iOS 4.1 unlock status

iOS 4.2.1 firmware was released on Monday ( Nov. 22nd ) ... resist the urge to update to that version.

There currently is not an unlock for iOS 4.1 and the new 4.2.1. However, an unlock for the 3G and 3GS iPhones is expected within days with one for the iPhone 4s to come a bit later ( not ETA has been given ).

However, one thing that all of you MUST do immediately in order to ensure that you can have a "good" jailbreak for 4.2.1 is to backup what is called your SHSH information. This is information that Apple uses to determine if your device can be downgraded. Typically, Apple does not allow 3GS and iPhone 4 phones to be downgraded, they must stay on the most current version available ( the 3G iPhones do not have this issue and can be downgraded to any firmware version ). However, with saved SHSH information your 3GS and iPhone 4 can be downgraded.

The word from the jailbreak hackers is that your SHSH info for firmware 4.1 must be saved in order to ensure a "good" jailbreak, as I mention above. The process is simple :

1 - Go to the following website and download TinyUmbrella ( at the far right of the page ) for your Windows or Mac system

2 - Plug your iPhone into your computer and run TinyUmbrella ( you may get some firewall messages in a pop-up. Click on Private and Public networks, then "Allow access" ).

3 - When TinyUmbrella loads, click on your iPhone in the left pane, under "Connected Devices" and then click on "Save SHSH" at the top right of the right pane.

4 - In the "Saved SHSHs for " you should see the firmware versions for which SHSH info has been saved : e.g. iPhone4 4.2.1 (8C148) <- this is SHSH information for 4.2.1 firmware for an iPhone 4 As long as you have an entry for 4.1 ( e.g. iPhone4 4.1 (8B117) ) you have done what is requested by the iPhone hackers and are good for a soon-to-be-released jailbreak for 4.2.1 - note that you can stay on firmware version 4.1 for an unlock ... just DO NOT update your firmware right now.


That's it for now.

The current state of jailbreaks/unlocks

Today ( October 20th ) a tool was updated that makes the unlock world more interesting. Plus, new jailbreak tools released a couple of weeks ago provide more options.

However ... STILL no direct unlock for those on iOS 4.1 firmware. If your iPhone is on iOS 4.1 firmware there is currently NO tool that will unlock your iPhone - you will have to wait until the end of November ( my estimate ) for an iOS 4.1 unlock solution.

Now, what is available today?

- iPhones on iOS 4.1 firmware : jailbreak is possible, no unlock

- iPhones on iOS 4.0.x : jailbreak is possible on these iOS versions. Additionally you can indirectly update to iOS 4.1 with the above-mentioned updated tool and retain your unlock. This is the reason that I suggested that you not upgrade to iOS 4.1 in my previous post.

-iPhones on firmware below 4.x.x ( primarily the 3GS ) : same options as the previous option, see above

Note that I DO NOT recommend that 3G iPhones be updated past 3.1.3. The reason is that, in my opinion, iOS 4.x.x firmware is just too much for the 3G. The 3G runs slow, slow, slow. Stay one 3.1.3 or downgrade to it.

Upcoming jailbreak for 4.1 firmware ... good news ... bad news

The good news : this weekend a jailbreak for 4.1 iOS firmware will be released

The bad news : this jailbreak will only work for the iPhone 4, iPad, iPod Touch 4, and AppleTV 2. Nothing for the 3GS ( note that there is already a jailbreak for the 3G on 4.1 iOS firmware )

More bad news : there is NO mention of an unlock to accompany the 4.1 firmware

Not so bad news : if your iPhone 4 is on iOS 4.02, DO NOT upgrade to 4.1. It will eventually be possible ( once a tool is upgraded ) to upgrade to 4.1 a "special way" so that the unlockability that comes with 4.0.2 iOS will be carried over to this "special" 4.1 upgrade. I imagine that this also applies to iOS versions 4.0 and 4.0.1.

Hope for the 3GS : work is in progress for a 4.1 iOS jailbreak that will work for 3GS iPhones.

So, unlock-wise, not the greatest news if you are on 4.1 iOS. For any other firmware version, stay on it and DO NOT upgrade to 4.1 - this is the best hope if you need an unlock.

Jailbreak/Unlock for 4.1

Soon after the release of iOS 4.1 a vulnerability was found - this vulnerability is currently being worked on and hopefully a jailbreak will be developed soon.

No mention of a corresponding unlock has ever been mentioned and, based on comments by a prominent hacker, there is a possibility that you will first need to be on a firmware version lower than 4.1 before upgrading to 4.1 ( probably via Pwnage Tool ) in order to preserve the unlock that exists in the lower version firmware. This way you can be on 4.1 with an unlocked iPhone.

It all probably sounds confusing but the bottom line is DO NOT upgrade to 4.1, even if you are on 4.0.2 firmware where there this is not a jailbreak for the 3GS iPhones.

Furthermore, if you "accidentally" ( or deliberately ) upgrade your firmware to a higher version ( e.g. 4.1 ) that does not have an unlock, downgrading to a lower version ( which, by the way, cannot be done for out of the box 3GS and iPhone 4 models ) WILL NOT make your iPhone unlockable. This is because even though you may have downgraded to a firmware version that can be jailbroken, the component of the firmware that is unlocked DOES NOT get downgraded - it stays at the higher version and is not unlockable. This is why you do not want to go to 4.1 if you rely on an unlock.

New firmware 4.1 coming out Today! Sept. 8

Currently the highest version firmware for iPhone is 4.0.2 - it cannot be jailbroken.

Next week you'll see 4.1 pop up when you plug your iPhone into iTunes. This version is currently not jailbreakable and all people who like their iPhone jailbroken, and unlocked, should avoid upgrading your iPhone. Although I hope that some hacker has the jailbreak for 4.1 and is just waiting to release it ( NOTE : THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED ). Note, however, that no mention of an unlock has been made.

Soon I will be posting a short tuturial on how to determine if your 3GS or iPhone 4 can be downgraded to a jailbreakable version of firmware. Yes, this is possible but you would've had to have chosen "Make my life easier" in Cydia ( I take this precaution with all iPhones that I jailbreak ). More on this later.

New firmware 4.0.2 is out ... it CANNOT be jailbroken

Just a quick note to let you know that 4.0.2 firmware was released yesterday. Note that while this firmeare version DOES fix a serious security risk ( the one that the current jailbreak utilizes ) it is not currently jailbreakable.

My suggestion to those jailbroken on 4.0 or 4.0.1 firmware is to NOT upgrade to 4.0.2 but to go into Cydia, search for saurik's "PDF Patch", and install it. This will ensure that :

1) Your iPhone will still be running jailbreakable firmware ( you never know when you need to re-install 4.0 or 4.02 and require a re-jailbreak ), and

2) Your iPhone will be secure against any malicious uses of this firmware vulnerability

That's it for now.

New jailbreak for 4.x firmware!

As of this afternoon there is now a jailbreak to handle all iPhone models on 3.x firmware and higher.

I have jailbroken ( but not unlocked, that's coming soon ) my iPhone 4 without issue - some people are reporting Facetime problems.

I have jailbroken and unlocked my 3GS running 4.0.1 firmware without issue.

For now, I'd say hold off for 24 hours and let the issues, and solutions, come out. A quick update for the jailbreak will probably be published.

However, I'd say that if you're feeling brave and have a 3GS on 4.x firmware, go ahead and jailbreak and unlock. Feel free to contact me if you'd like me to do this for you.

I'll post an update when/if an update comes out that fixes any issues.

UPDATE : All issues ( Facetime and MMS ) have been sorted out now, I think that it's safe to jailbreak and unlock now. Note, though, that there is still not an unlock for the iPhone 4. It is currently undergoing some final testing, then it'll be released. However, for the 3GS ... we're ready to go!

UPDATE : It appears as if the unlock for the iPhone 4 will be released in 48 hours ( it's 10:35 PM MST right now ).