Today Apple released iOS 4.3.1 for iPhone 4, iPad, iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G and iPad 2. If you have updated your device to this release but now facing some issues with your favorite Cydia apps, you can downgrade your device to iOS 4.2.1/iOS 4.3 using this guide.
It is to be noted that jailbreak for iOS 4.3 and iOS 4.3.1 is tethered for now. And as some users don’t feel comfortable with tethered jailbreak, so they can also downgrade iOS 4.3.1 to iOS 4.2.1 (iOS 4.2.1 can be jailbroken untethered using Greenpoison).
Note: Downgrade process will work only if you have already saved SHSH blobs for the iOS firmware to which you are downgrading. If you are still on iOS 4.3, we recommend you to save the SHSH blobs on Cydia and on your local hard-drive using the TinyUmbrella.
Downgrade iOS 4.3.1 to iOS 4.3 or iOS 4.2.1 Guide:
Step 1: Download the iOS firmware file (stock iPSW) to which you wish to go back. [Direct download links for iOS 4.3, iOS 4.2.1]
Step 2: Open”Hosts” file in NotePad from this location in Windows OS: C:/WINDOWS/system32/drivers/etc
If you are Mac user, navigate to GO -> Go to Folder and enter the path “/etc” and open the file “hosts” with TextEdit.
Step 3: Now add the following hostname at the end of the file as shown in the screenshot below. Save the file.
74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com
Step 4: Open iTunes and connect your device with the PC via USB cable and put your device into DFU mode. Here is how you can get DFU mode on your phone.
- Turn off your phone.
- Now press Power button and as soon as you seen Apple Logo, press Home button while keeping pressed Power button too.
- Keep holding down both button for about 10 seconds.
- After 10 sec, release Power button but keep holding Home button until iTunes recognizes your iPhone. You should keep the PC volume high to hear New Device Detection sound.
- Let go the Home button. At this point your iPhone screen should be blank (black in color).
Step 5: From the iTunes sidebar select your device. Now press the “alt” (option) button on Mac or left “Shift” button if you are on Win and then click on “Restore” button in the iTunes.
This will make iTunes prompt you to select the location for iOS 4.3, iOS 4.2.1 or iOS4.1 you downloaded in step 1.
Now sit back and let iTunes restore iOS 4.3/iOS 4.2.1 on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. During the restore process you may see unknown error messages (1013, 1004 etc), just ignore these errors. If you sill get such error, retry after putting your device into Pwned DFU mode.
At this point your iPhone may be stuck in recovery mode, showing that “Connect to iTunes” screen. To get rid of this recovery mode, download TinyUmbrella and click on “Exit Recovery” option.
That’s all. Now you can use the software mentioned here (tethered jailbreak) or here (untethered) to jailbreak your iPhone.
You may also like to read these posts:
- How to Jailbreak iOS 4.3.1 on iPhone 4 Using PwnageTool
- Download iOS 4.3.1 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
- Downgrade iOS 4.3 to Previous iOS version
Update: If you are stuck at Recovery Loop, follow the guide posted here.
