The software of any device eventually becomes obsolete. This is a normal process, since any company continues to work on its software, constantly improving it.
The firmware for iPhone 4 is no exception. The device itself cannot be called too backward in terms of its technical configuration - you can look stylish with it even today. Plus, the technical parameters of the model (camera, processor and other indicators) are high enough for the phone to function normally.
However, the operating system on which the device runs is obsolete - Apple has already released its 9th version, while the 4th generation model came with iOS 5. Of course, the OS has become more productive for these updates, comfortable and attractive in appearance. Therefore, some users go to great lengths to bring their phone to the same state. Simply put, they will learn how to flash an iPhone 4 phone. However, flashing may be needed not only for this.
In this article we will try to reveal as much as possible what this procedure is and why it is needed.
What is firmware?
Each smartphone works with a certainoperating system version. The firmware procedure means changing it, which can include both switching to a newer generation, or simply updating the existing one to the state in which the phone was released from the factory.
Perhaps someone will think that firmware on iPhone 4 is a complex process that can only be done by hackers or qualified service center workers, but this is not so. In fact, this is a fairly simple action. And Apple has made sure that everyone can easily handle it, almost at home.
Why is it needed?
As already noted, one of the options for updating the software of your device may be the desire to simply upgrade to a newer version of its OS. This is normal, because, as we already mentioned, it may be due to advanced functionality.
So, in addition to this, the user can search for information about his "iPhone 4" (how to flash it yourself) in order to reduce the model to factory settings. You may need this if you find someone else's phone or, say, when a smartphone was given to you by a person who previously used it. Thus, you simply want to erase all information from the device that relates to other users, and get your hands on a completely clean model.
Methods for flashing "iPhone 4"
Well, whatever dictated your desire to learn how to flash iPhone 4 (this also applies to s-modifications), waysWe will describe this procedure in this article. There are two of them - this is "Update" and "Restore". Both are conducted through a computer with iTunes preinstalled and a cord connecting the smartphone to the PC; or directly on the device itself using a local WiFi connection.
Each of the two methods of how to reflash "iPhone 4s" (or just 4) implies some individual features. Read about the differences between them later in the text, in the sections on these methods.
Recovery
Let's talk about recovery first. You can refer to it only if you work according to the "Computer + iTunes + phone" scheme. The "Recovery" tab can be found after your smartphone is recognized by the PC, after which a menu will appear on the monitor to manage it.
The restore procedure itself is more complex than the update, since it involves deleting personal data from the phone. It is aimed at, as mentioned above, to get a "clean" mobile phone. It is carried out, for example, in the case of the transfer or sale of the iPhone, as well as when the user is looking for how to flash the found iPhone 4.
Keep informed
Describing this procedure, it is impossible not to mention that you need to be careful and save all your files in advance. It will be impossible to restore them after this step, all information from your iPhone will be lost forever. Therefore, it is not recommended to do restorationdevices unnecessarily, as an experiment, and also when you didn’t bother to back up all your files (especially photos) on other media. Since, as user reviews show, this is a fairly common problem and mistake when a person confuses the process with a simple update and loses all content.
Update
So, as you may have guessed, this procedure does not include the deletion of the user's personal data by the device, since it is only aimed at switching to a more recent version of the operating system.
The instructions on how to carry out this operation depend on which update method the user chooses - via a computer and iTunes, or via WiFi, working with the phone itself. Those who are thinking about how to flash iPhone 4s need not worry. Neither the first nor the second methods are particularly difficult. It just all depends on the conditions in which the flashing will be carried out. This is access to the Internet, the presence of an already downloaded operating system file and, of course, a cord for connecting a smartphone (you should take care of it).
Step by step instructions
If we paint everything step by step, we have the following picture. If we need to restore the device, we simply connect our iPhone 4 to the computer using a cable (how to flash it without access to a PC - we will describe below).
Next, open the iTunes program, where in the upper right part of the screen you will see the menu of your phone. You need to click on it. Will open before youphone status panel, which will contain the "Restore" and "Refresh" buttons, the names of which make it clear what they are for.
If you are unhappy with the work of your iPhone 4, how to flash it is a natural question. When performing this operation using a PC, remember that it is possible to point the program to a previously downloaded version of iOS and that the software can independently search for a more recent assembly. If this is indeed available, iTunes will offer to install it. And remember that the answer to the question of whether it is possible to flash iPhone 4 is negative if you wanted to return to the previous OS. The developers of the device made sure that you cannot select an older version of the operating system again. This causes inconvenience to users who have switched to iOS 8 generations, who note that it does not work correctly, freezes and periodically slows down. This was not observed on older versions of the OS.
After all this, you just have to wait. The process of downloading and installing the new system will be displayed on the phone screen, so the user can just go to drink coffee at this time, for example. Actually, nothing is required of him during this process - the phone carries out all the actions on its own.
Via WiFi or PC?
Comparing these two procedures, we only note that it will take longer to download the distribution kit on your own. Downloading to PC is faster. It depends on the WiFi data transfer module installed on the iPhone 4 (how to flash the latter, we have already described ininstructions). Its transfer rate is less than that of a full-fledged computer. However, in some situations, when there is simply no access to a PC and you need to flash the firmware, this helps. So choose a method based on what you have on hand.
Cautions
This is how the iPhone 4 works. How to flash it, you already understood. Now let's talk about some caveats. The first is addressed to owners of non-original devices. If you are looking for how to flash a Chinese iPhone 4, then you have the wrong address. Most often, fake smartphones (in particular, copies of the iPhone 4) run on the Android operating system (and in some cases, without it at all). Accordingly, the entire procedure described in this article does not apply to them. Most likely, the developers who released the copy did not take care of how to make updates, so the owners of such phones were out of luck.
One more note to those who are looking for how to reflash an "iPhone 4s" that has been "unlocked" (or "jailbroken"). If your phone was unlocked from under any operator (for example, AT&T, Verizon or Sprint), then by updating its operating system, you will most likely lose this “jailbreak”. To reset all phone settings to factory settings, you can use special programs, such as SemiRestore. However, you should not use the procedures described here.
There are many different instructions and manuals about this. They describe that working with such programs, as a rule,quite simple - you need to connect the device to a computer, run such software on it and wait until all information is deleted. Upon completion, you will also receive a clean iPhone 4, however, the “jailbreak” on it should remain - and this is the main thing.
Why pay more?
As you can see, the iPhone 4 flashing procedure is quite simple even for an inexperienced user. Any person with minimal PC skills can easily cope with it, since all actions are reduced to elementary.
This makes going to the service center to completely delete data from the phone pointless. Each of us knows how to reflash iPhone 4s, update our iOS to the latest version, reset all settings and at the same time not be too distracted from our affairs. So, one wonders, why pay more?
