Downgrade to iOS 7.1.2 question after backing up 8.0

i just can't deal with my iPad any more. 8.0 is crap. I went online to get instructions to revert back to 7.1.2. Here's my question... everything I'm reading states if you made a backup of 8.0 in iTunes and iCloud as I did that it's not possible to now downgrade to 7.1.2, that your backup must be of the 7.1.2 and not have been backed up after you upgraded to 8.0. Has anyone that upgraded to 8.0 and then backed up their iPad successfully reverted back to 7.1.2? I want to be sure this is even possible before I screw this up and am left with a very expensive paperweight that's more useless than it is now, lol.

Posted on Sep 22, 2014 4:39 PM

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12 replies

Sep 22, 2014 5:47 PM in response to Lyssa

When I created the new backup of 8.0 would it have overwriten the 7.1.2 version or would both be available in iTunes? I can't find this information. If it overwrites I guess I'm screwed. Time to go look at new tablets and it won't be an iPad after this disaster Apple created. I've been loyal to them for 8 years, no more.

Sep 22, 2014 6:54 PM in response to Lyssa

This was very helpful now that I know where everything's located. As it turns out the backup today on iCloud worked and is 8.0. The backup on the laptop and passport didn't backup properly today through iTunes so no 8.0 resides on my laptop or passport; most recent is 5/24/14, obviously that's 7.1.2.


So this brings me to a new question. I can revert back to 7.1.2 from the 5/24/14 backup which will get rid of all problems associated with 8.0; however, I would like to be able to backup my photos from my iPad since I've added a lot since 5/24. Can I transfer over only all my photos to the backup on my laptop to the 7.1.2 file and then do a full restore? Basically I want to be able to use the 5/24 backup for everything except my photos and combine the two... is this possible?

Sep 22, 2014 7:10 PM in response to Skydiver119

I Keep my trash can clean, as soon as I delete I empty it. I don't think I asked the question right. I want to restore to 7.1.2 from the backup on my laptop To my iPad to get rid of 8.0. I want the photos from the 8.0 that's now on my ipad moved to the backup on my laptop, but do not want to move anything else over. Maybe I just have to do the backup from the 5/24/14 version of 7.1.2 and just accept photos will be gone That I've added since 5/24?

Sep 23, 2014 5:25 PM in response to Lyssa

I actually emailed myself 3000+ photos last night that I needed to retain so I would have them in case something went wrong. That was the easy part since I figured out how to copy them by folder. It all went downhill from there.


This turned into a disaster this morning when I attempted to restore to 7.1.2. I was able to reload 7.1.2 on my iPad successfully, but when it came time to restore from a backup at the setup screen it was unsuccessful, got an error message that the 7.1.2 backup was corrupt. I tried at least 20 times from both iCloud and laptop backups (Windows 7 Professional) each time received same error message. I finally gave up and reinstalled 8.0 to see if there may be something else going on! just so I could test the backups. Well 8.0 installed fine, 8.0 backup installed fine. So here I am right where I was last night with the same issues. then spent hours re-entering usernames, passwords, etc. you get the idea.


I did notice Bloomberg posted an article on Yahoo! Finance over an hour ago about 8.0 and that there are lots of issues. I can only hope Apple is working on patches and will release a new update soon. This is so disappointing when you have a device you've babied and there's not a fingerprint on it, never had even a tiny issue with in 4 years, loved it like part of the family. So strange that with every prior update I've never had even a hiccup from those.


All I can do is wait now along with everyone else for an update to come...

Sep 23, 2014 5:39 PM in response to cali71aw

It’s important to know that iTunes or iCloud backups DO NOT backup iOS itself, only your data and apps. It’s not at all like backing up or cloning a hard drive. To downgrade to a previous version of iOS you first need to locate and download a copy of the iOS version you desire. You CANNOT get this from Apple as they do not support downgrading. Now here’s the important part. When you restore your iOS device and start it up for the first time it contacts Apple’s servers to get validated to run. After a new update comes out it’s usually only a couple of days before Apple quits “signing” the old version. In other words, after Apple stops “signing” the old version you CANNOT downgrade under any circumstances even of you have all the proper files installed. So unless you act fast you will be out of luck, period. It may already be too late. And if you backed up your device AFTER installing iOS 8 you are also pretty much out of luck because everything has been modified to iOS 8 specs.


Again, iOS is NOT stored in a backup.

Sep 23, 2014 5:39 PM in response to lkrupp

I am aware of this fact that the operating system did not get backed up. I got the file from iphonehacks.com. All file formats are there in a link. I saved the zip file and renamed it with the .ispw in place of .zip. I knew how to do this from all the instructions on the Internet if you google how to downgrade. it took about 40 minutes to do a full restore to 7.1.2. That part was successful. It was restoring my data that failed When I went through setup to put the data back on the iPad.

Sep 23, 2014 5:53 PM in response to cali71aw

I downgraded back to 7.1.2. That part went fine. All my apps are gone which I expected. I never backed up my pad to my computer just did auto back ups to the cloud. can't find where my back ups are. A link earlier in this thread indicated that back ups Are found at edit preferences in iTunes. Can't find it. Are my apps gone? I thought all my apps would be able to be redoawnloaded from the App Store since they were in the cloud. Am I screwed? I i paid money for a bunch of them.

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Downgrade to iOS 7.1.2 question after backing up 8.0

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