IDN101

September 28, 2010 at 5:14am

I'm on 4.1 and would LOVE to restore to 3.1.3 on my 3GS,

But EVERYWHERE else on the net says you need the correct SHSH blobs in order to complete the restore of an older firmware?????

Many thanks

Raimond

September 11, 2010 at 7:11am

"Any solution for this advice given me by iTunes in step 3 instead of "error 1015"?
I'm reading that many other people have this problem but i can't find out an answer!

Thanks to the community,
Ale"

I downloaded the wrong version the first try and got a similar msg.
Checked the article again and saw my mistake. Second try worked perfect.

Raimond

September 10, 2010 at 5:26pm

I was getting to the point of hating my iPhone.... Missed calls because the slider would not respond. Crashes in the middle of a text msg... Ect..
Now it works again!

clawdan

September 06, 2010 at 8:24am

sorry folks. tried it twice, didn't work either time. different messages and dismiss in recboot didn't do anything at that step either. just a waste of a good hour of a day off. not impressed.

alessandrovigo

August 29, 2010 at 1:56am

Any solution for this advice given me by iTunes in step 3 instead of "error 1015"?
I'm reading that many other people have this problem but i can't find out an answer!

Thanks to the community,
Ale

jimmysmith100

August 22, 2010 at 8:34am

This works great! Thanks for getting me back to a functioning phone. One word of warning though.... I couldn't restore my backup since I didn't have one from 3.x version. I only had a 4.0 backup which it wouldn't let me restore. I didn't really lose anything much but text threads since I could just sync my contacts and calendars and email with my laptop and then just had to do some setting of preferences. This was totally worth it, though since my phone works like a dream again. I won't upgrade software again until I spring for a new iPhone. THANKS!!!!

coupedeville

August 15, 2010 at 11:14pm

I have an iPhone 3GS with the 4.0 software, I got it last month.
When I get to the terminal step, I input:

./iRecovery -s

and I get the message:

iRecovery - Recovery Utility for 0x1281 and WTF.
by wEsTbAeR-- and Tom3q

Got USB
No iPhone/iPod found.

I did actually fix this problem by going into recovery mode but these directions don't indicate when to type in the commands. However in DFU mode it still doesn't find my iPhone. Do I type them in while it's trying to recover? or after it gives me the error message?
Also when I recover to the 3.1.3 firmware I instead get a message saying my phone is not eligible, with this server log:

server request error: This device isn't eligible for the requested build

If I get this error message instead of the unknown one, will I still be able to downgrade my iphone? Please respond.

Canunpa

August 13, 2010 at 11:26am

After finishing step 4 and reconnecting my phone to itunes, i am not given the "options" mentioned in step 5. No drop-down menu, just a window telling me that my phone is in recovery mode and must be restored. Desperate, I clicked restore where I was advised that doing so would erase all contents AND install the latest software!!! Exactly what I'm trying NOT to do. Please help!!!

djskillz7

July 31, 2010 at 3:34pm

Please let me know if anyone has done this with a Windows PC. if so can you please give me details on how to restore my phone. I tried it the way it is written on here but when i install the libusb file it disables all my usb ports.

Pecos Bill

July 27, 2010 at 2:18pm

You can remove libusb when done by:
Go to the Finder and open a new window
type command-shift-G then paste this: /usr/local/lib and press return
CAREFULLY select all the files that start with libusb. If unsure, use spotlight on just that directory.
command-delete or move the files to the trash.
Empty the trash and restart.

Johnnypunk

July 24, 2010 at 11:23am

While everything worked as described, it is not possible to complete this operation as iTunes now says that the software on the phone is too old to restore the data.

Any updates to this process?

Pecos Bill

July 18, 2010 at 8:33pm

I doubted I would get an answer so I forged ahead. (I moved to an iPhone 4 so it wouldn't be tragic to test this on my 3G.) I'm happy to report that I was able to follow the directions to success. However, I did not need to use iRecovery or libusb because I just set it up as a new iPhone (the SIM is ignored by ATT). Additionally, while the processing was running, I had the network off and only turned it on when there was a complaint. I'm not sure that mattered but it might have as I never got the 1015 error and it moved on to the restore step.

Dagan

July 17, 2010 at 7:36pm

I can't get step 3 to work it starts to verify and then I get this error pop up.

The iphone "iphone" could not be restored. This device isn't eligible for the requested build.

Can anyone help me out with this.

Thanks

aprilec

July 15, 2010 at 6:43pm

PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP?

After the command ./iRecovery -s

I'm getting... Bus error

Then I enter in the rest of the commands and it just says... -bash: setenv: command not found

Anyone know what that is and how to get around it to continue?? I'm using Mac OS X 10.4.1 with iRecovery and libusb 10.4.

I'm dying to get back to 3.1 on my 3G. 4.0 is driving me nuts....! Virtually nothing is working properly and just want to go back. Thanks in advance!

Pecos Bill

July 15, 2010 at 1:08pm

I'm still at 3.0. I don't want to go to v4.0 as I've heard it's slower even after fixes are applied. (4.0 doesn't really offer much to a 3G anyway.) Anyone know if these steps could be used to upgrade from 3.0 to 3.1.3? It would seem yes.

(I never upgraded past 3.0 because I wanted the option to tether)

Pecos Bill

July 15, 2010 at 1:03pm

To the multiple PC / Windoze questions, you might have luck googling as I saw references of Windows for the tools in question. You may also need to install cygwin to get unix. There may be better alternatives though.

Elvis Cole, You might have success if you can find a version of libusb that supports OS 10.5 but I don't think I'd trust my expensive iOS device to it.

acutshall, it's complaining that libusb isn't installed. The rest of the commands are useless without it.

jd24dragon, is it plugged into the Mac directly or via hub? The latter may not work.

That's about all the suggestions i have. Meanwhile, for safety, I'd remove libusb and reboot once completed as that's a security risk.

Elvis Cole

July 12, 2010 at 3:52pm

Says I need 10.6 ... I only have 10.5.8 ... any help? OS4 is killing my 3G.

Thanks all.

Kyaw Swar

July 09, 2010 at 6:25pm

Hi,

Can I do all the downgrading steps in Window Vista? I can't even install the software. Is there any other way to do in Window vista.

Thanks!

ReluctantiPhoneUser

July 09, 2010 at 7:24am

I used this method to downgrade my 3G from the final release 4.0 to 3.1.3. Worked like a charm. I placed all files on the desktop beforehand, and did not restore from a backup. I made sure the iPhone was 'seen' by itunes before I began the process. The text of the terminal instructions is small, and I missed the 'i' before Recovery, so that was my only problem.

My reason for downgrading was a large drop in battery life, loss of Bluetooth, and the iPhone went from a snappy performer to a sluggard. The 3G does not seem to have the processing power to handle 4.0. Anyway, what does a 3G user get besides folders with 4.0? The new mailbox setup is nicer, but......It is not worth the trade-offs and problems listed above.

hmalissa

July 08, 2010 at 10:20am

After choosing the old firmware version I get an error message:
"This device is not eligible for the requested build"
What can I do???

laserone

July 03, 2010 at 9:39pm

I just finished doing this w/ my iPhone 3G. Everything went as described except it would not let me restore from the backup I made tonight or recently. I sync and backup every day. It kept saying that it was "too old" and I had to drop the drop-down box to another backup of the same name and I thought it said "Feb 2010" but now that I'm done everything on my phone is as it was in *Feb 2009*. Not sure what to do next... hmm.

acutshall

July 03, 2010 at 11:52am

Getting the following error when runniong script

MacPro2:~ acutshall$ cd Desktop
MacPro2:Desktop acutshall$ ./iRecovery -s
dyld: Library not loaded: /usr/local/lib/libusb-0.1.4.dylib
Referenced from: /Users/acutshall/Desktop/./iRecovery
Reason: image not found
Trace/BPT trap
MacPro2:Desktop acutshall$ setenv auto-boot true
-bash: setenv: command not found
MacPro2:Desktop acutshall$

Thx

dkouri

July 01, 2010 at 1:40pm

Is there a way to downgrade the modem firmware from OS4 5.13.04 on my 3G?
Thanks

albors

July 01, 2010 at 6:56am

Thank you sooo much for this tutorial. The only difference was step 3 where I had to find the restore software elsewhere on my computer. Other than that it was a breeze to fix!

kpaulsen

July 01, 2010 at 12:11am

Hey there.. I tried to do the restore, but connects and tells me that I'm ineligible to downgrade.. Then I get the no iphone/usb error as well..

Eek! Help!

jd24dragon

June 30, 2010 at 1:19pm

after the command ./iRecovery -s

it tells me

Got USB
No iPhone/iPod found

Any ideas?

jasisdad

June 30, 2010 at 1:10pm

After i have clicked the restore tab and started the restore it takes a while then comes back with "This device is not eligible for the requested build"

Any ideas as not having internet other than through wifi is a nightmare and has only happened since i upgraded.

Many thanks

corymann@epbfi.com

June 26, 2010 at 4:48pm

It keeps telling me:

Got USB
No Iphone/Ipod Found.

I saw a command earlier that u need the iRecovery script on the desktop, I think I have that already on the desktop. Could anyone be more specific on what that is exactly so that I can verify if I have it right.

Thanks

gcs181074

June 26, 2010 at 11:01am

Last login: Sat Jun 26 19:55:10 on ttys001
gordon-stewarts-iMac:~ gcs181074$ cd desktop
gordon-stewarts-iMac:desktop gcs181074$ ./iRecovery -s
iRecovery - Recovery Utility for 0x1281 and WTF.
by wEsTbAeR-- and Tom3q

Got USB
No iPhone/iPod found.
gordon-stewarts-iMac:desktop gcs181074$

HELP WHAT AM I DOING WRONG

jbchicken

June 25, 2010 at 5:14am

Will these instructions work on a pc; noticed on the front end you say a Mac is required.

sfp

June 22, 2010 at 11:53am

I followed the instructions to a T to take my 3G from 4.0 to 3.1.3, and all seemed to go smoothly until the reboot. An inspection also shows that my baseband didn't downgrade (it's still at 5.13.04 from the iOS4 upgrade attempt). Any ideas?

Lexxie

June 22, 2010 at 12:01am

Because my iPhone 3G became sluggish after upgrading to OS4 i wanted to downgrade again. Of course I did not find the 3.1.3 in my Mac, read your item, FOUND THE LINK TO 3.1.3 for 3G, downloaded it, and now the iPhone 3G is working great again with 3.1.3 in it. Fantastic article even for a layman.... THANKS

bowerstech

June 17, 2010 at 4:52am

The version of iRecovery I downloaded had a space 2 added to the end. Which of course caused the instructions to fail. I renamed it to just iRecovery and worked flawless.

kaarup

June 11, 2010 at 2:11pm

jubiiiiiiiiiii maclife just saved my day. Thanks a million for this guide.

kaarup

June 11, 2010 at 2:11pm

jubiiiiiiiiiii maclife just saved my day. Thanks a million for this guide.

dukeblue17

June 04, 2010 at 12:43pm

I just downgraded my iPhone from 4.0 beta 4 to 3.1.3 but iTunes will not let me restore from the backup of my information when I was running the 4.0 beta 4. Is there any way to work around this?

Thanks

sunky

June 03, 2010 at 5:12am

I'm getting this error after I run iRecovery in terminal:

iRecovery - Recovery Utility for 0x1281 and WTF. by wEsTbAeR-- and Tom3q

Got USB
Error -9 when setting configuration

So when I type the following commands

setenv auto-boot true
saveenv
fsboot
exit

I get nothing. Any ideas?

1976Hoosiers

May 24, 2010 at 8:37am

this was so awesome thanks! Thats so stupid that Apple doesn't have this as a support article! Thanks so much Mac Life! You have a new reader for life! Keep on Keeping on!!

arlilgegns

May 21, 2010 at 11:11pm

You just saved me an embarrassing trip to the Apple Store. This worked like a charm on my 3GS. Thanks again!!

glbaker

May 20, 2010 at 8:57pm

This was awesome! Thank you for helping me unbrick my iphone. Worked as written.

rcdace11

May 14, 2010 at 12:54pm

Thank you soo much for these steps you helped out alot. keep up the good work.

oisee

May 07, 2010 at 10:42pm

Worked on iPhone OS 4.0 beta 3 /iPhone 3G.Thanks a lot!

sparknostalgia

May 04, 2010 at 10:49pm

it worked great thanks amazing truly

bballar

May 03, 2010 at 5:16pm

Thanks very much this tutorial worked exactly as described saved my butt much appreciated!!

szobell

April 28, 2010 at 5:22am

So - I went through the loop I was getting about 3 times (Error 6)... iTunes saying my iPhone was in restore mode and needed to be restored... then restore it. Try this over again... On the 4th Try - it didn't give me the same error - I received the wonderful 1015 error. Continued the instructions above and it worked flawlessly. Not sure what caused by Error 6 loops - but I am restored to 3.1.3. thank you!

szobell

April 28, 2010 at 4:38am

I must be doing something wrong.  I never see the message saying 'Restoring Software' in step 3.  It says items such as 'preparing software for restore', but I then get an 'unknown error has occurred (Error 6)'.  If i then press ok - I get the standard "Connect to Itunes' image.  Once I am there - it just says it must be restored and I am still on 4.0.What am I missing?

kewpiedoll99

April 27, 2010 at 6:37pm

Thanks a million for this. I searched high and low for how to do this and thank goodness I found your article. I had gotten to the error 1015 on my own, but iRecovery and LibUsb were unknowns to me. TOTALLY fixed my iPhone back to its v 3.1.3 goodness!

Staphyl

April 27, 2010 at 6:09pm

Idk what I did right, but I didn't even have to use iRestore or that libusb tool to downgrade my iPod Touch 3rd Gen.  I just selected the restore and down it went back to 3.1.3.