Jailbreakme.com: Jailbreaking Made Absolutely Painless
I admit to being pretty spineless when it comes to using unauthorized software on my iDevices, but recent posts regarding the continued value of jailbreaking such devices had me thinking about getting over my fear and making the leap. As if on cue, Jailbreakme.com 2.0 comes around to make it easier than ever to indulge that particular whim.
In case you haven’t heard, jailbreakme.com is the resurrected version of the original website, which allowed you to jailbreak devices running iPhone OS 1.1.1. It’s back again, and this time, it’s ready to take on iOS 4.0 and 4.0.1 on all iPhone and iPod Touch devices, and iOS 3.2.1 on the iPad. It all happens from your device’s Safari browser, without requiring a computer at any stage during the process.
The new jailbreak process comes via comex of the Dev-Team, and I can attest from personal experience that it makes things impossibly simple. I have an iPhone 4 and an iPad, but there’s no way I’m risking the warranty on those two beauties just yet, so I dusted off the old iPod touch 1G that got me started on iOS devices and put that to the task.
On the iPod touch, I booted up Safari and pointed the browser at http://www.jailbreakme.com. You should see a screen that looks like this if you’re in the right place (shot is from my iPhone 4, since it changes after you finish the process):
After that, I followed the directions on-screen and left the house to run some errands. I was probably gone for about an hour, so I’m not sure how long the process took, but it was done by the time I returned. My iPod touch was plugged in at the time just in case, but the battery is quite old. I think it should be fine to leave newer devices unplugged.
After the process is complete, you’ll see a message congratulating you and informing you that the Cydia store app is now on your desktop. Finally, launch Cydia and allow it to update its repositories and sources, then browse for the apps you want to install. Backgrounder, SBSettings, BossPrefs and ProSwitcher are good places to start if you’re not familiar with the jailbreak landscape.
The new jailbreak method uses an exploit in the way iOS handles Adobe PDF files, of all things, so basically you can thank the Flash maker for your newly jailbroken device. If anything goes wrong during the jailbreak process, you can restore using your computer, or by putting the device into DFU mode if all else fails, and try again. Cydia has been running a little slowly the past few days, presumably because so many are using this method, so be patient if you’re experiencing problems post-jailbreak in that area.
Anyone else done it yet, or planning on doing it? What about on newer devices? Still worth it?
I jailbroke and it worked like a charm. Easiest process ever. I have had no issues, other then Cydia being slow, which I remedied by using Rock instead.
For those curious, I did it primarily for these reasons:
- want to customize my SMS and Voicemail tones
- SB settings to quickly change basic phone settings
- BiteSMS for instant SMS replies without leaving my current app
- Better notification system
I did it yesterday afternoon. It took about 5 minutes on WiFi and worked perfectly. I installed it primarily to enable Multi-Tasking and Home Screen wallpapers on my iPhone 3G. I’m upgrading to the iPhone 4 in a few weeks and won’t bother jailbreaking it but I just couldn’t wait for the Home Screen Wallpaper and Multi-Tasking ability.
help please? want to jailbreak my iPhone 3g and it is a 4.1 version and the firmware is 5.14 (I think) – can I jailbreak it?
Thank you for your time.
:-))
Having jailbroken in the past, be wary of missing voicemails and calls. One days, 40 voicemails showed up, presumably once the mailbox got full. This was over a year ago. It has to do with changing at&t calling reference crap they do (or used to do) in the hack. I’ve switched to the Evo and get to do all this stuff you want without allowing hacked software. But I have and will keep my iPad, I’m still in it!
You should download the “PDF Reader Warner” file from Cydia to have some protection from the same Safari exploit that was used by Jailbreakme.com. That provides some interim protection until Apple plugs that hole in Safari.
It’s ironic that ALL iOS devices, jailbroken or not, are vulnerable to malicious use of that exploit but only jailbroken devices can be protected from it now by downloading the file from Cydia!
HW
if i use this jailbreakme will i still be able to sync my ipone as normal and will i loose all my apps contact etc ??
You will still be able to sync your iphone normally. Itunes will ignore the jailbroken apps and will not back them up, but they will still work normally after the sync. You will not lose any apps or contacts.
HW
Nope you dont lose your apps
what about when the new iPad update comes out?
will i be able to ‘reset’ my ipad & sync it back up with iTunes & get the very latest iOS for iPad (with folders & all) & still have all the data from my apps synced back over too?
So- can i go back to an unjailbroked iPad from a jailbreak, without ever losing any data that I’ve entered into my apps- things like Task list managers etc?
Amazing… you cared enough about the process to select your device, then left the house and failed to observe the process. It’s this kind of journalism that doesn’t earn anyone a Pulitzer, let alone inform any of your readers. Great article… um… not.
Someone’s a little irritated.
How does this work if you reset the phone to factory standards, and all you see is the Activation screen? You can’t open up Safari to do the jailbreak necessary to unlock the phone.
I’d love to wipe out my iPhone 2G and start again, but since it’s not using an AT&T sim card, I’, going to be stuck at the activation part, right?
Is this what you are looking for? I used this with my wife’s sim card. She doesn’t have an iPhone, but as long as the sim is activated you can use it and then pop it out when you are done…
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3406
Thanks for the tip, but I’m not sure if it would work. I live in Hong Kong, and my 2G imported phone HAD to be jailbroken in order to unlock it for local carrier sim cards. Therefore the AT&T sim card has never been activated, so I doubt I’ll be able to pass the first step:
“1.Reinsert the SIM card used when the original iPhone was activated and had a valid wireless service account/tariff.”
I used Blackra1n successfully, and just as easily, for my 2G phone without a SIM card. Jailbreakme.com worked great for 3G & 3GS, though.
em yeah i have the same dillema!!! basically its my dads iphone that im using and he got it from america ages ago! like its one of the first iphones (im irish) and i tryed to update it buuut its telling me i need a valid sim!!! like and its jus showing me the USB connection lead and i cant access safari or ANYTHING for that matter!!! and my dad doesint know so is there any way in the world i can unlock this!!!!
If you’re able to simply restore the phone back to the normal iOS, as it states on jailbreakme.com, how does it void the warranty? Obviously I can’t walk into an Apple with a jailbroken or bricked phone and expect them to fix it, but if I just restore to a previous backup, can they tell it was once jailbroken?
Also, to the original author – I know you take pleasure in blaming Adobe for this, but the PDF viewer on iOS is homegrown at Apple. This exploit or one similar to it wouldn’t work on a device using the real Acrobat viewer.
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2010/08/02/jailbreakme
I jailbreaked my iPod Touch 3G and it worked for about 6 hours and then it got stuck on the safe mode screen and the springboard wouldnt restart! So thx for that comex!
i gt tht problem 2… wat u do is uninstall the last apps u downloaded, thn ext safe mode… it worked 4 me
i jailbroke my ipod touch 3g on ios 4.0
i jailbroke for facetime on 3g and infinifolder. worth every penny! oh ya, and for MyWi mobile hotspot/tethering.
Used the site to unshackle my 3Gs, worked perfectly.
Personally, I’m sick of backup/upgrade/restore/jailbreak process, no matter how much easier it’s made. When 4.0.2 comes out to fix the actual problem, or when 4.1 smooths over the edges of 4.0, you’re back to square one. You’re constantly chasing your own tail.
While the vulnerability uses PDF as a vector, that standard has been open for years, and it’s Apple’s handling of those files that’s being exploited. Does the same problem affect my Mac? I certainly hope not.
Keep in mind that by running this, you are letting someone hack your phone, so if you are handing over the keys to a stranger, make sure it’s the *right* one that you can presumably trust, by only using a familiar WiFi connection. It’s not like AT&T wants you jailbreaking, or the sketchy characters running hacktastic “Free Public WiFi” networks would use that as bait.
“Void the warranty” HUH?!
You simply restore to factory settings and it’s as if the device was never Jailbroken.
How do you even write for this site?!
P.S: Facetime over 3G is awesome, as is the new WiFi hotspot (via my iPhone 4) for my iPad.
I have a 3g and HAD updated to ios 4. It was terribly slow. I downgraded it back to ios3
So if I use this – correct me if I am wrong, this will put me back to ios4 but it will be jailbroken. Has anyone done this with their 3g~ I don’t know if it is worth the trouble for a 3g.
@Laura,
It works for iOS:
3.1.2, 3.1.3, 4.0 and 4.0.1
If you jailbreak your iPhone while its on 3.1.3,
You will have a jailbroken iphone on 3.1.3!
I would jailbreak it again if i had another one face time on 3G cant be any better thats what i got the phone for
Does this jailbreakme.com work if i jailbroke my iphone 3gs 3.1.3 with spirit jailbreak???
Did anyone try it if they already did it with spirit before???
Is it safe or i have to wait till a spirit for os 4.0.1 come out???
You do know that both spirit and jailbreakme are by the same author, correct? You should update to 4.0 regardless before jailbreak for convience.
When you update from 3.1.2 to 4.0 will you loose the apps purchased through cydia?
i can’t open jailbreakme.com from my safari or other browser in my iphone 4, it seems my operator (three UK) blocked thie website, does anyone know how to deal with this?can I still unlocked my iphone?
please help me. Thanks,
You still should be able to hit jailbreakme.com if you are on wi-fi. That would have nothing to do with your service. So, find an open wi-fi and then you should be able to jailbreak your phone.
yeah ur right!
I done it, thank you very much!!
I can’t open jailbreakme.com on my 2g iphone:[
I just finished unlocking en jailbreaking my iphone but my wifi wasn’t activated:[
I had jailbroken my ipod touch 2g with jailbreakme
now if i restore it using the old b ackup in my computer wil i get the warranty for my ipod touch
plz help me with this:)
This was great i absolutely love this method. At first, i was a bit scared to jailbreak, then when i saw jailbreakme.com, i just did it.
i jailbroke mine a couple days ago works jus fine i hav a ipod touch 3rd gen 8gb but the batterie dosent last as long as it should :/ any help would b nice
I am trying to jailbreak my iphone 3g but it wont let me slide the unlock button that comes up on the screen to actually jailbreak it. Any ideas or suggestions to fix this. I have already backed up my phone just trying to get it jailbroken. thanks
Can i turn off iphone after this jailbreak?
Can I jailbreak a second gen itouch with jailbreakme.com???
This is without a doubt, the easies jailbreak ever. Very easy self explanatory. Turn on wifi Go the site, slide the bar and in two minutes you are jail broken.
AMAZING!!!!!!!
i was in the middle of jailbreaking my iphone 4 and i restarted it because it froze. and it doesnt turn back to the home screen. what should i do?
I tried it and my software on my iPod is 4.0 however when I tried to access the site the jailbreak slide was nt moving ?
can i downgrade my iphone 4 from 4.0.2 to 4.0.1 ? if i can someone explain how to do it? or give me a website to go to ?
thanks
PLEASE!!! Tell me how you made it work for ipod touch 1g
ive tried plenty of times and have failed because i have to old of a version.
ive also crashed one of my computers trying to download redf0x and quickpwn. i fixed the computer but learned my lesson the hard way.
please help jailbreak itouch 1g!!!!
thanks for readding and all comments are much appreciated!!!!
Very detailed step by step guide with screenshots can be found at http://www.jailbreakguides.com/2010/08/06/jailbreak-your-iphone/
nothing
is it possible to jailbreak 4.02
Ziaur, it depends on your model, mines a 2G Touch and I made my first Jailbreak last year and that was to 3.0 using Redsnow, then I went to 4.02 using Redsnow again and 3 days ago i went to 4.1 using Snowbreeze, all went perfectly smooth with no problems or after effects. Like I said, check out your model (MB or MC) etc and read carefully whatever method you use.
IT IS SO EASY AND SO FAST HARD TO BELIEVE IT, INSTRUCTION AND PROCESS VERY WELL LAID OUT, IT FREE, WHAT YOU EXPECT MORE ?
GUYS THANK LOT.
IT IS SO EASY AND SO FAST HARD TO BELIEVE IT, INSTRUCTION AND PROCESS ARE VERY WELL LAID OUT, IT FREE, WHAT YOU EXPECT MORE ?
GUYS THANK LOT.
I did this on my ipod touch 2nd gen. and my ipop wont come up on itunes. Also the battery wont charge. If you know how to fix this please respond.
I don’t get it, I went to the site and pulled the slider but it won’t do anything. The slider doesn’t even move. Someone help please!
Will I lose my text messages if I jailbreak my 3Gs?
Hate this cause it’s. Hard HELPPPP. MEMEME
Does anyone know if the iphone4 can be jailbreak???
So when i go to slide the jailbreakme slide on the website, it restarts the ipod but does not jailbreak it. im not sure why this is happening will i have to restore the ipod to factory default settings or…something else? Please help.
I’m mad because I used this. Worked great easiest thing you can do. Well I saw there was a new software update so I knew it would undue the jailbreak and I didn’t care about that. So after the update process and everything I didn’t have any apps. NONE IN SITE!!! then I was able to log in to apple because it kept saying PASSWORD INCORRECT!!!!!!!
Make a new jailbreak for iPhone 4.1!!!! Plz
hey could you make one for version 4.1 on the itouch
I updated so yeah….can you make it were it will work for the latest update?
Mmaky,, so I’ve tried many of times and it just turns off my iPod then back on with nothing done. It says try again so I do but now how do I get it??
Hey////Will someone please relaese latest jailbreak ios 4.1, Lots of people made the mistake of updating after 4.0.1 many thanks
i tried to jailbreak my 2nd generation 8g ipod toch and it wont work
How do i do this i have been looking for a site to do this for 8 and a half hours
i jailbroke my iphone 4 ten minutes ago through the internet, i probably had a little problem while doing that, and now i cant open my iphone up!! please, people, help me
I tried using Jailbreakme.com and it turned off my iPod for a few minutes and turned back on and Nothing happened. How come?
I have just been given my brothers old iphone 3gs & it is locked to O2, i have reset it on itunes, but now I need to unlock it to take my pay as you go sim from adsa/vodafone. The problem is that as I have reset to factory settings it is not being reconsided by my itunes as the O2 sim has now been disabled. How can I now unlock this iphone to take my pay as you go sim?
when will jailbreakme.com beable to jailbreak the iphone 4?
I want my I pod jailbroken please to get the things I want