Ways to flash or restore an iPhone yourself. Self-flashing iPhone

Very often, iPhone users encounter a popular problem - the factory firmware crashes and the device stops functioning properly. A clear consequence of software malfunction is an independent reboot.

This operation can occur quite often, without user intervention.

The cause of such a breakdown may be the latest update of the operating system or its incompatibility with the iPhone. The solution exists and it is not as scary as it seems at first glance. You can do the following:

1. Take the gadget to a service center, where diagnostics alone will require investing a significant amount of money.
2. Reflash your iPhone without anyone else's help. This will require a minimum of knowledge and some digital assistants.

If you decide to revive the device yourself, then the following explanation will greatly help the owner of the device.

You must remember to do the following

You should know that installing new device software includes not only restoring functionality, but also deleting all data from it. After this operation, it will be impossible to return all records, numbers, photographs and files.

Therefore, you should take care in advance and make a backup copy of your phone. To do this, just connect the device to your computer and copy all personal data to your hard drive. After this simple operation, you can begin flashing.

How to reflash iPhone 5s yourself

Sequence of actions

1. You need to download the correct version of the software, suitable specifically for the iPhone 5s model. The file format must have the extension .ipsw. To select software, you need to know its model and version of your iPhone (iPhone 5s). The software model will be indicated on the back cover of the device, under the logo. The model consists of a set of letters and numbers. For example: Designed by Apple Model A 1332 EMC 380 B. You should also remember that iPhones work on different cellular networks and they come in two versions: GSM and CDMA. Once you've pinpointed the right software, you need to find it. To do this, you can find a large number of various Internet resources, and download there what the phone requires.
2. Install the latest version of iTunes. To do this, you need to run the program and make sure that it is updated to the latest version. If iTunes is outdated, you will be prompted to update. Having agreed, the user starts the automatic download of the program and its subsequent installation. If this program is not available on your PC, you can download it to your gadget from the Internet.
3. Disabling the Find My iPhone feature. If the feature is not disabled, the phone will not allow you to install new software. This will be evident from the constantly appearing error that iTunes displays.

After the steps described above, in order to understand how to reflash an iPhone 5 s on their own, the user must select the option to install new software.

You can do this in two ways:

• Using RecoveryMode. This is an emergency mode, which was created to allow the phone’s functionality to return to normal operation. It starts after the iPhone stops functioning properly.
• DFUMode. You need to resort to this mode if RecoveryMode refuses to work. The operating principle of DFUMode is to bypass the operating system and perform the same sequence of actions that RecoveryMode performs.

Step-by-step flashing using RecoveryMode

Step 1: Connect iPhone to computer via USB cable. After processing the information and synchronizing the devices, you need to launch iTunes.

Step 2: Activate the window that controls the device. You need to click on the icon with the image of the phone.

Step 3: After holding down the “Shift” button, wait for the “Restore iPhone” window to appear. You need to click on it and open the next window, through which you need to select the previously downloaded version of the software. If the phone is connected to a Mac computer, then instead of the “Shift” button, you need to press the “Alt” button. The rest of the installation procedure is no different from a regular computer.

Step 3: If the new software was downloaded incorrectly or does not fit the iPhone 5s, the computer will notify the user by displaying an error warning.

Step 4: If the firmware is suitable, a window will appear prompting you to update the system. Just click the “Update” button, after which the system will automatically update. During the update, iTunes does not require human intervention and performs the entire sequence of actions independently.

You should know that iTunes can update the system on its own, without the user having to search for and download software. But then the program will download and install the latest version of the operating system on the phone, and not the one that the user chooses independently.

Step-by-step flashing if iPhone has Jailbreak function

To know how to reflash an iPhone 5 s yourself in this case, you need to understand what the Jailbreak function is. Jailbreak is an operation that allows the owner to access the file system.

If there is a Jailbreak on your iPhone or it was not possible to install the system using RecoveryMode, then you should use the help of DFUMode.

Step 1: Hold down the “Home” and “Power” buttons for a few seconds until the device enters DFU mode. After the transition, the “Power” button can be released.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer via cable and wait for the devices to sync. With the correct sequence of actions, iTunes will inform the user about the need to restore the iPhone.

Step 3: Hold down the “Shift” button, and then, in the window that appears, click “Restore”.

Step 4: Select the required firmware and run its automatic installation.

A happy owner of an iPhone may sooner or later be faced with a situation where the device refuses to work as before. The reasons for this “behavior” can be very different. However, in this situation, it is more important for the owner not just to understand what caused the failure of normal functioning, but to figure out what to do, how to bring his iPhone back to “life”.

Of course, one of the most effective ways is to visit a service center. To do this, you will need to spend time and a certain amount of money, which the master will require for the service provided.

However, there is an alternative method that is equally effective. To do this, you just take the instructions on how to reflash an iPhone 5S yourself, study it, find answers to your questions and that’s it.

By the way, it’s not difficult to find answers if you have access to the Internet. There are many specialized sites on the network where detailed recommendations on how to reflash an iPhone have already been posted, and there are also forums where each iPhone owner can formulate his question and instantly get an answer.

After such preparation, you yourself will be able to carry out actions no worse than the service center technicians; you can easily flash your iPhone and return it to excellent performance.

It is important to consider that there are two ways to flash an iPhone:

• by updating the software;

These two methods have distinctive features, so before making the final choice of a specific method for flashing a Chinese iPhone, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the process of performing each method in order to understand which option will be the most acceptable.

If your iPhone stops functioning correctly due to a software glitch, you can use the software update option.

Before doing this, do not forget to make a backup copy and also transfer important content from iPhone to computer. This will prevent you from losing important data after the update process is completed.

You can also update the software on your iPhone in two ways:

• iTunes;
• Wi-Fi.

Only you, the owner, can decide how to flash an iPhone and which method to use.

Update using iTunes

The iTunes utility allows you to update the software and, if necessary, restore the operating system.

It is only important to take into account that the utility is focused on downloading and installing only the latest version of the operating system.

For this reason, if you want to install a specific version that is not the latest, it is better to download it to your computer in advance, and then during the installation process specify the path where it is saved.

In this case, you will be able to flash your Chinese iPhone with a specific version of iOS.

So, first connect your Chinese iPhone to your computer using a USB cable. After that, launch the iTunes utility.

In the window that opens, find the “Devices” option in the menu bar, go to it and select the model of your device.

Now go to the connection and synchronization settings, there you will find the “Update” button, click on it.

Immediately after this, your iPhone will prompt you for these actions. Click on “Ok”, agreeing with the proposed actions, thereby allowing the update process to start.

All you have to do is wait for it to complete, make sure it is working correctly, and then move all the content that was previously re-recorded to your computer.

Update via Wi-Fi

If it is possible to connect your iPhone to high-speed Internet via Wi-Fi, then you can download the operating system directly onto the gadget, and then safely update the software.

Turn on your Chinese iPhone, go to “Settings”, then go to the “General” option, and from there to “Software Update”.

Once you open this option, it is easy to find the “Download and Install” button, which is what you need to use now.

After such actions, you just have to confirm your intention to reflash your gadget, then the process will be carried out automatically.

You also just have to wait for the process to complete.

Unfortunately, such a simple and effective method cannot be used if you have a locked mobile device or one that uses jailbreak.

There is no other option but to use operating system recovery in DFU mode for these iPhones.

Restoring the operating system

The update and recovery processes are somewhat similar, but nevertheless have distinctive features. If updating means installing the latest version of the operating system, then restoring installs a “clean” iOS, but not necessarily a new one.

So, if you decide to reflash your Chinese iPhone, you will also have to choose between two options for performing the following actions:

• via RecoveryMode;
• via DFU Mode.

The first is rightfully considered an emergency option for restoring the operating system, while the second is a more suitable option for those who are fans of jailbreaks.

Recovery via RecoveryMode

So, wanting to figure out how to flash an iPhone via RecoveryMode, it is also useful for gadget owners to carefully study the instructions, although there are no difficulties in carrying out such actions.

Initially, turn off your device and wait until the display goes completely dark.

Now connect your gadget to your computer and hold down the “Home” button. In this case, the iTunes utility will offer to carry out the process of restoring your gadget. Of course, you must agree to this proposal by clicking the “Ok” button.

In some cases, the iTunes utility does not make such a suggestion, so you will have to find the “Restore iPhone” button and click on it, and you must simultaneously hold down the “Shift” key.

If your computer is not Windows, but Mac, then instead of the “Shift” key, you need to hold down the “Alt” key.

Each iPhone version has its own firmware version with the .ipsw extension. It is very important to carefully study the proposed firmware versions, choosing only when you are absolutely sure that it is suitable for your device. If the firmware selected is “foreign”, then the result of the recovery will be negative. The firmware simply won’t work on someone else’s model.

All subsequent actions are carried out automatically, without requiring your additional participation. You just have to wait for this process to complete.

When the process comes to completion, the utility will notify you about this, so you can safely disconnect your gadget from the computer, turn it on and check its functionality.

You also need to remember to move the content that was previously moved to the computer. One of the subsequent actions will be those aimed at downloading and installing the utilities and programs necessary to perform all your usual tasks.

Recovery via DFU Mode

If you decide to reflash your gadget yourself via DFU Mode, you are also recommended to study the instructions and then strictly follow its recommendations.

Initially, connect your iPhone to the computer and only then turn it off.

Now find two buttons on the device “Power”, “Home” and hold them both down at the same time. Pause for ten seconds, after which release the “Power” button, but continue to confidently hold your finger on the “Home” button.

As a result of such actions, the iTunes utility will be able to recognize your gadget in DFU Mode.

All subsequent actions will be identical to those performed when flashing the firmware in RecoveryMode.

The owner must indicate the path to the firmware, which he previously downloaded and saved on the hard drive. After this, he agrees with all subsequent actions, blessing the firmware process, which is carried out automatically.

You can also just wait patiently for the utility to report the successful completion of the process and allow you to verify the excellent performance of the iPhone, on which the new operating system will now be installed.

Unfortunately, those owners who are actively nostalgic for a certain version of iOS will not be able to use such options, since it is better to use other options to roll back to an older version of the operating system.

So, the process of flashing modern gadgets is not complicated and confusing, so if desired, it can be easily carried out by any user, even without any experience.

You should not panic and quickly rush to the service center, being confident that only their specialists will be able to revive your favorite gadget and restore its functionality. We manage to cope with all the same actions on our own, while ensuring the preservation of the budget.

Apple smartphones are practically the standard of stability and reliability of hardware and software components among all released gadgets in the world. At the same time, during the operation of even devices such as the iPhone, various unexpected failures may occur, which can only be eliminated by completely reinstalling the operating system of the device. The material below discusses methods for flashing one of the most popular Apple devices - iPhone 5S.

The high security requirements imposed by Apple on its devices do not allow the use of a large number of methods and tools for flashing the iPhone 5S. In fact, the instructions below are a description of fairly simple official methods for installing iOS on Apple devices. At the same time, flashing the device in question using one of the methods described below very often helps to eliminate all problems with it without going to a service center.

All manipulations according to the instructions from this article are carried out by the user at his own peril and risk! The resource administration is not responsible for obtaining the desired results, nor for damage to the device as a result of incorrect actions!

Before proceeding directly to reinstalling iOS on the iPhone 5S, it is important to do some preparation. If the following preparatory operations are carried out carefully, flashing the gadget will not take much time and will proceed without problems.

iTunes

Almost all manipulations with Apple devices, the iPhone 5S and its firmware are no exception, are carried out using a multifunctional tool for pairing the manufacturer’s devices with a PC and managing the functions of the latter -.

Quite a lot of material has been written about this program, including on our website. For complete information about the capabilities of the tool, you can refer to the program dedicated to it. In any case, before you begin the manipulation of reinstalling the software on your smartphone, read:

As for iPhone 5S firmware, you need to use the latest version of iTunes for the operation. We install the application by downloading the installer from the official Apple website or updating the version of an already installed tool.

Backup

If you use one of the methods described below to flash the iPhone 5S, you should understand that the data stored in the smartphone’s memory will be destroyed. To restore user information, you will need a backup copy. If the smartphone was configured to synchronize with iCloud and iTunes, and/or a local backup of the device system was created on a PC disk, restoring everything important is very simple.

If there are no backups, you should, before proceeding to reinstall iOS, create a backup copy using the following instructions:

iOS update

In a situation where the purpose of flashing the iPhone 5S is only to update the version of the operating system, and the smartphone itself generally works normally, the use of drastic methods for installing system software may not be necessary. A simple iOS update very often eliminates many problems that bother the user of an Apple device.

We are trying to upgrade the system version by following the steps of one of the instructions set out in the material:

In addition to upgrading the OS version, updating installed applications, including those that do not work correctly, can often improve the performance of the iPhone 5S.

Before proceeding with installing firmware on the iPhone 5S, you need to obtain a package containing components for installation. Firmware for installation in iPhone 5S are files *.ipsw. Please note that you can only install the latest version of the system released by Apple for use as the operating system of the device. The exception is firmware versions earlier than the latest, but they can only be installed within a few weeks after the official release of the latest. There are two ways to get the package you need.

Firmware process

Having completed the preparations and downloaded the desired firmware package for installation, you can proceed to direct manipulation of the device’s memory. There are only two methods for flashing iPhone 5S that are available to the average user. Both involve using iTunes as an OS installation and recovery tool.

Method 1: Recovery Mode

In the event that the iPhone 5S has lost its functionality, that is, it does not start, reboots, in general, does not function properly and cannot be updated via OTA, emergency recovery mode is used for flashing - RecoveryMode.

1. Turn off the iPhone completely.



2. Launch iTunes.



3. Press and hold the button on the iPhone 5S when it is turned off. "Home", connect to the smartphone a cable previously connected to the USB port of the computer. On the device screen we see the following:



4. We are waiting for the moment when iTunes detects the device. There are two options here:
   

   

5. Press the key "Shift" on the keyboard and click on the button "Restore iPhone...".



6. An Explorer window opens in which you need to specify the path to the firmware. By marking the file *.ipsw, press the button "Open".



7. You will be asked if the user is ready to start the firmware procedure. In the request window, click "Restore".



8. The further process of flashing the iPhone 5S firmware is performed by iTunes automatically. The user can only observe notifications about ongoing processes and a procedure progress indicator.



9. After the firmware is completed, disconnect the smartphone from the PC. Long press the key "Enable" completely turn off the power to the device. Then we start the iPhone by briefly pressing the same button.



10. iPhone 5S flashing completed. We carry out the initial setup, restore data and use the device.

Method 2: DFU Mode

If flashing the iPhone 5S firmware for some reason is not possible in RecoveryMode, the most drastic iPhone memory overwriting mode is used - Device Firmware Update Mode (DFU). Unlike RecoveryMode, in DFU mode the reinstallation of iOS is truly complete. The process bypasses the system software already present in the device.

The device OS installation process in DFUMode includes the steps presented:

• By recording the bootloader and then launching it;
• Installation of a set of additional components;
• Memory re-allocation;
• Overwriting system partitions.

The method is used to restore iPhone 5S that have lost their functionality as a result of serious software failures and, if you need to overwrite the device’s memory completely. In addition, this method allows you to return to the official firmware after the Jeilbreak operation.

In this way, the firmware of one of the most popular and widespread Apple smartphones today is carried out. As you can see, even in critical situations, restoring the proper level of performance of the iPhone 5S is not at all difficult.

During the process of updating the operating system of an iOS device, all user data is saved: photos, applications, contacts, and so on. When restoring (flashing) a device, its settings are reset to factory settings and the software version is upgraded to a new one; during this process, all data on the device will be deleted, that is, you will receive a “clean system.” Flashing is carried out in the event of: frequent software failures, installation of new software with additional options, when changing the user of the device.

Never restore or update the official version of iOS firmware on a locked iPhone (linked with a SIM card to a specific operator). This will lead to flashing of the device’s built-in modem, and subsequently it will be impossible to “unlock” it programmatically. You cannot use the update on a jailbroken iPhone (a modification of the iPhone firmware that is not approved by Apple to install applications not from the App Store on the device). A jailbroken iPhone must be restored via DFU mode.

Frequent software failures, the presentation of new, more practical and optional software, and a change in the user of an iOS device make it necessary to flash the gadget. This process is easy and takes a few minutes.

Flashing the iPhone 5s is carried out in one of 2 ways:

• by updating the software;
• by recovery. All settings are returned to factory settings, but the iOS version remains the same with the loss of all data (photos, contacts, applications, etc.).

As a result, a new or “clean” (with factory settings) iOS will be installed on the iPhone.

1. Via iTunes.
2. Update via Wi-Fi

Flashing iPhone 5s using iTunes

This method is universal because it can be used to both update and restore iOS. It involves downloading the software first to your computer, and then via iTunes directly to your iOS device.

1. Establish a connection between PC and iPhone via USB cable.
2. Launch iTunes.
3. In the “Devices” menu, select your gadget.
4. In the window for setting connection and synchronization parameters, click the “Update” button with the left button of the manipulator.
5. Confirm your intention to update your iPhone.

Advice: if the user wants to upload a version of iOS that is not the most current, the recovery process should not be completely trusted by iTunes, because the program will automatically install the latest version. It is better to first download the firmware file, save it to your hard drive and restore from this point. This way, your iPhone content and settings will be preserved.

Video of iOS recovery process

If there is no Internet connection and the iOS IPSW file is pre-loaded onto your hard drive, you need to initiate firmware recovery by pressing “Shift+Update” and then clicking the “Open” button (bottom right). After this process, the iPhone will be equipped with the required operating system with saved user data.

Flashing using DFU mode:

• Download the IPSW file of the new firmware;
• Install the current version of iTunes;
• Launch the application;
• Put iPhone into DFU mode (black screen);
• Press the combination “Restore + Shift”;
• Select the downloaded firmware;
• Click "Open".

Update via Wi-Fi

The operating system is downloaded wirelessly directly to the Apple device. To do this, the “Software Update” menu item was integrated into the iPhone settings. The update can only be done via Wi-Fi, since the 3G connection does not have the necessary bandwidth to connect to the global network.

1. Put your iPhone into working mode.
2. Go to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Software Update”.
3. Click the “Download and Install” menu item.
4. In the pop-up window, accept the user agreement.

This method is dangerous for locked devices and devices using jailbreak. A smartphone tied to a specific operator will not be able to be unlocked using software, since flashing iOS will cause the settings of the integrated modem to fail. Apple devices with modified firmware (jailbreak) must be restored only in DFU mode.