Jailbreaking and unlocking tutorials

Updated: December 9, 2010

My Step 1 tutorials (for 4.x firmware) all revolve around one website (Jailbreakme.com), and four programs for Mac users: greenpois0n, limera1n, PwnageTool, and redsn0w. Here is a brief summary of their differences.



greenpois0n (works with 4.1 firmware - iPhone 3GS / iPhone 4)
iPhone
  • This is a one click jailbreaking program with no user configurable options.
  • This program requires 4.1 firmware to already be on your iPhone in order to jailbreak it.
  • In order to retain your unlock (if currently on 4.0 or 4.0.1, firmware and using an iPhone 4 only) use the TinyUmbrella program to preserve it.
  • Used for activating, and jailbreaking only. You must use the stand alone program ultrasn0w for unlocking the iPhone 4.
  • Allows you to install Cydia after the jailbreak process is complete.
  • This program is very similar to the limera1n program in the way it works and the exploit it uses to jailbreak with.
iPhone 4 owners can read the tutorial if they are a member. To become a member you must donate a minimum of $5. Click here to donate.    Members can read the tutorial here.

This tutorial can be applied to the iPhone 3G S as well, however you will lose your ability to unlock should you use this program. I will not be creating a 3G S tutorial for this very reason.





Jailbreakme.com (works with firmwares 3.1.2 - 4.0.1. and on all iPhones)
iPhone
  • Use your iPhone to surf to a website and you are jailbroken in minutes.
  • No computer needed.
  • Requires your iPhone to be activated.
  • Has no user configurable options and installs Cydia by default.


iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S owners can read the tutorial here.

iPhone 4 owners can read the tutorial if they are a member. To become a member you must donate a minimum of $5. Click here to donate.    Members can read the tutorial here.





limera1n (works with 4.1 firmware - iPhone 3GS / iPhone 4)
iPhone
  • This is a one click jailbreaking program with no user configurable options.
  • This program requires 4.1 firmware to already be on your iPhone in order to jailbreak it.
  • In order to retain your unlock (if currently on 4.0 or 4.0.1, firmware and using an iPhone 4 only) use the TinyUmbrella program to preserve it.
  • Used for activating, and jailbreaking only. You must use the stand alone program ultrasn0w for unlocking the iPhone 4.
  • Allows you to install Cydia after the jailbreak process is complete.
  • This program is very similar to the greenpois0n program in the way it works and the exploit it uses to jailbreak with.
iPhone 4 owners can read the tutorial if they are a member. To become a member you must donate a minimum of $5. Click here to donate.    Members can read the tutorial here.

This tutorial can be applied to the iPhone 3G S as well, however you will lose your ability to unlock should you use this program. I will not be creating a 3G S tutorial for this very reason.





PwnageTool (works up to 4.2.1 firmware, but not for iPhone 4)
iPhone
  • Does not require you to be on a specific firmware before use. You will create a custom firmware file with PwnageTool and restore with that.
  • Is a more in-depth program offering a simple mode and an expert mode for greater control over custom firmware creation.
  • Used for activating, and jailbreaking the iPhone. You must use the stand alone program called ultrasn0w for unlocking the iPhone.
  • Creates a custom ipsw file that you can use to restore with (wipes out your current settings and personalization of the phone) again and again.
  • Allows you to decide whether or not you want to install Cydia and additional programs.
  • Allows custom root partition sizing.
  • Allows you to add custom boot and recovery logos.
This tutorial is available to members only. To become a member you must donate a minimum of $5. Click here to donate.    iPhone 3G S owners with an old bootrom can read the tutorial here. I do not have an iPhone 3G tutorial for this firmware version with this program, but the method would be similar to the 3G S.





redsn0w (up to 4.2.1 firmware with iPhone 3G, 3G S (new bootrom is tethered), iPhone 4 is tethered)
iPhone
  • Requires you to already be on the firmware you intend to jailbreak! This means you have already updated or restored. This is the biggest difference between redsn0w and PwnageTool. It will also activate your iPhone.
  • You can not unlock the iPhone by using this program at present.
  • Is a more basic program offering only one mode for custom firmware creation.
  • Does not create a custom ipsw file that you can use to restore with again and again. However, it does not wipe out your personal settings once they have been configured.
  • Allows you to decide whether or not you want to install Cydia.
  • Allows you to add custom boot and recovery logos.
This tutorial is available to members only. To become a member you must donate a minimum of $5. Click here to donate.    Members with an iPhone 3G can read the tutorial here. Members with an iPhone 3G S can read the tutorial here. Members with an iPhone 4 can read a simulated tutorial here.




If you don't know what firmwares are currently on your iPhone then read this first. If the main firmware is lower than 4.x, then click the Miscellaneous button above in my navigation bar and make the appropriate selection to access my older tutorials.



The Jailbreakme.com website, PwnageTool, redsn0w, and ultrasn0w programs are distributed for FREE by the iPhone Dev Team. Limera1n is distributed for free by George Hotz. Greenpois0n is distributed for free by the Chronic Dev Team. I link (from within my tutorials) to the download locations for these programs. Do not pay for these programs! I know there are shady businesses out there that sell them!

Once you are jailbroken and unlocked, I have in-depth setup guides for using an iPhone 4 contract free on the following networks: AT&T's GoPhone plan, Simple Mobile and T-Mobile. These include instruction on making EDGE/3G, tethering, FaceTime and MMS (except receiving media) work. All other functions of the iPhone will behave as before except for the lack of Visual Voicemail which is a contract only feature with AT&T. To become a member you must donate a minimum of $5 to my site. You can do that here.



Get your SHSH on file with Cydia as soon as possible. This enables you to either downgrade your main OS firmware, or simply restore to an older firmware that Apple is no longer signing. See Saurik's site or this page for more information.

While you can use an SHSH to downgrade your main OS firmware, it will not downgrade your modem firmware (also called baseband). When you have your SHSH on file with Cydia, Cydia will display a similar message toward the top of the screen. In my example I have SHSHs on file for multiple firmwares meaning I can always restore to any of those firmwares at any time.
iPhone



There are a few issues in relying solely on Cydia to retrieve your SHSH. Sometimes Saurik's server gets overloaded (like it did around the release of the Spirit jailbreak on May 3rd, 2010, and when any new firmware is released) Cydia users saw this message at the top of the screen because of it. Pretty unhelpful if you need to restore your iPhone right now to an older firmware, isn't it?

Even when Saurik's server is operating normally it still takes days or even weeks for it to cache your SHSH for a newly released firmware because millions of other people are trying to do this as well. Finally, you must be jailbroken to use Cydia to retrieve your SHSH.

Another programmer by the name of Semaphore addressed all these issues with a program he created called TinyUmbrella. You can now acquire your saved SHSH files from Cydia, or from Apple and store them on your own computer. It will also configure iTunes so that it will verify any restores you need to perform without having to manually edit a hidden system file on your computer. This program will also create the SHSH file. I have written a tutorial based on this method here. Unlike Cydia, you do not need to be jailbroken to use this program.

Read this thread, and this thread for more information. To learn more about the iTunes verification process, read this article by iGuru.

iPhone


This is what the TinyUmbrella program looks like (version 4.1.12 pictured).

iPhone



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