How to Downgrade an App on iPhone

Is it possible to downgrade an app on iPhone?

You may ask “Can I downgrade an app on iPhone?” Believe it or not, it's possible to downgrade apps. While updating apps to the latest version brings new features and enhances stability and security, it's not always a seamless process. There are situations where downgrading an app becomes necessary. New updates can introduce bugs when developers overlook critical issues, or they may not be compatible with certain devices, leading to frequent app crashes. Additionally, with each update, apps tend to consume more storage space.

While how you can make it? No need to worry, as we'll be presenting two practical methods in the following sections to guide you in reverting to a previous app version on your iPhone. Let's explore these methods now.

How to downgrade an app on iPhone with iTunes

If you've ever connected your iPhone to iTunes on your computer, you're in a good position. You can find the older app version files on your computer and use them to replace the current one, effectively downgrading the app. Just keep in mind that your iTunes version should be older than 12.7. Newer iTunes versions, starting from 12.7, no longer have the App Store feature, making app management impossible. And here are the detailed steps to downgrade an app on iPhone using iTunes 12.6 and earlier.

Step 1. Locate the IPA file of the previous version
Locate and save the previous IPA file in a particular folder, which we will need later.
     • On Mac: Go to /Users//Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Mobile Applications.
     • On Windows: Go to C:\Users\\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Mobile Applications.

Step 2. Install the previous IPA with iTunes
• Launch iTunes on your computer > Go to Apps > Click on the app icon that you would to downgrade > Choose Show in Finder/Windows Explorer.

• iTunes will ask you to locate the IPA file > Choose Locate and browse to the folder which has saved your old IPA file.

• Connect your iPhone to computer > Click the phone icon > Choose Apps option.

• Tap the Remove button next to the particular app that you want to downgrade > Click Sync.

• After that, Choose the Install button next to the app > Click on Apply button, and iTunes will start syncing > Just wait for its finishing, and then your old version of the app will get back on your iPhone.

Bonus: How to transfer apps to new iPhone

When you get a new iPhone, you’ll want to transfer your apps to ensure a seamless transition. FoneTool, a professional iOS data management tool, has made this process relatively straightforward with its powerful functions.

FoneTool simplifies the process of transferring all your apps and data from your old iPhone to the new one, including WhatsApp to new iPhone. It allows you to backup and restore your files, whether you want to save everything or just specific items, all with a single click. The best part? You don't even need Wi-Fi or cellular data for this seamless transition.

Free download the tool to your computer, and follow the steps below to know how to transfer apps and data to new iPhone with FoneTool.

Step 1. Launch FoneTool > Connect your iPhones to a computer.

Step 2. Click Phone Transfer > Go to iPhone to iPhone and click Start Transfer.

Step 3. Optionally, you can check Enable backup encryption to keep your private data safer.

Step 4. Click Start Transfer to start the transfer.

Conclusion

While Apple has made downgrading apps on an iPhone a bit more challenging than on other platforms, it is still possible with the right approach. Whether you choose to wait for the App Store to provide an older version, use iTunes to manually install an earlier release.