iOS 8 IPSW

iOS 8 Ready

Most Apple users are getting pretty excited about the new upcoming release of iOS 8.  Apple will be releasing iOS 8 September 17, 2014.  That’s only a couple days away so what can we do to help show users how to prepare your devices for iOS 8.  One thing users should know is if you upgrade to iOS 8 and plan to go back to iOS 7 you only have a small window of time.  I wouldn’t wait over one day just to be safe but theres no way of knowing how long Apple will sign the old firmware which allows users to downgrade.  We will talk more about downgrading later in this post.

BackUp Device

We can’t stress the importance enough of backing up your device.  This will allow you to transfer many setting such as email, iMessage, Apps, and much more.  Although, I’m not a fan of backing up apps some users are.  It just makes the backup too large for storing in iCloud.  Anyway, theres a couple different methods for backup.  I suggest you backup your devices in both places.  That being the computer and iCloud.  I only recommend you keep the most recent backup in iCloud.  This will conserve space and help prevent you from going over the allotted space Apple allows for free.

iCloud Backup

1. Connect the device open iTunes
2. Select your device in iTunes, click summary tab
3. In the backup area enable iCloud option.

Computer Backup

1. Connect Device via USB
2. Choose your device in summary tab
3. In the backup area click backup now.

Going Back to iOS 7

If you are one who finds they prefer iOS 7 over iOS 8 you must downgrade within a couple days after Apple releases iOS 8.  We suggest downloading the correct IPSW for your device now.  You can find the correct IPSW on our downloads page.  Simply download the IPSW and follow our downgrade tutorial.

iPSW Downloads Page

Apple, traditionally stops signing older versions of iOS within a day or two after releasing thew new firmware.  For example, if you wait a couple weeks after Apple releases iOS 8 to upgrade, chances are you will be stuck on iOS 8 forever.