Oliver Haslam·

How To Downgrade iOS 15.3 [Guide]

Here’s how to downgrade iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 to iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1 on your iPhone or iPad device.

Apple’s iOS 15.3 update is now here and people are installing it left and right. But here’s how to downgrade from iOS 15.0.1 to iOS 15.2.1 should the need arise.

Why that need could arise is likely to be down to any bugs or performance issues you might be having. But you’ll need to be quick because it’s surely only a matter of time before iOS 15.2.1 is no longer signed by Apple — preventing the downgrade at all.

With that said, let’s get into the guide so you can get that downgrade done as quickly as possible!

Step 1: Ensure you’re running the latest version of macOS on your Mac or iTunes if you’re using a PC.

Step 2: Download the IPSW file for the version of iOS or iPadOS that you intend to downgrade to. You can grab the ISPW for iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1 right here.

Step 3: Next you need to make sure that you disable Find My iPhone before doing anything else. Head to Settings > iCloud > Find My and toggle the switch into the Off position. You’ll need to authenticate your Apple ID to do this so make sure to have your password to hand.

Step 4: Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC or Mac and open a Finder window on the Mac or Safari on a PC. You’ll also need to enter DFU mode —  don’t worry, you can follow our guide depending on the device you’re using.

  • iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, iPhone X / XR / XS / XS Max / 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max / 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max, or 2018/2020 iPad Pro owners can follow this guide.
  • iPhone 7 / 7 Plus owners: Enter DFU Mode On iPhone 7 Or iPhone 7 Plus, Here’s How
  • If you have an iPhone 6s / 6s Plus or any other iPad, then follow the instructions here.

Step 5: Back in Finder or iTunes, hold the Option key on a Mac or the Shift key on a PC, and click the Restore iPhone/iPad option.

Step 6: Choose the IPSW file that you just downloaded and let the process complete. This final step can take a little while to complete so don’t worry too much if it’s taking what feels like a long time. Go and make yourself a coffee — it’ll be done eventually.

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