at Execute.
As a result, the application will start loading and you will see that the application size has changed downward:
A program icon with an Update shortcut will appear in the iTunes application library. This will mean that you did everything right. You can do Get Info application and it will be written:
Upon completion of the work, you should do in Charles Disable SSL Proxying by clicking on the server p30-buy.itunes.apple.com.
I must say that I managed to do this procedure 2 times.
I hope this will be as useful to someone as it was to me.
Well, you updated your favorite application to the latest current version, but the developers made a mistake and the program began to work worse, or completely cut down its functionality (for example, removing the Audio Recordings section from the VKontakte application). There is no need to be upset, there is a way to downgrade App Store applications.
In contact with
How to install old version of App Store apps on iPhone and iPad without jailbreak
1 . Download the utility for Windows, OS X or Linux from the developer’s official website. The program is paid, but the first 30 days are provided without the need to make a payment.
2 . Close your browser window.
3 . Install and run.
4 . Grant privileges to the program by clicking the " Grant Priveleges", and then " Install».
5 . Open iTunes, find the application you are interested in and click on the download button.
6 . In the " Structure"in the left side menu of the Charles program, find the line " p…-buy.itunes.apple.com" and select it.
7 . Right-click on this line and select the menu item “ Enable SSL Proxying».
8 . Return to iTunes, stop downloading the application and delete it by pressing the key " Delete».
9 . In the iTunes search, once again enter the name of the application you are interested in, and by going to its page, you will thereby update the content.
10 . Press the button again Download».
11 . In the " Structure"in the left side menu of the Charles program, find the new line " p…-buy.itunes.apple.com" and expand its contents.
12 . Right-click on the file " buyProduct" and select " Export».
13 . Save the file in the "XML Summary file (.xml)" format.
14 . Right-click on the saved file in .xml format and select from the context menu Open in the program → TextEdit(any text editor is suitable for this procedure).
15
. Scroll down the code until you find the line
These are all possible versions of applications, starting from the oldest to the latest.
16 . Copy the version number.
17 . Go back to Charles and right-click on buyProduct and click " Edit».
18 . At the bottom, select view " Text" and at the top of the text find the following line:
19
. Underneath between the keys
20 . Click the button below Execute».
21 . Charles will create a new file in the branch " buyProduct" (at the very bottom of the "wa" folder).
22 . Go to the " Response", and select " XML Text».
23 . Find the line in the code with the name of the application and its version.
ATTENTION! If the application version does not suit you, then repeat steps 16-23 using brute force, substituting other values in the key
24 . Right-click on " buyProduct" and activate " Breakpoints».
25 . Switch to iTunes, refresh the application page and download it again.
26 . A new Charles window with Breakpoints will appear.
27 . Go to the tab " Edit Request" and click on " XML Text».
28
. In the line
29 . Click the button below Execute».
30 . A new Charles window will open with Breakpoints in which click the “ button again Execute».
31 . Wait until the application download process finishes in iTunes.
32 . Go to the tab " My programs» and find the downloaded offer.
33 . Right-click on it and click " Intelligence».
34 . As you can see, in our case we downloaded SoundCloud version 3.9.1 while the current version is 3.15.0.
34 . Connect your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to your Mac or PC.
35 . Synchronize the application or simply drag it onto the icon with your device.
How to install old version of App Store apps on jailbroken iPhone and iPad without a computer
1. Install the iFile file manager in Cydia, thanks to which you can access all directories of the drive.
2. Launch iFile and go to /private/var/mobile/Containers/Bundle/Application/. Here you will see a list of all installed applications on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, but, unfortunately, with strange names. So you will have to search for the application at random, opening each folder and looking at the name “ХХХ.app”, where XXX is the name of the application.
By the way, in order not to follow this long path every time (/private/var/mobile/Containers/Bundle/Application/), add the folder to your bookmarks. To do this:
A) on the bottom panel, tap on the icon with shortcuts/bookmarks;
b) go to the tab " Bookmarks»;
V) click on the plus sign in the lower right corner of the display;
G) change the bookmark name if necessary, for example “ All applications" and press " Create».
3. Find the required application whose version you want to roll back.
4. Open the file " iTunesMetadata.plist" and press " Text editor».
5. Scroll down the page until you see the format text:
The numbers refer to the program version. Copy any of the versions. They will also have to be sorted out at random in the future.
6. Install the free App Admin jailbreak tweak from the Cydia BigBoss repository.
7. Open the App Store and find the app you're interested in.
8. Regardless of whether it is installed or not, click the " Download / Open».
9. In the pop-up message, select " Downgrade».
10. Once in the section " Known Versions", you can select one of the old versions available in the list, and if the exact version is not available, then click the plus sign in the upper right corner and paste the code copied in the seventh paragraph there.
11. Wait for the installation to finish (the app download may be very slow. Don't worry, this is normal).
As you can see, we installed an old version of the VKontakte application, which also had an Audio Recordings section.
In the App Store, next to the application, there will, of course, be the inscription “Update”, after clicking on which you will get the latest version.
