How to downgrade iOS 5 beta to iOS 4.3.3

Apple released the latest version of iOS 5 beta at WWDC 2011. The iOS 5 comes with a lot of mouth watering features, that will tempt you to update your iDevice. But you will need to have a dev account with Apple to do that.

In case you aren’t happy with iOS 5 on your device, here’s how you can downgrade to iOS 4.3.3.
Note: You will not be able to downgrade your Baseband after you update to iOS 5.

  • Download iOS 4.3.3 firmware for your iDevice
  • Connect your iDevice running iOS 5 to your computer and switch it off.
  • Put your iDevice into DFU mode. Press and hold Home and Power Button together for 10 seconds, after 10 second release power button & keep holding home button for 25 seconds.
  • Now, iTunes will show you a popup saying that it has detected an iPhone in restore mode. Click on OK.
  • Click the Check for Update button with the Option key (Mac) or Shift key(Windows) key pressed. Now, Select the iOS 4.3.3 IPSW file which you downloaded in Step-1.
  • This will initiate the Downgrade process and will installed iOS 4.3.3 signed by the Apple’s server.

Tip: If you are stuck in Receovery Mode, you can use TinyUmbrella (Mac and PC) or Recboot to come out of the recovery loop.

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  • Mike

    I’m trying to restore my CDMA iPhone 4 from iOS 5.0b to 4.2.8 (the latest signed .ipsw from Apple, so SHSH blobs not needed?) and keep receiving error 1601 when using DFU mode.

    I’ve tried to do this in both iTunes 10.3 (latest) and 10.5 (dev version) and keep getting the same error. Would be grateful for any thoughts you might have because I’ve heard that it is possible to downgrade but am unable to do so myself. Thank you for your help.

    • Hi Mike,
      Guess it should work. I don’t have a CDMA iPhone to check. Try getting into DFU mode again. Use some too like pwnage tool to help you with DFU mode counts. I’ll keep you posted about this. 🙂

  • Hi Mike,
    Guess it should work. I don\’t have a CDMA iPhone to check. Try getting into DFU mode again. Use some too like pwnage tool to help you with DFU mode counts. I\’ll keep you posted about this. 🙂

  • iphonewarrior

    This makes absolutely no sense, how can checking for update and selecting iOS 5 .ipsw downgrade you to 4.3.3

    I'm calling BS.

  • Thanks for noticing that. It was a typo. I corrected it now! 🙂

  • Eeshan

    You are awesome.
    Pure awesomeness.
    Thanks a lot.
    Appreciate it.

  • Eeshan

    You are awesome.
    Pure awesomeness.
    Thanks a lot.
    Appreciate it.

  • Eeshan

    Dude, m gettin 1604 error. It says- preparing to restore iphone 4 but then this error pops up. Help.

  • Eeshan

    Dude, m gettin 1604 error. It says- preparing to restore iphone 4 but then this error pops up. Help.

    • It's regular. Try putting your iPhone in DFU mode once again. If it persists, let me know! 🙂

    • Also, try restarting iTunes and your computer.

  • Oskars

    thank you mannnn, you saved my life, really, i don't joke. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would give you some prize or smth..!!!!!!!!!!!

    ps. . i love you (not gay, but thankfully) :)))))))))))))))))))))0

  • Oskars

    thank you mannnn, you saved my life, really, i don't joke. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would give you some prize or smth..!!!!!!!!!!!

    ps. . i love you (not gay, but thankfully) :)))))))))))))))))))))0

  • Pingback: How to fix iTunes error 3194 while downgrading iOS 5? | Karthik.K Geek Center!()

  • Welcome! and Thanks! 🙂

  • It's regular. Try putting your iPhone in DFU mode once again. If it persists, let me know! 🙂

  • Anthony

    iTunes don’t like you downgrading.

    Use pwnage to put your phone in ion1cs bootrom exploit and it should work

  • Thank you for the tip! 🙂

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  • This downgrade can only be done by using iTunes 10.5

    • Hey Gadpedia,
      Thanks for the tip! 🙂

  • Nirav Patel

    Hey Gys please help me i am tired to get back ios 4.3.3 in my iphone 4 🙁 from ios 5 beta 3 ….

    i have done every possible way to get my ios 4.3.3 back but every time i got failure with error 1 🙁 🙁
    (i don’t have any knowledge of shsh.)

    so please give working steps for my this problem

    ThanX

    • This steps work fine. Try in a different system.

  • Marcus

    Help plssss !!!! I’m stuck now with my itchy hands… I tried to jailbreak and used IOS 5 Beta3… But I cant use it…. Now I wanna go back to 4.3.3 but I cant downgrade… Somebody pls help me !!!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!

    I get error 3194 in itunes when i try to restore to original and custom 4.3.3 firmware…
    I tried using redsn0w but it also doesn’t work now… It shows that something failed when it is in the terminal screen after uploading ramdisk… then it automatically restart the phone n reture to the “connect to itunes” screen….
    AM I DEAD WITH MY IPHONE4 !!!!???? Means I cant use my iPHONE4 anymore ???? HEELLLLPPPPP !!!!!! PLSSSSSS !!!!!!

    • Just follow the steps provided. If its not working, try using another system to downgrade. This is the only method unfortunately! 🙁

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  • Abrar Shah

    i have iPhone iPhone 3GS BB 16.15.00 Factory Lock Jailbreaked with redsn0w.

    i m not a new to hacking iDevices.

    i upgraded my iPhone 3GS from ios 4.3.3 to ios 5 beta 7.

    there is no ultrasn0w released for sim unlock for ios5 thats y i downgraded back to ios 4.3.3 but now when i installed ultrasn0w, the phone does not read the sim and a text “SEARCHING” ticks in place on signals. Even i have tried other sims as well, why so? has ios 5 blocked something in my iPhone?

    i even downgraded to 4.1 , 4.3, 4.3.2 and now i m on 4.3.3 but i could not unlock the sim on any of them

    • Karthink

      Did find to fix u r issue for “SEARCHING” ticks in place on signals. Iam also facing same issue….plz help me

  • sharplogic

    Even with following this I still get the same error from iTunes.

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