Downgrade From iOS 4.3.2 To 4.3.1, 4.3, 4.2.1, 4.1 On iPhone, iPad and iPod touch [Tutorial]

Earlier today, Apple finally made iOS 4.3.2 available for download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Now, if you have updated your device to iOS 4.3.2 but want to roll back or downgrade to an earlier iOS version like iOS 4.3.1, iOS 4.3, iOS 4.2.1 or iOS 4.1, you can follow this tutorial to downgrade your device to iOS 4.3.1, iOS 4.3, iOS 4.2.1, iOS 4.1, iOS 4.0.x.Remember: This procedure will only work if you have the SHSH blobs
of the firmware you’re downgrading to, saved.

Step 1: Download the ipsw of the previous firmware version that you want to downgrade to from iOS 4.3.2.


Step 2: Now, you have to put your device in DFU mode. Remember, DFU mode and not recovery mode.



* First connect your device to the computer and turn it off
* Fire up iTunes
* Press the Home and Power button together for about 10 seconds
* Release the Power button but keep on holding the Home button as long as it takes your computer to recognize a new USB device
* iTunes will then recognize your device
* Remember, the screen of your device should be black/blank, if otherwise, then you’re probably in recovery mode



Step 3: Basically to understand how this works, you need to understand how a firmware update is actually done. When you do a firmware update on your device, iTunes automatically checks it with Apple’s servers to see if there’s a newer version available, if not, it sends back a digital signature allowing iTunes to proceed with the firmware update. So basically, in this procedure, we trick iTunes to believe that it is indeed connecting to Apple’s servers, whereas on the other hand, we’re just directing iTunes to Saurik’s servers.


   * Navigate to path C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ and find the “hosts” file.

If you’re a Mac OS X user, head over to Finder and pass through “Go –> Go to Folder” to reach the “/etc/” directory

Then open the “hosts” file in Notepad if you’re on Windows and in TextEdit if you’re on Mac then add the following line as shown in the screenshot

    * 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com

On Windows, you need to start Notepad with Administrator privileges. On Mac, you need to have full read/write access to your account in order to proceed with this procedure. If you receive an error while trying to save, simply copy the “hosts” file to your desktop, make the changes and replace it in the “etc” directory.

Step 4: Start iTunes and select your iOS device icon from the sidebar in iTunes. Now press and hold the left Shift key if you’re on Windows and click on Restore. If you’re on Mac, hold the left alt button and then click on Restore. Remember, you have to click on Restore. Once the windows pops up, release the button.

iTunes will now ask you for the location of the iOS 4.3.1, iOS 4.3, iOS 4.2.1 or 4.1 firmware file that you want to downgrade to from iOS 4.3.2. Select the ipsw of the firmware version that you want and click on Open. iTunes will now restore your device on that very firmware version.

Step 5: Let iTunes work. A number of automated steps will be done, which call for you to wait patiently, because iTunes is restoring your device to the previous firmware of your choice. A progress indication bar will now be showing up on the screen of the device. Once done, your device will reboot automatically.

Probability remains that you may encounter error 1013 in iTunes while trying to downgradeto iOS 4.3, iOS 4.2.1 or 4.1. This error is normal and should be ignored for the fact that iTunes has already installed the firmware on your device. However, if you do get this error, your device will be stuck in recovery mode and will be displaying that “Connect to iTunes” screen.

In order to exit your device from recovery mode, you need to download a program called TinyUmbrella. (Windows or Mac). Click the Exit Recovery button. Your device shall now start normally.

Now remove 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com line from the “hosts” file so that iTunes prompts you for future firmware updates from Apple.