Help! How do I hack my iPhone!

Before we begin, I would like to congratulate “Dusty” on being the chosen winner of the Echo Mirror Screen for the iPhone!

Today we are going to take a little departure from the norm and focus on hacking, jailbreaking, and unlocking your iPhone and iPhone 3G. I have received enough questions about this that it is clear that there are still some of you out there that are unsure of how exactly to modify the software and jailbreak your iPhone or iPhone 3G.

To be clear, here is a list of definitions:

Jailbreak: To be able to modify the iPhone software such as changing the icons and backgrounds
Unlocking: To free the carrier lock on your iPhone so that you can use any Wireless provider with a SIM card.
Cydia: A repository of applications. It is like the AppStore but for jailbroken iPhones and the apps are mostly free.
QuickPwn: The software used to jailbreak and/or unlock your iPhone
YellowSnow: The software found in Cydia that unlocks iPhone 3G.

First I will begin with the first generation iPhone.

How to Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone on 2.2.1

So Apple this past week released new Firmware for the iPhones which is version number 2.2.1. If you want to put this firmware on your first generation iPhone, follow the guide below:

Put the following items all in the same Folder on your desktop.

1.) Download QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 from the Dev Team for either PC or Mac (you will need BitTorrent or a similar Torrent downloading tool)
2.) Download the 2.2.1 standalone firmware file here for the iPhone
3.) Download the bootloaders for iPhone. You will need BL 3.9 and BL 4.6.

Now you are able to begin the process, so let’s continue on:

4.) Launch iTunes on your computer and ensure you are running the latest version. (Help > Check for Updates) <— Do this in iTunes

5.) Plug in your iPhone. When it shows up in the device list on the left, right-click it and choose “Backup”. Also be sure to keep your current active SIM card in the phone.

6.) Now click “Update”. iTunes will prompt you about the new firmware, so you just click “Download and Install” and let iTunes finish updating your iPhone

When iTunes has completed the update, your iPhone will bring you to the emergency call screen with a symbol to plug it into iTunes. Your iPhone will be unusable at this point.

7.) Keeping the iPhone connected to your computer, close iTunes. Navigate to the folder you created in steps 1-3.

8.) Launch QuickPwn 2.2.5-2. At this point, simply follow the onscreen instructions. When prompted, click “Browse” and locate the Firmware 2.2.1 that you downloaded in the folder you made in steps 1-3.

9.) When prompted for the two (2) bootloaders, click browse on the first one and choose the Bootloader file 3.9 that you put in the folder that you made in Steps 1-3. Repeat this for bootloader 4.6.

10.) At the final screen, PUT CHECKMARKS in the following boxes: CYDIA, UNLOCK.

Do not put checkmarks in INSTALLER or REPLACE BOOT LOGO unless you want to (nothing bad happens if you do check them off).

11.) Follow the onscreen instructions. When your iPhone is finished, it will bring you to the home-screen where you can “slide to unlock” and begin using your iPhone. You may close QuickPwn and disconnect your iPhone from the computer. Your iPhone is now Jailbroken and Unlocked. Jump into “Cydia” and start downloading and modifying your iPhone!

Note: Either at this point or during the process, iTunes may prompt you about “Starting a new iPhone” or something along that line. If so, you can click “Restore from Backup” and from the drop-down menu, choose the latest backup file you created in Step 5.

If you have done all this and your iPhone is working, Well done!

(Thanks to Skylo for being the Guinea Pig!)

How to Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3G on 2.2.1

Note: Currently 2.2.1 cannot be unlocked, however when it can be, this will be the process to do so. However, because it cannot be unlocked, following this guide may permanently prevent you from unlocking your iPhone 3G in the future. So, if you want an unlock, stop here, do not update to 2.2.1 and wait until further noticeIf you do not care for an unlock and are happy with your carrier and just want to jailbreak and customize your iPhone 3G, then please proceed.

Put the following items all in the same Folder on your desktop.

1.) Download QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 from the Dev Team for either PC or Mac (You will need BitTorrent or a similar Torrent downloading tool)
2.) Download the 2.2.1 standalone firmware file here for the iPhone 3G

Now you are able to begin the process, so let’s continue on:

3.) Launch iTunes on your computer and ensure you are running the latest version.

4.) Plug in your iPhone 3G. When it shows up in the device list on the left, right-click it and choose “Backup”. Also be sure to keep your current active SIM card in the phone.

5.) Now click “Update”. iTunes will prompt you about the new firmware, so you just click “Download and Install” and let iTunes finish updating your iPhone 3G

At this point the update is finished and iTunes may prompt you about “Starting a new iPhone” or something along that line. If so, you can click “Restore from Backup” and from the drop-down menu, choose the latest backup file you created in Step 4.

When iTunes has completed the update, your iPhone 3G will bring you to the home-screen as soon as it has been activated (which will happen automatically).

6.) Keeping the iPhone 3G connected to your computer, close iTunes. Navigate to the folder you made in steps 1-3.

7.) Launch QuickPwn 2.2.5-2. At this point, simply follow the onscreen instructions. When prompted, click “Browse” and locate the Firmware 2.2.1 that you downloaded in the folder you made in steps 1-3.

8.) At the final screen, PUT CHECKMARKS in the following box: CYDIA.

Do not put checkmarks in INSTALLER or REPLACE BOOT LOGO unless you want to.

9.) Follow the onscreen instructions. When your iPhone 3G is finished, it will bring you to the home-screen where you can “slide to unlock” and begin using your iPhone 3G. You may close QuickPwn and disconnect your iPhone 3G from the computer. Your iPhone 3G is now Jailbroken. At this point you can use your iPhone 3G as normal, however if you want to unlock it as well, continue on.

Before I explain this, please note that Firmware 2.2.1 CANNOT BE UNLOCKED yet and the following is for informational purposes only. However, when an unlock becomes available, this will likely be the process.

10.) On your iPhone 3G, navigate to “Cydia”. Once Cydia is opened, go to “Search” and type in “Yellowsnow”.

11.) Yellowsnow is what is currently being used to unlock the iPhone 3G BUT DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT YET because it is not able to unlock 2.2.1, however once it can, this is the process you will follow.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please post them below. However, if you have a burning question to ask me, drop me a line at x1zero [at] iphoneincanada.ca.

Enjoy!

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