How to Downgrade iOS 9.3.2 to iOS 9.3.1

May 17, 2016 - 12 Comments

Downgrade iOS 9.3.2 to iOS 9.3.1

Most users are best served by sticking with the recently released iOS 9.3.2 update, which offers a variety of improvements, bug fixes, and feature enhancements. Nonetheless, a select group of users have had specific problems with iOS 9.3.2, like some iPad Pro owners who are experiencing crashes and other frustrating behavior, and thus impacted users may want to downgrade an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch back to iOS 9.3.1.

To be clear, there is no reason to downgrade iOS unless you are experiencing specific problems with the new system software update. This is not a recommended process for any other reason, this is aimed primarily at troubleshooting issues that are otherwise unsolvable without going to a prior iOS version.


If you don’t have a backup made from iOS 9.3.1, you will lose your files and data by doing this. Don’t forget to backup your device before beginning the downgrade process otherwise you could lose files as well.

Downgrading iOS 9.3.2 Back to iOS 9.3.1

This restores the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch reverting back to iOS 9.3.1 from iOS 9.3.2, and in that process wipes the device clear of everything. Be sure you have a backup made ahead of time so you can get your stuff back. If you do not have a backup made, the process of downgrading will result in data loss. Don’t skip making backups, or having a backup handy to restore from.

  1. Download iOS 9.3.1 IPSW for your device and put it somewhere obvious, like the desktop
  2. Connect the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to downgrade to the computer with a USB cable
  3. Launch iTunes
  4. Select the iPhone / iPad in iTunes (here’s how to select a device in new iTunes), and go to the summary section
    • For Mac: OPTION / ALT click on the “Restore iPhone” button
    • For Windows: SHIFT click on the “Restore” button

    Downgrading iOS 9.3.2 to iOS 9.3.1 with IPSW restore

  5. Select the IPSW file you downloaded in the first step for iOS 9.3.1, confirm that you want to restore the device to iOS 9.3.1 – this will erase the device which is why it’s important that you made a backup to begin with

The restore process can take a while, but when finished the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will reboot as usual and be ready to setup. You can either set it up as new, or, what most users will want to do, is restore from a backup made earlier so that you can get your stuff, apps, pictures, notes, and other data back. You can restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup.

Again, most users should stay on iOS 9.3.2, and most do not need to downgrade, and have no benefit derived from downgrading. This is really aimed at troubleshooting specific problems that some users may experience with iOS 9.3.2, like the freezing / crashing iPad Pro 9.7″ model, or other specific problems introduced to an iPhone or iPad since updating.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, Tips & Tricks, Troubleshooting

12 Comments

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  1. On my iPhone iOS type is 7.4.3 how to install on iphone4s

  2. Wm. Cerniuk says:

    iOS 9.3.2 didn’t fix anything for me and in fact added more problems and bugs, especially with the new inability to touch-free activate tethering. Now I have to fiddle with the tethering settings on my iOS device when I want to connect to it with my Mac. Before, it was there, I selected it, it worked.

    WiFi calling is also broken. All I can get is “Hand Off” calling where you use your cell phone’s AT&T connection and rack up the minutes instead of making calls directly through wifi across the internet.

    Battery drain now happens at a whole new level. I get less than a day of battery now.

    Very VERY sorry I updated.

  3. PhredHat says:

    I deleted iTunes from my macbook when I installed Linux on my macbook. How can I do this without iTunes?

    I installed it on my iPad. The internet is horribly slow now.

  4. Bo Diddles says:

    Upgrades whatever are becoming a joke! Troubleshooting ,Quality control should be properly carried out inhouse prior to release.Too much frustration caused by upgrades to ‘fix bugs’ simply causing more bugs,sweat and tears!

  5. Wharf Xanadu says:

    You can’t downgrade to too early of versions because Apple stops signing them. I wish they wouldn’t do this. I would downgrade to iOS 5. It was the fastest.

  6. billy bobby says:

    This is terrible. I upgraded to 9.3.2 and now I’m reading all these negative posts.

    I wish I could have stuck with a previous release where people didn’t complain about the release.

    My only question is….if you ONLY want to upgrade to a “stable” version, but EVERY new version is unstable, how do you KNOW which release version was the “stable” one to begin with?

    LOL!

  7. Pilgrim says:

    Is there *any* way to downgrade from 9.3.1 to 9.2.1? Or even to 8.4?

    I would love to be able to do that.

    • billy bobby says:

      I think we should have the option of terminal windows.

      This graphic user interface baloney is never going to take off.

  8. Sebby says:

    I wonder if it might not make more sense to simply write a generic “How to downgrade iOS” article, and then simply refer to that every time you announce a new iOS build.

  9. What does it tell us, you, we as Apple customers, that Apple can’t even release a stable system software update for their most brand new and prized starting at $699 hardware device, the 9.7″ iPad Pro?

    And when will we as customers learn?

    Even John Gruber, who makes big bucks to pontificate about the greatness of The Great Apple on his Great Daring Apple Fireblog, says to “proceed with caution.”

    What does it say when even Dear Leader tells us to “proceed with caution?”

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