Downgrade iPhone 4S to iOS 7.1.2

catherinefrommichigan wrote:

OK Thatchcote - please read my reply to Kilted Tim and tell me how to restore my 4S to its previous useable and functional condition, although I suspect it is an impossible task.

For KiltedTim:

I would like to know who 'lots of people' are - everyone I know, without exception, that was happily using their perfectly useful and functional 4S is now experiencing a varied number of problems since upgrading to iOS 8. My iPhone 4S now needs charging at least twice a day, even when I don't use it (and yes, I have done all the things suggested to preserve battery and it worked fine before iOS8), experiences a huge lag when doing everything and anything, is virtually impossible to type on for texts and emails because the touch screen no longer recognizes my typing in real time. Many of my apps no longer work at all and several of them crash for no reason, including Chrome, Safari, Mail and Calendar. My cloud data doesn't properly sync and I am missing calendar entries on both my computer and my phone, depending on where they were entered.

In short, it is clear that iOS8 was designed for the iPhone 6 (of course) but Apple would have been well regarded for not killing the 4S in the process; I am now in the market for a new phone but it will NOT be an Apple product. I didn't need a new phone until iOS8 and I see now reason to reward Apple's bottom line by caving in to their planned obsolesce strategy.

Does anyone know how this message, along with the plea for a return to OS7, can be communicated to Apple? I am a long time and dedicated Apple user and I am really really angry with them over this - I can't be the only one!

Thanks

You cannot downgrade your iOS on your device. This is explicitly stated in the terms and conditions of the iOS update, which was available at any time, including online, and also when prompted on your device.

As far as who 'lots of people are', that would be the millions of iPhone 4S users that updated and have no issues. From personal experience, that includes the many people that I support that use iPhone 4S units updated to iOS 8. None of them have reported the issues you describe.

iOS 8 was designed for iPhone 4S and higher, not just iPhone 6. And Apple doesn't 'plan obsolesce'. They still service and support the original iPhone.

No one here cares what your next device purchase will be. You are more than welcome to purchase whatever product you desire.

It also sounds like you haven't done any significant troubleshooting. Here are some steps you can try:

Basic Troubleshooting Steps when all else fails

- Quit the App by opening multi-tasking bar, and swiping the App upward to make it disappear. (For iOS 6, holding down the icon for the App for about 3-5 seconds, and then tap the red circle with the white minus sign.)

- Relaunch the App and try again.
- Restart the device. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430

- Reset the device. (Same article as above.)

- Reset All Settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings)

- Restore from backup. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766 (If you don't have a backup, make one now, then skip to the next step.)

- Restore as new device. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137
For this step, do not re-download ANYTHING, and do not sign into your Apple ID.

- Test the issue after each step. If the last one does not resolve the issue, it is likely a hardware problem.

Also, Apple never required you to update your iOS. If your iPhone was working 'just fine' prior to the update, why did you update? What was your reason for updating? What specific feature or function was available only from iOS 8 that you felt that you needed or wanted to have? Any and all ramifications from updating your iOS are your sole responsibility, as clearly stated int he terms and conditions of the iOS update. Did you read them?

Finally, while it is extremely doubtful Apple will ever allow for an iOS downgrade, feel free to request that here at www.apple.com/feedback.

Good luck.

heidenberger wrote:

Ok, maybe you are right. But I don't need the backup-function and I think about to buy a new phone - but no Apple. Nice to have backups and so on but not so nice to have a phone you can't use anymore. For me it would be no problem to start again without backup.

For you, maybe. But not for many other people.

Use these troubleshooting steps:

Basic Troubleshooting Steps when all else fails

- Quit the App by opening multi-tasking bar, and swiping the App upward to make it disappear. (For iOS 6, holding down the icon for the App for about 3-5 seconds, and then tap the red circle with the white minus sign.)

- Relaunch the App and try again.
- Restart the device. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430

- Reset the device. (Same article as above.)

- Reset All Settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings)

- Restore from backup. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766 (If you don't have a backup, make one now, then skip to the next step.)

- Restore as new device. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137
For this step, do not re-download ANYTHING, and do not sign into your Apple ID.

- Test the issue after each step. If the last one does not resolve the issue, it is likely a hardware problem.

Since Apple launched iPhone 4, I was wishing to buy one. Finally, this year I had the money for second hand 4s. I was satisfied with it (iOS7.1.2), I was reading all kind of articles about it's software updates, I hurried and installed iOS8... then, after I realized 7.1.2 was more suitable for 4s... Apple hit me with this not downgrading problem... ✖

For KiltedTim:

I would like to know who 'lots of people' are - everyone I know, without exception, that was happily using their perfectly useful and functional 4S is now experiencing a varied number of problems since upgrading to iOS 8. My iPhone 4S now needs charging at least twice a day, even when I don't use it (and yes, I have done all the things suggested to preserve battery and it worked fine before iOS8), experiences a huge lag when doing everything and anything, is virtually impossible to type on for texts and emails because the touch screen no longer recognizes my typing in real time. Many of my apps no longer work at all and several of them crash for no reason, including Chrome, Safari, Mail and Calendar. My cloud data doesn't properly sync and I am missing calendar entries on both my computer and my phone, depending on where they were entered.

In short, it is clear that iOS8 was designed for the iPhone 6 (of course) but Apple would have been well regarded for not killing the 4S in the process; I am now in the market for a new phone but it will NOT be an Apple product. I didn't need a new phone until iOS8 and I see now reason to reward Apple's bottom line by caving in to their planned obsolesce strategy.

Does anyone know how this message, along with the plea for a return to OS7, can be communicated to Apple? I am a long time and dedicated Apple user and I am really really angry with them over this - I can't be the only one!

Thanks

heidenberger wrote:

I suppose it would be no problem, to sign IOS Version 7.1.2. again and a lot of people would be glad about!

Best regards,

Jörg

No, it would be a problem, for many reasons. Primary reason: You cannot restore an iCloud or iTunes backup to a device that is running an earlier version of the iOS. Therefore, if you ran into any issue that required you to restore a backup, but the only backup was from a newer iOS, then you would lose all the data, until you restored to an appropriate device. That's just the tip of the iceberg. There are valid technical reasons why Apple doesn't allow downgrades. The fact that you are unaware of those reasons doesn't make it 'no problem'.

I bought an iPhone 4S about 5 days ago (it came pre-installed with ios 7.1) and I soon after that installed ios8 by mistake. I was happy to find an option in the "Settings" asking me to remove the update so I did that immediately. Right now its not even possible for me to install ios8 by mistake because I dont have enough space left on my iphone to install the update. I dont know why I had the option to downgrade but you didnt. In either way I hope they fix it for you.

You're not talking to Apple. Downgrading has never been an option. Try troubleshooting your problem instead. Lots of people are running iOS 8.1 on the 4S without any significant problems.

Dear Apple,

I'm very, very unhappy with iOS 8 on my iPhone 4S. It's awefully to work with that Version. Would you please approve Version 7.1.2 again.

Thanks a lot

TThis is a user- to- user forum. Apple does NOT monitor this forum. I would suggest you tell us what specifically is the problem and perhaps someone can help you.

OK Thatchcote - please read my reply to Kilted Tim and tell me how to restore my 4S to its previous useable and functional condition, although I suspect it is an impossible task.

For KiltedTim:

I would like to know who 'lots of people' are - everyone I know, without exception, that was happily using their perfectly useful and functional 4S is now experiencing a varied number of problems since upgrading to iOS 8. My iPhone 4S now needs charging at least twice a day, even when I don't use it (and yes, I have done all the things suggested to preserve battery and it worked fine before iOS8), experiences a huge lag when doing everything and anything, is virtually impossible to type on for texts and emails because the touch screen no longer recognizes my typing in real time. Many of my apps no longer work at all and several of them crash for no reason, including Chrome, Safari, Mail and Calendar. My cloud data doesn't properly sync and I am missing calendar entries on both my computer and my phone, depending on where they were entered.

In short, it is clear that iOS8 was designed for the iPhone 6 (of course) but Apple would have been well regarded for not killing the 4S in the process; I am now in the market for a new phone but it will NOT be an Apple product. I didn't need a new phone until iOS8 and I see now reason to reward Apple's bottom line by caving in to their planned obsolesce strategy.

Does anyone know how this message, along with the plea for a return to OS7, can be communicated to Apple? I am a long time and dedicated Apple user and I am really really angry with them over this - I can't be the only one!

Thanks

heidenberger wrote:

I would like to report my thoughts to apple but I don't know how!

Use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page, or go to www.apple.com/feedback.