Table of Contents
powdersn0w refers to custom firmware that utilizes an exploit for iOS 5 or iOS 7, allowing to restore and boot to unsigned target iOS versions. The term powdersn0w originated from the original tool of the same name by kok3shidoll (also known as dora2ios.)
The target versions supported can range to all supported iOS versions of that device with a few exceptions.
In Legacy iOS Kit, powdersn0w is modified to have features like automatic creation of files needed, ease of use, and extended platform/device/version support.
To use the powdersn0w feature, you will need iOS 7 SHSH blobs for your device. The exceptions to this are the iPad 1, iPod touch 3, and iPhone 4 devices, where no existing blobs are needed since iOS 5.1.1 or 7.1.2 is signed.
Also note that for the iPad 1, iPod touch 3, and iPhone 4 devices, restoring back to iOS 5.1.1 or 7.1.2 requires doing the Clear NVRAM procedure. This can be done by going to: Other Utilities -> Clear NVRAM
It is theoretically possible to use the iOS 5 or 7 exploit to all devices. However, exploit ramdisks were not implemented for the devices not listed. Support is limited to the devices listed below.
Requirements
- iPad 1 and iPod touch 3
- iPhone 4 GSM and CDMA (iPhone3,1 and iPhone3,3)
- The iPhone3,2 variant is not supported. Go to Other (Tethered) instead for a tethered downgrade
- iPad 2 Rev A (iPad2,4) - iOS 7.1.x blobs
- iPhone 4S - iOS 7.1.x blobs
- iPhone 5 and 5C - iOS 7.0.x or 7.1.x blobs
- iPod touch 5 - iOS 7.1.x blobs
Notes
- See Notes section in the Restore/Downgrade page regarding version compatibility
- See Notes for powdersn0w section in the Troubleshooting page for troubleshooting
- iPhone 5: iOS 10 is not supported as a target version for powdersn0w.
- For untethering iOS 10 for the iPhone 5 using iOS 7 blobs, you may use p0insettia plus
- iPod touch 3: iOS 3.1.x may restore and boot, but it will get stuck at the activation screen
- iPhone 4 CDMA: iOS 4.2.x may restore, but it has issues booting (and even if it boots, it will fail to activate anyway)
- iPhone 4 GSM: iOS 4.2.1 may restore, but it has issues booting for most users. Others including myself can boot it just fine though, I don't really know why this happens
Usage
For usage, go to Restore-iPhone-4-and-older or Restore 32-bit device