Last month we brought you news that there was a new iOS restore tool in the works called Semi-Restore. Semi-Restore is a next-to last resort for iOS issues. If you’ve done everything you can think of to fix your sluggish firmware to no avail and you have a device which doesn’t have SHSH blobs for a jailbreakable firmware or you simply have a device that cannot be downgraded, Semi-Restore will wipe your iOS installation clean without actually doing a full restore.
Semi-Restore is available now as a Windows and OSX GUI tool, there is a Linux version in development and there is also an SSH version for advanced users available now. Remember that you should only be using this method if you’ve tried everything else to solve your problems as this method is much like a complete restore. This method is compatible with any jailbroken iOS device running firmware 5.0-6.1.2
Step 1: Download Semi-Restore for Windows or for OSX
Step 2: Connect your device and open the tool, you will be greeted with this welcome screen containing your device and iOS information:
Step 3: Once you are sure you want to proceed(this process is not reversible) simply hit the “SemiRestore” button and you’re off! The device will reboot multiple times during this process which is normal, just let it do it’s thing.
Step 4: Once the device reboots, you will see “cleaning up” and then you will see the screen below. At this point your device will reboot again and you will see the loading bar like you would in a normal restore.
Step 5: Once your device reboots you will have to complete the initial setup process like you would a normal restore. Once that is complete you will notice that your device looks exactly like a stock device after a normal iTunes restore, with one exception. You will still have Cydia on your springboard! That’s right, this process retains your jailbreak so you don’t have to go through that process again. Once it’s done you’re ready to go and you can immediately start reinstalling tweaks and themes!
Let us know how you like SemiRestore in the comments below!
