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Don’t install that iPhone update! How to bring your iPhone back to life and reinstall iOS 8.0

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If you downloaded the iOS 8.0.1 update on your brand-new iPhone, you probably noticed that your cell service and Touch ID were no longer working. Apple may have pulled the update and is clearly looking for a fix, but who can wait patiently when their iPhone is essentially dead?

Nobody — That’s who! So iMore and others figured out a way to restore your iPhone back to its former glory on iOS 8.0. Just follow the steps below, and your iPhone will be back in working order.

  1. Plug your iPhone into your computer and connect to iTunes. Then, backup all your info. Unplug.
  2. Download a clean copy of iOS 8.0 from ipswdownloader.com. Select your device, model, and the iOS 8.0 firmware. Click to download.
  3. While you’re waiting for that to download, turn off “Find my iPhone” under Settings > iCloud > Find my iPhone. You will need to know your Apple ID and password.
  4. Once the copy of iOS 8.0 is downloaded, open iTunes and plug in your iPhone.
  5. Click where it says “iPhone.” Then, click “Check for updates” while holding the “option” key on Mac or “control” key on Windows. Make sure you hold the key and click simultaneously, as this will bring up options for you to choose from when selecting a build.
  6. You’ll see the file menu. Scroll through until you see the .ipsw file for the fresh iOS 8.0 firmware. Select that file and hit OK.
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Now that you’ve done that, your iPhone will interpret the file as an upgrade and restore your iPhone software to iOS 8.0. Your iPhone will go through the same process it goes through every time you install a software update, but your data and apps should be unaffected. As soon as your phone is done working, check to make sure it’s running iOS 8.0.

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Afterwards, cell service and Touch ID functions should go back to normal. It worked on our iPhone 6, so it should work on yours. However, if not, you either have to wait for Apple to fix the problem, or reset your phone and start from scratch.

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Malarie Gokey
Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
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