Downgrade iOS 4 to iPhone 3.1.3 on iPhone/iPod Touch
Apple recently released the iOS4 firmware update for the iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPod Touch users. Users updated to the new firmware anticipating new features and improved performance. Nevertheless, for some of them the opposite occurred, especially for iPhone 3G owners. Most of the iPhone 3G users are reporting very slow performance and applications crashing. The main cause of this problem is the slow processor and the low amount of RAM in the iPhone 3G.
Now there is no official way to downgrade to OS 3.1.3 from iOS4, but there is always an unofficial way. Here are the steps to downgrade from iOS4 to OS 3.1.3 :
1) First navigate to c:windowssystem32driversetcand open the hosts’ file in notepad. To do so, right click on the file and select Open With->Notepad. At the end of the document, add this string 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com.
2) Now connect your iPhone to iTunes in recovery mode. To do so, first switch off your device. Then press the Home button on your handset and connect the USB cable. As soon as you connect the USB cable, the device will boot up and a Connect To iTunesscreen will be displayed. Users can now stop pressing the Home button.
3) Fire up iTunes now. You will see your iPhone/iPod Touch detected in recovery mode. Now, whilst pressing the Shift key for Windows users or Alt key on the Mac platform, click on the Restore option.
Now just select the original OS 3.1.3 and voila, you are done. Now you can again enjoy OS 3.1.3 on your iTouch device.
(Source)
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Author: Rajesh Pandey
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thanks dude! i owe u one!
This was really helpful, it Worked! :D Thanks alot
It doesn't work for me I do everything as said but after it extracts the file and verifiying iphone restore with apple with apple I get an error box that comes up saying:
"The iphone "iphone" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (3194)
What am I not doing right? I am running IOS 4 on a 3gs
yea dude, i got the same error. i got a ipod touch 3g on 4.0 firmware 32gb. did you find a fix?
READ CAREFULLY:
1) First navigate to “c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\†and open the ‘hosts’ file in notepad. To do so, right click on the file and select Open With->Notepad. At the end of the document, add this string “74.208.10.249 gs.apple.comâ€.
—————————————–
IT MIGHT GIVE YOU HARD TIME TO SAVE IT BUT YOU HAVE TO SAVE IT SOME HOWâ€. BEST WAY IS “RIGHT CLICK ON THE HOST FILE AND GOTO PROPERTIES, CLICK ON THE SECURITY TAB, YOU WILL SEE “SYSTEM, ADMINISTRATOR AND USER†EXCEPT SYSTEM, CLICK ON BOTH USER AND ADMIN AND MODIFY IT BY CLICKING EDIT. ON THE NEXT THING, CHECK ALL THE PERMISSIONS AND ONCE YOU ARE DONE ON CHANGING BOTH ADMIN AND USER OPTIONS, CLICK OK AND CLOSE THE PROPERTIES WINDOWS AND THAN TRY TO SAVE THAT NOTEPAD “HOST†AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAVE THAT FILE. REST IS VERY SIMPLE.
—————————————–
2) Now connect your iPhone to iTunes in recovery mode. To do so, first switch off your device. Then press the Home button on your handset and connect the USB cable. As soon as you connect the USB cable, the device will boot up and a “Connect To iTunes†screen will be displayed. Users can now stop pressing the Home button.
3) Fire up iTunes now. You will see your iPhone/iPod Touch detected in recovery mode. Now, whilst pressing the Shift key for Windows users or Alt key on the Mac platform, click on the Restore option.
still getting 3194
you are doing something wrong, completely remove itunes from your computer, reinstall everything back and try the steps. I did mine the same way.
Did you save the HOST file?
download your firmware from: http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/
and btw what are you trying to do?
trying to downgrade it to 3.1.3 so i can jailbreak it using spirit
Many thanks for your advice.
i got it. the problem is with Spybot S&D.
open up spybot as an admin and go to mode (select advanced mode), down to tools, IE tweaks, and uncheck the box that says "Locks Hosts file read-only as protection against hijackers."
then when your done and have everything saved where you want it to go, go back into Spybot and recheck the box.
xD
where is the sptbot thing
Yeah, where is the Spybot S&D?
ur a genious lol i think this may be my problem
I thought this was my problem too. Rather than modifying Spybot, i right clicked on the host file, selected “options” and unchecked my “read only” box. Then I could modify the file and save properly.
YOU NEED SHSH File on CYDIA to USE THIS METHOD.
If you DON'T HAVE IT , Don't waste your time.
There is NO JAILBREAK AVAILABLE for the 3GS with iOS4 if you DO NOT HAVE THAT SHSH File saved on cydia.
—————————–
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
—————–
this is a way to downgrade from ios4 not to jailbreak it….
SOLVED 3194 ERROR, FINALLY done it after some research – Dam error
I wanted to get back to 3.1.2 as the battery life has killed my itouch 2g on ISO4
Right two issues
Signatures & Recovery Mode
1. Read this and you have to downgrade to v3 not 3.x.x- "http://www.saurik.com/id/12#howto" – The chap who's site you are redirecting to from gs.apple.com doesn't have signatures for the other versions
2. Its NOT recovery mode you want its DFU mode – Follow these instructions "http://www.ihackintosh.com/2009/06/recovery-mode-and-dfu-mode/"
I cant get to 3.1.2 at the mo i get the 3194 error back but at least i'm not on ISO4, wahoo
Nick, you are my hero! I downloaded v. 3.0 like you said, put my ipode in DFU mode, and did the option restore thing and it totally got me back to 3.0.
I didn't even have to alter any hosts file… however, I did all this on my mac osx.
Nick, thank you very much for posting. I used the 3.0 firmware and DFU mode, which worked like a charm and got no 3194 error.
Im using windows vista, itouch 2g 16gb, and downloaded the firmware from http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/
THANK YOU GUYS!!! i downgraded to 3.0 but now i just need to figure out how to get to 3.1.3… anybody figure that out yet? i click update (shift click) and it still verifys with apple and fails. GOD DAMN ITTT
Nick your the best!
i could not restore to 3.1.3 version. it shows error message "an unknown error occurred (3194)"
pls help.. thanks
Have same problem!
Same problem for me too, please heeeeeeeeeeelp!!!!
Same problem for me!
Same problem for me!
same. I have tried the firmware 3.1.2 and 3.1.3. please advise me. Thanks.
same problem y is this???
Same problem. If someone finds a fix, can they please send it to me?
ITS SOLVED. CHECK THE ABOVE COMMENTS FOR A SOLUTION.
i need help!!! i've tried everything i read to try to jailbreak it and downgrade..and nothing works.. UGH!!! please help!!
Thanks a lot. I am having ipod touch 3G 32GB MC model and was searching a method to downgrade it from 4.0 to 3.1.2. I searched everywhere untill I found your method. thanks
same problem
first u download itune lateste version than after connect your device than upadate your mobile/ipod
man dude just wait until the 5th of august
spirit gets released then
ok i had the same error as most of the ppl here (3194) i tried like few times it didn't work.. somehow i got it to work.. here is what i did.. This is for ipod touch 3g 32 gb latest model.. i dont know about 3.1.2 but i downgraded to 3.1.3 which is jail breakable.. 1. open up the host file to block apple url… like mention above.. 2.. connect ur ipod to pc then turn off ur ipod > go into dfu mode.. when ur on dfu mode u wont see anything on ur ipod screen.. if u do see a itune or the cable.. thats wrong.. it should be a blank black screen.. 3. shift and click restore.. then locate the firmware file which is 3.1.3 then volla.. it will work.. then u can jail break using spirit jailbreak its working fine for me … good luck
what itunes version were you using? which ipsw file were you using? im trying to do same thing but everytime i keep getting 'your device is not elegible for the requested build' error
@ Alex Smith
http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/
That site has the firmware to download for each model
@Robin and goon, did you edit the host file, save it and restart itunes?
is it this is the way i edit the host file?
"127.0.0.1 localhost
74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com"
Zahir,
Thank you for the directions but it still isn't working. I did download the correct firmware to restore because I took a screen shot of the version info before upgrading from 3.1.3 to 4.0 but I think that this downgrade routine is only going to work if people stored whatever it is that they where supposed to in Cydia before the upgrade. I forget what they call it but it's sometihng to do with the "make my life easy" thing in cydia.
I am running windows 7 and saved the host file and then opened itunes and same thing.
Make sure you run the notepad as admin when editing the hosts file.
After you do that, in the cmd console, type " ipconfig /flushdns " (without the " )
This didn't work for me as I still receive the 3194 error, but i've heard it's worked for some. Good luck!
i LOVE you seriously! thanks alot! make this sticky because this may help others with the same problem "3194"
it took me forever. been trying to fix my phone just like everyone else.
so after you get the host file corrected.
run cmd and type “ipconfig/flushdns”
this got me PASS the 3194 ERROR
this isnt in the original directions and needs to BE ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL directions
hope it helps
sorry but could be more specific as to where to place the string and does there need to be qoutation marks? please help becuase when i try to restore my ipod there is only a blank menu and no os 3.1.3 as you say there should be. thanks
WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE HOST FILE, JUST PASTE IT ALL THE WAY IN THE END, FOR EXAMPLE:
74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
I have done all the steps but i'm getting a "3194" error msg please help
This will only work if you have your SHSH file saved on cydia's server, nice of that to be missing .. that's why people are getting the 3194 error
Is there any way to get by this mazmorbid? I called apple and they insisted that they wouldn't be letting people downgrade through them anymore which is a joke considering what people pay for these phones. This ios4 is eating my battery power like crazy. I'm gonna call apple today again and have a go at them and see what they can do and if i find a resolution through them i'll let you all know.
hey mazmorbid, can those of us who didnt save their shsh whatever its called blobs saved used someone elses blobs that got saved to the server? or is that impossible?
ok! just answer this Question:
Are you in Recovery Mode when you get the error?
If yes, ur in luck because since the iDevice already updated u should still have the Firmware 3.1.3, which means that you just need to get out of RC Mode! To get out just use the Application RecBoot. its for both OSX and Windows.
———————————————
"Thank you" Said You ,"Your Welcome" I said
All very helpful and all until the last tip, you have put “Now just select the original OS 3.1.3 and voila, you are done” Um, where is the original OS 3.1.3 located? What must I type to find it? Please help me!
Hope that helps you
Getting
1015 error when I try it.
I get the same 1015 error :(
search 1015 fixer download on google
hello,
Everything was going good, untill that part that I had to hold shift and click on the right version. If I click on restore while holding the shift button, my computer opens the map "my documents-Limewire-Saved", weird?
Could you help me please? I have a lot of trouble right now!
Thanks!
it opens up that folder cuz thats where you should have downloaded the firmware file to. go to the website felixbruns, scroll up and look through the comments and go to it and download your firmware, when your done, click shift and restore and go to where the firmware is at and restore and hopefully it works for you.
when I try to save the host file after I have added the line it trys to save it as a txt file and will not just save.
What am I doing wrong.
Thks
This is exactly what it says.
Cannot create the C:WINDOWSsystem32driversecthosts file.
Make sure that the path and filename are correct.
@sam – The folder is etc and not ect
It did say etc I just type it in to the comment box wrong
This is the line I add at the bottom of the hosts file:
127.0.0.1 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
When I hit save under file. This is the message I get:
Cannot create the C:WINDOWSsystem32driversetchosts file.
Make sure that the path and filename are correct.
Thanks for anyhelp
@sam – Are you logged in as an administrator on your PC, because only system administrators can edit that file
What I did was instead of saving it. I highlighted it and copied. I then went to programs – accessories then notepad. But left click and open as administrator. Paste the words. Change name to hosts and then save it in the original location
@ Sam did you eventually get the solution because im having the exact same problem as you…help please!
What I ended up doing was going to another computer and it saved just fine not sure why but I did notice that the hosts file was mostly empty. However having done all that I now get this message when I try to restore it.
The iphone "iphone" cannot be restored at this time because the iphone software update server could not be contracted or is temporarily unavailable
I have try it numerous times and get the same message.
For Those who are interested this is how my hosts file looks and I was able to save it this way.
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
Keith,
I am logged in as administrator.
Pip,
When I left click on the note pad it does not give me the option to open it as administrator.
Just go to
>Start
>All Programs
>Accessories
>Right click " notepad " and then run as administrator
While your in notepad, press file, and then locate your " hosts" file. *If it doesn't show up, make sure the " file type " is set to All files/all file types, rather than just .txt so that the hosts file will appear.
After that make the necessary changes, and then save it in the original location to replace the previous hosts file.
There you go ~
right click on notepad > properties > compatibility look at the bottom you can tick the open as admin then click apply then close
excellent
Method works for me but phone shows no service. Reset network and still no go…
This does not work. I ALWAYS get an error that says the firmware is not compatable. This is a waste of time.
may be it isnt compatable i have a special edition ipod touch but here is the catch it is a 3g but it runs on 2g firmware
thank you nick u just gave me a good idea i can now restore my itouch 3g to a 2g firmware…. nice…. it works
I had this same problem! Fixed it though, its definatley out of stupidity.. lol, No offense, cause I did it too.. You have to dl the CORRECT model of your phone! 2g will not work with 3g, 3g will NOT work with 3gs!
Hope this helps.
I GET THE SAME DAMN THING, OK I DID THE NOTEPAD THINGY WITH ADMINISTRATIVE PRIVILEGES FOUND THE HOSTS FILE AND ADDED THAT 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com LINK AT THE END SAVED IT TWICE THEN I WENT TO iTUNES HELD THE SHIFT BUTTON CLICKED RESTORE IN iTUNES AND IT GAVE ME THAT CURSED MESSAGE SAYING THAT THIS FIRMWARE IS NO COMPATIBLE WTF? I ALSO TRIED DOWNGRADING THE iTUNES FROM THE LATEST ONE TO OLDER ONE 8.2.1 iTunes I AM TRYING TO DOWNGRADE MY I-POD TOUCH 3rd Gen 3.1.3(7E18)IPSW AND RESTORE IT WITH 3.1.2 IPSW SO I CAN USE REDSNOW TO JAILBREAK THE DAMN THING BUT IT DOESN’T WORK CAUSE I GET THE SAME DAMN ERROR MESSAGE THAT (THIS FIRMWARE IS NO COMPATIBLE) WHAT AM I DOING WRONG HERE??? OR THERE IS NO WAY TO DO IT? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've edited the hosts file, I've downloaded the 3.1.3 software and when trying to restore I'm getting a message saying the fireware file is not compatible – I'm trying to downgrade my iPod Touch 3rd gen because os 4 is chewing through my battery like crazy.
Any help for this error?
So… What is 3194 error? I tried 10 time and awlays 3194 error…
i tihnk this error h as to do with the fact that we didnt save our shsh blobs or whatever to the special server. they told us to do so before we updated or something.
Hi,
Downgraded 3GS new boot 3.1.3 (jailbreaked with Spirit) after upgrade to ios 4 back to 3.1.3. and changed hosts as said above. Again used Spirit en Cydia is on the iphone and working. Also downgraded itunes from 9.2 to 9.0.1.
When trying to load an application at the end itunes says that signing is not possible!!
Please help
Thanks
Peter
im havin the same problem as everyone else the 3194 error…aany fix for this yet?
first of all, i can't save the c:windowssystem32driversetchosts
with the 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com.
next is that when i press shift -> restore there is no folder that pops up.
i have windows vista 32bit, and im running the latest version of itunes.
my divice is a iPod Touch 2g MC model.
PLZ HELP ME!!!!
The information that you need to add to the hosts file goes on its own seperate line and not on 127.0.0.1 localhost line.
Should look like this:
127.0.0.1 localhost
74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
Keep in mind when you are trying to access this file you should be opening with administrator privileges. As long as you are logged in as a user with administrative rights you should be set.
You hold shift withing Itunes when you click on restore. Once you do that it will ask where you have the ipsw file saved that you downloaded. *Hint* if you downloaded a zip file for the firmware you will just need to rename the 3.12.zip to 3.13.ipsw
thats the problem. nothing pops up when i press shift -> restore.. exept from the normal. ( i made the "hosts" file work )
you have to download from google chrome or else it downloads a zip file. Downloading from google chrome saves it as ispw file which is what you need. When downloading click open folder then drag to desktop and then use shift+click and voila. Subscribe to my youtube channel if this worked please.
i have an iphone 3GS which is stuck in recovery mode, accidentally upgraded to iOS4 -.-", now i have followed your approach to downgrading it to 3.13 BUT i still get that [3194] error…I dont know what else to do at this point. Any other approach or methods to making this damn phone work again?…ANyone?
ONLY ON WINDOWS ……PROBABLY
GOTTT IT OKAY LISTEN UP THIS IS LONG AND GONNA MAKE YOU MAD BUT IT WORKS FOR ME AND PROBABLY WILL FOR YOU TOO
1 if you are stuck in recovery mode RE upgrade completely to os4.0 NOT 4.0 beta
2 after that download the 3.1.3 ipsw from felixbruns and restore it Then wait for the error k now get out of that
ooh my ipod just finnished downgrading
3 go to c:windowssystem32driversetc and right click on hosts then click OPEN NOT OPEN WITH JUST OPEN and then go down to the very bottom and change it to where it looks like this
127.0.0.1 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
NOT LIKE THIS
127.0.0.1 localhost
74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
4 THEN SAVE AS hosts
5 then put your i(device) in to DFU MODE DFU MODE DFU MODE DFU MODE DFU MODE DFU MODE DFU MODE DFU MODE
I DID THAT SO ALL YOU LAZY PEOPLE WOULDNT BE LIKE OOH DFU MODE WELL ILL GO AND PUT IT INTO RESTORE MODE
GIVING YOUR EYES A BREAK
BTW IM 15 AND I STAYED UP ALL NIGHT LOOKING FOR THIS I EVEN DOWNLOADED A PROGRAM THAT ALOWS ME TO RUN MAC OS X LEOPARD ON WINDOWS ITS 5:32 AM
6 go to itunes and click shift and click restore and restore to firmware 3.1.3 3,1,3 DARN IT
wait and if it works your i device screen will turn white or black it turned white on mine so idont know about other peoples
IF IT DIDNT WORK IT WILL STILL SHOW THE CONNECT TO ITUNES LOGO
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS WORKED FOR YOU
I did as you said and got the message "The iPhone “iPhone” cannot be restored at this time because the iPod software update server could not be contacted or is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later."
DARN IT :(
I have a 3GS that was jailbroken and unlocked. I thought I could jailbreak it again with Snowbreeze but it got the error 1064. Apparently I used Spirit to jailbreak it… Swear to God I remembered I used Snowbreeze to jailbreak it before the ios4…
Any help for my case?
try these options
reinstalling itunes 9.2 (might delete your music)
restart your computer
check your internet connection
if these fail or you dont want to try these email me at nrg9442@yahoo.com and i will email with you to get it to work
actualy do not email me at that account i will not respond
email me at nrg94@aol.com using this one i should be able to respond faster you can also try to follow my video im gonna post in a minute
never mind switch it back to the origional host file discovered an error
I have same problem after following all the above steps accurately i get msg
“The iPhone cannot be restored at this time because the iPod software update server could not be contacted or is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.”
I have Iphone 3gs which was hanged up at 3.1.3 so tried to restore old backup but itunes never asked me to restore from old backup. Now stuck at lock screen on IOS4 :(
Im getting the same error! Any luck??
hey ive been trying to run Mac osx on my pc but i dont have a program to do it will you give me the link for it???
first of all, you're on the wrong site, second go search ihackintosh on google and find the right site
it did work for me
but the most important thing to do is shutting down the anti-virus !
and now im hving my 3.1.3 back
thanks dude
You are not terribly good at explaining things in a clear intelligent manner.
whats a host file and how do i get there
what is a host file and how do i get there
Now my iPod says that "The iPod "iPod" cannot be restored at this time because the iPod software update server could not be contacted or is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later." Help?
hey i know a solution to that problem so come read it in my blog @
http://lolitsjae.wordpress.com
Thanks
hi. i have a ipodtouch 3g 32gb on 4.0 firmware. i did your steps to the tee but i get this error: The ipod could not be restored. An unknown error occured. (3194) and the ipod stays stuck on the connect to itunes screen. did the downgrade work and should i go ahead with jailbreak?
I have the same problem. Please help me…
Me too.
Everything went fine until I get to the “verifying iphone restore with apple” then it gives me an error message “The iphone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (3194).” Any ideas?