How to Downgrade iOS Without iTunes? Top 3 Ways [Ultimate Guide]

Many Apple users have wanted to downgrade iOS for one reason or another, either because there are too many bugs in the latest iOS version, or it could simply be that they don't like the feature changes. However, since Apple periodically closes the portal for downgrading iOS, you may find it difficult to downgrade iOS via iTunes, which is probably why you are here.

So, how to install older version of iOS without iTunes? Try to downgrade iPhone without iTunes but don't know how? Want to know how to restore iPhone without iTunes? This ultimate guide will show you 3 simple ways to downgrade iOS without iTunes along with easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorials! Scroll down to read more!

• Part 1: How to Backup iPhone Before Downgrading iOS?

• Part 2: How to Downgrade iOS Without iTunes?

• Way 1: Downgrade iOS without iTunes using Finder

• Way 2: Downgrade iOS without iTunes by WooTechy iMaster

• Way 3: Downgrade iOS without iTunes via TinyUmbrella

• Part 3: How to Restore iPhone From Backup After Downgrading iOS?

Part 1: How to Backup iPhone Before Downgrading iOS?

Backup iPhone is the first step you must take before you start downgrading your iOS device. iOS Downgrade is like a factory reset where you wipe off all the existing data on the iOS device before installing the older iOS. Here are 2 fast and simple ways for you to do it.

Way 1: Backup iPhone with iCloud

iCloud backup is the official method and one of the most common, and you can even set iCloud to automatically back up your iPhone daily.

How to Backup iPhone with iCloud?

Step 1: Connect your iOS device to a Wi-Fi network.

Step 2: Click on Settings, click on your name, and then click on iCloud. For iOS 10.2 versions or earlier, click on the iCloud icon in your iPhone Settings.

Step 3: Select iCloud Backup. For an iOS 12 version or earlier, click on Backup.

Step 4: Select Back Up now and maintain the connection to your Wi-Fi network until you have completed the backup process.

Once the backup process is complete, go to the iPhone Settings on your device, then click on your name, then iCloud. You click on iCloud storage and tap on Manage storage, where you see details for the last backup.

With iOS 12 and earlier, click on iCloud in the iPhone Settings, then Storage before clicking on Manage storage.

Way 2: Backup iPhone via WooTechy iMaster

If you want to backup your iPhone data for free and without storage limitations, then you can use WooTechy iMaster to do so. This is a professional and popular free iPhone backup tool that is easy to use and allows you to quickly back up iOS in just a few clicks. as the best alternative to iCloud backup, it has now become a must-have for many iPhone users.

How to Backup iPhone with WooTechy iMaster?

Step 1: Download and install WooTechy iMaster. Connect your iOS device to your computer and Ccick on Back Up iOS mode after your device is recognized.

Step 2: Choose a storage location to save the backup file and click Start to back up your data.

Step 3: Once backup process is complete, click Done. Now your entire iOS device data has been backed up on your computer successfully.

[Video Tutorial] How to Backup iPhone for Free?

Now that you have backed up your iPhone data, you can proceed to downgrade iOS.

Part 2: How to Downgrade iOS Without iTunes?

If it is difficult enough to downgrade iOS with iTunes, now imagine doing so without iTunes. Thankfully, there is some leeway that can be exploited to implement the iOS downgrade without using iTunes. Here are 3 methods to do just that.

Way 1: Downgrade iOS without iTunes using Finder

Step 1. Disable "Find My iPhone".

Go to "Settings," then tap your name at the top of the display, after which you tap "Find My." You then tap "Find My iPhone," before disabling the feature by tapping the toggle next to "Find My iPhone." You'll be required to enter your Apple ID and password before this is done. However, you can move to the next step if the device does not respond.

Step 2. Download the Right Restore Image.

Download the right restore image for the older version you intend to downgrade to and your phone model.

Step 3. Connect your iOS Device to Your Computer.

Once the download is over, connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable.

Step 4. Open Finder.

If you are running macOS Catalina (10.15 or later) or macOS Big Sur (11.0 or later), you can open the Finder app if it doesn't open automatically to your iOS device. Click on your iOS device's name under "Locations" in the sidebar. You can move to the next step if you can't find it.

Step 5. Trust the Computer.

After choosing your iOS device, click the "Trust" button that comes up. A prompt will appear on the display of your iPhone. Tap "Trust", then enter the passcode of your device to grant your computer rights to access the data on your device.

Step 6. Install the Older iOS Version.

Ensure that you are on the "General" screen. Hold down the "Option" key, then choose either "Check for Update" or "Restore iPhone."

With "Check for Update", you could try to downgrade your device with your data intact. You might encounter some problems later because you're downgrading to an iOS version that might be incompatible with some features on the device.

That is why you might want to choose "Restore iPhone", which starts the process from scratch. You can then restore the device using your iCloud backup.

After choosing an option, a file browser pop-up will appear. You then click on the restore image to complete the process. Keep your device connected to the computer until the process is over.

Way 2: Downgrade iOS without iTunes by WooTechy iMaster

If you simply cannot use Finder because your PC is not a Mac, then you should turn to WooTechy iMaster. This is also a good choice if you want to downgrade iOS without jailbreaking or losing any data. As the most popular iOS downgrade tool in recent years, it can quickly downgrade iPhone to any supported iOS version with a few simple steps, making the iOS downgrade process super easy.

How to Downgrade iOS without iTunes via WooTechy iMaster？

Step 1: Download and install WooTechy iMaster on your computer. Launch it and connect your iOS device with USB cable. Click Downgrade iOS.

Step 2: Select the firmware version you want to downgrade to, click Next to download it.

Step 3: Once the firmware is downloaded and verified, click Start to begin the downgrade process.

Step 4: When the downgrade is complete, click Done. Now your device has been downgraded successfully.

[Video Tutorial] How to Downgrade iOS?

Way 3: Downgrade iOS without iTunes via TinyUmbrella

Another way to downgrade iOS without iTunes is to use TinyUmbrella.

Step 1: Download and install the TinyUmbrella app.

Step 2: Start the Tiny Umbrella app. Connect your iOS device to a computer using a USB cable. The TinyUmbrella app should detect the device automatically.

Step 3: Click on the "Save SHSH" button, which allows you to save the 126-bit encryption onto the device.

Step 4: There is a button right under the "Save SHSH" blob linked to the TSS server. Click "Start TSS Server" to proceed with the process.

Step 5: You will receive an error 1015 message after the server has finished running the process. You can then move on to the "Exit Recovery" under the recovery devices option:

Step 6: You then proceed to the advance option to uncheck the highlighted box and complete the process.

Part 3: How to Restore iPhone From Backup After Downgrading iOS?

The last step after the downgrade is complete is to restore your iPhone from a backup. Here are still 2 ways to do it.

Way 1: Restore iPhone From Backup via iCloud

If you have used iCloud to backup your iPhone before, then you can go to iCloud.com to restore iPhone from iCloud backup.

Step 1. Open your browser and go to iCloud.com.

Step 2. Type in your iCloud account & password, and then press Enter on your keyboard to continue.

Step 3. You will see the interface as follows. Here, for instance, if you want to recover photos in the iCloud backup file, you should click on Photos in this interface to continue.

Step 4. You will enter the interface with iPhone photos listed there. Then, you can click on the target photo to select it and then click on the button iCloud download button to download it to your computer.

Step 5. You'll find your recovered data in a separate gallery. You can then select the files you'd like to recover before clicking on "Restore to Device" to the iCloud backup after the downgrade.

Way 2: Restore iPhone From Backup with WooTechy iMaster

Yes, Wootechy iMaster can also supports backup restore! It performs quite well in iOS upgrade, iOS downgrade and iOS backup, you can also use it to restore your iPhone from backup quickly.

How to Restore iPhone From Backup with WooTechy iMaster?

Step 1: Launch iTunes on your PC or Mac and connect your device to the computer with a USB cable.

Step 2: Click on the Apple icon when it appears in iTunes, then select "Restore Backup" in the "Summary" module.

Step 3: Choose the backup file made by Wootechy iMaster, then click "Restore" and wait for the restore process to complete.

Conclusion

Downgrade iOS can be daunting for newbies. Thankfully, this article provides the top 3 easy ways on how to downgrade iOS without iTunes. Needless to say, WooTechy iMaster should be your best choice when you want to downgrade iOS without using iTunes. Whether you want to downgrade iOS 16 to iOS 15 or downgrade iOS 15 to iOS 14, this downgrade tool can do it easily. It even takes care of backing up your iPhone before downgrading iOS and restoring your backup after downgrading iOS! Just try it!