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Apple publishes new support article with instructions on downgrading from iOS 8.0.1, says update coming soon

Earlier today Apple released what would quickly be revealed to be an extremely broken update for iOS 8 that resulted in a complete loss of cellular connectivity and Touch ID support on its newest line of iPhones. Now, nearly twelve hours after the update went live, the company has published a new help document for users stranded on the faulty operating system.

The document lists the steps for restoring a device back to iOS 8.0 with links to download the appropriate IPSW file. Interestingly, the page notes that the Health application will stop working, likely due to changes that were made in 8.0.1 and cannot be reverted to work on the older firmware. The notice also points out that it is crucial to back up your device in the iTunes app for Mac or PC rather than to iCloud, as iCloud-based backups will not restore to the older version.

Apple also notes that an update, version 8.0.2, is currently in the works and will be available “in the next few days,” hopefully with a few more rounds of testing than iOS 8.0.1 went through.

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Comments

  1. al0963 - 10 years ago

    Good thing i’m getting my iPhone 6+ between 13-20 of october, i guess after that all this craziness will be over!!

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      First, instructions on deleting the U2 spam, the OS8 problem. Maybe some instructions about the crimping phones?

      We could sent the company instructions on quality control.

      Another reason not to buy one of their phones at launch. Too many bugs.

      • 89p13 - 10 years ago

        Herb is Back – Must have crawled out from under that rock that Samesung provides.

      • Since when is a free album a bug or spam?

      • BlueLightAlarm - 10 years ago

        ^ Since it was installed on devices without the owners knowledge or permission

  2. Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

    This “workaround” just simply sucks for those who don’t have access to a computer. Apple has severely let me down. I have been a very loyal Apple customer with every single iPhone. I waited in line to be the first in my city with an iPhone 6 Plus and now I have a $400 paperweight. This is unacceptable. iOS 8.0.1 should have never came out so early. There is no reason to have an update 1 week after iOS 8 release. Apple is slipping up here lately… They need to get their act back together and be the Apple and iPhone that I fell in love with.

    • Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

      And I have never really had these many problems with an iPhone that I got within a few days of its initial launch date. Even Antennagate didn’t really affect me.

    • Edgar Barrios (@canelo8) - 10 years ago

      Stop crying and go back to the same apple store and they can get you the back up and restore.

      • Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

        Some of us don’t live within 10 hours driving of an apple store NOR have time. I got it at a verizon store and I stopped by on my way from one job to another and they said they didn’t even know there was a problem with the new update. The fact that they could let this slip by is a little concerning given all these other problems coming forth.

      • nsxrebel - 10 years ago

        Tyler, you don’t have to go to an Apple store to back up and restore. Your carrier store can do it for you too. They have machines that they use to backup and transfer your data from one phone to another, even from different OS.

      • Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

        Yes, I do know that they have the capability to do so. However, when I went to my local Verizon store, they were clueless to the issues with the update and that there was even an update at all. I have a very busy life so I don’t have time to mess with inconveniences like this. To me, it doesn’t really matter if there is a fix and if its quick, easy, or time consuming. It just shouldn’t have happened. Especially from Apple.

      • Aunty Troll (@AuntyTroll) - 10 years ago

        Edgar – once again another Apple apologist. They messed up with the update – try and show a bit of decorum by expressing just a smidgen of sympathy for those people who updated their iPhone in good faith – after all it isn’t their fault. I suspect you’ll find that difficult though when your tongue is obviously wedged between Apple’s cheeks.

    • Jason Ames - 10 years ago

      How do you not have access to a computer in 2014? I would assume a friend, family member, co-worker, or local bar would have a computer somewhere.

      • Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

        In rural NC, its pretty easy. See, I replaced my computer with an iPad Air but now it one of the few cases where I wish I hadn’t…

  3. Andrew Maloney - 10 years ago

    Totally not Apple’s fault on the bad update.

    Am waiting for a statement from Cook saying that users without sufficient technical knowledge shouldn’t attempt to update their phones to new releases and that the consumers who did so are at fault.

    • Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

      Just a little curious. Please explain how it is not Apple’s fault? After all, it is their (and only their) operating system. At least with companies like Samsung or LG or HTC, they can pass blame to Google since Android is Google’s, not the phone manufacturers.

      • Dean Har - 10 years ago

        He was being sarcastic, it’s clearly Apple’s fault.

        I think he’s mocking all the dumbass Apple fans that are actually blaming the customers for bent iPhones after putting it in their FRONT pocket!

        Personally, I just seriously can’t wait until this non-issue is fixed with the 6S Plus.

      • Tyler Cohn - 10 years ago

        Haha yeah after re-re-reading it, I can see the sarcasm. Don’t know why I didn’t catch it the first time

  4. Dean Har - 10 years ago

    I don’t think I’ve ever been more disappointed with Apple. All I see are amateur problems after problems from supposedly one of the best companies in the world.

    And I’m still waiting on an official response from Apple about the iPhone 6+ bending issues. I know a lot of people who are pretty confused and don’t know what to make of all the news. Does this affect few units? All units? Is Apple looking into this? Are they even going to respond??? A simple “We are investigating the issue” would have put a lot of customers at ease. But instead they find time to brag to their employees about how “this month has been one for the record books” knowing very well that the email would make its way to the public. If they really care as much about their customers as they say they do, they need to PROVE it. Yeah, this month is most definitely one to remember….

    • Dan Bennett (@DanBennett) - 10 years ago

      “A simple “We are investigating the issue” would have put a lot of customers at ease.”

      They have given us an answer already and stated 8.0.2 is on it’s way. Relax? http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6487?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

      Yes. This has been a massive ball ache and someones having a bad day. But shit happens.

      • Dean Har - 10 years ago

        Got the memo on that, but im still expecting some kind of response about the 6 Plus today. By now they should have at least acknowledged the concern.

  5. 89p13 - 10 years ago

    Yes – It certainly seems like Apple has “stumbled” quite a few times in the past weeks. The botched streaming video of the product announcement; the Apple store fiasco on opening day for orders and now this ill-prepared and released update.

    I cannot fault Apple for the bending issue – This i squarely place on the shoulders of the people who insist on putting their very expensive electronic devices in their pockets. We want thin and sleek, lightweight and well crafted devices – but we want to expose them to the stresses of “slim fit jeans” and pockets. Well, it’s one or the other – your choice – but don’t blame Apple for poor design / materials / craftsmanship when they deliver what we want. Take responsibility for the results of your actions.

    • samuelsnay - 10 years ago

      People complain about their $700 device bending, but I wanna know why they’re carrying their $700 device aroubd without putting it in a rigid case. That’s the first thing I buy after I get my phone–any phone.

  6. standardpull - 10 years ago

    Someone at Apple is going to be fired.

  7. samuelsnay - 10 years ago

    *sigh* This is getting ridiculous.

  8. Giorgos Amigdalos - 10 years ago

    Apple lost its soul on October 5, 2011. :( . If Steve was alive, these things (phone bending, officially software downgrade (“Apple does not support downgrading your device” :P , updates that f**k up your device instead of fixing) and many other would never happened.

  9. Cory © (@Nardes) - 10 years ago

    This whole things has been a mess… I tried restoring the software on my iPhone 6, and it wouldn’t do anything, and wouldn’t let me back up either. I said screw it, I would only lose a days worth of stuff… So I put it in DFU and was finally able to get it to restore. I signed back in to iCloud and almost NOTHING came back. Apps partially downloaded then froze, and some wouldn’t download at all. I had to run out for a bit last night and so when I left my Wifi I thought the downloading would pause…..

    I was gone for 2ish hours and about 1.5hours out I got a text saying I’ve used up 75% of my data… then five mins later 90% and then immediately following 100%. I was flabbergasted! Turns out it was downloading all the music I had downloaded from my iTunes match (I had no idea it would download my music back to my phone… I was planning on redownloading everything once I got back!)… but the phone reset the setting of only download music on wifi to allowing downloads on cellular data… so it just conveniently put 700 songs on my phone through LTE.

    And to top it all off my phone is a mess now. Apps aren’t pulling in info, the Settings app crashes every time I got into it, and it’s incredibly laggy…. I’m not a happy camper

  10. PMZanetti - 10 years ago

    I’m sorry but as much as I love Apple, this is disgraceful.

  11. BlueLightAlarm - 10 years ago

    Those downgrade instructions refer specifically to the iPhone 6 but I’ve got an iPhone 5 and since installing the update last night I’m having major issues answering or ending calls!

    Apple seriously need to sort their act out, one or two problems can be put down to bad luck but over the last few weeks it’s been one thing after another – they’re becoming a laughing stock!

  12. Is Tim Cook ever gonna do ‘THAT’ one thing which makes folks stop resenting the loss of Steve’s Apple.?

  13. pjnuckingfuts - 10 years ago

    Actually their solution is an easier one but my solution will still allow you to restore from your old backup and your health app will work.

    You have to go into recovery mode first with iTunes, then do that full firmware restore.
    Then you have to do another regular restore.
    Then you have to restore from backup.
    Then you have to copy all your music back to your phone.

    It’s a shitty solution and takes hours but I had no alternative and I wanted my phone to work again yesterday.

    Prior to that somehow my new SIM was spoofed and when I made calls they would call the right person but the Bluetooth screen in my car wouldn’t show their number and instead show a (206) area number from Seattle, Washington. Some people seem to believe it’s a T-Mobile survey company but it’s not. Even T-Mobile will tell you that it’s fraudulent. So I am waiting for a new SIM card to arrive. After that they did a reset on my location and unregistered me to my tower and now I’m getting 1/3 the speed I was getting. I was getting between 30 and 42 Mbps down and 21 to 27 Mbps up, with TWO BARS. Now I typically get 12-30 Mbps down but only 3-9 Mbps up. So I’m pissed off about that.

  14. pjnuckingfuts - 10 years ago

    And isn’t there something wrong when a new OS release needs an UPDATE less than a WEEK LATER???? I’ve already discovered numerous bugs that I guarantee aren’t in the update.

    For example, in iMessage, on the right side with the microphone where you can move your finger up to make voice notes, you can do the same thing on the left side with the camera to take a photo or video. DO NOT DO THIS TO TAKE A PHOTO. The picture is all grainy and full of noise. But if you just click on the icon then it takes pictures just fine as if in Camera.

    • pjnuckingfuts - 10 years ago

      Oh, and I helped Apple when I discovered over 150 bugs for them in iOS 6. What was my compensation? Not a damn thing. And I paid full price for the phone and the iPad.

  15. Sheila Baldwin - 9 years ago

    I have 4S and never had any problems until installing IOS 8 – completely lost wifi even in the same room as my router. I have carried all the instructions suggested with no joy – problem still exists – IOS 8.0.2 made no difference whatsoever – in fact maybe worse as I keep losing 3g too – phone reverts to E. I am using my data allowance at a rate of knots and sooo not happy. APPLE – my love affair with you is fading fast