Buzz
Remove the latest iOS update and restore the earlier version fast
Not thrilled with iOS 18’s big changes? You still have a short window to return to iOS 17—if Apple is still signing it. Keep in mind, this will erase your data, so only proceed if you’ve got a backup from before the update.
At a Glance
- Head to https://ipsw.me/ and grab the latest signed iOS 17 IPSW file.
- Go to Settings > Find My on your iPhone and turn off Find My.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and launch Finder or iTunes.
- Hold ⌥ Option (Mac) or ⇧ Shift (Windows) and click Restore.
- Select the IPSW you downloaded and hit Open.
- Confirm by clicking Restore.
Full Instructions
Get the latest iOS 17 version from IPSW. To begin the downgrade, visit https://ipsw.me/, select iPhone, choose your model, and download the newest signed iOS 17 file.
- Ignore the ads and scroll to the actual Download button.
- As of September 18, 2024, the last signed version before iOS 18 is iOS 17.6.1.
- It might take 30+ minutes to download, especially during peak traffic.
Disable Find My on your iPhone. Restoring won't work unless Find My is turned off. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then choose Find My. Tap Find My iPhone and switch it off.
- If Stolen Device Protection is enabled, turn it off first:
- Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
- Enter your passcode.
- Select Stolen Device Protection and toggle it off.
Connect your iPhone to your computer. Use Finder on a Mac or iTunes on a Windows PC.
- Your iPhone may ask you to trust the computer before proceeding.
Launch Finder or iTunes and open your device. Once connected, your iPhone will appear in the left sidebar. Click it to access the device settings menu.
Press and hold ⌥ Option (Mac) or ⇧ Shift (PC) and click Restore iPhone. This opens a window to locate your IPSW file, usually found in your Downloads folder unless you picked another location.
Launch the IPSW file. Double-click the IPSW you downloaded, then hit Open to continue.
Click Restore. A warning will appear that your device will be erased and replaced with the selected iOS version. Confirm by clicking Restore again and wait for the process to finish.
Reconfigure your iPhone. Restore from a backup created before updating to iOS 18, or set your iPhone up as new.
