Many tutorials claiming “downgrade iPhone 5s to iOS 7” are:
to dual-boot into iOS 7. This allows you to experience the legacy OS without fully committing to its limitations. Critical Functional Limitations Downgrade Iphone 5s To Ios 7
The 5s does not have a BootROM exploit (like the iPhone 4's Limera1n). The first BootROM exploit for 64-bit devices didn't arrive until the checkm8 exploit in 2019, which works for the iPhone 5s—but only if you have a Mac or Linux computer, and even then, it requires tethered booting. Many tutorials claiming “downgrade iPhone 5s to iOS
If the version is "signed" (current), Apple grants a ticket, and the installation proceeds. If the version is "unsigned" (old), the server denies the request, and the installation fails with an error code (usually Error 3194). The first BootROM exploit for 64-bit devices didn't
that results in significant functional trade-offs, such as a non-working Touch ID
If you are one of the lucky few who archived their blobs, you would need to use a specialized tool like futurerestore or idevicerestore with the --use-pwned-restore-mode flag to exploit the bootrom and bypass Apple's signing server requirements. This process involves entering DFU mode, utilizing the checkm8 exploit to put the device in a pwned state, and then restoring the custom firmware file. It is a command-line heavy process that carries a risk of "bricking" the device if done incorrectly.