## Downgrade and dualboot status of almost all iOS devices

UPDATED: 2025-08-24

- Reddit mirror: https://www.reddit.com/r/iOSDowngrade/comments/j1x7iv/downgrade_and_dualboot_status_of_almost_all_ios/
- GitHub Gist mirror: https://gist.github.com/LukeZGD/9d781f1b03a69fa46869384a9407a41a
-	As of updating this post, there is now a free downgrade tool that utilizes a SEP exploit released for A9-A10X devices, **turdus merula**: https://sep.lol/
    - Untethered with blobs guide: https://ios.cfw.guide/turdusmerula/
    - Tethered guide: https://ios.cfw.guide/turdusmerula-tethered/
-	Save SHSH blobs for signed iOS versions using [TSS Saver](https://tsssaver.1conan.com/) or [blobsaver](https://github.com/airsquared/blobsaver)
- GitHub repo for futurerestore nightly: https://github.com/futurerestore/futurerestore
- For Windows builds of futurerestore nightly, go to the Discord server linked in the readme
- Almost all 32-bit downgrades can be done by Legacy iOS Kit: https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit
- Delay OTA Guide (updating only): https://ios.cfw.guide/updating-blobless
- Even if there are Windows builds/versions for some of these tools, **iOS downgrades should be done on macOS or Linux only**

### A12 devices and newer
- You cannot restore to any iOS versions other than signed ones. All SHSH blobs are currently useless.

### A10(X) iPads
- Devices that fall under here have iPadOS 17.x as the latest version. (18.x for iPad 7)
- Use **turdus medula** for downgrades to any version (see guides above): https://sep.lol/

### A11 devices
- Devices that fall under here are the iPhone 8 and X.
- See the [SEP/BB Compatibility Chart](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Mb1UNm6g3yvdQD67M413GYSaJ4uoNhLgpkc7YKi3LBs/). iOS 16 SEP/baseband is incompatible with iOS 15 and below.
- These devices can be restored to iOS 16.6.x with SHSH blobs, you may use [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) for this which utilizes the updated **futurerestore nightly**.
- For downgrades to iOS 14.3-15 with blobs for iPhone 8 and X devices (For advanced users only), See "Guide for downgrading iOS 16+ checkm8 devices to iOS 14-15" linked here: https://gist.github.com/pixdoet/2b58cce317a3bc7158dfe10c53e3dd32
    - On the futurerestore part in Part 3, use [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) to restore to iOS 14.3-15 with blobs. Then continue with the guide for activation

### A9(X) and A10(X) devices, also iPad Air 2 and mini 4
- Devices that fall under here have iOS 15.x as the latest version. (16.x for older A9(X) iPads)
- These devices can be restored to iOS 14.x/15.x with SHSH blobs. A9(X) iPads can also be restored to iOS 16.6.x with SHSH blobs. you may use [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) for this which utilizes the updated **futurerestore nightly**.
- A9(X) and A10(X) devices only: It may be better to instead use **turdus medula** for downgrades to any version (see guides above): https://sep.lol/

### A7 and A8 devices except iPad Air 2 and mini 4
- Devices that fall under here have iOS 12.5.7 as the latest version.
- You can downgrade to as low as 11.3 with futurerestore if you have SHSH blobs
    - You can downgrade with SHSH blobs using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit)
- turdus medula may add support for A8(X) devices in a future update

### A7 devices (iPhone 5S, iPad Air 1, iPad mini 2)
- A7 devices (except iPad4,6 and all iPad mini 3 models) can downgrade to 10.3.3 without existing blobs, using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) or [LeetDown](https://github.com/rA9stuff/LeetDown)
    - Unfortunately checkm8 is unreliable on Linux, so using macOS may be the better option with gaster having better success rates there
    - [iPwnder Lite for iOS](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit/wiki/Pwning-Using-Another-iOS-Device) can also be used to put device in pwned DFU, if you have another jailbroken iOS device
- You can also downgrade to 10.2-10.3.2 if you have SHSH blobs
    - You can go as low as 10.1.x but Touch ID will not work for 5S
    - You can downgrade with SHSH blobs using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit)

### A5(X) and A6(X) devices
- Devices that fall under here have the iOS 9.3.5, 9.3.6, 10.3.3, or 10.3.4 as their latest version.
- You can downgrade and jailbreak any of these devices (**except for iPhone 5C**) to iOS 8.4.1 using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) without existing blobs
    - For iPhone 4S and iPad 2 (except iPad2,4) devices, iOS 6.1.3 is also an option
- You can downgrade to any iOS version that you have SHSH blobs for using Legacy iOS Kit
- You can also save on-board SHSH blobs with Legacy iOS Kit's "Save Onboard Blobs" option
- If you have iOS 7 SHSH blobs, you can do untethered downgrades using Legacy iOS Kit (powdersn0w)
- You can also dualboot to any version except 4.3.x using [Coolbooter](https://coolbooter.com)
    - It is recommended to downgrade Coolbooter to 1.5 to 1.4.1
    - For devices jailbroken on iOS 10, downgrade Coolbooter first then install "Coolbooter Fix for Socket" from my repo: https://lukezgd.github.io/repo
- iPad 2 only: You can dualboot to iOS 4.3.x using [FourThree-iPad2](https://github.com/LukeZGD/FourThree-iPad2)
- You can downgrade **tethered** without blobs using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit)
    - Usage of Legacy iOS Kit is recommended since both n1ghtshade and Deca5 have jailbreak issues

### iPhone 4
- You can downgrade to iOS 6, 5, or 4 untethered using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) (powdersn0w)
    - Only iPhone3,1 (GSM) and iPhone3,3 (CDMA) are supported for untethered downgrades
- You can also use Legacy iOS Kit to downgrade with saved SHSH blobs (see above)
- You can also use Legacy iOS Kit to do **tethered** downgrades
    - Downgrading tethered by going to: Restore/Downgrade -> Other (Tethered)
    - Do a tethered boot by going to: Other Utilities -> Just Boot
    - Tethered downgrade IPSWs option is also available in Legacy iOS Kit, see below notes
- You can dualboot to any version except 4.x using [Coolbooter](https://coolbooter.com)

### **iPod touch 4th gen**
- There are no untethered downgrade options without blobs, unfortunately.
- iPod touch 4th gen can be tethered upgrade to iOS 7: https://lukezgd.github.io/ipodtouchhax/
- You can do **tethered** downgrades without blobs using [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit)
    - Downgrading tethered by going to: Restore/Downgrade -> Other (Tethered)
    - Do a tethered boot by going to: Other Utilities -> Just Boot

### iPhone 3GS, iPad 1, iPod touch 2nd and 3rd gen
- You can also use [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) to do untethered downgrades to other iOS versions without blobs (or with blobs also)
- iOS 4.1 is signed for the 3GS, touch 2nd gen and 3rd gen, use iTunes or Legacy iOS Kit to downgrade
    - Error 1015 will show up at the end of restore for iTunes. On Windows, you can exit recovery mode using [RecoveryModeTool](https://invoxiplaygames.uk/projects/recoverymodetool/)
- Tethered downgrade option is also available in Legacy iOS Kit, see above notes
- For iPod touch 2nd gen (old bootrom model), there is no firmware signing for versions 3.0 and lower can be restored freely. 3.x IPSWs are available here: https://invoxiplaygames.uk/ipsw/ and https://archives.legacyjailbreak.com

### iPhone 2G, 3G, and iPod touch 1st gen
- There is no firmware signing for these and they can be restored to any iOS version
- [Legacy iOS Kit](https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit) also supports these devices for restoring custom IPSWs as well as restoring to any other iOS version
    - Jailbreak support is for iOS 4.2.1, 4.1 and 3.1.3 for these devices
    - Lowest working version is 2.0, 1.x does not work
    - This makes use of changes from tihmstar's idevicerestore fork (iOS 1 and 2 support): https://github.com/tihmstar/idevicerestore
- iPhone 3G devices can be easily downgraded to iOS 4.1 and 3.1.3 using Legacy iOS Kit, with the option to jailbreak and hacktivate
- For iPhone 2G and touch 1, here are 3.1.3 custom IPSWs that may be useful: https://github.com/LukeZGD/Legacy-iOS-Kit-Keys/releases/tag/jailbreak
- Most IPSWs for iPod touch 1st gen are available here: https://invoxiplaygames.uk/ipsw/ and https://archives.legacyjailbreak.com