Downgrade and dualboot status of almost all iOS devices

UPDATED: 2025-09-25

• 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 or 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 merula for downgrades to any version (see guides above): https://sep.lol/

A11 devices

• Devices that fall under here are the iPhone 8 and X.
• These devices can be restored to iOS 16.6.x with SHSH blobs, you may use 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 to restore to iOS 14.3-15 with blobs. Then continue with the guide for activation
  • iOS 16 SEP/baseband is partially incompatible with iOS 14.3-15.x, and fully incompatible with iOS 14.2 and below.
  • You will also have several issues after the restore itself. Broken features may include: SMS/iMessage, VPN, Face ID, Touch ID resets, sideloading (use TrollStore instead), and potentially other features

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 for this which utilizes the updated futurerestore nightly.
• A9(X) and A10(X) devices only: It may be better to instead use turdus merula 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
• turdus merula 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 or LeetDown
  • Unfortunately A6/A7 checkm8 is unreliable on Linux, so using macOS may be the better option with gaster having better success rates there
  • iPwnder Lite for iOS 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

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 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 onboard 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
  • 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
• You can downgrade tethered without blobs using Legacy iOS Kit
  • Usage of Legacy iOS Kit is recommended since both n1ghtshade and Deca5 have jailbreak issues
  • Downgrading tethered by going to: Restore/Downgrade -> Other (Tethered)
  • Do a tethered boot by going to: Other Utilities -> Just Boot

iPhone 4

• You can downgrade to iOS 6, 5, or 4 untethered using 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, see above notes
• You can dualboot to any version except 4.x using Coolbooter

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, see above notes

iPhone 3GS, iPad 1, iPod touch 2nd and 3rd gen

• You can also use 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
• 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://legacyjailbreak.gitlab.io/archive/

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 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://legacyjailbreak.gitlab.io/archive/