[How To] Use the Custom iFaith Firmware File to Restore Back to iOS 5.0

Once you've built your iOS 5.0 custom firmware, downgrading is easy.

As I reported earlier this week, iH8sn0w released iFaith version 1.4 which allows you to save your iOS 5.0 SHSH blobs and APticket so that you can create a custom iOS 5.0 firmware file to use in downgrading your iDevice back to iOS 5.0. The guide on saving your iOS 5.0 SHSH blobs and APticket can be read here. iFaith works with iOS 5.0.1 too. But since people are nervous that the Chronic Dev Team's untethered jailbreak for iOS 5 might not work with iOS 5.0.1, there is all the more reason to just play it safe and get insurance for iOS 5.0 as I like to call it. Since we just posted a guide on how to make the custom iOS 5.0 firmware, this guide will show you how to use the firmware to restore to iOS 5.0 on your iDevice.


Just a heads up, if you're on iOS 5.0.1 right now and you didn't bother to save your APticket for iOS 5.0, then you can't use this guide to get on iOS 5.0. Since I was anxious to get off of Windows, I will be using Redsn0w to put the device in Pwned DFU mode in this tutorial. Windows users can use either Redsn0w or iFaith to go into Pwned DFU mode. This guide will be using Redsn0w and Windows users can do the same thing as I am doing here on my Mac.

YOU WILL NEED:
1. Redsn0w 0.9.9b8 (or newer) Mac Download, Windows Download
2. Your custom '.ipsw' file from this guide
3. The iOS 5.0 or iOS 5.0.1 iDevice that was used to make the iOS 5.0 custom firmware
4. iTunes 10.5.1

Once you have everything, plug your iDevice into your computer and download redsn0w from the link above. Once you unzip it, open it and click on the Extras button:

From the next menu that pops up, select the '.ipsw' file for your iDevice. I suggest using the legitimate iOS 5.0 file instead of the custom one:

After you do that, Redsn0w will give you a message saying that it's verified the '.ipsw' file and that it will be used for the rest of the duration that you use Redsn0w (which means it will be used until you close it). Now, click on the Pwned DFU button to put your iDevice into Pwned DFU mode. Pwned DFU mode is a mode on the iDevice that will allow it to accept custom '.ipsw' files and not just the stock ones that Apple releases:

 After you click that button, you will be asked to put your iDevice into DFU mode. Putting your iDevice into DFU mode is simple. You can follow the on-screen instructions of iFaith, or you can just hold down Power and Home for 10 seconds, then let go of Power and continue holding Home for about 15 seconds. Once you are in DFU mode, Redsn0w will start automatically:

 Once Redsn0w finishes, you will get a message that says your device is in Pwned DFU mode. If it didn't work then you didn't put your iDevice into DFU mode correctly:

Now that your iDevice is in Pwned DFU mode, open iTunes. You will see a popup that says that your iDevice is in Recovery mode. Just ignore it and hold down (Shift for Windows, Option for Mac) and click restore. Navigate to where you saved your custom '.ipsw' file from this guide and click open:

iTunes will do the rest, your iDevice will begin to restore:

When you select the custom '.ipsw' file and begin the restore, you will know it's working if you see the iFaith logo appear on your iDevice while it's restoring instead of the usual Apple. Just wait until it completes, it could take a few minutes:

Congratulations, you've Pwned Apple. Your iDevice should now be restored on iOS 5.0:

Now that you have a fresh install of iOS 5.0, you will be able to use the PC-free option to set up your iDevice or you can use iTunes. It's your choice. Additionally, since it's a fresh install, you can wait for the untethered jailbreak that the Chronic Dev Team will be releasing soon, or you can rejailbreak tethered right now and restore again when the untethered jailbreak is released.

How did this guide work for you? Remember that this is part two of the other guide linked in this article. You must follow both for it to work. Share in the comments below!