Want to downgrade from the iOS 18 beta to iOS 17? If you installed the iOS 18 developer beta, the initial appeal of new home screen customization, Photos app, and Control Center features might wear off as you encounter software stability issues. But that’s a risk you accept when opting into the beta.
However, if you didn’t fully consider these implications and want to revert, here’s how to roll back from the iOS 18 Developer Beta to the stable iOS 17 version, without data loss. This process also works for downgrading from iPadOS 18 to iPadOS 17.
Can You Restore to Previous iOS Version From Backup
If you’ve taken a backup your iPhone via iTunes or Finder before updating to iOS 18, you might be tempted to restore it immediately. While you can restore the backup created on iOS 17, your iPhone runs iOS 18 – it’ll only recover your old data and apps. It won’t roll back the software version.
You also cannot create a fresh backup on iOS 18, downgrade to iOS 17, and then restore the iOS 18 backup. Apple restricts restoring backups from newer iOS versions onto older ones due to potential incompatibilities in data structures or features—the iOS 17 doesn’t know what iOS 18 is like.
To roll back to iOS 17 from iOS 18, you’ll need to use recovery mode, which will erase everything on your iPhone. However, you can restore your data afterward depending on your backup situation:
If You Have an iTunes or Finder Backup from iOS 17: Downgrade your device to iOS 17. After downgrading, restore the same backup using iTunes or Finder.
If You Have an iCloud Backup: Downgrade your device to iOS 17. After downgrading, restore your iCloud backup to restore apps, files, and other data.
If You Do Not Have Any Backup Currently: Before downgrading, manually back up your iPhone data to iCloud (if possible). If you don’t have enough iCloud space, save your important files to another cloud service or your computer. You can then restore them after downgrading.
Roll Back from iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17 Stable Version
Now that you know how to restore your data after downgrading, let’s go through the steps to roll back from the iOS 18 beta to iOS 17. You can use recovery mode on your iPhone (or iPad) to do this. Here’s how:
Pre-requisites
A Mac computer with Finder or a Windows computer with iTunes installed.
Your iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18, respectively.
Your Apple ID (now, Apple Account) and password to activate the iPhone after restore iOS 17.
Step 1: Put Your iPhone in Recovery Mode
1. Turn off your iPhone by pressing and holding the Power/Side key and either Volume button until the power-off slider appears. Then, slide to power off.
2. Press and hold the Power/Side key on your iPhone and immediately connect it to a Mac or Windows PC. Keep holding the Power key. For iPad, check the button combinations.
3. The Apple logo will appear on your iPhone. You can release the Power key at this point.
4. Your iPhone will automatically enter Recovery mode. You’ll see a black screen with a cable and an arrow pointing towards a laptop.
5. On your computer, accept the prompt to allow the iPhone to connect.
Step 2: Roll Back to iOS 17 from iOS 18 Beta Using Finder/iTunes
1. If you’re using a Mac, open Finder. On Windows, open the iTunes app.
2. Your iPhone will appear in the sidebar menu in Finder. Click on it. On Windows, click on the iPhone icon in the top-right corner.
3. A pop-up will appear asking whether to Update or Restore your iPhone. Click Restore.
4. Then, click on Restore and Update in the next pop-up.
5. Accept the terms and follow the prompts on your screen. Wait until your iPhone is restored.
Your iPhone will download the latest stable software available – iOS 17. The entire process can take about 15-20 minutes. We restored an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which downloaded about 8GB of data.
Our iPhone 15 Pro Max restored to iOS 17
After that, your iPhone will automatically boot into iOS 17. Disconnect it from your Mac or Windows PC and then restore your backup via iTunes, iCloud, or the method you chose earlier. This way, you’ve successfully downgraded the iOS version while keeping all your data.
You can always rejoin the Developer Beta or wait for the Public Beta (releasing in July). Alternatively, you can wait for the stable public release expected this September, which will also set to bring Apple Intelligence features on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
The post How to Roll Back From iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17 Without Losing Data appeared first on TechWiser.
Want to downgrade from the iOS 18 beta to iOS…
The post How to Roll Back From iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17 Without Losing Data appeared first on TechWiser.
Want to downgrade from the iOS 18 beta to iOS 17? If you installed the iOS 18 developer beta, the initial appeal of new home screen customization, Photos app, and Control Center features might wear off as you encounter software stability issues. But that’s a risk you accept when opting into the beta.
However, if you didn’t fully consider these implications and want to revert, here’s how to roll back from the iOS 18 Developer Beta to the stable iOS 17 version, without data loss. This process also works for downgrading from iPadOS 18 to iPadOS 17.
Can You Restore to Previous iOS Version From Backup
If you’ve taken a backup your iPhone via iTunes or Finder before updating to iOS 18, you might be tempted to restore it immediately. While you can restore the backup created on iOS 17, your iPhone runs iOS 18 – it’ll only recover your old data and apps. It won’t roll back the software version.
You also cannot create a fresh backup on iOS 18, downgrade to iOS 17, and then restore the iOS 18 backup. Apple restricts restoring backups from newer iOS versions onto older ones due to potential incompatibilities in data structures or features—the iOS 17 doesn’t know what iOS 18 is like.
To roll back to iOS 17 from iOS 18, you’ll need to use recovery mode, which will erase everything on your iPhone. However, you can restore your data afterward depending on your backup situation:
If You Have an iTunes or Finder Backup from iOS 17: Downgrade your device to iOS 17. After downgrading, restore the same backup using iTunes or Finder.
If You Have an iCloud Backup: Downgrade your device to iOS 17. After downgrading, restore your iCloud backup to restore apps, files, and other data.
If You Do Not Have Any Backup Currently: Before downgrading, manually back up your iPhone data to iCloud (if possible). If you don’t have enough iCloud space, save your important files to another cloud service or your computer. You can then restore them after downgrading.
Roll Back from iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17 Stable Version
Now that you know how to restore your data after downgrading, let’s go through the steps to roll back from the iOS 18 beta to iOS 17. You can use recovery mode on your iPhone (or iPad) to do this. Here’s how:
Pre-requisites
A Mac computer with Finder or a Windows computer with iTunes installed.
Your iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18, respectively.
Your Apple ID (now, Apple Account) and password to activate the iPhone after restore iOS 17.
Step 1: Put Your iPhone in Recovery Mode
1. Turn off your iPhone by pressing and holding the Power/Side key and either Volume button until the power-off slider appears. Then, slide to power off.
2. Press and hold the Power/Side key on your iPhone and immediately connect it to a Mac or Windows PC. Keep holding the Power key. For iPad, check the button combinations.
3. The Apple logo will appear on your iPhone. You can release the Power key at this point.
4. Your iPhone will automatically enter Recovery mode. You’ll see a black screen with a cable and an arrow pointing towards a laptop.
5. On your computer, accept the prompt to allow the iPhone to connect.
Step 2: Roll Back to iOS 17 from iOS 18 Beta Using Finder/iTunes
1. If you’re using a Mac, open Finder. On Windows, open the iTunes app.
2. Your iPhone will appear in the sidebar menu in Finder. Click on it. On Windows, click on the iPhone icon in the top-right corner.
3. A pop-up will appear asking whether to Update or Restore your iPhone. Click Restore.
4. Then, click on Restore and Update in the next pop-up.
5. Accept the terms and follow the prompts on your screen. Wait until your iPhone is restored.
Your iPhone will download the latest stable software available – iOS 17. The entire process can take about 15-20 minutes. We restored an iPhone 15 Pro Max, which downloaded about 8GB of data.
Our iPhone 15 Pro Max restored to iOS 17
After that, your iPhone will automatically boot into iOS 17. Disconnect it from your Mac or Windows PC and then restore your backup via iTunes, iCloud, or the method you chose earlier. This way, you’ve successfully downgraded the iOS version while keeping all your data.
You can always rejoin the Developer Beta or wait for the Public Beta (releasing in July). Alternatively, you can wait for the stable public release expected this September, which will also set to bring Apple Intelligence features on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
The post How to Roll Back From iOS 18 Beta to iOS 17 Without Losing Data appeared first on TechWiser.
