How To Downgrade iOS 14 Back to iOS 13.7 on Your iPhone Using Finder or iTunes

Is the iOS 14 not working for you, making you think about downgrading back to iOS 13.7?

Apple’s new iOS 14 introduced a lot of new exciting features but unfortunately came with a couple of minor bugs and glitches. A quick glance at Apple’s forum and you’ll notice a lot of users have been reporting bugs like camera problems, widgets being broken, and also pleas for instructions to downgrade back to iOS 13.7.

We understand the frustration with the new iOS, and we’re here to help you downgrade iOS 14 back to iOS 13.7. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to downgrade your iPhone’s iOS as well as explain certain specifics about the process mentioned everywhere.

Fortunately, downgrading is an Apple-approved process. So don’t worry about doing anything that could mess with your iPhone.

Let’s get started!

 

What is Downgrading?

If updating your iOS to the latest version is considered an upgrade, the opposite is what we call downgrading. Since some iOS versions can have problems, especially new releases, users will often revert back to the older iOS. iOS 13.7 in this case.

Note: If you do not have any existing backups of your iOS 13.7 files then you cannot restore your data once you downgrade. Backing up your files in your iOS 14 will not be compatible with your iOS 13.7 version once you downgrade. This will result in permanent data loss. On the upside, you can restore the files once you go back and upgrade to iOS 14.

ios 14 screen

Some users plainly prefer using the older version, so Apple installed a feature into iTunes and Finder to downgrade your iOS temporarily. However, it’s worth taking note that iTunes and Finder only support the old version for a limited time only, usually for a week or a month depending on the stability of the new iOS.

This way, Apple encourages its users to always keep their operating systems up-to-date. At the same time, they save on upkeep costs and maintenance by only maintaining two versions. When the iOS 14 finally becomes stable, Apple will most likely stop signing iOS 13.7, and you will no longer be able to revert it through iTunes and Finder.

Apple has one of the best reputations for virus security and other exploits against its devices and operating systems. One of the ways they’ve maintained this level of credibility is by explicitly signing and maintaining only two versions of iOS. The latest release, and the one before.

 

How To Downgrade iOS 14 Back to iOS 13.7: 5 Steps

It’s important to have the right backups for your files to avoid data loss and other problems. So while you can still do it, here’s how you can downgrade back to iOS 13.7 from iOS 14.

First off, here’s what you will be needing:

  • Stable internet connection.
  • IPSW for iOS 13.7 (Note: IPSW stands for ‘iPhone Software’. This is a file type used for installing iOS firmware). You can download the latest IPSW for iOS 13.7 from osxdaily.
  • Computer with Finder or iTunes at its latest version.
  • iOS 13.7 backup of your personal files.
  • And of course, a USB cable.

Before downgrading, make sure you’ve backed up your files by following these steps here. Scroll down a bit, and you’ll find a guide to backup your iPhone. It’s never a bad idea to upload your files to your Google Drive or iCloud for safekeeping. Anyway, without further ado.

Here’s how you can downgrade your iPhone back to iOS 13.7:

  1. Go ahead and connect your iPhone to your computer via USB cable.
  2. Now, open iTunes or Finder and look for your iPhone device. This should be located at the left side panel of your window.

Locate your iPhone

  1. On the right side of your window click on Restore iPhone while simultaneously holding down either the Shift button for Windows or Option for Mac.
  2. Then, a prompt should open asking you to select the proper IPSW for your device. Select iOS 13.7.
  3. Finally, leave your program to complete the downgrade. Your iPhone will reboot on its own once it is completely done.

After it has restarted, you can restore your old iOS 13.7 backup by following these steps:

  1. Firstly, make sure your iPhone is still connected to your computer via USB cable.
  2. Next, look for your iPhone on iTunes and click Backup Now.
  3. Then, turn off your iPhone. Hold down the power button and drag the Power Off slider to the right.
  4. Wait for about 10-20 seconds. Now, hold the power button and after 3 seconds, hold the volume down button. You should be pressing down on both the power and volume down button simultaneously.

downgrade ios 14 back to ios 13.7 iphone

  1. Hold down those two buttons for around 10 seconds or until a prompt appears on iTunes/Finder saying that your device is in ‘Recovery mode’.
  2. Last, go to your computer and click ‘Restore iPhone…’. Pick a restore date to restore your files.

With all these steps done, you should be finished downgrading your device with all the files you had back in iOS 13.7. However, if you don’t have a pre-backed up iOS 13.7 file, you can still wait for Apple to stabilize iOS 14.

Sadly, upgrading to iOS 14 is inevitable anyway, as once the new iOS becomes reliable and free of bugs, Apple will stop signing iOS 13.7.

 

How Is This Any Different from Jailbreaking?

Downgrading and jailbreaking are both often confused with each other. Mainly because both processes install an older version of iOS on your iPhone. However, you can only downgrade to the iOS version prior to Apple’s latest release. This is also only available for a limited time as Apple will stop signing their old iOS versions once the latest one is fully operational.

Jailbreaking, on the other hand, lets you install a wider variety of older iOS versions as well as gives you 100 percent access to your iPhone’s system. In layman’s terms, jailbreaking will allow users to customize their phones completely.

downgrade ios 14 back to ios 13.7 iphone
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You’ll be able to install custom apps that otherwise wouldn’t be allowed by Apple, like custom APKs. Another feature that gets ‘unlocked’ is customizable widgets and home screen icons. Third-party applications have been developed for jailbroken iPhones, truly giving Apple users the customizable experience.

However, jailbreaking is dangerous as your phone’s iOS is completely unsupported by Apple. To install custom apps, you will also have to download them from unlicensed third-party websites, so looking out for your safety should definitely be a priority. Apple’s reputation for safety will no longer apply to devices that were jailbroken.

Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, we hope this post assisted you in any way. Hopefully, we guided you on how to downgrade iOS 14 back to iOS 13.7 on your iPhone. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment down below.

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

 

Author

  • Mako Young

    Mako is a staff writer at Saint. He's been writing about tech for more than a decade. When he isn't reading about the latest news on Apple, he's busy studying cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, cloud computing, and other IT-related sectors. His exceptional work graces technology and Apple-related blogs like How-To Geek, VEED.io, Macgasm, onMac, PhotoWorkout, GameRant, and many more. He also has a Bachelors in Computer Science and has been writing since 2018, with over 400 posts published. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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