Firmware is the operating system on which a smartphone runs. Therefore, flashing is done if it is necessary to either update the OS version or reset all settings to factory settings. How to reflash iPhone 4 yourself? Apple made sure that each user could independently make almost any changes to the configuration of their device. For the flashing to be successful, you will need a stable Internet connection, a computer (laptop) and iTunes. In total, the procedure will take about an hour.

Tip: Before flashing your iPhone, be sure to make copies of your personal data on another medium, because... they can leave.

Reflash iPhone

There are two ways here - factory reset and update. In the first case, all data is deleted from the phone, and the system returns to the state it was in before purchase, without any updates. The second option implies complete removal old OS version and installation latest version, which is available for this device. For example, iPhone 4 and 4s can run iOS 8 without any problems. If you decide to completely update the system, you will not be able to go back to the old version. How to reflash iPhone 4s? Just like any other iPhone.

To reset all settings, you will need to connect your phone to the computer when iTunes help. Then in his personal account view the list of all devices and select the one you need. Next, click on the “Recovery” button opposite the icon of your iPhone and wait until the device reflashes itself; no further action is required from you.

The second method is not much different from the first. The only thing you will have to select is not the “Restore” button, but the “update” button. Afterwards, the device will automatically update to the current version of iOS. During the update, your intervention may be required to allow any installation additional programs.

Conclusion

Now you know how to flash iPhone 4(s) yourself. To do this, you do not need to have super knowledge in the computer field. Also, before performing restoration or iOS updates transfer all your data (including photos and videos) to another medium to avoid losing them.

How to flash iPhone 4?


Any phone needs upgrading over time. Choosing new firmware, you should pay attention exclusively to official releases that are safe for an expensive device.

In our article we will look at how to flash an iPhone 4 in order to have more features without harming the device itself.

Before replacing the software, you should prepare:

  • The device itself with a charged battery;
  • Connection cable;
  • Working PC;
  • iTunes program.

The manufacturing company has simplified the firmware process as much as possible, so that the average user can handle it.

Flashing a smartphone

iPhone 4 flashing option using Recovery Mode is extremely simple and straightforward. When starting the firmware, you should hold down two buttons: “Home” and “Power”. By holding them down for a few seconds, you will see white stripes on the screen. After this, the smartphone will turn on again, but now in Recovery mode. Confirmation of the correctness of the actions will be a picture of the cable and the iTunes icon on the screen.

In this state, the phone connects to the PC on which it runs iTunes app. The program will check for the latest updates and help install the latest firmware. It will then display the flashed device in Recovery mode. After this, the user can begin the update process.

By pressing the Shift key and continuing to hold it, you need to click on the Restore item and select the new previously downloaded firmware. The file update will begin, after which you will be able to use the device.

Currently, iPhone is the leader in the global sales market. mobile phones. This is due to its service features, great capabilities, variety of functions, options and services provided. This phone can boast high quality and many years of trouble-free operation. But nothing in this world lasts forever, including electronic equipment. Over time, the device stops functioning well, and some strange errors constantly pop up. Quite often, and for no apparent reason, the smartphone restarts. In addition, each user may encounter a problem when latest update personal mobile device it turned out to be not very successful or a brand new version operating system I didn't like it. In this case, the first thing the owner thinks about is how it is carried out. iPhone firmware corresponding version, including 4s. We’ll talk further about how to properly reflash a gadget yourself.

Features of flashing a smartphone

The problems listed above make you think and make a choice. Take the iPhone to a service center, where it will be 100% repaired, but you will have to pay a fairly large amount for this, or try to find a solution to the problem on your own by simply reflashing the gadget. The same method is most often used by service center specialists. There is no need to be afraid to carry out flashing on your own, since it is not as difficult and time-consuming as it seems at first glance.

Flashing an iPhone is restoring the phone to a working state. You should pay attention to the fact that flashing will lead to the loss of all information from the phone.

Before starting the procedure, if the gadget is in working order, you need to connect it to the PC and create a backup copy. You should copy personal photos, videos, and audio materials to hard drive, because flashing the device will result in it returning to factory settings and being completely clean.

You should also take into account the fact that regardless of the iPhone variation, be it 3, 4s or 5s, the flashing procedure is carried out identically in all cases. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about the instructions not matching your phone, you just need to carefully and clearly follow the steps described.

Below we will discuss in detail the firmware procedure using the iPhone 4s as an example.

Preparatory actions

Even before starting the operation in question, the subscriber needs to download the firmware with the extension .ipsw. For a certain model iPhone has a version corresponding to it.

It is very easy to determine which version is needed for a particular smartphone. The firmware files contain the device version (iPhone 3, 4s, 6), as well as its model itself, which is an alphanumeric combination located on the back of the gadget below the logo.

The main difficulty in selecting the firmware version according to the model is that there are GSM and CDMA models of Apple devices. Their difference lies in the fact that these devices operate in different cellular networks. Firmware for GSM iPhone 4s will not work for iPhone 4s on CDMA.

After determining the model of your personal device, you need to download necessary firmware. Each subscriber can choose the latest version of iOS, or, if he doesn’t like it, he can download a slightly outdated one that was previously on the smartphone. The main condition is that old version, which is being downloaded again, was signed by Apple.

Also, before updating, the subscriber must turn off the option called “Find iPhone”. Otherwise, it will not be possible to reflash the iPhone 4s, since this function interferes with the procedure in question, therefore, iTunes will throw an error.

In addition, it is better to make sure once again that the latest version of iTunes is installed on your smartphone; to do this, you just need to launch the program. If a new version is available, the program will automatically notify you about it and will be able to update. Having completed all the preparatory steps, you can safely proceed to the flashing process itself.

Flashing procedure

In general, to solve the problem in question, iPhone 4s owners are offered two options, each of which is absolutely valid, effective, and also allows you to restore your smartphone quite easily and quickly:

  1. With the help
  2. Via DFUmode.

The first option is a disaster recovery mode. Most often, it is used to restore the functionality of iOS gadgets after the moment when their proper functioning began to fail.

The second method is practically no different from the first. The only difference is that the procedure is carried out directly using firmware, bypassing the iPhone operating system. Often this method used when the device is jailbroken or when flashing using the first method is impossible.

Flashing using RecoveryMode

To carry out the operation using this method, the subscriber should turn off the iPhone and wait until the smartphone screen goes completely dark. Then you need to connect it to the computer while holding the Home button. The PC will accept the device in RecoveryMode.

Subsequent steps must be performed in this order.

You need to launch iTunes and wait until the program finds the iPhone; there are two options:

  • iTunes will prompt the user to restore the connected device. In this case, click OK.

  • iTunes is completely unresponsive. Then you should click on the phone icon, find an item called “iPhone recovery”, after which you need to select it while holding down the Shift button (if you are using the operating system Windows system) or Alt (when using the Mac operating system).

Next, the File Manager will open, where the subscriber will need to select the firmware. You need to find a file that contains the firmware downloaded before the operation began. Then you need to select it and click the “Open” button.

After this, the program will do everything on its own; you just need to wait for the process to complete. Once completed, the device must be disconnected from the computer. Then you need to turn off the phone by holding down the Power button. After that, by pressing the same button again, you need to turn on the smartphone. That's all, absolutely everything iPhone settings fixed and it is ready for further use.

Flashing using DFUmode

Even before the process under consideration begins, the smartphone must be switched to DFUmode. Then you need to connect the phone to the computer and turn it off. After this, on the device you must simultaneously hold down Home buttons, as well as Power and count ten seconds, after which the Power key must be released and Home must continue to be held until the iTunes program recognizes the smartphone being configured in DFU mode.

Subsequent actions must be performed in strict sequence, and they are almost completely identical, as in the case of RecoveryMode:

  1. First you need to select the required device in the program.
  2. In the phone manual menu, you need to find the “Restore iPhone” item.
  3. After this, you need to select it by pressing the Shift button (if you are using the Windows operating system) or Alt (when you are using the Mac operating system).
  4. In the window that opens as a result, you need to specify the path to the file with the previously downloaded firmware, and then click on the “Open” button.
  5. After completing the actions, the subscriber needs to wait until the program completes the ongoing procedure.
  6. All that remains is to turn on the restored smartphone, after which you can use it absolutely calmly and confidently. working iPhone 4s.

The considered solution to the problem will be useful to those subscribers who installed Jailbreak on their own device, or for certain reasons, flashing it to RecoveryMode did not lead to success.

Each of the flashing options considered is absolutely valid and should help solve the problem in question. The subscriber does not need to be afraid to carry out this process independently, since there is nothing complicated about it. You just need to have the slightest skills in using a smartphone and be extremely careful. Actions must be performed in strict sequence, and then a successful ending is guaranteed. The main advantage of the process is that there is no need to spend any cash how would this happen in service center. Despite this, a person receives a phone with almost the worst settings provided by the gadget service center. But if you still doubt your abilities, or for some reason you were unable to achieve your goal, then it is better to seek professional help or at least advice from specialists. This can be done in almost every district of any city in the country.

In order to start flashing your iPhone, you first need to download the firmware. Need to know that each model phone has firmware with its own expansion. It is very easy to find out which firmware is needed for your model. On back side devices under the iPhone logo is written model phone number, which is displayed as an alphanumeric character set.

The whole difficulty lies only in choosing GSM and CDMA models. Their difference is in working with different cellular networks. After determining the iPhone model, you need to find a site where to download necessary software. You can download both old and new versions, the main thing is that the downloaded version has a company subscription.

Before you start, you need to be on your phone disable function " Find iPhone" When enabled, the option will refuse flashing and will display an error. Must be last iTunes version. These three steps will lead to the start of the firmware itself.

Flashing an iPhone

Flashing can be done in two ways: through RecoveryMode And DFUmode. In turn RecoveryMode- This emergency a mode that allows you to restore the functioning of iOS devices if it refuses to work normally. DFUmode differs from the previous method in that the operation is carried out bypassing the OS iPhone, the phone is flashed directly through firmware.

Firmware via Recovery Mod

You need to turn off the phone and connect it to the PC while pressing the button Home.

Produce iTunes launch. If the program is offered Restore iPhone, press OK, if it does not respond, then on the icon “ smartphone" you need to press " iPhone recovery", holding down the key shift. In the file manager that appears, you need choose firmware that was previously downloaded.

Then the program itself performs all the necessary operations. After the flashing is completed, you need disconnect from computer phone and turn it on. The device turns on with a quick press of a button Power. The iPhone is ready to use.

Using DFU Mode

Before starting the operation, you need to transfer your iPhone to DFU Mode. To do this, connect the device to the PC and turn off the iPhone. You need to press two buttons at the same time: Home And Power for ten seconds. In 10 seconds let go Power button, continue the second hold– the phone should find the iPhone in DFU mode.


This method is suitable for those who have a phone on Jailbreak and it is not possible to reflash it using the first method.

Restoring iPhone via iTunes

To restore, you must also make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed. If you pre-download the firmware file, this will save time.

Connect phone to computer using a cable, run the program iTunes, if it does not start automatically.

You need to go to the settings functions, to do this, click on the button with name type of phone.

Next, click Shift, select the function “ Restore». For Mac instead of Shift you need to press Alt. A window will appear to select the firmware file.

open her. The system will ask confirmation restoration request. The program will automatically begin to delete content and load new firmware into the phone’s memory.

After which the device will be restored using Recovery Mode to factory settings.

This is the procedure by which a gadget is installed software. Flashing an iPhone does not always mean updating it to the latest version of iOS. Among the owners of Apple gadgets there are a lot of conservatives who want to continue using the 5th or 6th versions of the operating system, considering them the most successful. These users have the opportunity to download software that suits them to their iPhone.

The owner of the gadget must know how to reflash the iPhone on his own - otherwise, after the release of each new version iOS, he will have to turn to salon consultants for help, who set exorbitant prices for iPhone-related services. This article will tell you how to change the firmware correctly.

Flashing can be one of two types - recovery And update.

  • After recovery you will receive a “clean” iPhone, without content and with the same version of the operating system as it was originally (or the one you choose yourself).
  • After updates the latest version of the operating system will be installed on your gadget, and all data will remain in place.

Apple does not allow you to downgrade your operating system. If you installed, say, iOS 7, then go back to iOS 5 standard means you won't be able to anymore.

It is also impossible to return from a beta version of the firmware to the latest official one.

There is an exception to this rule: within 2 weeks after release new iOS a “window” is open - users have the right to “roll back” to previous version Software if they didn’t like the new one. In addition, they can take advantage of unofficial software, like RedSnOw or Tiny Umbrella, however, these programs only work on “old” versions of the iPhone.

Preparatory actions

Before you start flashing your iPhone, you need to do the following:

Download the firmware to your computer. Finding the source site from which you can download the firmware is as easy as shelling pears: upon request search engine will show dozens of such sites. But you need to choose the firmware carefully - pay attention to the following criteria:

  • Modification of iPhone (4, 4S, 5S and so on).
  • Communication standard. While searching for firmware, you will notice that on specialized sites the firmware files are divided into two blocks: GSM And CDMA. 99% you need GSM firmware! CDMA iPhones have a clear distinguishing feature: the absence of a SIM card tray. CDMA iPhones are programmed to work with just one operator - therefore their cost is much lower. Another thing is that you won’t find CDMA iPhones on the Russian market - these can only be ordered from the USA or China.
  • iPhone model. The model is a set of letters and numbers - it is indicated on the back of the device and on the packaging.

Image: 4apple.org

Knowing all this data, you definitely won’t “miss” with the choice of firmware.

Download and install the latest versioniTunes . It is recommended to use the official Apple website - follow this link. At the time of writing, the newest version is iTunes 12.5.1 .

Disable the Find My iPhone feature on your smartphone. Follow the path " Settings» — « iCloud" and deactivate the toggle switch opposite " Find iPhone" If this feature remains enabled, iTunes It simply will not be able to flash the firmware and will generate an error.

Copy personal data from iPhone to another storage device. Data may be lost during the flashing process.

How to flash an iPhone via iTunes yourself?

Reflash your iPhone like this:

Step 1. Connect the gadget to the PC with a cable and open iTunes.

Step 2. Go to the gadget management page - to do this, click on the button with the image of a smartphone.

Step 3. Press the " Shift" and click " Restore iPhone..."(on Mac computers instead of " Shift"clamps" Alt»).

A window will appear through which you need to find and select the firmware loaded into the computer’s memory. The firmware file has the format IPSW.

If you have downloaded firmware that is not suitable for a particular gadget, the program will display the following unfriendly notification:

Step 4. Confirm that you want to reflash your iPhone - click " Update" in this window:

No further action is needed - iTunes will delete the content and install the firmware. The gadget will go into mode Recovery Mode, and its settings will be reset to their original settings.

You can avoid searching for suitable firmware on your own by entrusting this matter to iTunes. However, the program will 100% install the latest available operating system on the gadget, and not the one on at the moment is on iPhone.

If you are happy with this, then in step 3 you can simply click “ Restore iPhone...", without holding down any buttons on the keyboard.

How to restore a jailbroken iPhone?

If your iPhone is jailbroken, it is recommended to reflash the gadget via “ DFU MODE" (mode DFU). It is also worth turning to this method if restoring the iPhone according to the previous scenario (via Recovery Mode) for some reason did not produce results.

Step 1. Enter the smartphone into mode DFU: simultaneously press and hold the "" button for 10 seconds Home" And " Power", then release " Power».

Step 2. Connect the device to the computer with a cable. After that iTunes should display a message like this:

Upon completion of the procedure, remove the smartphone from DFU mode: press " Home» + « Power" and wait until the treasured bitten apple appears on the screen.

How to update iPhone?

You can update your iPhone in two ways: via iTunes And "by air"(that is, via Wi-Fi).

Updating iPhone via iTunes

Update procedure via iTunes is similar to the procedure for restoring an iPhone - you need to do this:

Step 1. Connect the gadget to the PC, in iTunes go to the device management menu.

Step 2. Click Not " Restore iPhone...", A " Update» - button located nearby.

If you see such a window, it means that the latest version of the software is already installed on your smartphone or the last of those that this particular model is capable of “pulling”.

For example, the device was used iPhone 4: iOS 7.1.2 is the maximum that can be installed for this modification.

If you have the firmware file, you don't need to wait for iTunes to download it. Through the combination " Shift» + « Update» Locate the file in your PC memory.

Step 3. Wait for the procedure to complete and enjoy the new software from Apple. Settings and data will remain in place.

Updating iPhone via Wi-Fi

The ability to update over the air first appeared on devices with iOS 5.

Updating over 2G and 3G connections is not possible because throughput mobile connections too small.

To update iOS via Wi-Fi, follow these steps:

Step 1. Activate on Wi-Fi device– swipe up and down to bring up the Control Center panel ( Control Center) and on this panel click on the Wi-Fi icon.

Step 2. Go to " Settings", go to the Wi-Fi section and connect to an available network in the block " Select network..."

Step 3. Return to " Settings" and go to " Basic».

Step 4. From the section " Basic"proceed to the subsection " Software update».

Step 5. Wait until the update check finishes. If the iPhone finds a newer version of the operating system than the one currently installed on your device, you will see this picture:

Click " Download and install" - this is how you will launch the update over the air. If your iPhone already has the maximum iOS version, you will see a similar message:

Do not update your jailbroken iPhone - it can lead to dire consequences!

The gadget will end up in the so-called “eternal apple” mode or fall into a “loop” in recovery mode. The problem lies in the fact that Jailbreak for the new version of the iOS operating system appears with a significant delay - it turns out that the iPhone is updated “to nowhere.” To flash jailbroken Apple gadgets, you should only use the " Restore iPhone..."

Conclusion

Owners of non-jailbroken iPhones should not have any problems with flashing the firmware - the user’s task is to connect the smartphone to the PC and press just one button, and then iTunes will do everything himself. But owners of gadgets with jailbreak are advised to be careful: in order not to lose the jailbreak, it is better not to use iTunes, and special software like the program Semi Restore.