[ad_1]
After watching Apple WWDC 2024 Keynoteyou might be tempted to download iOS 18 beta now and try out all the new iPhone features, like customizing your Home and Lock screens, configuring Control Center, and exploring the redesigned Photos app. (Be sure to back up your data first!) System-wide Apple Intelligence tech is coming to beta later this fall. It’s exciting to play with the latest technology months before most people see it.
But there’s a reason iOS 18 is still in beta: bugs and performance issues typical of pre-release software can disrupt your day-to-day use, which is why you shouldn’t install it on your primary iPhone. If you feel this first release is too fragile, you can return to the safe shores of iOS 17 by following these steps.
Going back to the previous version of the system isn’t a matter of replacing a few key files here and there — you’ll need to wipe the phone and install the current release version. That’s why it’s important to back up your iPhone before installing the beta (or frankly, updating any iOS version).
Note: If your excitement got the better of you and you skipped the backup step, you should still try to sync your important data like contacts, photos, and notes to iCloud. Go to Settings, tap your name to see your Apple account, and then tap iCloud. Tap the categories for items stored in iCloud, such as Mail or Drive, and make sure they’re set to sync. Note that this is different from iCloud Backup, which includes more data.
Make sure your MacOS or Windows software is up to date
First, if you’re restoring from a Mac, make sure you’re using the latest version of MacOS:
- Click on Apple logo in the upper left corner and select System settings.
- Choose General in the sidebar.
- Click Software update.
If an update is listed – and you have a current backup – go ahead and install it.
Under Windows, open App for Apple deviceswhich replace iTunes as Apple’s channel for managing its devices.
Turn off Find My
If you’ve enabled Find My for this device, you’ll want to turn it off before you roll back to iOS 17. Find My is the key to Activation lock a security feature that requires the Apple ID and password of the person who set up the phone. When you’re done reinstalling iOS 17, you can turn it back on.
To turn off Find My, go to Settingstap your name and tap Find My. Then tap Find my iPhone and turn it off. (If the option is greyed out, you may need to disable Stolen device protection first.)
This screen shows that the iPhone is in recovery mode.
Put the iPhone into recovery mode
Then do the following iPhone button dance to enter recovery mode:
- Press and quickly release increase the volume button.
- Press and quickly release turn the volume down button.
- Press and hold sleep/wake and hold it behind the point where you see the Apple logo until you see the recovery mode screen – a black background with a cable showing a connection to the computer.
Restore iPhone to go back to iOS 17
The computer will ask if you want to update or restore iPhone; don’t worry if the dialog box sounds like something is wrong with the phone. Click Restore. In the confirmation dialog that appears, click Restore and update.
Or, if you don’t see this dialog box, open a new Finder window (MacOS) or the Apple Devices app (Windows) and select the phone in the sidebar. Click Restore iPhone and follow the directions that follow.
The release version of iOS, currently 17.5.1, will be downloaded and installed on the iPhone.
If you’re happy to wait until the fall for iOS 18, here it is everything you need to know about iOS 17 and how to change the most annoying features of iOS 17.
[ad_2]
