How to Downgrade iOS 18 to iOS 17 Error-Free Without Data Loss

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How to Downgrade iOS 18 to iOS 17 Error-Free Without Data Loss | Fix iOS 18 Beta Issues

If you've upgraded to iOS 18 beta and encountered issues like crashes, display errors, battery drain, or overheating, you may want to downgrade back to iOS 17.5 for a more stable experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to safely downgrade iOS 18 to iOS 17 without losing your data.

Before You Begin

Before starting the downgrade process, it's essential to note a few key points:

Backup Your Data: Downgrading iOS versions can cause data loss. Ensure you have backed up your iPhone either using iTunes or Finder. If you didn't back up before upgrading to iOS 18, you can still back up your data while using iOS 18 and modify it later for restoration.
Turn Off Find My iPhone: Disable Find My iPhone to prevent activation lock issues during the downgrade process.
Check Apple's Signing Window: Ensure Apple still signs iOS 17.5. Once Apple stops signing a version, downgrading becomes impossible.

Steps and methods for downgrading iOS 18 to iOS 17.5 without data loss:

Step	Description	Tools Needed
1	Disable Find My iPhone to prevent activation lock issues during the downgrade process.	iPhone Settings
2	Backup your iPhone data using iTunes or Finder to ensure you have a copy before downgrading.	iTunes or Finder
3	Downgrade using REI Boot: Download and use REI Boot to easily downgrade iOS without errors.	REI Boot software
4	Alternatively, downgrade with iTunes: Download IPSW file, connect to iTunes, and restore iPhone.	iTunes
5	Modify the backup if necessary: Edit 'Info.plist' to change the product version to iOS 17.5.	Text editor
6	Restore modified backup: Use iTunes or Finder to restore the edited backup to your iPhone.	iTunes or Finder

This table provides a quick overview of the steps and tools required for safely downgrading iOS versions, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal risk of data loss or errors.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Disable Find My iPhone

Open Settings on your iPhone.
Go to your Apple ID settings.
Tap on 'Find My' and turn off 'Find My iPhone'.

Step 2: Backup Your Data

It's recommended to use iTunes or Finder for a comprehensive backup:

Using iTunes:

Connect your iPhone to your computer.
Open iTunes and select your device.
Click on 'Back Up Now' to create a local backup.

Using Finder (for macOS Catalina and later):

Connect your iPhone to your Mac.
Open Finder and select your device from the sidebar.
Click on 'Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac'.

Step 3: Downgrade Your iPhone

Method 1: Downgrade with REI Boot

REI Boot offers a straightforward method to downgrade iOS versions:

Download and install REI Boot on your computer.
Launch REI Boot and connect your iPhone.
Click on the 'Downgrade' option.
REI Boot will detect available downgrade versions automatically.
Follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the downgrade process.

Method 2: Downgrade with iTunes

If you prefer using iTunes and have the IPSW file:

Download the IPSW file for iOS 17.5 from a trusted source like ipsw.me.
Open iTunes on your computer (ensure you have the latest version).
Connect your iPhone to the computer.
Select your device in iTunes and go to the 'Summary' tab.
Hold down the 'Shift' key (Windows) or 'Option' key (Mac) and click on 'Restore iPhone'.
Navigate to the downloaded IPSW file and select it.
Confirm the restoration process to start downgrading your iPhone.

Step 4: Modify the Backup

If you backed up your data with iOS 18 and need to modify it for iOS 17.5:

After downgrading, reconnect your iPhone to iTunes or Finder.

Open the backup folder location:

On Windows: Press 'Win + R', type %appdata%, navigate to 'Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup'.
On Mac: Open Finder, press 'Cmd + Shift + G', type ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup.

Find the most recent backup folder based on the modified time.

Open the folder and locate the 'Info.plist' file.

Open 'Info.plist' with a text editor (like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac).

Find the 'Product Version' entry and change it from '18' to '17.5' or the version you downgraded to.

Save the file and close the editor.