If you have updated your iPhone to iOS 18 or later and you want to downgrade to an earlier version of iOS 17 for whatever reason, keep reading to learn how.
If you are running any version of iOS 18 on your iPhone, you can't just downgrade to the most recent version of iOS 17 via Apple's typical device restore process using a PC or Mac. This is because Apple has only released IPSW files for devices that do not support iOS 18. (IPSW stands for iPhone Software Package – the file format used by Apple to distribute firmware updates for its devices.) However, the good news is that there's a workaround.
The workaround involves downloading the last signed beta version of iOS 17.6 (beta 3) as an IPSW file. By downloading and installing this beta, you will then be able to update your iPhone to Apple's latest iOS 17 point release, iOS 17.7.2, using Apple's over-the-air update mechanism. The steps further down on this page show you how it's done.
Important Note About Device Backups
Before following the steps below, it's important to understand that backups made on a higher iOS version (e.g., iOS 18) cannot be restored to a device running a lower iOS version (e.g., iOS 17.7.2). If you downgrade, you'll need to set up your device as new or restore from a backup made on the same or an earlier iOS version.
How to Downgrade From iOS 18 to iOS 17
macOS
On your Mac, visit Appledb.dev and select the version of iOS 17.6 beta 3 that corresponds to your iPhone model to download the .ipsw file.
Connect your iPhone to your computer, then navigate to your iPhone in Finder.
Hold the Option or Alt key on your keyboard, and press "Restore."
Select the .ipsw file that you downloaded.
Wait for the restore to complete. (You may be prompted to turn off Find My for your device before the restore operation can complete.)
Allow your device to reboot into the installed version of iOS.
Windows
On your PC, visit Appledb.dev and select the version of iOS 17.6 beta 3 that corresponds to your iPhone model to download the .ipsw file.
Install the latest version of iTunes from the Microsoft Store.
Connect your iPhone to your PC.
Open iTunes and navigate to your iPhone.
Hold the Shift key on your keyboard and press "Restore."
Select the .ipsw file that you downloaded.
Wait for the restore to complete, and let your iPhone reboot.
Your iPhone should now be running a clean version of iOS 17.6 beta 3. From here you should be able to use Apple's over-the-air update system to update to iOS 17.7.2, which is the latest point release of iOS 17 prior to iOS 18. Head to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update and wait for the iOS 17.7.2 update to appear, then tap Install.
When you have successfully update to iOS 17.7.2, your iPhone will eventually show a badge notification for the Settings app on your Home Screen. An easy way to get rid of this notification within Settings is to set your General ➝ Software Update options to look for available Beta Updates (iOS 17 public or developer beta). You don't have to download the beta, but it will make the iOS 18 update reminder go away.
Saturday October 18, 2025 11:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps.
More features and changes will follow in future ...
Monday October 20, 2025 10:57 am PDT by Juli Clover
With the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a new setting that's designed to allow users to customize the look of Liquid Glass.
The toggle lets users select from a clear look for Liquid Glass, or a tinted look. Clear is the current Liquid Glass design, which is more transparent and shows the background underneath buttons, bars, and menus, while tinted ...
Apple plans to cut production of the iPhone Air amid underwhelming sales performance, Japan's Mizuho Securities believes (via The Elec).
The Japanese investment banking and securities firm claims that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are seeing higher sales than their predecessors during the same period last year, while the standard iPhone 17 is a major success, performing...
Friday October 17, 2025 7:35 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.
iOS 26.0.2 will be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet.
The update will likely be released by the end of next week.
Last month, Apple released iOS 26.0.1,...
Saturday October 18, 2025 10:57 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While the new iPad Pro's headline feature is the M5 chip, the device has some other changes, including N1 and C1X chips, faster storage speeds, and more.
With the M5 chip, the new iPad Pro has up to a 20% faster CPU and up to a 40% faster GPU compared to the previous model with the M4 chip, according to Geekbench 6 results. Keep in mind that 256GB and 512GB configurations have a 9-core CPU,...
Sunday October 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but not everyone is satisfied with how well it works.
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple's software engineers have "concerns" about the overhauled Siri's performance. However, he did not provide any specific details about the shortcomings.
iOS 26.4 will...
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:13 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but previous rumors have indicated that the company still plans to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year.
The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025, although it is unclear if the timeframe for any of them has...
Monday October 20, 2025 1:55 pm PDT by Juli Clover
With the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple added a toggle that makes Liquid Glass more opaque and reduces transparency. We tested the beta to see where the toggle works and what it looks like.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
If you have the latest iOS 26.1 beta, you can go to Settings > Display and Brightness to get to the new option. Tap on Liquid Glass, then...
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:57 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple plans to launch MacBook Air models equipped with the new M5 chip in spring 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is also working on M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models that will come early in the year.
Neither the MacBook Pro models nor the MacBook Air models are expected to get design changes, with Apple focusing on simple chip upgrades. In the case of the MacBook Pro, a m...
