There are few things that you need to do before you proceed to restore or update your iPhone, including backup your iPhone data, backup your Appstore saved games, updating your iTunes version, ensure the iPhone battery is fully charge and determine the firmware version that you wish to restore or update to your iPhone.
Next, I’ll show you how to restore or update your iPhone step by step.
On your computer, launch iTunes and connect your iPhone. iTunes will load the iPhone panel once it detected the iPhone and you’ll able see the information about your iPhone on the summary tab. Click the Check for Update button to allow iTunes automatically connect to the Internet and search for the available updates. If the latest firmware version is installed, iTunes will indicate that your iPhone is currently up to date. Otherwise, you can update it to the latest firmware version. Click Restore button, iTunes will restore the iPhone to the currently installed firmware version.
iPhone panel
If you wish to restore your iPhone to a specified firmware version (provided you’d downloaded the firmware), hold the Shift key and click the restore button. A windows pops up and you need to locate the downloaded firmware and click Open. iTunes will proceed to restore your iPhone and it may takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete.
locate iPhone firmware
extracting firmware
When iTunes complete, it’s show you that your iPhone has been restored to factory settings and is restarting. The message box will automatically closed in 15 seconds. If you are using an official Apple iPhone from your local telecommunication service provider, leave the iPhone connected to your computer as iTunes will automatically activate your iPhone. Otherwise, you can proceed to jailbreak your iPhone.
restored successfully
unlock complete
It’s recommended to Set up as a new iPhone instead of Restore from the backup because sometime it may mess up the iPhone. Then, you need to fill in your Apple iPhone profile name and select the preferences that suite you. After you’ve done, iTunes will load the iPhone panel and you can start to sync or transfer the ringtones, musics, photos, podcasts, videos and applications. If you have manually backup your iPhone data, you might need to jailbreak your iPhone and then restore your contacts, SMS, notes and calendar backups.
set up your iPhone
iPhone preferences
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Somehow the apps button on my iphone has been deleted or hidden. I can’t seem to find any info on how to restore the apps button to the screen.
Thanks!
Hi Chris,
Go to Settings, General, Restrictions and Enable Restrictions. Turn OFF Installing Apps and close it. Then, turn it On again.
Hope it helps…
It worked!!! You’re the best. It was driving me crazy.
Thanks,
Chris
I have 3.0.1 firmware, when I want to restore to original setting, iTunes force me to upgrade 3.1 firmware, I don’t want to upgrade, can I stick to 3.0.1 firmware? How to do it?
If you have your ECID SHSH’s for 3.0 “on file” with Cydia, you’ll be able to restore to firmware 3.0.
Click here to check how you can do it.
And for further reading about ECID SHSH, click here.
Hi
Just bought the hp and my friend help mi to install and sync with my computer. But somehow after it been sync with the apps even i have delete the apps it keep suddenly come out from my iphone and loading i can’t even delete it
PLS help mi …
my laptop crashed as i was updating the firmware on my iphone 3gs, as a result i had to restore to a previous date or start afresh. for some reason the latest restore date was november 2010, however i back up every month and update software whenever prompted, how can i select a specific date and restore it to then?