Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to downgrade iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 beta firmware to iOS 18.3 or iPadOS 18.3 on iPhone and iPad.
Downgrade to iOS 18.3 / iOS 18.3.1 on your iPhone and iPad from iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 Beta Firmware
iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 beta updates are finally available for developers. If you just updated to the beta and realized you are better off using iOS 18.3 or iOS 18.3.1, then no need to panic, you can downgrade right away.
Before you do that, you should know that you will lose all your files and data; therefore, you have to create a backup of everything using either Finder or iCloud. You will find the tutorial posted here for that.
Once that is done, you have to turn off Find My on your iPhone and iPad as well. Again, tutorial posted here.
Here comes the part that needs a little bit of explanation.
The thing is, unlike a regular downgrade from, let’s say, iOS 18.3.1 to iOS 18.3, you can just restore the device using the publicly available firmware file. With beta firmware, that’s not the case.
There’s an extra step which involves putting your device into DFU mode, after which you will initiate the downgrade process. It’s not for everyone; it requires a little bit of patience, and if you really, really want to downgrade, then you have to read each and every single word carefully before downgrading.
Up for it?
- For iPhone users: head over to this link on how to put your device in DFU mode.
- For iPad users: go here to find out how to put your device into DFU mode.
Once you’ve put your device into DFU mode, it will show up in Finder as a device that you need to take action on. Click on the ‘Restore iPhone’ or ‘Restore iPad’ button, and your Mac will start downloading the latest firmware update from Apple’s server and restore it onto your device.
At the time of writing, Apple’s latest updates are iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1. Therefore, that is the version to which your device will downgrade to.
Once everything is complete and you’re back to your desired firmware, simply restore the backup you created before performing the downgrade.
