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TUTORIAL - Jailbreak IOS5 using redsn0w for beginners

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Welcome to the iPhoneForums.net tutorial on Jailbreaking IOS5 using redsn0w for beginners.

As of 27th December 11 there is an untethered jailbreak for 5.0.1 YAY! And as of 8th March 12 there is a tethered jailbreak for 5.1 using redsn0w 0.9.10b6. WOOT!

See our jailbreaking methods sticky for the current status of the various jailbreaks and an explanation of tethered versus untethered jailbreaks - http://www.iphoneforums.net/forum/iphone-jailbreaking-17/jailbreaking-methods-iphone-18519/

IOS5 Jailbreak Preparation.
In order to use the redsn0w jailbreak for IOS5, you need to make sure you are starting with an iPhone which is already upgraded to IOS 5.x.

WARNING: - Anyone who relies on a software or hardware unlock solution must be VERY CAREFUL. The baseband of IOS5 cannot currently be unlocked so if you are going to install IOS5 you need to make sure you are taking steps to preserve your baseband by using a custom firmware. This tutorial does NOT cover these options.

If you need a full copy of the IOS5 firmware file to install manually on your iPhone, download it from our thread here - http://www.iphoneforums.net/forum/i...ple-ios-firmware-download-links-iphone-17213/

Finally, you will need to download the latest beta version of redsn0w from this link - Dev-Team Blog. Always source redsn0w from this site to ensure its authenticity! ;)

Lets Jailbreak IOS5!
Once your preparation is complete, we can get started on the jailbreak process...

1. Launch the redsn0w application and you will be presented with a screen as follows:

RSFP_01.png


2. With the new versions of redsn0w, almost everything is done automagically for you. Great News! :)

Press the "Jailbreak" button and you are good to go...

3. redsn0w is now ready to analyse your device and apply the jailbreak. You are about to put your device into DFU mode so that redsn0w can gain access to the device via the limera1n bootloader exploit and begin the process. Prepare your device by switching it OFF making sure it is first connected to your PC with the sync cable. You should also shut down iTunes if it is running. Get your iPhone close at hand. You are about to have to perform some key acrobatics to enter DFU mode.
Once you are set, press the "Next >" button and get ready to follow the instructions exactly as they appear...

RS_50_04.png


4. Three countdowns will now be provided on screen in quick succession. The first one is just for preparation to power on the iPhone and is not important to nail exactly. The other two however are critical and you must follow them perfectly with accurate timing and sequence. Then and only then will your device be in DFU mode (which is a black screen, so there is no way to tell by looking at the device). Ignore what is happening on the iPhone screen, and keep your concentration on your fingers and the instructions from redsn0w. The static screenshots below don't convey the countdown and the fact that each section is greyed out when not active, which is a real help to novices and experts alike.

rst_08_1.png


rst_08_2.png


rst_08_3.png


Practice makes perfect in terms of getting a device into DFU mode. Eventually, you will be able to do it in your sleep, but it can be tricky the first few times. Don't worry, if you screw up, just try again. You can press the "< Back" button at any time to go back to the start of the key sequence. It is easiest for most users to start with the iPhone off, but it is not essential, so don't panic about having to get the iPhone booted and shut down before you try again. Just pretend it is starting from the OFF position if you miss it first time. If you fail several times, shut the iPhone off and take a 5 minute break. Deep breaths, and try again!

One thing to note is that it WILL take time to install device drivers for DFU mode the first time you try it. DONT pull the plug or stop it working. This may result in redsn0w not picking up the device first time, but let your PC finish its thing. On slower Windows machines I have seen it take 45 seconds+ to install DFU mode drivers the first time it tries so redsn0w timings cannot be met on the first run. Windows will have to install drivers every time you try a new USB port, so bear that in mind. Don't get impatient, and don't interrupt the process! Interruption of the device driver installation is the number one reason people complain about their PC not recognising their device!

5. As soon as redsn0w has identified your iPhone model and the fact that it has IOS5 installed, you should be presented with the jailbreak options as follows&#8230;

red05.png


You much choose "Install Cydia" when you are initially jailbreaking. You can also choose some additional options, such as enabling multitasking gestures. You can add these options at a later date by running redsn0w again, just don't forget to untick "Install Cydia" any subsequent times as you probably don't want to re-jailbreak an already jailbroken device.

Once you have all your options set, press "Next >"

If everything has gone to plan, you can now just sit back, relax, and enjoy, whilst redsn0w does its thing. You should see lots of nice jailbreak related things happing on your iPhone screen after a short while, including an appearance from the famous dev-team pwnapple...

rst_09.png


Congratulations, you are now jailbroken! If you are on 5.0.1 and therefore untethered, your iPhone will boot up and you should find the new "Cydia" application icon on your springboard at the end of the list of Apps. You guys can carry on exploring the brave new world!

rst_10.png


If you are jailbreaking 5.1, and therefore tethered, you must now boot tethered to be able to use Cydia! This is quite a simple process...

6. With redsn0w open, switch to the "Extras" menu, and press "Just boot", and follow the instructions. You will need to put your device into DFU mode again, just like you did when you first jailbroke a few steps ago.

Now your iPhone should boot in a tethered state.

That's it! Now you guys really are jailbroken too. Congratulations again!

Don't forget to tethered boot using step 6 EVERY TIME you reboot your iPhone from now on! That's what tethered means!

7. Problems?

Sometime redsn0w does not detect your installed firmware. If this is the case, you can point redsn0w to the correct firmware. Use the "Extras" menu, and press the "Select IPSW" button...

RSFP_02_1.png

Download the firmware corresponding to your device and version of IOS from here - http://www.iphoneforums.net/forum/i...ple-ios-firmware-download-links-iphone-17213/

Then navigate to the file you downloaded and select it...
RSFP_02_4.png


This will tell redsn0w which device and version of IOS you are trying to jailbreak without trying to automatically detect it and retrieve the files it needs from the internet. Now simply return to the main menu and try the "Jailbreak" button again. It should now work. :)

Happy hacking, IOS5 jailbreakers!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the thread and tutiorial. One question. Can I do a restore frmo my last backup after the jailbreak, or is that going to do something bad with teh jailbreak? Thanks for te help.
 
dtt255 said:
Thanks for the thread and tutiorial. One question. Can I do a restore frmo my last backup after the jailbreak, or is that going to do something bad with teh jailbreak? Thanks for te help.

Restoring from your backup is fine. I've done it many times... It does not effect the jailbreak.
 
Restoring from your backup is fine. I've done it many times... It does not effect the jailbreak.

All done.....Thanks! Just need to find beta 14 for bitesms....all I can find is beta 13! lol
 
Well this doesnt work for me :( i have iphone 4 UK tmobile and i updated to iOS 5 without preserving baseband and now i cant even activate the phone through initial setup screen as i am in dubai. I followed this tutorial and it seems the jailbreak process was successful but whn phone rebooted after the jailbreak it is stuck on loader after apple logo (image attached) tried this 4 times.

View attachment 3298

My full problem DETAILED HERE
 
yusufjee said:
Well this doesnt work for me :( i have iphone 4 UK tmobile and i updated to iOS 5 without preserving baseband and now i cant even activate the phone through initial setup screen as i am in dubai. I followed this tutorial and it seems the jailbreak process was successful but whn phone rebooted after the jailbreak it is stuck on loader after apple logo (image attached) tried this 4 times.

<img src="http://www.iphoneforums.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3298"/>

My full problem DETAILED HERE

All you had to do was follow Step 8 properly... :)
 
All you had to do was follow Step 8 properly... :)
Yes you are right. Now it is fine but i suggest that you add a line noting that "After cydia is installed, iphone will reboot and will be stuck at apple logo or loader. Dont panic " or something like that :)
 
Yes you are right. Now it is fine but i suggest that you add a line noting that "After cydia is installed, iphone will reboot and will be stuck at apple logo or loader. Dont panic " or something like that :)

That's not the way it should work at all, so the instructions are correct for the vast majority of users. The phone should not hang at the Apple logo at all until you install mobile substrate. I've been through this process dozens of times and the phone has never failed to boot. It's probably the fact your were not activated that did it. I've added the additional instructions anyway, just for you :)
 
How long should this process take? Mine seems to be stuck. It's been 30 minutes now. The phone screen is black, on my Mac redsnow is saying "Please wait while your build is being identified." then half way down the screen it says "Exploiting with limera1n"
 
After an hour I gave up and clicked on the cancel button. After doing that the only way to get the phone to boot was to hold the power and home buttons until the apple logo appeared. So the I tried again to jailbreak with redsnow. Now I can't seem to get into DFU mode. Or possibly it's in DFU mode as at the end of the process the screen is black. But there is an error message that says there in no DFU device detected.
 
All is good in the world again. Turns out the USB port on my Mac had stopped working. A reboot fixed that. Also found that I had to point redsnow to the ipsw file. It wouldn't detect and point by itself. And it took me a long time to find the Semitethered package on Cydia. It seems to be working fine as well. That's how I spent my Sat.

Cheers
 
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