Custom firmware for iPad mini 2. iOS: Download free firmware for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad of all versions, changes in the latest version of iOS

Hi all! At first glance, the question in the title seems rather trivial, but many novice iPhone/iPad users (hereinafter, let's just say iPhone) very often do not know not only how to reflash an iOS device, but also why it is needed in general. First, a little tedious theory to better understand the process, and then we’ll look at everything step by step possible ways firmware.

What is iPhone firmware?

They call it firmware recovery or update iOS. Flashing is necessary to return the iPhone to its factory state and install the latest one on it. software. This is done if:
a glitch was detected in the iOS device;
installation of the latest version of the operating system is required;
you need to create a “clean system” (out of the box condition), for example, when the phone passes to a new owner.

It is important to distinguish between processes updates And recovery. In the first case, user data will not be deleted - photos, contacts, applications, etc. In the second, all data will be lost and the phone will return to its factory state.

What methods can you use to flash your phone's firmware?
There are two ways to flash iPhone firmware:
flashing your phone using iTunes;
installation iOS updates using a Wi-Fi connection.

The first one is universal; it can be used to both restore the system and update it. The software is first downloaded to your computer via iTunes and then installed on your phone. The second method consists only of updating and requires the presence of Wi-Fi.

Attention! Never update a jailbroken device, this can lead to very sad consequences (eternal iTunes icon on the screen). Jailbroken iPhone is better Restore everything in DFU mode.

You should also not update or restore your iPhone to official firmware if it's locked. Otherwise, you risk losing the ability to unlock it programmatically, since the version of not only the iOS firmware is upgraded, but also the firmware of the modem itself.

Three iPhone modes. What are they for and how to use them

There are three main modes in which the iPhone can be:
— Normal. The normal operating state of your phone.
— Recovery mode (or Recovery mode). In this mode, the device can be restored from a previously made backup copy, or updated to the latest firmware version via iTunes.

To enter the device into Recovery mode you must:
1. Connect your iPhone to your computer when USB help– cable;
2. Then turn it off;
3. Turn on, and then press and hold the Home button until the image appears;

4. To exit the device from this mode, simultaneously press and hold the power button and the round central button (home) for 10 seconds. After turning off the phone, turn it on as usual (hold the power button for 3-5 seconds)

— Update mode (DFU). This special mode a device in which iOS does not load, and all technical and service information is supplied to the device via a USB connection. DFU mode restores all settings. In this mode, unlike Recovery, nothing is displayed on the screen (white or black). When iTunes recognizes your iPhone in DFU mode, the following message will appear on the screen.

To put your iPhone into DFU mode you need to:
1. Connect the device to the computer using USB cable;
2. Simultaneously hold down the Power and Home buttons for 10 seconds;
3. Now release the power button, but continue to hold Home until the computer determines that the device has entered DFU (see image above);
4. Exiting from this mode is similar to exiting from Recovery;

How to flash iPhone using iTunes?

In Recovery mode

1. First, you need to get the latest version of iTunes.
2. Next, download the current firmware for your device;
3. Now connect the iPhone as usual to the computer and launch iTunes;
4. Select your device;

6. In the window that opens, select the IPSW file downloaded in step 2 and click open;

7. The recovery process has begun.

In DFU mode

1. Download and install iTunes (from the link above);
2. Now download latest firmware for your iOS devices(also from the link above);
3. Convert iPhone to ;
4. Launch iTunes;
5. Hold down the Shift key (if you have a Mac, then Alt) and click on the Restore button;
6. In the window that opens, select the IPSW file downloaded in step 2 and click open;
7. We are waiting for the end of the recovery process.

How to update iPhone (iPad)

1. B iTunes. Connect your device and click update

2. By WiFi. Go directly to your device Settings > Basic > Software Update

Congratulations! Now you know almost everything about iPhone and iPad firmware :) If the article was useful to you, be sure to click on the social buttons below.

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iOS for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad all versions in one place: what's new in the latest iOS versions, direct download links original firmware for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad from Apple servers.

iOS(until June 24, 2010 - iPhone OS) - a mobile operating system developed and released by the American by Apple. Was released in 2007; originally for iPhone and iPod touch, later for devices such as iPad and Apple TV. Unlike Windows Phone And Google Android, is available only for devices manufactured by Apple. (Wikipedia)

Information about the latest iOS version

• Version: 9.0
• release date: September 16, 2015
• Compatible Devices:
  • iPhone 4S, 5, 5s/5c, 6/6 Plus;
  • iPad 2, 3, 4, Air;
  • iPad Mini, Mini Retina
  • iPod Touch 5G.

Download iOS for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad of all versions

All iPhone firmwares

Note: There are 3 modifications of the iPhone 4: GSM model, CDMA version (without SIM card slot), modified GSM version (iPhone 4 Rev A), which began production in the fall of 2012. 2 iPhone models 5: “USA only” and “global”, they differ only in the number of supported 4G (LTE) communication bands. The iPhone model number (the letter A and four numbers) is engraved on the back cover of the device.

All iPad firmwares

Note: All iOS versions for iPad first generations are universal, they are suitable for both models with 3G and models without a modem. There are four types of firmware for the iPad 2: Wi-Fi, GSM, CDMA and Wi-Fi with 16 GB of internal storage (it went on sale in the spring of 2012 simultaneously with the third generation iPad). The third revision of the iPad was not numbered by Apple and was called “The new iPad.” There are 3 types of iOS available for it: for models with Wi-Fi, for models with a GSM modem, for Verizon models with CDMA support. iPad mini and the fourth generation GSM version of the iPad can be distinguished by the model number, which is engraved on the back cover of the device (letter A + four digits).

All iPad Mini firmwares

All iPod Touch firmwares

Since there are a lot of questions on this topic: “What is DFU mode?”, “What is Recovery mode?”, and how to generally use these seemingly scary words on the iPad...

Attention! About

Recovery Mode iPad

IN Recovery Mode you can reflash your phone via iTunes using a firmware file with the .ipsw extension, which can be downloaded in the article iPad Firmware.

To enter the mode Recovery on iPad:

pinch simultaneously the Home button (the only button on the front of the iPad) and the Power button (the iPad's power button on the top). The iPad will show a shutdown slider and then the screen will go blank. Don't let go of the buttons! Hold them as the iPad starts to boot again. After 15-20 seconds, an image of the cable and the iTunes icon will appear on the screen.

Now release both buttons...

Connect your iPad to your computer and launch iTunes. Click on the possible message about the need to check for updates. Check now(Check Now).

After this, iTunes will show the iPad in recovery mode. Click OK

To flash the iPad, hold down Shift (on Mac OS - option) and click on Restore. In the file selection window, specify the firmware file you want to use (it must, of course, be downloaded before).

DFU Mode iPad

DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode differs from Recovery Mode in that it bypasses operating system and reflashes directly.

This is the most reliable method for flashing and can be recommended to anyone who experiences errors in iTunes when flashing in Recovery Mode. Often similar errors occur on iPads that have been jailbroken, and the iPad must be reflashed.

To enter the DFU mode on iPad(DFU Mode iPad):

1. Close iTunes on your computer

2. Connect your iPad to your computer

3. Turn off the iPad completely by holding the Power button for a long time and moving the “Turn off” slider

4. Press the Home and Power buttons for exactly 10 seconds

5. Release the Power button but continue to hold Home until the computer displays the new USB device (approximately 10-15 seconds). This may not happen - in this case, hold Home for 20-30 seconds

6. iPad screen in DFU Mode will be black, don't expect it to turn on;

8. To flash the iPad, hold down Shift (in Mac OS - option) and click on Restore. In the file selection window, specify the firmware file you want to use (it must, of course, be downloaded before).

That's it - iPad firmware in DFU mode has begun!

FAQ on iPad flashing methods:

Question: Which flashing method is better?

Question: How to exit DFU mode?

Answer: hold down the Home and Power buttons until the iPad shows signs of life

Question: What dangers exist when flashing?

Answer: Flashing via Recovery and DFU modes is by and large a standard operation. There can only be one danger: restoring the firmware using both methods destroys all data on the iPad, so I recommend making a backup copy of the iPad before flashing it.

They don’t even pay special attention to modifying the operating system that is installed on their device. However, for others, it is vitally important to update iOS to the latest version in a timely manner, or try beta versions and return again to proven, reliable software options. It is for such people that the instructions are intended, telling how to reflash the iPad without harming the device itself.

In order not to harm the iPad when flashing the firmware, you should follow the instructions

Before reinstalling the operating system, you need to create an auxiliary copy of the files stored on iPad tablet. Don't worry - this does not necessarily mean that you will have to restore all the information by downloading it from your computer - this situation is more of an unpleasant exception than the rule. However, sometimes all the data stored on the tablet is actually lost. Agree, it will not be very pleasant to lose your music collection, messages in personal correspondence and other valuable information. To prevent this from happening, just connect your iPad to your home computer, then open iTunes program and in the corresponding subsection of the menu.

When you just want to update iOS to the most current version, you should learn how to flash an iPad without iTunes. After opening the menu, go to settings and select the main section. You will be interested in the second line from the top, called “Software Updates”. If an updated one is available that is compatible with your iPad, there will be a checkmark in this line inviting you to go to this menu item. Will open new screen, in which you will be shown the number of the proposed version and a single button, clicking on which will launch. After making sure that your Internet connection is stable, click on the button and wait until all the basic necessary actions are completed automatically.

Connect to the computer

Despite the development of wireless technology, it is not yet available everywhere, so you should also know how to flash an iPad via iTunes. Open the program and connect the tablet to the computer via a standard USB cable. Be careful: the tablet must lie on a flat surface so that during data loading it does not turn off spontaneously, leading to serious errors. Go to the main section of iTunes and look for an indication of the current version of iOS installed on your tablet. The next line will say which new version you can install. If there are no problems, click the “Update” button and wait until the installation process is completed.

If the specified operating system number does not suit you, you can download the specific version yourself. Take a good look at back cover iPad, find the digital model name and download iOS for such a tablet from the Internet using trusted sites or file-sharing systems. iPad can be booted into ZIP format. If you had to deal with this, you must rename the file, giving it the “.ipsw” extension. Once iTunes is open, find the Update button again, but this time hold down the Shift key if you are using , or Alt for MAC-based operating systems. A dialog box will appear that will prompt you to find the firmware file yourself, and then determine its version and specify consent for installation. By the way, this option is suitable for installing beta versions of iOS.

Using recovery mode

It happens that the given tips on how to flash an iPad do not work. In 1-2% of cases, the program displays a message about a certain error and aborts the installation. It is necessary to use a more advanced OS installation method, which requires restoring the tablet using . First, you should fully understand how to activate this mode in order to carry out all the necessary procedures.

So, turn off our iPad completely, place it next to the computer and press the “Home” button. After about 5-7 seconds, carefully connect the USB cable, which will cause the iTunes logo to appear on the display, below which there will be a plug and an arrow. This means that you have entered the mode correctly iPad recovery, you can pay attention to the computer screen.

When you launch iTunes, you will see a window with a warning sign, which will mention the iPad going to . Once you click OK, you will notice a Restore button. After clicking it, the latest available version of the operating system will be installed on the iPad. If you want to decide for yourself which iOS number will use, hold down the Shift button (or Alt for MAC) and feel free to click the mouse to open a dialog box.

Video on how to reflash an iPhone or iPad:

The updated firmware will reset the iPad to factory settings and deprive you of all the information that was on the tablet. This will come in handy here backup copy, the creation of which was mentioned in the initial section of this article. After iOS installations you will be able to choose which version of the backup to use. By the way, if you need to get a completely clean iPad, for example, before selling it on the secondary market, you can refuse data recovery and continue further work with factory settings.

The most serious flashing mode

The iPad manufacturer has also provided the ability to completely disable the software and install an updated modification of the operating system in this mode. This method is called DFU (device firmware update). It must be used in the following cases:

• When the error appears during installation in recovery mode.
• When the device has been jailbroken, causing it to freeze during the update.
• When you interrupted the OS installation by disconnecting from the Internet or computer and .

The instructions for activating the mode are somewhat more complicated than the previous one. After connecting the device to the computer, open iTunes, press the iPad power button for a long time and select the “turn off” menu item that appears. To understand how to reflash an iPad, hold down the power and “Home” keys at the same time and count down 10 seconds. Then release the power button, but continue to hold the second button for about 15-20 seconds until the computer screen displays a message about connecting a new device. Don't be afraid of the empty black iPad screen- this is normal for DFU mode.

Further, all procedures will be completely similar to those described above when using the standard iPad recovery mode. Similarly, select a file to restore the operating system or agree to install the latest available version of iOS. The data is also not saved - you will have to use a previously created iPad backup.

Safety when flashing

Now that you've learned how to flash an iPad, don't hesitate to use the information you've learned. The manufacturer has provided fairly effective protection for tablets from accidental software failures and intentional damage. Almost any problem can be solved by restoring the device using the above. The only real threat when flashing an iPad is the loss of personal data, which can be previously saved in a backup copy.

Of course, disconnect the USB cables, Wi-fi routers and other devices that are used to change the version of programs are not worth it - minor problems may arise. It will be much worse if you drop the iPad directly during the recovery process: if the USB cable socket is possibly damaged, it will definitely not be possible to complete the process before repairing the tablet. In addition, I would like to recommend that you first study information about the version of the operating system that you are planning, because some may make it very difficult to return to previous modifications.

Simple or difficult?

In fact, installation in the described recovery modes is practiced only by a few users who are very well versed in modern electronics, including tablets. Most people (about 90%) use updates through iTunes or directly by connecting the iPad to wireless communication. They are good because they do not require any unnecessary actions and allow you to simply follow the proposed procedures without allowing any deviations. But recovery mode or DFU makes it possible to bypass some restrictions and errors that are insurmountable for iTunes in its normal state.

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Not all users pay attention to what OS is installed on their Apple tablets. But there are device owners who carefully ensure that their devices have current version OS. Many people are interested in what iPad 3 firmware is on their gadget and how to change it.

Preparatory stage

Before you start flashing your device, you need to worry about saving the information stored on the iPad. It's worth noting that you most likely won't have to recover all your data by downloading it from your PC. But it's better to be safe.

To avoid the problem of losing necessary files, make a backup copy.

There are two ways to do this: through iTunes or iCloud. After this, you can start flashing the gadget's firmware.

Flashing methods

There are several main ways to flash 3rd generation Apple tablets. So, this procedure can be performed through:

• the tablet itself;
• iTunes;
• recovery mode;

Let's consider each option in more detail.

Without iTunes

If you are interested in how to reflash an iPad quickly and without much effort, we can recommend simply updating your OS to latest version. Below we consider the algorithm of actions:

After all the steps you will need to enter your Apple ID. When performing this procedure, the main thing is to make sure that during the update the connection to the Internet will be stable.

Via iTunes

If you want to use this method, you must:

Using recovery mode

Sometimes the above-mentioned methods on how to flash an iPad 3 do not work. The probability of such a situation occurring is 1-2%, and the application displays an error message and the installation process is interrupted. In this case, you should try to reflash the device using factory settings. The procedure will be as follows:

1. We enter recovery mode (press and hold the “Sleep/Wake” and “Home” keys at the same time).
2. Launch iTunes - a warning should appear reminding you to enter recovery mode.
3. "OK".
4. Click “Restore” (information and settings will be erased).

After all the steps, the iPad 3 firmware will change to the latest available OS version.

It is worth recalling that new firmware will change all settings to factory settings, and will also delete all information that was on the device. In this case, a previously created backup copy will come to the rescue. After reinstallation, you will have the opportunity to choose which copy you will use. But if you want to get a completely clean tablet (for example, to sell it later), you can simply not use the recovery function.

DFU method

This method is usually used for the following reasons.