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How to Downgrade to iOS 9.0.2 from iOS 9.1

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iOS 9.1 has been released, and if you updated to the latest version, but want to go back to iOS 9.0.2, here’s how to downgrade to iOS 9.0.2 from iOS 9.1.

iOS 9.1 isn’t a huge update by any means, but it comes with a handful of bug fixes and improvements, as well as few new features. Most notably, iOS 9.1 comes with 150 new emoji, including the middle finger emoji that users have been looking forward to for a while.

UPDATE: It’s no longer possible to downgrade to iOS 9.0.2.

iOS 9.1 is also required to set up the new Apple TV, if you plan to buy one come Monday, although that may only be if you plan to set up the Apple TV the easy way using your iPhone.

iOS-9.1-Release-Date-Update

Here are some of the other big fixes in iOS 9.1:

  • Improved stability including CarPlay, Music, Photos, Safari, and Search
  • Improved performance while in Multitasking UI
  • Fixes an issue that could cause Calendar to become unresponsive in Month view
  • Fixes an issue that prevented Game Center from launching for some users
  • Resolves an issue that zoomed the content of some apps
  • Resolves an issue that could cause an incorrect unread mail count for POP mail accounts
  • Fixes an issue that prevented users from removing recent contacts from new mail or messages
  • Fixes an issue that caused some messages to not appear in Mail search results
  • Resolves an issue that left a gray bar in the body of an Audio Message
  • Fixes an issue that caused activation errors on some carriers
  • Fixes an issue that prevented some apps from updating from the App Store

If you updated to iOS 9.1, but aren’t enjoying the new update, or you want to jailbreak your iPhone (iOS 9.1 isn’t jailbreakable), then you can still downgrade to iOS 9.0.2.

Apple usually doesn’t allow you to downgrade back to an older version of iOS, but the first week or so after a new update releases, Apple keeps signing the previous iOS version, making downgrading possible for a short while.

Here’s how to downgrade to iOS 9.0.2 from iOS 9.1 on your iPhone or iPad.

Before You Begin

It’s crucial that you back up your iPhone before you downgrade to iOS 9.0.2, because the only method available to downgrade forces you to factory wipe your device completely, and the only way to get back all of your apps and settings is to restore from a backup after you downgrade.

Screen Shot 2015-10-20 at 2.43.47 PM

You’ll want to back up through iTunes and we have a great guide that takes you through the process on Mac. It shouldn’t take too long — maybe 10-20 minutes depending on how much stuff needs backed up.

Even if you don’t care about losing your apps or settings, it never hurts to back up anyway just in case something should go wrong, that way you don’t end up with a bricked device. This is pretty rare, but it can happen at random times.

Downgrade to iOS 9.0.2

Now you’re ready to downgrade your iPhone or iPad back to iOS 9.0.2. The process for downgrading is a bit different than how you’d update to a newer version of iOS through iTunes, but it’s still really easy to do.

The first thing you’ll need to do is go to this website and download the right IPSW file for your specific iOS device. It may take a while to download, as the file can be as large as 2.2GB, so be patient while this happens.

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 2.50.21 PM

After the IPSW file is downloaded, note its location on your computer and then open up iTunes and plug your iPhone or iPad into your computer.

Next, go to your device’s summary page by clicking on the iPhone or iPad icon near the upper-left corner of the iTunes window.

Screen Shot 2015-10-20 at 2.40.31 PM

From there, hold down the Option/Alt key on your keyboard (Shift key on Windows) and click on Restore iPhone as you hold down the key. A file explorer window will pop up and this is where you’ll locate the IPSW file and open it.

iTunes will begin downgrading your device to iOS 9.0.2. The process will take around 10-20 minutes to complete, so sit back and relax as it does its thing.

After it’s complete, iTunes will ask you if you want to set up your iPhone as a new iPhone or restore a backup to it. Choose the second option if you want to restore all of your apps and settings to your device.

After the backup restores itself, you’ll now be running iOS 9.0.2 with all of your apps and settings still intact.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Joe Unsworth

    10/25/2015 at 5:35 pm

    Hi,

    Is it definitely possible to restore a 9.1 backup onto iOS 9.0.2? I recall having issues with restoring backups when downgrading in the past, I think with iOS 7. Thanks in advance.

  2. Ricky

    10/26/2015 at 9:29 am

    I update 9.1 in 4s my keypad is not working and left speaker is not working and iphone is very slow working what I can do

  3. Cindy

    10/27/2015 at 9:02 am

    Was able to go back to the ios successfully, but couldn’t restore the phone because it had backed up with the new ios and would not restore until I update to the latest ios9.1 again. Bummer. Anyway around this?

  4. Jeff

    12/07/2015 at 2:39 pm

    dosent work anymore, apple patched it

  5. Jon

    12/16/2015 at 9:06 am

    iPhone 6 ‘version 9.2’ drops every call and freezes on call ending screen runs very hot and battery life terrible

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