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Update (Jan 2, 2010) This iPhone Jailbreak guide has been completely renovated to reflect better, and more current information on how to Jailbreak iPhone.
What is iPhone Jailbreak?
In short, Jailbreak is the process of hacking an iPhone to free it from Apple restrictions.
Because the iPhone is far from flawless as Apple created it, thousands of iPhone users have flocked to Jailbreak in search of iPhone changes and improvements. iPhone has been held back by limited customizability, text message privacy issues, and a lack of multitasking capabilities. But Jailbreak can solve all of these problems with apps and fixes available in Cydia and Installer.
Cydia and Installer are the unofficial “App Stores” of the Jailbreak world. Developers create apps and tweaks and different utilities and upload them to these package managers, which organize everything into categories. The differences between Cydia and the App Store are the lack of an app approval process, and the lack of access limits on the iPhone software — i.e. you can do things Apple did not design the iPhone software to do.
Why Jailbreak iPhone?
- No restrictions. Want a custom wallpaper on your home screen? Custom icons for your apps? Internet tethering? A category system for organizing your apps? The ability to hide native iPhone apps you don’t use? You can do all of this and more with Jailbreak, as iSmashPhone describes in ten reasons to Jailbreak your iPhone. As one of my readers recently noted, Jailbreak can make all your iPhone wishes come true.
- To join the subculture. Sick of Apple’s stranglehold on the iPhone? Those who Jailbreak iPhone belong to a movement of people who demand more from their iPhones. And they’re not gonna let Apple stop them. Beat the system: Jailbreak your iPhone.
- Unlock iPhone. To unlock your iPhone and use it on any carrier, you must first Jailbreak your iPhone. Some of the Jailbreak solutions below also allow you to unlock the iPhone, though unlocking is generally beyond the scope of this tutorial.
Why NOT Jailbreak iPhone?
- The folks at Apple know what they are doing. They have not enabled multasking — the ability for apps to run in the background, simultaneously — most likely because it is a huge battery drain. By controlling the user experience, Apple ensures that your iPhone “just works,” and you don’t have to worry about managing battery life or any other technical details.
- Jailbreak could (maybe?) brick your iPhone. “When someone develops something for an Apple product and that development isn’t sanctioned by Apple, you run the risk of it not working as it should, conflicting with the device itself, or just all-around bricking that iPhone,” warns Chris Pirillo, who prefers not to Jailbreak his iPhone because “my iPhone just works already.” But I have never heard of Jailbreak completely ruining an iPhone. The consensus at this forum seems to be that the chance is “extremely slim.”
- Every iPhone update from iTunes disables Jailbreak. Every time Apple comes out with an update for iPhone, they find a way to prevent hackers from cracking the code again. Hackers then scramble to Jailbreak the iPhone again and release the new methods. That means if you like to download Apple’s iPhone updates, you are going to have to figure out each time how to Jailbreak your iPhone yes again. Do you really want to play this cat and mouse game?
- Jailbreak might increase your risk of getting a virus on your iPhone. The only two iPhone viruses ever reported have spread across iPhones that have been Jailbroken. That’s not to say the iPhone platform as Apple built it is totally secure. In fact, some say compromising an iPhone’s security is “child’s play” (i.e. easy).
- Jailbreak voids your iPhone warranty. If your iPhone is bricked because of Jailbreak, or if your iPhone has another problem and it happens to be Jailbreaked, your warranty becomes void. I once saw a sign at the Genius bar of The Falls, Miami Apple Store that warned customers not to Jailbreak iPhones or they would void their warranties. Harsh.
iPhone Jailbreak Guides
Admittedly, I have in the past mused about whether Jailbreak is really worth the trouble, but the real problem is the hassle of finding accurate, helpful information on how to Jailbreak iPhone.
I believe my old, outdated post on iPhone Jailbreak was beginning to cause confusion for new visitors, so I have put together this The Ultimate Guide to iPhone Jailbreak. I have included textual resources from various sources, and also some videos on how to Jailbreak iPhone.
Note: I have not attempted all of these iPhone Jailbreak instructions, I am merely compiling what information I have found and selected with my best judgment. Let me know what is helpful and what is not.
Text Resources
These websites contain information and download links necessary for various iPhone models with different OS versions. To see what version of the iPhone OS (operating system) you are running, go to Settings >> General >> About.
Choose the iPhone Jailbreak guide that is right for you. Read everything extremely carefully, including comments, before attempting to Jailbreak. I have not personally attempted all of these, so you are Jailbreaking at your own risk.
- Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2 with QuickPwn
- Jailbreak iPhone 3GS 3.1 with Pwnage tool on Windows
- How to Jailbreak and Unlock 2G iPhone OS 3.0 with redsn0w
- How to Jailbreak iPhone 3G 3.0 on Windows & Mac with QuickPwn
- Step-By-Step Guide to Jailbreak iPhone 3G Running iPhone OS 3.0 with redsn0w (Windows)
- Jailbreak iPhone 2.1 with QuickPwn
iPhone Jailbreak Videos
Jailbreak Unlock 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 Mac and Windows:
iPhone 3.0.1 Firmware and Jailbreak with Redsnow 0.8:
How To Jailbreak NEW 3.0 Firmware For iPhone,iPhone 3G … On Windows/Mac:
Jailbreak & Unlock 2.2.1 iPhone 2g, 3g, and iPod Touch:
Jailbreak iPhone 2.2:
ZiPhone Jailbreak is history
I made this video a couple of years ago to demonstrate how easy it was to Jailbreak with ZiPhone. ZiPhone is now obsolete, so please do not try to use it. This video has been posted here for historical and humorous purposes only. Again, do not attempt to use ZiPhone!
ZiPhone Jailbreak: So Easy a Caveman Can Do It
Conclusion
iPhone offers endless possibilities for expressing the human imagination, but Apple restrictions hold us back. iPhone Jailbreak frees your iPhone by letting you do just about anything that is possible to do with your iPhone. Jailbreak at its essence is the purest manifestation of the will of the people.
Yes, the App Store reflects well the imaginations and creativity of thousands of developers and iPhone users. Apple has done a brilliant job making the iPhone a blank slate that is able to continually mold to our collective conscience. Yet, iPhone can do and be so much more. Cue iPhone Jailbreak.
What do you think?
Do you Jailbreak? Did you find this post helpful and accurate? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments.
Please note: The first 207 comments below are in response to my old post on how to Jailbreak iPhone. New comments are welcome, however I cannot personally address everyone’s Jailbreak issues, so if you are Jailbreak-savvy, please assist commenters who are having trouble. Thanks!
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Forget what i just put down i just realised someone else just said thier isnt an official one yet, Gutted “/
What should i use for Version 3.1.3 (7E18)
You can downgrade your 3.1.3 version to 3.1.2, then you’ll be able to jailbreak, same happened with me =)
how can i update my jailbroken iphone (1st gen) 2.1 to 313
UGHHHHH!!! i dont gittit can sombody PLEAZZE explain it?!?!
I just checked mine and it says version 2.1. So I guess I have to search somewhere else in order to jailbreak my phone, right? Maybe you will recommend with what to jailbreak this version? Thanks alot. Ira
Hi my phone is jailbroken but wd like to install iphone updates
can this be done without starting all over again?
3.1.3 has no official jailbreak. Dev-Team and Geohot warn against upgrading the 3.1.3 because of this very reason. They also say unlockers be warned that the phone might be forever unlockable if you upgrade to this firmware version. The warranty is garbage, so why not jailbreak? If you restore the phone, you should be fine in terms of “covering up the evidence”, but again, good luck getting them to cover the damage.
Once jailbroken, you can never go back. It is sooooo much better. If you have a 3gs, it’s flawless because of the ram and processor upgrade. U.S. unlockers beware that 3g will not workon T-Mobile, only edge. They run their 3G on a different bandwidth…
I jail broke my phone last week, I was actually afraid of bricking my phone and causing damage to it. But I went ahead and did it and to my surprise it went really smooth! I went to blackra1n.com and downloaded the software it was easy and very awesome! Go to youtube for the instructions! It is ridiculously easy!