Downgrade iPhone 3GS 3.1 to 3.0 OS Firmware

by Abi on July 7, 2009

Previously Dev Team warned iPhone users not to upgrade their iPhone to iPhone OS 3.1 beta firmware. But it seems not all users listen to the warning, they still upgrade to OS 3.1 Beta firmware both accidentally or intentionally, and now most of them end up looking for a guide to downgrade to the previous iPhone OS 3.0 Firmware. It’s worth noting that the only downgrade able is from iPhone OS 3.1 to 3.0 but baseband will remain 05.08.01.

Minimum Requirements:

1. You have already have ITunes 8.2 installed on your computer.
2. Own Original iPhone 3GS OS 3.0 Firmware.

The following are guides to Downgrade iPhone 3GS 3.1 to 3.0 OS Firmware

Step 1: Use USB Cable to connect your iPhone to your computer

Step 2: Switch of your iPhone and put it in DFU mode with following instructions

- Click the Home + Power On button for 10 seconds exactly

- Release the power button and continue to click on Home

iPhone in DFU Mode

Step 3: To continue to the next step press OK.

Step 4 : Press ALT from your keyboard and then ‘Restore’ on your iTunes at the same time (together) and Locate & Select the original iPhone 3GS 3.0 firmware

iPhone 3GS OS 3.0 Firmware

Step 5: Now you get to make a confirmation by pressing Restore.

iPhone 3GS Restore Mode

Step 6: Don’t be worry if you receive this message: “Unknown error occurred (1015)” from iTunes, just ignore it and click OK to go on to next step. Like in the following image:

iTunes Error Code 1015

Step 7: To solve the error download Download iRecovery for Mac and iRecovery for Windows

Step 8 And then extract “iRecovery-Mac.zip” file on the desktop.

Step 9 Open application ‘Terminal’ (Applications> Utilities) and enter- cd desktop
. / iRecovery-s

iRecovery

Step 10 Once you notice a Message entering in Recovery Mode, type following command fsboot

iRecovery Last Command fsboot

Step 11 Once the iPhone 3GS is rebooted, you can notice the ‘Emergency calls only’. Now wait till the iTunes is uploaded and reactivates your iPhone 3GS automatically.

Step 12 You can now restore a backup or configure the phone as “new.” with the iPhone Firmware 3.0.

Once you have downgraded your iPhone 3GS from 3.1 firmware to 3.0 firmware you can use purplera1n. Purplera1n (beta) is a free tool to Jailbreak iPhone 3GS running 3.0 firmware on windows and Mac.

Related posts:

  1. Downgrade iPhone 3Gs 3.1.3 To 3.1.2 For Mac
  2. Downgrade Iphone 3gs 3.1.3 To 3.1.2 With SHSH On Cydia For Windows
  3. Downgrade iOS 4.0 To Firmware 3.1.3 For Mac
  4. Downgrade iOS 4.0 To iPhone OS 3.1.3 For Windows
  5. Downgrade iPhone 3.1 Firmware To 3.0.1/3.0

{ 24 comments }

matteandhue July 20, 2009 at 12:07 pm

Does the baseband version # affect applying future updates in any way or does this literally do a full downgrade to 3.0?

khalid July 21, 2009 at 5:32 am

guys please help me.

I upgraded to 3.1 thinking it will fix my wifi problem because wifi was not detecting anything. But then I realized it’s not meant for everyone.

Now the problem is……I have followed the method above and indeed I do get out recovery mode but only when I restart my iphone, it again goes back to recovery mode. How the hell should I permanently get out of recovery mode?

This method takes you to normal mode only for time being and if you accidently restart your phone, it will again land up in RECOVERY MODE.

Please help because I hate typing ./irecovery -s everytime in terminal.

gtriemy July 29, 2009 at 5:16 am

PowerPC?? iRecovery – error: bad cpu type in executable ??

d33g August 28, 2009 at 9:21 pm

Man for windows its shift+restore, get it right or people are gonna get rolled

Flipback September 7, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Worked Great! Thanks. Someone should make a youtube video on this!

Chris September 10, 2009 at 9:57 am

I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong. It all seems to work out just fine until I get to the IRecovery step. I write the command exactly as it says you should, but instead of entering recovery mode, It says “image not found”. Can anyone help?, I really want to downgrade my Iphone.

itsdavey September 10, 2009 at 11:26 am

i’m using windows and i can’t get past CD DESKTOP
when i type in iRecovery -s
i get ‘iRecovery is not recognized as an external or internal command, operable program, or batch file’

help?

Sula September 11, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Hi guys,
I have windows xp could u please show us how we can execute steps 8,9,10,11 12 for windows users.

I tryed but I could not sccuss.

Thanks for help in advanced.

Laggs September 12, 2009 at 10:57 pm

Is this working on 3gs?

Frank Brown September 13, 2009 at 8:48 am

I’d like some one to confirm that this method actually works for the 3GS – NOT the 3G. I have tried this method with both Windows and Mac. And iTunes 9 and iTunes 8.2. iRecovery will not recognize the iPhone when it’s in DFU mode. iTunes recognized it, but the minute I select the file to restore and it verifies with Apple, it disconnects the iPhone and iRecovery will not recognize it. Removing the device from the USB and re-inserting it does not correct the error of iPhone/iPod no found.

I think that these methods do not actually work on a 3.1 3GS.

Dave September 13, 2009 at 9:39 am

I get the message “The iPhone “iPhone” could not be restored. This device isn’t eligible for the requested build.”

This happens after iTunes goes to “verify” the restore with Apple.

How do I get past this?

Mike O'Connor September 14, 2009 at 6:54 am

Guys, if you’re getting the libusb “image not found” problem, follow instructions here:

http://thebigboss.org/tag/30-downgrade/

IMPORTANT!! You should know that this will blank your iPhone completely – contacts, music, apps, the lot: So make sure you’ve made a recent back-up in iTunes before you do any of this, because you’ll have to restore your phone back using iTunes once you’ve completed the downgrade.

Abi September 15, 2009 at 6:40 am

Please Read: If you failed to downgrade your iPhone 3.1 to 3.0 using the tutorial from this page, try to use the steps explained from this Video Tutorial, good luck guys & see you again!

j2innet September 18, 2009 at 6:22 am

Good day, thanks for ur posting. i see 80% of the ppl crying for help, 20% having success…

before i try anything, i just want to clarify what i understand currently available solution.

1. Does apple stop signing 3.0 for all model, or just 3gs
2. is Downgrade from 3.1 to 3.0 using Cydia SHSH good enough, the phone remain locked up rite?
3. Restore 3.1 custom firmware from DevTeam is that the best atm?

thanks in advance

k3 September 26, 2009 at 6:06 pm

pleas step 8-9-10 for pc user help

Jenn October 5, 2009 at 11:16 am

I’m stuck at step 9. After I type in “. / iRecovery-s” it just says “is a directory.” Don’t really know what to do from here, help is appreciated.

Ashiq October 10, 2009 at 11:34 am

i did everything up to step 8, but got stuck in 9. tried so many times but no help… plz help..

Abi July 21, 2009 at 7:09 am

Hi Khalid, I have posted step-by-step guide to solve your problem here, Good luck!

David September 11, 2009 at 6:40 am

You don’t have the iRecovey file on your desktop…

Eric September 13, 2009 at 11:15 am

Same problem. Did you ever figure this out? I’ve been researching, but no luck so far…

Eric-MacBook-Pro:desktop eric$ ./iRecovery -s
dyld: Library not loaded: /usr/local/lib/libusb-0.1.4.dylib
Referenced from: /Users/eric/Desktop/./iRecovery
Reason: image not found
Trace/BPT trap

chr1spy September 13, 2009 at 6:21 pm

This method does *NOT* work for 3GS devices, due to the fact Apple does not sign 3.0 Firmware for 3GS devices anymore.

The only way would have been storing the ECID SHSH information on your 3GS before via Cydia.

randy September 14, 2009 at 3:35 am

guys this sucks > i am going to go buy another 3gs and sell this one

i really am starting to hate att

Abi September 19, 2009 at 3:49 am

Hi J2innet thanks for comment

1. Yes Apple stops all
2. Yes it’s good
3. I am not sure about this.

You welcome :)

Eddie September 29, 2009 at 8:22 am

I upgraded my IPhone 3GS from 3.0 to 3.1 by accident. Now I need to downgrade to 3.0, and unlock it. The second requirement for downgrading is “2. Own Original iPhone 3GS OS 3.0 Firmware.” Where can I get the original firmware?

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