Here's how you can clean install iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 final version on your iPhone or iPad in a few easy steps. You will lose your files and settings with this method.
Clean Install iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 Onto Your iPhone and iPad for the Ultimate Software Experience
You've decided to get the 'fresh' feel out of the newly released software from Apple - iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. What better way to do it than performing a clean install, right? Right.
Once you are done, you will be left with an iPhone or iPad that will be running iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 in its best possible form, screaming with performance. If you are all about that life, then follow the tutorial below.
Prerequisites
1. You will lose all your files and settings therefore backup everything to iTunes, Finder or iCloud
2. Make sure you have a Lightning cable or a USB-C cable with you in order to sync your iPhone or iPad with your PC or Mac
3. Make sure you have iTunes installed on your PC: apple.com/itunes/
4. If you have a dual SIM iPhone with eSIM, you will lose your second number. Make sure you have the QR code handy to get the number up and running again
5. Turn off Find My iPhone by going to Settings > Find My > Find My iPhone
6. Make sure your device is compatible with iOS 14 / iPadOS 14. Check the list below and confirm:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPod touch (7th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch
- iPad (7th generation)
- iPad (6th generation)
- iPad (5th generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Air 2
Tutorial
Step 1. Download the iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 IPSW from the links below and save it to your desktop:
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS
- iPhone 11, iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8, iPhone 7
- iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus
- 2020 iPhone SE 2
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPod touch seventh-generation
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th-gen, 4th-gen, 3rd-gen, 2nd-gen, 1st-gen)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd-gen, 2nd-gen, 1st-gen)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad (5th-gen, 6th-gen, 7th-gen, 8th-gen)
- iPad Air (2nd-gen, 3rd-gen, 4th-gen)
- iPad mini (4th-gen, 5th-gen)
Step 2. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC or Mac using a Lightning or USB-C cable.
Step 3. Launch iTunes / Finder.
Step 4. You will see your device appear as a small iPhone-like icon on the top left hand corner of iTunes, click on it. If you are using a Mac running macOS, your iPhone or iPad will appear in the left hand side bar.
Step 5. Find the 'Restore iPhone/iPad' and click on it while holding down the left Option key (Mac) or the left Shift key (Windows).
Step 6. Select the iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 IPSW file you downloaded in step 1.
Let iTunes / Finder extract the contents of the new firmware and restore it onto your device. This entire process may take a while. And remember, if you downloaded the wrong IPSW by mistake, the whole thing will simply fail, forcing you to start from scratch.
Once you are done, you will see the iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 Hello screen. From here, you can either setup your device as new or just restore from the backup you took earlier. Entirely your call.
Read more below:
- iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 Final with App Library, Compact Siri, Home Screen Widgets Released for iPhone and iPad
- iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 Final Changelog, Release Notes, What’s New
- Download iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 Over the Air Without Losing Files or Settings [Tutorial]
- Downgrade iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 to iOS 13 [Limited Time Only]
- How to Fix iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 Final Stuck on Preparing Update Issue [Tutorial]
About the author: Uzair has been writing about tech for a little under 10 years. Started off in the Symbian days, migrated to Android, eventually settling on iOS and Mac to make a living. Loves photography, drones, talking about the latest tech, and firmly believes that iPad is the future of computing. Served as Editor-in-Chief with Redmond Pie for five years, author at The Readers Eye and many other freelance gigs. Wccftech is now his current home.
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