Jailbreaking and unlocking the 3G (or 3G S) iPhone with blackra1n and blacksn0w

Who is this guide for?

• I used a 3G iPhone, you can also use the 3G S.
• Any firmware version.
• Previously Pwned or not. It's best if you restore to 3.1.2 first.
• Previously unlocked or not.
• Anyone who is stuck at the emergency call or plug into iTunes screens, including the error from iTunes - "The SIM card inserted in the iPhone does not appear to be supported."
• Make sure to Sync your iPhone (if you can) prior to using this tutorial. This way your personal information, and any App Store applications will be preserved.
• I used iTunes version 9.0.2.
• I used OS X 10.6.1

Thanks to GeoHot, for creating the blackra1n and blacksn0w programs for jailbreaking all versions of the iPhone, and for unlocking the 3G and 3G S iPhones on 5.11.07 modem firmware! You can visit GeoHot's blog here.

I took a perfectly fine (and unlocked) iPhone 3G, restored it to stock 3.1.2 firmware to make this tutorial with. If you are unsure where your iPhone is, it's probably best to just restore it with a clean 3.1.2 firmware install with iTunes. Those of you with an iPhone 3G S with the new version of iBoot, this program should work for you as well. Be sure to get your ECID SHSH on file with Cydia as soon as possible.

If you do not have an official AT&T SIM (or your local provider) to activate your iPhone with, you may have issues with YouTube not working. The same thing will happen with push notifications.

If you previously used blackra1n to jailbreak, then go to the end of this tutorial for instructions on how to use blacksn0w to unlock 5.11.07 modem firmware. You will install this directly from Cydia.

Warning: A minority of users report loss of Wi-Fi that is unrecoverable, even after restoring!   Proceed at your own risk.

Step 1.

You should have already restored to 3.1.2 firmware via iTunes with an AT&T SIM (doesn't need to be active) so that you can activate with it, and have push and YouTube working as well.

Put the SIM you want to use in your iPhone now.




Plug your iPhone into your Mac. It's okay if you see the image below on your iPhone.

Step 2.

You should shut down iTunes and iTunes Helper. They can cause problems with blackra1n. You can do this by going to your Applications folder, then into the Utilities folder. Launch a program called Activity Monitor.app. Here are the programs highlighted below. You can only close them one at a time.




When you've highlighted the program you want to close, click the Quit Process button up above. Next confirm this action by clicking Quit.

Step 3.

Download the blackra1n program here. Decompress the download file and the application will be placed on your desktop.

Step 4.

Launch blackra1n. Click the make it ra1n button.




A couple messages will appear.






The iPhone should display a different iTunes connection graphic, and then you'll see a graphic from GeoHot's blackra1n site.




A pop up will appear. Click OK.




The final message will appear in blackra1n. You can safely close the program at this point.

Step 5.

The iPhone will reboot shortly. You will then be at the SpringBoard. blackra1n will be installed.




Launch Settings, and press Wi-Fi. Enter your password to your network. Then go back to Settings, press General, then press Network. Slide the Enable 3G switch to the OFF position.

Step 6.

Launch blackra1n on the iPhone. Select which of the three packages you'd like to install. Then press the Install button. It will then download your selections. Cydia and Rock (your phone) are both third party application installers. sn0w is blacksn0w, which is an unlock specifically for 5.11.07 modem firmware.




The installing continues. It took about a minute of searching, and then T-Mobile appeared. Click the Close button.




The iPhone will respring. Your Wi-Fi may be disconnected. Just reenter your password to set it back up. If that does not work then launch Settings, press General, press Reset, and press Reset Network Settings. If that does not work then turn on Bluetooth and let it search for a while, then try Wi-Fi again. You can also try turning on Airplane Mode, reboot then turn off Airplane Mode.

Your installation choices will now join blackra1n on the SpringBoard. I launched blackra1n again so that I could delete it. Press the Uninstall blackra1n button, then press the Delete button.




Going to the About screen, you can see I'm on T-Mobile, and 3.1.2 firmware, with 5.11.07 modem firmware (baseband). Note: I always erase my Serial Number, Wi-Fi Address, Bluetooth, IMEI and ICCID from my screen shots for privacy reasons.




iTunes should prompt you to set up the iPhone. You should NOT restore from a backup as it has been well documented that this causes issues with the battery draining at an accelerated rate for whatever reason. Make your selection and click Continue. Note: I erased my phone number for privacy reasons. You are finished at this point.

blacksn0w

This step is only for those who previously jailbroke with blackra1n and need just an unlock. Launch Cydia. Press the Manage button, then press Sources. Press Edit, then press Add. Enter blackra1n.com then press the Add Source button. When it has added the source press the Done button. Then press the Source name. Press blacksn0w.




Press the Install button. Press the Return to Cydia button.




If you go to your Settings, General, About screen you will see I am now on T-Mobile, on 3.1.2 firmware and 5.11.07 modem firmware.