Jail breaking through third party software removes the restrictions imposed by Apple on the devices running on its iOS operating system like iPhone and iPad. It allows the devices to achieve root access to the core operating system and install additional applications which are not available on the official Apple App Store. Below are the steps to Jailbreak and unlock iPhone 3G running iOS 4.2.1 using Redsn0w 0.9.6.
Jail breaking iPhone 3G can be divided into two stage process. In the first stage you first jailbreak your iPhone 3G with redsn0w and then unlock iPhone 3G with ultrasn0w 1.2 unlock.
Step 1
- Download redsn0w and iOS 4.2.1 IPSW related to the hardware of the device that you want to jailbreak.
- Download iTunes 10.1.
Step 2
Connect your iPhone 3G to the iTunes and restore iOS 4.2.1/4.1. Your phone should start running on iOS 4.2.1/4.1.
Step 3
Execute the downloaded file of redSn0w 0.9.6b5 or redSn0w 0.9.6b6. Users of latest versions of Windows like Vista and Windows 7 should do the installation process logging in as administrator in the “XP Compatibility Mode”.
Step 4
When redSn0w 0.9.6b opens, click on the browse button and select downloaded iOS 4.2.1/4.1 firmware. Wait till redSn0w identifies the firmware and click on the Next button seen on the screen.
Step 5
If you just want to jailbreak your phone then select the option to install Cydia. This will add Cydia to iOS 4.2.1 and also replace the iOS 4.2.1 baseband. If you desire to both unlock and jailbreak your iPhone 3G, then you should also select the option to install iPad baseband (iPad baseband will work with both iPhone 3G and 3GS.
Step 6
Turn off your device when redSn0w asks you to do so. Hit the next button when the device is still connected and off.
Step 7
redSn0w will now instruct you to put your device into the DFU mode. Follow instructions displayed on the home screen to put your device into the DFU mode. You need to press and hold both the home and power buttons on your iPhone for 10 seconds to put the phone in the DFU mode. As soon as your iPhone 3G goes into the DFU mode, redSn0w will start the process of jail breaking. Once the process is completed, the Cydia icon will be displayed on the home screen of the your iPhone 3G indicating that you’ve successfully jail broken iOS 4.2.1 on your iPhone 3G.
Step 8 (only applicable for those who have opted to unlock their iPhone too)
The next step involves unlocking iPhone 3G using ultrasn0w 1.2.
- Launch the freshly installed Cydia on your iPhone.
- Click on ‘Manage’ from the options displayed and then click on ‘Sources’.
- Tap on edit and add the URL “http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com” to add a repository for Cydia.
- Clicking on ‘Add Source’ will make Cydia to update its sources.
- Search and download for ultrasn0w 1.2 within and Cydia.
- Installing ultrasn0w 1.2 will unlock your iPhone 3G successfully.
The unlocked iPhone can be used with any carrier you wish to. The iPhone 3G which is jailbroken using redSn0w can still connect through iTunes and access App store.