How to Restore an Expired iOS 5 Beta

As usual, I was too lazy to update my iOS 5 Beta to the new release and iOS Beta 6 was expired today, so I should download Beta 7 Update to my computer, restore my iPhone to factory settings and install the update.

For some reason, I lost all the backup files on my computer, so I was in risk of losing all data on my iPhone forever.. However, I managed to update it to iOS 5 Beta 7 and keep the data without restoring the iPhone to factory settings, how:

  1. Call your number from another phone
  2. Answer the phone
  3. Click the home button
  4. Go to Settings, Software Update
  5. After the iPhone checks for new update, Choose Download And Install
  6. After downloading the update file, tap Install
  7. This will install the new update and upgrade the iOS to Beta 7
  8. Connect your iPhone to computer via USB modem
  9. Sync & Backup your iPhone

Installing Update

Note:

  • This only works for iPhone, couldn’t find a way to do it for iPad so far
  • This only works for iPhone iOS 5 Beta5+
  • You should be connected to WiFi
  • Don’t hang up the phone while downloading and installing the file, it usually takes around 10-15 min. on high Internet speeds
  • You should have the latest iTunes Beta release

Hope iCloud backups help fixing this problem in the future!