How to Restore iPhone without updating

Use recovery mode (iPhone 7)

Connect iPhone to computer. Plug the USB cable end into the USB port on the computer, then plug the charging end into the iPhone's charging port at the bottom of the phone.

Open iTunes. The white app has a colorful musical note image.

If you've turned on automatic syncing with iTunes, the app will open as soon as you plug in your phone.

If iTunes was already open when you connected your iPhone, close and reopen the app.

Click the iPhone-shaped device icon in the upper left of the iTunes window.

Click Backup Now . The option is below the "Manually Backup and Restore" heading in the "Backups" section.

This process will take a few minutes.

Power off iPhone. Press and hold the Lock (on/off) button on the right side of the phone, then swipe the slide to power down switch at the top of the screen to the right.

Press and hold the Lock button for 3 seconds. At the end of the third second, don't rush to release the Lock button.

Start pressing the volume down button. You need to hold down the volume down button and the Home button for the next 10 seconds.

The Lock button needs to be held down for 13 seconds during the process.

Release the Lock button at the end of the 13th second. Keep the volume down button pressed until a window pops up in iTunes notifying you that a device in recovery mode has been detected.

Click Restore iPhone on your computer. An options window will pop up on your computer's iTunes screen so you can choose a restore date.

Click the box next to "iPhone Name". This option will appear in a pop-up window. Some recent backups (including the one you just created) will appear in the drop-down menu.

Click a backup and then click Restore . iPhone will be restored without updating to the latest iOS version.

Use Recovery Mode (iPhone 6S and earlier)

Connect iPhone to computer. Plug the USB cable end into the USB port on the computer, then plug the charging end into the iPhone's charging port at the bottom of the phone.

Open iTunes. The white app has a colorful musical note image.

If you've turned on automatic syncing with iTunes, the app will open as soon as you plug in your phone.

If iTunes was already open when you connected your iPhone, close and reopen the app.

Click the iPhone-shaped device icon in the upper left of the iTunes window.

Click Backup Now . The option is under the "Manually Backup and Restore" heading of the "Backups" section.

This process will take a few minutes.

Disconnect iPhone from iTunes. You'll reconnect in about a minute, so don't close iTunes.

Power off iPhone. Press and hold the Lock button on the right side of the phone (iPhone 6 and later) or on the top of the phone frame (iPhone 5S and earlier), then slide the slide to power down switch at the top of the screen to the right.

Press and hold the Home key on iPhone. This button is circular and located at the bottom of the phone screen. As soon as you start holding down the Home key, proceed to the next step.

Plug your iPhone back into your computer. Do this while holding down the Home key.

This process does not always work. If the Lock Screen lock screen appears, you need to turn off the phone and try again.

Release the Home key after seeing the iTunes icon. The iTunes icon will appear on the iPhone screen right after the Apple logo. You'll see an image of the charging cable below the iTunes icon.

Click Restore iPhone on the computer. An options window will pop up on your computer's iTunes screen so you can choose a restore date.

Click the box next to "iPhone Name". This option will appear in a pop-up window. Some recent backups (including the one you're creating) will appear in the drop-down menu.

Click a backup and then click Restore . iPhone will be restored without updating to the latest iOS version.

Use Cydia on jailbroken iPhone

Back up important data. You need to make sure important files are backed up because this process will erase all content on the iPhone (only the jailbreak version and iOS operating system will be retained).

We cannot use iTunes backup because restoring will delete the jailbreak version.

Open Cydia on jailbroken iPhone. If your iPhone is jailbroken, proceeding with the first method will put the phone into a repetitive process.

Click Sources . Repositories containing packages that Cydia can find will appear.

Click Edit then click Add . This will allow you to import the new repository.

Enter the new Cydia repository address. Enter the following URL in the URL data field that appears after you click Add :

http://cydia.myrepospace.com/ilexinfo/.

Click Add Source . The repository you imported will be added to Cydia's source list.

Search for the keyword "iLEX RAT" in Cydia. Many search results will appear.

Click options iLEX R.A.T.. You need to make sure you choose the right one.

Click Install , then click Confirm . The iLEX RAT package will begin installing.

Open the iLEX RAT application located on the Home screen. The application has a mouse icon on a yellow background. Several different options will pop up.

Tap iLEX RESTORE and then tap Confirm . The custom recovery will begin. All data will be erased and the firmware will be restored. You will not lose your jailbreak version when performing this recovery method, and you will not be forced to install the latest iOS version.

Kareem Winters

Update 01 November 2023