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Roundup of jailbreak and unlock options for iPhone 2.2.1 2G and 3G

Posted on February 1st, 2009 by Editorial Staff in Cell Phones, Softwares and Tools, Tips and Tutorials

Update (15/04/2009): For those looking for a baseband downgrade solution for the iPhone 3G, ModMyi have now released a tool which could help you…

Like we’ve always done with newly released iPhone firmwares, we want to do our best at providing free help and explaining to iPhone users who are not familiar with iPhone jailbreaking and unlocking what it is all about with our roundup of jailbreak and unlock for the iPhone, but please note we’re also just iPhone users ourselves!

We’ve been playing about with the new iPhone firmware update 2.2.1 over the weekend and with some research over the tools that are now available, we’d like to tell you what choices are available to help you get the most out of your iPhone, no matter which iPhone you have and what you are aiming to do, jailbreak or unlock or both.

You will probably have read the quick post we published on how those who accidentally upgraded their iPhones to firmware 2.2.1 can downgrade to 2.2, unfortunately this method doesn’t work 100%, but we’d be happy to try our best to help should you choose that this is more suitable for you.

What we want to try and get out to you today is the options that are available. The iPhone Dev Team have updated their QuickPwn and Pwnage Tools so that they will work for jailbreaking the new firmware 2.2.1. If you’re new here, you may want to know the differences between these tools, those that already know can just skip and scroll on.

Please note: First generation iPhone 2G users, you need to update to firmware 2.2.1 using iTunes first. For second generation iPhone 3G users, you must do the opposite, you must remain in firmware 2.2. All the tools that are listed and available to date will work if you have NOT yet already upgraded to firmware 2.2.1. Especially so if you have a yellowsn0w unlocked iPhone 3G and you plan on keeping it unlocked. This is because the iPhone Dev Team’s Pwnage Tool will help your iPhone 3G to upgrade instead of doing it the iTunes way, and in order to keep your iPhone 3G unlocked, using the latest updated Pwnage Tool is the only way because this will preserve your iPhone 3G’s baseband for unlocking using yellowsn0w.

For those who have had their baseband upgraded by mistake, a iPhone 3G baseband downgrade tool is now available.

First things first!

If you’re interested in just jailbreaking so that you can use third party apps from Cydia and Installer and know for certain that you have no interest in unlocking your iPhone (especially iPhone 3G) for use with any other unofficial network providers in the future, you can simply choose QuickPwn.

Now lets get abit more specific, If you have the first generation iPhone (2G), and you wish to jailbreak and unlock, you also simply need to use QuickPwn.

  • QuickPwn 2.2.5 for Mac and QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 for PC users should do the trick for the above mentioned purposes (download links below).

If you have the second generation iPhone, iPhone 3G and you want to jailbreak and unlock, then you must definitely use the Pwnage Tool to take your iPhone 3G through the upgrade process from firmware 2.2 to 2.2.1. If you don’t and choose the regular iTunes method, it is known that Apple will cause your iPhone 3G’s baseband to shift from 02.28.00 to 02.30.03 and at the moment this seems to be permanent. Resulting in inability for yellowsn0w to unlock your iPhone 3G for use with other providers.

  • Therefore, if you require jailbreak and unlock on your iPhone 3G, use the updated Pwnage Tool version 2.2.5 which is only available to Mac users. If you are a PC user, you need to find a Mac computer and sort this out (Once you do pwn your iPhone 3G on that Mac, you can sync like you would normally on your own PC). Pwnage tool download links are also listed below.

iPod Touch first generation: All you need to do is follow the rule above as if you have the iPhone 2G and use the new QuickPwn to jailbreak to run third party apps. Do remember you need to have already upgraded to firmware 2.2.1 using iTunes to use QuickPwn.

iPod Touch second generation: The iPhone Dev Team have released the redsn0w tool, find out how you can jailbreak your iPod Touch.

Important message from iPhone Dev Team

  1. GOLDEN RULE: If you have a 3G iPhone running 2.2 firmware and you want to keep your ability to use yellowns0w (or the option to use it in the future) do NOT use QuickPwn, and do not use the official ipsw or the iTunes update process without using PwnageTool.
  2. Yellowsn0w will NOT work with the baseband version (02.30.03) that is present in the recent 2.2.1 update. If you want to use Yellownsn0w you will need to create and restore using a custom .ipsw that will allow you to update safely to 2.2.1 without applying the 02.30.03 baseband update. You’ll then have a 3G iPhone running 2.2.1 with an older baseband version that is still vulnerable to yellowsn0w, following these steps ensures that yellowsn0w will still operate.
  3. At the bottom of this post are the bittorrent files for the latest versions of PwnageTool and QuickPwn.
  4. These apps are suitable for the recent 2.2.1 release.
  5. The Yellowsn0w version has been updated to 0.9.7. Yellowsn0w is available from Cydia or Installer – this version allows compatibility with pwned 2.2.1 system (not baseband). Again„ remember 0.9.7 yellowsn0w DOES NOT WORK WITH 2.2.1 (02.30.03) directly – you need to be running a ‘pwned’ version of 2.2.1 which didn’t upgrade the baseband during the restore/upgrade.
  6. Users of OS X 10.5.6 will be unable to use DFU mode correctly, please see the note towards the end of this post to easily fix this issue.

How to fix iPhone DFU mode problem on Mac OS X 10.5.6

As noted previously OS X 10.5.6 introduced a bug that affected the use of DFU mode. with some Macs. There have been previously published hacks and techniques to fix this, but here is another method that can be used to temporarily restore DFU functionality in order to use QuickPwn or PwnageTool.

1. You will need an account with ADC (Apple Developer Connection) this is free and takes a few minutes to sign up, you should read the terms and conditions carefully and you should only sign up if you are thinking of developing applications in the future – http://developer.apple.com/mac/
2. Download the disk image “IOUSBFamily-315.4-log.dmg”  for Mac OS X 10.5.5 Build 9F33” (yes, that is a “5” in 10.5.5 – this is a developer debug package of the USB kernel extension).
3. Unplug non-vital USB equipment, such as external DVD writers, USB scanners, USB mass storage devices, at the most leave a Keyboard and Mouse connected.
4. Install IOUSBFamily-315.4.1.pkg from within the disk image
5. Reboot your system!
6. Perform necessary DFU activity with QuickPwn or PwnageTool.
7. Download the disk image “IOUSBFamily-327.4.0-log.dmg” for Mac OS X 10.5.6 Build 9G55”
8. Intall IOUSBFamily-327.4.0.pkg from within the disk image
9. Reboot your system!
10. Reattach your USB peripherals.

Download Links

So here are the download links as mentioned. Please remember that hacking your iPhone could void its warranty, so proceed with caution and at your own risk. Again, if you’re not definitely sure which tool to use for your situation, please refer to the above or send us a comment and we’ll do our best to help! Any false move with the iPhone 3G can be permanent!

Pwnage Tool 2.2.5 (Mac only)

QuickPwn 2.2.5 for Mac

QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 for Windows

[via iPhone Dev]

Update (02/02/2009): Just added more download links for QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 for Windows users!

Update (15/04/2009): For those looking for a baseband downgrade solution for the iPhone 3G, ModMyi have now released a tool which could help you…

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  • Shaikh
    Not sure if you got my last comment,

    I have a few more questions:

    Is jailbreaking illegal?

    If something goes wrong, can I just restore?

    I know a lot of people, when jailbreaking their device got stuck at the boot logo, can you please tell me what to do if that happens?

    Thanks!
  • Shaikh
    Hi,

    I have an iPod touch running firmware 2.2.1.

    Do i still have to download the ipsw file?

    Secondly, i know i should restore before jailbreaking, but if i already have 2.2.1 running, do i need to do the shift+restore command and choose the ipsw file?

    Will i be able to sync to itunes 8.2 after i jailbreak?

    Thanks a million!!!!!

    Please reply back!!!!!
  • Shaikh, thanks for your message. I am presumming you have the first generation iPod Touch? Just like jailbreaking the first generation iPhone, even though you already have 2.2.1 on board, it will prompt you for the ipsw file (it should do).

    In your case, I don't think you need to restore as you already have 2.2.1.

    As for your 8.2 iTunes, some have had problems while some haven't. If you do, two things can be done. Either go for OS 3.0 upgrade then jailbreak (you need to pay for the upgrade as you are an iPod Touch user) which iTunes 8.2 can sync without any known problems. Or you can downgrade your iTunes back to previous versions such as 8.0.

    Let us know if you have any further questions. Hope this helps.
  • Shaikh
    Thank you so much for the quick reply!!!!!!!!

    Just two more questions before I jailbreak:

    Is it illegal?

    If anything bad happens, can I just restore it?

    Thank You!!!!!
  • Yoelarto
    Hi, i'm from indonesia, i'm new with iphone 3G that i've received as a gift from my friend. But, lock for the SIM card in Indonesia.
    Could you give me step by step, to unlock the phone ? This is the specification :
    version : 2.2.1 (5H 11)
    modem firmware : 02.30.03

    thank you
  • Hi Yoelarto, you mentioned your iPhone 3G is new. I am concerned the problem may be that there are no tools yet available to help you unlock because your baseband is 023003 which isn't supported by the unlocking tool unless it is downgraded. To find out if you can downgrade your iPhone 3G's baseband, view this guide: http://www.gadgetlite.com/2009/05/10/roundup-me...

    If your iPhone 3G is downgradable, let us know by replying to this comment and we'll help you further.
  • Iphone
    I have a 2g iPhone running 2.2, what do I need to do to get to 3.0 any help is appreciated.
  • Hi well it is quite simple, all you need to do is click update in iTunes. However, if you want to jailbreak after updating or even unlock for use with other networks, we suggest you wait til tomorrow or this weekend, new tools are being updated as we speak and we will be reporting them as soon as they become available. Hope this helps!
  • chris
    i have a question:

    i already have a jailbroken/unlocked 3g iphone on firmware 2.2 and i want to update it to a new custom firmware 2.2.1 which i did using pwnage tool.

    how do i know if i need to unlock it again or will it unlock automatically after restoring it using itune...

    thank you for all your help....
  • Hi Chris, thanks for your emssage. That's a good question. We believe once you update using Pwnage Tool to 2.2.1, your iPhone 3G will be locked up again. But the advantage of having used Pwnage Tool is that your base band is reserved. You will be able to use yellowsn0w to get it unlocked again once you've updated.

    To answer your question, you will know when you need to unlock again because you won't get a reception with your network.
    Hope this helps!
  • maninder
    Hi..I have 2G 8GB phone and upgraded to 2.2.1 then tried to jailbreak and UNLOCK it with new quickpwn 2.2.5-2 released by dev-teams but unfortunately it dint work and it is showing SIM CARD NOT IDENTIFIED.... then after reading here and there i tried to DOWNGRADE it to 2.2 ... then after that i JAILBREAKED it with old files quickpwn.. but THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.. now i cant even use my phone.. pltz help..............
  • Hi maninder, we're sorry to hear that its not gone so well with your unlocking process so far. I know you haven't been able to unlock but have you been able to jailbreak?

    Please have a look at the comments near the bottom of this page by @m who successfully got everything to work: http://blog.gadgetlite.com/2009/01/31/downgrade...
  • maninder
    hey.. thanks man.. for ur reply..
    good news--- i DID IT.. its working


    for the past 20odd hours i was stuck with this all Iphone Shit..

    being a non-techie .. it became even tougher for me to understand the jargons....

    but alls well is alls good..... heres what i have done....which might be very helpful to those who are using 2G and have updated 2.2.1 from ITUNES

    1. INSTALLED ITUNES (prefarably latest version) to ANOTHER SYSTEM

    2. RESTORE( shift+ restore) to 2.2 via some ".ipsw" file

    3. JAILBREAK AND QUICKPWN for UNLOCKING with 2.2 version..


    IT WORKED...

    ANY SIM CARD IS ACTIVE...lolzz

    now i m restoring the backups... lets c how much further it works..
    :)
  • joe
    Hello.

    I have an iphone 16gb 3g but it has 2.2.1 on it as i bought it brand new. How do i now unlock this phone to all networks and jailbreak it?

    thanks
  • Thanks for your comment Joe. If it came with firmware 2.2.1, that would be a problem. But just to make sure there is a possibility, could you check what your baseband is? Jailbreaking your new iPhone 3G will definitely NOT be a problem but unlocking it will depend on its baseband. Do give us a reply when you find out, thanks.
  • jose antuna
    i have tried time and time again downloading firmwares but when i am in quickpwn i choose the file they tell me to select then it tells me it is not the correct file.. it is driving me crazy
  • Sharon
    Have you updated to 2.2.1 yet?
  • BeaRaCudA
    btw so you know you can actually get quickpwn from quickpwn.com its pretty easy and they have full instructions on how to jailbreak in quickpwn it is pretty cool u can also find the firmwares there as well
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