Can I stay on iOS 6 or 7 if I buy a new 4S?

[MaXimus666]

I bought a used 4S in mint condition but it was already updated to 8.1.1

I am sick of this slow and laggy OS, I did 2 factory resets but still the same, this isn't how a 4S performs.
if I sell this one and buy a new 4S, can I continue to use the OS 6 or 7 whatever comes with it or am I forced to upgrade?

 

[eyoungren]

I bought a used 4S in mint condition but it was already updated to 8.1.1

I am sick of this slow and laggy OS, I did 2 factory resets but still the same, this isn't how a 4S performs.
if I sell this one and buy a new 4S, can I continue to use the OS 6 or 7 whatever comes with it or am I forced to upgrade?

You are not forced to upgrade if you don't want to. You can stay where you are, you just have to ignore the update badge, or jailbreak to make the badge go away if it bothers you.

But you can't downgrade.

 

[MaXimus666]

You are not forced to upgrade if you don't want to. You can stay where you are, you just have to ignore the update badge, or jailbreak to make the badge go away if it bothers you.

But you can't downgrade.

right, thanks man

Apple is costing me a loss of money with this selling / rebuying of the phone ! This phone simply wasn't designed to run iOS 8

 

[HarryWild]

I almost never upgrade my iOS for mobile devices. It last a lot longer in terms of performance but you get blocked out of the large developer type Apps that follow the latest iOS version. Basically, that all the big new services and national TV media Apps. But a lot of smaller companies; they let you run their Apps on the version that you have on your mobile device.

I learn to go through the internet to the companies websites to see if it will work and many times it will not because no support for Adobe Flash on mobile internet browsers.

 

[rajaal77]

Can't you download old iOS firmware and when restoring hold the Shift key when clicking the Restore button in iTunes, then select the .ipsw firmware file of the iOS of your choosing? Maybe this will prompt the iTunes server to download the respective iOS version.

 

[MaXimus666]

can't you download old ios firmware and when restoring hold the shift key when clicking the restore button in itunes, then select the .ipsw firmware file of the ios of your choosing? Maybe this will prompt the itunes server to download the respective ios version.

no

 

[rajaal77]

no

Have you tried it? Anyways, forget it.

 

[eyoungren]

Have you tried it? Anyways, forget it.

Oh, it's been tried. Which is why the answer is no.

Apple does not allow this. Used to be with iOS 5 (and 6 with certain iPhones) you could jailbreak and using SHSH blobs downgrade using an app on your computer.

But since iOS 6 you cannot do that anymore. Apple also stopped using blobs as authentication with iOS 7. It's AP Ticket now, which is a completely different thing.

The only iPhone models that can stil downgrade are the iPhone 4 (not the 4s) and below using a baseband hack that Apple patched in the 4s and above.

So…no. You can't.

 

[MaXimus666]

Have you tried it? Anyways, forget it.

duhh I've tried it, which is why I was forced to sell my iPhone 4S at a loss even though it didn't have a single scratch on it.

Apple stopped signing anything earlier than iOS 8 and I've done days of research on how to overcome this. there is no way on earth you can do it! even the jailbreaking guys can't do it!

Basically, if you want to use Apple Devices, you have to buy the latest and greatest or you can't downgrade

 

[rajaal77]

BTW, it is possible for iOS users to control the iOS versions they can install on their devices, IF you have an SHSH blob saved of the desired iOS version you wish to intall, but you already knew that, right?

 

[eyoungren]

BTW, it is possible for iOS users to control the iOS versions they can install on their devices, IF you have an SHSH blob saved of the desired iOS version you wish to intall, but you already knew that, right?

We know that you are spreading misinformation…

1. SHSH blobs were broken with iOS 6 because Saurik/Cydia did not catch a change Apple made.

2. As of iOS 7 Apple no longer uses SHSH for authentication.

3. Downgrading is accomplished with pre-4S devices using a bootrom exploit that was patched in the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s, 6 and 6+ cannot take advantage of this bootrom exploit because it's been patched.

The OP has an iPhone 4s. Not an iPhone 4. If we were talking about the iPhone 4, you'd be correct. But we aren't.