Most users are best served by sticking with the recently released iOS 9.3.2 update, which offers a variety of improvements, bug fixes, and feature enhancements. Nonetheless, a select group of users have had specific problems with iOS 9.3.2, like some iPad Pro owners who are experiencing crashes and other frustrating behavior, and thus impacted users may want to downgrade an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch back to iOS 9.3.1.
To be clear, there is no reason to downgrade iOS unless you are experiencing specific problems with the new system software update. This is not a recommended process for any other reason, this is aimed primarily at troubleshooting issues that are otherwise unsolvable without going to a prior iOS version.
If you don’t have a backup made from iOS 9.3.1, you will lose your files and data by doing this. Don’t forget to backup your device before beginning the downgrade process otherwise you could lose files as well.
Downgrading iOS 9.3.2 Back to iOS 9.3.1
This restores the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch reverting back to iOS 9.3.1 from iOS 9.3.2, and in that process wipes the device clear of everything. Be sure you have a backup made ahead of time so you can get your stuff back. If you do not have a backup made, the process of downgrading will result in data loss. Don’t skip making backups, or having a backup handy to restore from.
- Download iOS 9.3.1 IPSW for your device and put it somewhere obvious, like the desktop
- Connect the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to downgrade to the computer with a USB cable
- Launch iTunes
- Select the iPhone / iPad in iTunes (here’s how to select a device in new iTunes), and go to the summary section
- For Mac: OPTION / ALT click on the “Restore iPhone” button
- For Windows: SHIFT click on the “Restore” button
- Select the IPSW file you downloaded in the first step for iOS 9.3.1, confirm that you want to restore the device to iOS 9.3.1 – this will erase the device which is why it’s important that you made a backup to begin with
The restore process can take a while, but when finished the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will reboot as usual and be ready to setup. You can either set it up as new, or, what most users will want to do, is restore from a backup made earlier so that you can get your stuff, apps, pictures, notes, and other data back. You can restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup.
Again, most users should stay on iOS 9.3.2, and most do not need to downgrade, and have no benefit derived from downgrading. This is really aimed at troubleshooting specific problems that some users may experience with iOS 9.3.2, like the freezing / crashing iPad Pro 9.7″ model, or other specific problems introduced to an iPhone or iPad since updating.