How to restore without iOS updating?

"

Can I restore my iPhone 4 (iOS 5.1.1) without updating to iOS 6?"

No.

"Is there an option later in the restore process to not change to iOS 6?"

No

Not that I can see

I know updating/restoring to something other than the latest software is possible, but you have to have been using some other tools all along to "save" the ability to load earlier versions of iOS. When you update or restore, your copy of iTunes requests permission from an Apple server to install that specific firmware to your specific device. Some tools exist that request this permission for the latest firmware and store the "OK" reply from the Apple servers. If you haven't used these when 5.1.1 was available, there is no way you can now restore to 5.1.1.

These tools and methods are not supported by Apple anyway, but they don't necessarily involve jailbreaking. One such tool can request and store the "OK" replies and then use iTunes to restore your phone to any firmware for which the replies have been stored. Your phone is never jailbroken in the process.

Have you been using any tools like this? If not, you cannot restore to 5.1.1.

I subscribe to the same thought process. It's nice that Apple is innovating constantly, and that's great, but sometimes as a consumer you make choices based on other very important factors too like cost. Therefore you do not buy an iPhone every time it comes out. This is the same situation I experienced with iOS 5 when I was using a 3GS. Once I upgraded to 5, the phone was as sluggish as a snail uphill. This is a very stupid deicsion on Apple's part, and I bet you it has everything to do with combatting the now legal jailbreaking stuff. Just leave it alone Apple, and provide us with the high quality customer service we're used to when talking Apple. I've never had an issue going back to Snow Leopard from Lion for example, so I don't see why my iPhone has to be subject to restrictions.

Before buying my current 4S I have pondered it for a very long time. I am now sure I would not upgrade to iPhone 6 or whatever's next if this same kind of restrictions are set in place forcing me to do whatever Apple wants. Why am I paying for my phone? Because I want to OWN one. Me, not Apple. Sorry Apple, but this is unacceptable. Hope you read this.

When I read this I was pretty disappointed, as i wanted to finish unlocking my phone without 'upgrading' to iOS6 and I needed to restore to do this, and when you restore .... anyway.

I was able to get around this by resetting my phone, wiping all the settings and data (which suited me as I was selling it) and then replugging it back in. As soon as I did, I was told my phone was unlocked - without a restore.

Slightly off topic, but hope it helps.

The suggestion PVA-92 gives sounds like it solves the original poster's problem. This sounds like it effectively allows you to complete they unlock process without upgrading!

PVA-92, can you clarify the steps you used to reset and wipe all the settings and data? I know there is are some options under Settings->General->Reset to wipe the phone; which ones of these and in what order did you do? When did you plug the phone back into iTunes? Did you have to set the phone up as a new phone or anything?

Thanks for any details you can provide!

This was my recollection of what I did;

In context,

1. backed up my phone through iTunes
2. called my carrier and asked them to unlock the phone
3. opened iTunes some time later, synced but no 'unlock' message
4. opened iTunes, tried to restore my phone but restore + upgrade was the only option
5. In the phone chose Settings->General->Reset and reset all settings and data
6. (i think) when I turned the phone back on set it as a new phone
7. plugged back into iTunes and it told me the phone was unlocked (no need to press any buttons)
8. unplugged the phone. When i look at the phone under 'software update' iOS6 is partially downloaded. I think me unplugging the phone prevented this from completing.

hope this helps, and let me know if any of this is unclear.

PVA-92, did that work? You were able to restore from backup without updating to iOS 6 as well as receive your unlock notice?

No, I didn't restore my phone in the end.

I thought I would need the restore process to complete the unlock process, but it unlocked without doing a restore.

Easiest way to do this is to go to Settings - General - Reset - Erase All Contents and Settings. This will reset your ipad to the ios it came with. When it reboots it is like starting from scratch. Best way to clear it for selling. It wipes all your info. That way the person who purchases it can choose whether or not they want to update to ios 6.

I can verify that after getting the unlock approved by AT&T, performing a single "Erase All Content and Settings", waiting for the phone to restart, and then plugging into iTunes gave the "Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked" message. This means that the iPhone does not actually have to be restored/upgraded in iTunes to complete the unlock process!

Hi.

You can restore to any firmware version you want, when clicking restore on tunes hold Shift (windows) or Option (Mac). Then tunes will let you browser for firmware you want. Before all this you have to download firmware you want, google it and you will find it. After firmware has been installed you restore backup from last sync and you are ready to go.

Ofcourse, before anything, sync it for last time and then do Shift Restore...

I have done this and works perfect.

Hope it helps.

As far as I know, the method madmax_mfp outlines will not always work. You can't restore to "any firmware version you want". Right now, it definitely does not work for going from iOS 6 to anything older, like iOS 5.1.1.

It will only work for any firmware versions which Apple is approving (signing SHSH blobs). There is a step during any restore where iTunes checks with Apple servers verifying that the firmware file (even if you downloaded it from google) should be installed. The server sends the confirmation in the form of SHSH blobs, a series of encrypted hashes, which iTunes then verifies against the requested firmware file. If the hashes check out against the firmware file you are trying to install, iTunes proceeds with the firmware installation. If the hashes don't match, it means the firmware file has been tampered with, and iTunes will abort the installation. The Apple server can also reject the request outright, which it does for any older versions of firmware you try installing using the Shift/Option-click restore. In either case, you'll get an error message saying something like you cannot restore to the selected firmware.

You can read more by googling SHSH blobs, digital signatures, and cryptographic hash functions.

There ARE ways around these restrictions, but you have to have been doing special backups of the SHSH files all along. See my original post for a not-too-detailed discussion of these (don't want to go too in depth on non-Apple approved methods).