cpage
Level 1 (24 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How to Update iPhone 4 to iOS 6 (Not iOS 8)

I have an older iPhone 4 that needs an update.

it's running iOS 5.1 and i'd like to update it to iOS 6.3 (NOT iOS 8)

 

I downloaded the iOS 6.3 .ipsw

I held the Option button down and pressed Update in iTunes looked for the file and tring installing that, but after a minute i get an error message. Not eligible.

 

I'd expect iOS to not be Eligible cause the hardware can't keep up. but iOS 6? wasn't that the best build for the 4?

 

does this mean the only way to update my phone now is to Jail break it?

 

BTW, i don't use this as a phone anymore, I use it as an iPod.

 

Any help is appreciated.

iPhone 4, iOS 5

Posted on Jan 26, 2015 6:27 AM

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cpage

Q: How to Update iPhone 4 to iOS 6 (Not iOS 8)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Matt Clifton,

    Matt Clifton Matt Clifton Jan 26, 2015 6:42 AM in response to cpage
    Level 7 (29,905 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 6:42 AM in response to cpage

    If you want to update, you'll have to update it to iOS7, since that's the only signed version that is compatible with your phone. Connect to iTunes and it will prompt you to download and install the update.

     

    Matt

  • by cpage,

    cpage cpage Jan 26, 2015 6:54 AM in response to Matt Clifton
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 6:54 AM in response to Matt Clifton

    I'd rather update to 6.3

    it was faster...  by a long margin.

     

    Why would apple UNsign their own update?

  • by pogster,

    pogster pogster Jan 26, 2015 7:01 AM in response to cpage
    Level 4 (2,296 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 26, 2015 7:01 AM in response to cpage

    cpage wrote:

     

    I'd rather update to 6.3

    it was faster...  by a long margin.

     

    Why would apple UNsign their own update?

    Only the latest releases are available from Apple. I you want to know why ask Apple. There's a contact link at the bottom of the page.

  • by roaminggnome,

    roaminggnome roaminggnome Jan 26, 2015 7:05 AM in response to cpage
    Level 10 (97,411 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 7:05 AM in response to cpage

    It has always been the case that you can ONLY update to the latest available.

  • by cpage,

    cpage cpage Jan 26, 2015 7:37 AM in response to roaminggnome
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 7:37 AM in response to roaminggnome

    While that's aggravating.

     

    So is my only option to Jailbreak it then if I want to update?

  • by pogster,

    pogster pogster Jan 26, 2015 7:44 AM in response to cpage
    Level 4 (2,296 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 26, 2015 7:44 AM in response to cpage

    Follow the directions from wherever you got your file from. Good luck. Just remember if you run into a problem Apple can't help you in anyway.

  • by roaminggnome,

    roaminggnome roaminggnome Jan 26, 2015 7:43 AM in response to cpage
    Level 10 (97,411 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 7:43 AM in response to cpage

    Your options are:

     

    1) Upgrade to the latest available software version for your device.

     

    2)  Do not upgrade

  • by cpage,

    cpage cpage Jan 26, 2015 7:58 AM in response to pogster
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 7:58 AM in response to pogster

    being that it's an iPhone 4 I don't think Apple can (or would) help me with anything at this point anyway. they don't have a 4 year warranty. And i wouldn't expect Apple to help at this point anyway.

    I would however expect Apple to let it's customers do what they want with their products outside of the warranty rather than lock them down.

     

    Regardless. It looks like I'll be going to 7.1.2. anyway

     

    I want to use this as an iPod, (90% for Music) so SPEED is not as much of an issue anymore.

    Spotify requires iOS 7 so i guess I'll give in.

     

    hope this doesn't bust the phone like it's done to so many others out there.

     

    For reference, here is a short list SPEED difference from iOS 6.1 to 7.1

     

    http://www.cnet.com/news/want-your-iphone-4-to-run-faster-install-ios-7-1/

  • by pogster,Helpful

    pogster pogster Jan 26, 2015 8:27 AM in response to cpage
    Level 4 (2,296 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 26, 2015 8:27 AM in response to cpage

    It might be out of warranty but that doesn't mean Apple will no longer service it. You can do whatever you want with it. It's your phone. But if you use unauthorized means to repair or alter the phone yourself and in the future you need help you lose that support from Apple should you want it. I'm just giving you a heads up so you are aware. FWIW I have two iPhone 4's and neither have 'busted' and work just fine with 7.1.2.

    http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/repair/other/

  • by cpage,

    cpage cpage Jan 26, 2015 1:26 PM in response to pogster
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 1:26 PM in response to pogster

    while thats just great!

     

    I decided to just do the update and be done with it... took about 2 hours to i guess download? and then i get the not eligible pop up again.

     

    Sigh.

  • by TJBUSMC1973,

    TJBUSMC1973 TJBUSMC1973 Jan 26, 2015 1:44 PM in response to cpage
    Level 5 (7,636 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 1:44 PM in response to cpage

    cpage wrote:

     

    while thats just great!

     

    I decided to just do the update and be done with it... took about 2 hours to i guess download? and then i get the not eligible pop up again.

     

    Sigh.

     

    What is the EXACT error message you get?

  • by cpage,

    cpage cpage Jan 26, 2015 1:51 PM in response to TJBUSMC1973
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 1:51 PM in response to TJBUSMC1973

    I forget, but i clicked the error message more info

    got this page http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201442

     

    looked into the Terminal thing. My results showed 2 lines ending with "gs.apple.com" and only 1 of them had the "# " in front of it so I added the "# ", saved and restarted the machine.

     

    Ran the update again, and so far it looks like I've got progress. iPhone has the progress bar on it, so I Think Im in good condition...

     

    It's never really easy is it? there's always something.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jan 26, 2015 1:59 PM in response to cpage
    Level 8 (38,305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 1:59 PM in response to cpage

    cpage wrote:

     

    I forget, but i clicked the error message more info

    got this page http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201442

     

    looked into the Terminal thing. My results showed 2 lines ending with "gs.apple.com" and only 1 of them had the "# " in front of it so I added the "# ", saved and restarted the machine.

     

    Ran the update again, and so far it looks like I've got progress. iPhone has the progress bar on it, so I Think Im in good condition...

     

    It's never really easy is it? there's always something.

    Yes. The "something" means that you used your computer to hack or jailbreak some iOS device in the past. That's how your hosts file got corrupted. A normal hosts file has NO lines that contain gs.apple.com.

  • by cpage,

    cpage cpage Jan 26, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 26, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    That's odd, cause I have never tried to jail break the phone. you'll notice above that I've been apprehensive about the idea.

     

    Anyhow the update worked.

     

    Time will tell if is a slow poke or not.