iOS For Mac

Apple's iOS can be installed and updated automatically, but official IPSW files are also available if you wish to update iOS manually, revert to an earlier version, or restore a device that isn't working properly.

iOS 17 brings more personalization to your calls via Contact Posters, which people will be able to see when you call. These can include photos, a preferred font, and memojis. You can now view real-time transcripts for Live Voicemail.

Messages get a lot of enhancements. Sending things will be easier via the new plus button, which aggregates items you send most often. You can also more easily go to the first message you haven’t seen in a conversation, share locations, send check in notifications, and read audio messages transcripts.

FaceTime now allows you to record video or audio messages when someone misses a call, and you can use your iPhone together with your Apple TV to see things on a bigger screen.

While charging, your iPhone can be turned on its side in StandBy mode, allowing it to display useful information and provide new functionality.

Sharing numbers becomes simpler via AirDrop, and SharePlay sessions can be started by just holding two devices together. When in a car with your friends, everyone can contribute to a playlist from their own phones.

Safari profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, favorites, tab groups, and cookies. Private browsing is a bit more private, and one-time codes can now be filled in from Mail without switching from the browser.

The new Journal app, available some time after the initial release, will provide suggestions powered by machine learning, which give you ideas as to what you can include in your journal entries.

For most people, updating your iPhone is simple and requires no additional files or connections. However, if you want to make a manual update for whatever reason, you want to revert to an earlier version of iOS, or you want to repair an iOS installation, IPSW restore files can be used.

These are released by Apple directly, and they can be used to install iOS on an iPhone by connecting it to your Mac. Different files are available for each type of device, so make sure you're getting the right one.

To start with, you will need to download the IPSW file suitable for your device. Once that is done, connect your phone to your Mac via USB. Naturally, you should make sure the device is backed up beforehand, as all data on it will be lost after restoring.

Before macOS Catalina, iTunes was used for restoring via IPSW files. Starting with macOS 10.15, however, this functionality has been moved to Finder. Simply open Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar. Then, hold down the Option (⌥), click "Restore iPhone" and select the downloaded IPSW file.

If you need to perform a manual update or restore for any reason, go ahead and grab these IPSW files and get the job done directly from your Mac. The process is simple, especially since iTunes is no longer required.