iPhone 3G : Downgrade firmware from 4.0 to 3.1.3 OS

Question

Level 1

0 points

iPhone 3G : Downgrade firmware from 4.0 to 3.1.3 OS

Can anyone please help educate me how to downgrade from the recent 4.0 software I downloaded back to the 3.1.3 - the 4.0 and 4.1 seem to be causing too many issues on my 3G iPhone.

Thanks!

iPhone 3G, iOS 4

Posted on Jul 22, 2010 10:26 PM

Reply

Answer 1

SaHaF34

Level 1

4 points

Jul 22, 2010 10:32 PM in response to jeffnchina

I need this information to me. How to downgrade 3.1.3 .

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 22, 2010 11:19 PM in response to SaHaF34

Do you have the 3.1.x firmware saved anywhere on your system? If yes, then you can do a restore and roll it back to old firmware. If not, then you are out of luck to do it officially, you need to search the unofficial means to get the legit firmware.

Apple doesn't give back dated firmwares. Caution though..incorrect firmware might brick your phone too.. research and backup is a mandatory.

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 23, 2010 12:25 AM in response to jeffnchina

http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=750

download your desired .IPSW make sure its the correct one for your device, put your phone into DFU mode (turn off your phone hold down your power and home button for exactly 10 seconds then release the power button). Then hold shift and click restore and select the location of the .ipsw and it will restore.

Reply

Answer 4

jeffnchina Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 25, 2010 11:46 PM in response to ParagJ_11

Thank you for the information and sorry for the next question - which I should already know.

I did have the 3.1.x firmware downloaded to my phone via iTunes at one point. I am not sure how to find it located on my system (or confirm if it is stored there). Could you please walk me through a few easy checks before I find out I am simply out of luck. Thanks!

Reply

Answer 5

Eruption

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 8:43 AM in response to Legionofone

I downloaded the zip file from this site and followed the directions. There is no file in this zip file with .ipsw. I am lost..........

Reply

Answer 6

Penbo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 9:01 AM in response to jeffnchina

By the sounds of it I'm not as alone as I thought thinking there were too many problems with IOS4.

I wish I could go back to 3.1.3 as I had no problems what i can think of while running on this. Although IOS4 seems to of given me nothing but grief.

I've only had my phone since last November and already O2 & Apple dont seem interested now that they apparently dont sell the 3G now as its all about the 3GS and iPhone4

So has anyone got any idea how to downgrade as it would be HUGELY appreciated 🙂 🙂

Reply

Answer 7

Penbo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 9:17 AM in response to jeffnchina

I've just used the link and everything seemed to going great until a message come up saying 'Could not restore' and then it put the phone back in restore mode.

Is there anything else that might be needed to complete the restore without the 'Error' message?

Reply

Answer 8

Old Chap

Level 2

329 points

Jul 26, 2010 10:09 AM in response to Penbo

Yes you do. Download RecBoot from here:
http://www.sebby.net/443-recboot-final-release/
When the error message appears run RecBoot and click on Exit Recovery Mode.

Reply

Answer 9

Penbo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 11:14 AM in response to Old Chap

Excellent, thank you. I'm now running on 3.1.3 :-D :-D

Reply

Answer 10

Penbo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 11:19 AM in response to jeffnchina

I know a jailbreak is not somthing Apple want people doing BUT I was just wondering what the 'PROS & CONS' to it were

Reply

Answer 11

Jul 26, 2010 2:47 PM in response to jeffnchina

I just did this. So glad I did. I used Recboot v1.1.

Pro: You can use your 3G phone again without wanting to smash it against the wall
***: You can't put your apps in folders

Reply

Answer 12

jeffnchina Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2010 2:09 AM in response to fivecardarmy

Glad some people are having success at this. I am still working through it.

When I put my phone in DFU mode (while connected to iTunes)I get the iTunes error message regarding "...recovery mode...must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes...".

I then launch RecBoot as all have described and then click on "Exit Recovery Mode". At that point, I get a second error message: "Unhandled exception has occurred to your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately...File Not Found".

I click on Continue and the operation fails.

Any thoughts?

Appreciate the help!

Reply

Answer 13

Penbo

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2010 4:50 AM in response to jeffnchina

I use windows and did the DFU thing but it did not look like anything had happened. when the error message came up i just clicked ok to close it and then launched the software to kick it out of recovery then itunes wanted to restore it, i held SHIFT then clicked restore. it then gives you a box to search for the 3.1.3 firmware (I was looking for a while) because i didn't keep it on the desktop. it might still say its not done but if you look in the general options on your phone and summery on itunes you should see it has worked.

I was that pleased to get rid of OS 4.1 i decided not to throw my phone in the pond :-D

Reply

Answer 14

Decimoo

Level 1

12 points

Jul 27, 2010 6:09 AM in response to jeffnchina

@jeffnchina If you're running Windows OS you MUST have installed libUSB and be running in Windows XP Compatability mode and as administrator, as described in the Lifehacker article. RecBoot won't do what you want it to in this instance if you don't take each of these steps.

I can't remember the error message I got when I first tried to use this method and had missed the 'run as administrator' step, but yours sounds familiar.

Reply

Answer 15

mancer

Level 1

0 points

Aug 26, 2010 2:18 PM in response to Decimoo

libUSB is no longer required, just download recboot again. Also it now works on all versions of windows from xp to 7. 🙂 just fyi

Reply