Tutorial: Unlock iPhone 2G 3.0 Using PwnageTool For Mac

Sebastien, Jun 19, 2009

This tutorial will show you how to unlock your iPhone 2G using PwnageTool for Mac. This guide will allow you to use your iPhone 2G with any carrier.

1. Make sure you have downloaded the latest version of iTunes 8.2 and that you have updated your iPhone to the latest 3.0 firmware.

2. Create a folder on your desktop. In this folder, download PwnageTool 3.0 and your iPhone 2G 3.0 firmware from our iPhone downloads page. Also download bootloader files 3.9BL, 4.6BL.

3. Launch PwnageTool, agree to the warning, and select the “expert mode”.

4. Select your iPhone model (iPhone 2G) and click the blue arrow to continue.

5. Now if your computer doesn’t automatically detect the iPhone 2G 3.0 firmware you downloaded in step 1, browse for it.

6. You will then have a menu with 7 choices. Choose “general”, which will allow you to set your own root partition size. Click the blue arrow to continue.

7. You will now have 3 checkboxes. Make sure that “activate the phone” and “enable baseband update” are checked. You will also need to increase the root partition size. Usually setting the root partition around 700MB is enough. Click next to continue.

8. When you get to the “bootneuter settings”, only check the boxes for “unlock baseband” and “auto delete bootneuter.app”. Click the blue arrow to continue.

9. The  “Cydia settings” allow you to choose packages to download now so you don’t have to download them from Cydia later. Choose any of the packages you want and click next.

10. You will now have the possibility to choose your own boot logo. I will skip this step as it is useless.

11. After setting your own boot logos (if you chose to), you will now be able to build your own IPSW file. Click the blue “build” button to start.

12. If it’s the first time you do this, you will get a message asking you to upload the bootloader file v3.9. When asked to search the web for it, click “no”. When asked to browse for it, click “yes” and select it from the folder we created in step 2. Repeat the process for bootloader v4.6.

13.You will then be asked if you’re a legit iPhone user. If you click “yes” this will not unlock the phone, thus defeating the whole purpose of this guide. Make sure you click “no”.

14. You will then have to choose a folder to save your custom firmware (ie. desktop). You custom firmware will now be built, which may take up to 15-20 minutes. Be patient.

15. Enter your administrator password.

16. When asked if your iPhone has been pwned before, say “no”, even if it has. Make sure your iPhone is connected to your computer and turn it off, as prompted.

17. This is the tricky part. You will now have to follow directions to enter DFU mode. It will ask you to hold the home and power buttons for 10 seconds. Then, you will have to release the power button and hold the home button for 10 seconds.

18. If done correctly, you will get a message saying that you successfully entered DFU mode. Close PwnageTool and launch iTunes.

19. iTunes will then give you a message saying it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. Click OK.

20. In iTunes, hold the Alt/Option key and click “restore” at the same time. It will open a window where you will have to select the custom firmware that you built a few minutes before.

21. iTunes will then restore your iPhone 2G using the custom firmware. This step may take 15-20 minutes so again, be patient.

22. Once done, you will have to “set up your iPhone”, either as a new phone (which I recommend), or from backup.

23. Reboot your iPhone and you should have a Cydia icon on the springboard.

24. Congrats! You just unlocked your iPhone 2G using PwnageTool 3.0 :)

 
Newer Comments →
  • http://shizzlesh.wordpress.com/ bader

    so this well not work if i have a Microsoft?????????

  • http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/ Sebastien

    No, a windows version will come soon. Check the blog later or subscribe to the RSS feed.

  • http://shizzlesh.wordpress.com/ bader

    soon!! like 2day soon or do i have to wait a few days more cuz i can’t wait i really want 2 update! i appreciate all the effort that dev team is doing and all, but damn i can’t wait pls hurry up ;p

  • Jeff

    Patience is a virtue. We have all waited this long, i’ll bet it will be out by monday.

  • Alex

    where do I get the administrator password

  • Alex

    After that I select build and select where to save the file, the application close after 30 second and I have to start all over again.
    Can you please help

  • Pinak

    Hey everybod I tried this on my iTouch 1g and it won’t work ! Can someone tell me how !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

  • iPhoneMan

    thanks! Everybody loves a great tutorial! :D

  • Phayzer

    Seriously i dont get some of the users…. mac!!!! can it work on windows…. when is the windows going to come out….. does he look like he is the one creating that software? why asking question when you should use your common sense??????????

  • http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/ Sebastien

    Phayzer,

    Thank you for your comment. YOU get it!!! I don’t bother replying to comments asking if it works for Windows or other stupid comments. People come here and don’t bother searching the blog to find every answer to their questions.

    S

  • Anand K

    It is not asking me to look for the bootloader files..am I missing something here nor it is asking me if I am a legit iPhone user. and by the way, I don’t mean to be criticizing but in the order of steps, you had 11, 13, 12, 13 and so on….so I was wondering if I am missing any steps here?? Even after I created the custom restore file, it is giving me an error code “1604″ while working on the iTunes.

  • D

    Ok guys, I’m an AT&T customer and my 3G is activated, I did it myself but then told them after I couldn’t afford the data plan, so told them to switch me back to my Samsung cell, but I use my iPhone. When I upgrade to 3.0, will I have to reactivate my iPhone through iTunes? Just want to know, don’t feel like calling up AT&T again and have to deal with them to switch back to my old cell phone.

  • totofigo90

    While it is building the .ipsw it crashes as soon as it reaches the cydia logo. PLZ HELP

  • Derrick

    I have iPhone 2G, i’ve got error code “1604″ in iTune, iPhone just did nothing, keeping in DFU mode. I can’t use my iPhone now, please HELP!

  • iBoy

    @Derrick

    Plug your iPhone into pc. Close anything that opens. Hold both buttons on your phone until you hear unplugged device noise on your computer. Immediately let go of both and press the power button to turn on your phone. It should boot up just like normal.

  • samuir

    its works man…Thanks

  • D

    Samuir:

    Did you have to reactivate your iPhone after installing 3.0 or was it ready to go?

  • Chris P

    I’m having the same problem as Derrick. The phone will not restore using the new custom ipsw file created with Pwnage Tool 3.0. It times out with the error code “1604.” Is anyone else having this problem? If so, have you found a fix so that the phone may be jailbroken and unlocked with the new 3.0 update?

    I’ve tried restoring the phone and updating the phone in iTunes before running the Pwnage restore. All to no avail. I keep getting the 1604 error code.

  • http://shizzlesh.wordpress.com/ bader

    there is a new way to jailbreak using windows ( http://blog.iphone-dev.org/ ) but the problem is that i need u guys to explain every step cuz i don’t know a thing!!!

  • Chef

    Got the same 1604 problem as Chris. Can’t seem to restore from the custom ipsw.

  • Chris P

    I seem to have found a workaround. I used iTunes to restore the phone to it’s factory settings. When complete, I again used iTunes to restore to the custom ipsw file created with Pwnage Tool (opton/alt-click the restore button), but without entering into DCU mode. Selected the new custom ipsw file, and let iTunes do the work. The phone successfully restored using the custom ipsw file, and I’m now running 3.0!

  • D

    Chris P:

    Did you have to activate your phone through iTunes again?

  • jacob

    I have a 2g iphone using a tmobile sim card. I was going to try restoring the phone to the factory settings using itunes, but it won’t let me as I have an unsupported SIM. How are you getting it to restore? I’ve even tried removing the SIM and there is still no option to restore to factory settings.

    I am having a similar problem as Chef and Chris, except I am getting error 1600. I’ve tried multiple “solutions” that I’ve googled and yet nothing has worked. I restored factory settings on my iphone before I began this whole process, so now it is not jailbroken. Another odd thing…I am still able to receive phone calls but not make them? weird.

  • D

    Jacob:

    http://blog.iphone-dev.org/

    Go there, official RedSn0w website. It will Jailbreak AND Unlock iPhone 2G.

  • Chris P

    I have an AT&T SIM I used to do the restore. I did not need to activate the phone. It showed a message that said “Waiting for activation.” After finishing the two restores (first to factory settings, and then to the custom ipsw file created with Pwnage Tool), I placed my T-Mobile SIM in the phone and I had service.

  • Chris P

    “Jacob:

    http://blog.iphone-dev.org/

    Go there, official RedSn0w website. It will Jailbreak AND Unlock iPhone 2G.”

    I believe redsn0w does the jailbreak and unlock without using iTunes.

  • jacob

    Okay, I’m using simple restore, so we’ll see if that works. Thanks for directing me to the devteam blog, I was aware of it before, but I haven’t found it much help except for downloading the pwnagetool 3.0. They don’t seem to give further instructions.

    Another problem I was having: the first time I used the pwnage tool 3.0, it asked me about bootloaders…when that one didn’t work, I tried to create another .ipsw…and it did not ask me for bootloaders.

    Okay, just finished trying restore and then trying again…still error 1600. So frustrating.

  • jacob

    Just kidding. Just saw that there was a difference to the devteam blog for redsn0w as opposed to pwnage tool 3.0. We’ll see if this works. I’ll let you know.

  • Janis

    Can anyone please advise if I can use the above tutorial on my 2G 1.1.4 FW currently syncing with itunes 7? Thanking you knowledgeable people in advance!!

  • http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/ Sebastien

    Janis,

    Please at least take time to read the tutorial before asking stupid questions…

    The answer to your question can be found in step 1:

    1. Make sure you have downloaded the latest version of iTunes 8.2 and that you have updated your iPhone to the latest 3.0 firmware.

    Geeeez!

  • Janis

    Hey I did read it!!@ I was just not sure I was able ugrade from my 1.1.4 directly to 3.0 sometimes you have to do it in steps. Thanks for responding, I was just nervous as my OS is such an older version. I think I will give it a go.

  • jacob

    Okay, redsn0w worked so well… but now my edge isn’t working. Everything else is fine, but i have no internet unless i have wifi. Anyone know what’s wrong?

  • D

    Jacob:

    Sorry I can’t help you with that, but I was wondering if you knew if you are still able to use UltraSn0w later if you use RedSn0w now. If you don’t know, can you please check to see what the baseband is now on your 3.0? Thanks

  • iSerg

    I just bought an iPhone 2g from craigslist. I don’t have a sim card for it ( if that matters I dunno, cause I really just want an iPod with a cam and mic) I plugged it into iTunes (8.2) and it asked for the sim card or pin. I tried using pwnage tool 3.0 but it crashes when it builds the ipsw. Any suggestions? Let me know if there is a better way to make my iPhone just be a cam/micpod

  • matthew

    I downloaded the pwnage tool and the two bl files vut its says i do not have a app that is can open the pwnage tool and when i open the bl files it goes to a blank page.

  • andrea_marcello

    Hi guys,I’ve the same problem:don’t ask me about bootloader and then report to me error 1604…what’s wrong…PS:when go in DFU itunes says to me “i’m looking for ipod”…???

  • ivan

    i’m using ppc g5, i’ve tried redsnow and PwnageTool For Mac both keep crashing…
    here’s what i’ve done, some people might be dissapointed but yes.. i jailbreak my iphone using redsnow successfully under windows xp, sad but true.. :)

    *happy with cydia and icy installed.. *sad that the credit goes to windows :(

  • B

    THANKS D :) redsn0w worked great ..i had probs with pawnage tool crashing at .ipsw build

  • John

    I’m also experiencing the 1604 error on itunes and redsnow crashing. I tried pwnage 3.0 and it crashes as well.

    Anyone out there have any solution to this? Looks like there’s a bunch of us experiencing the same issues.

  • s2web

    I cannot get the PwnageTool to open. I get the error that I don’t have the application to open it. I’ve downloaded with Safari and Firefox with the same results. I’ve looked around but can’t find any information on this. I used a previous PwnageTool last year with no problem. I do have 10.5.7 now. Could it be something with the OSX?

  • jacques

    Worked perfectly! I cannot thank you enough. Now in my uber hall of fame along with xiv who early on took care of those of us interested in area 8 before it had been defined..

  • NickFromPhilly

    I tried pwnage 3.0 & 3.01 on my G4 Macs, and it crashes as well – it only allowed the me to create the ipsw on my Intel Mac.

    I had the same problems with the 1604 error on itunes after SEVERAL tries! I tried so many variation of when creating the ipsw file in PWNAGE even.

    Well nothing is working – can anyone help?

    Also – when in PWNAGE – I have tried to use the updater – but it will not work! It says something about not being connected o the internet.

    Thanks for all your help! Also – I ad tried this before and after updating iTunes – same results!

  • abdullah

    i own an iphone 2g and a mac but pwnage tools 3.0 doesn’t find my firmware update from step 1!!please help!!i’m travelling in 4 days:S:S:(

  • Totofigo90

    Use Redsn0w instead of Pwnage Tool. Download Redsn0w 8.0 from the dev team. Download the iPhone 2G 3.0 firmware. Donload bootloaders ifyou want to unlock. Now update your iPhone to 3.0.1 via iTunes. After
    you are updated open redsn0w. When it asks you for your firmware select the 3.0 firmware,NOT 3.0.1. After your firmware is selected, you have to selected what you want (e.I, Unlock,Icy,Cydia). You will next put your phone in DFU mode following the on screen intructions. After that Redsn0w will automaticly start the jailbreak/unlock. If you ever get stuck at the “Waiting for Reboot” just unplug your iPhone for 3 seconds and then reconnect it. Wait a couple of minutes and your iPhone will be jailbroken/unlocked. Hope I was able to help.

    • abdullah

      hey toto i did that but the 3.0 firmware is a folder:S and nothing in that folder has an ispw extension so i keep opening folders but he can’t chose anything:(!!

    • marcelo

      thnx man you helped mw with my anoying as hell problem

  • Totofigo90

    Download the firmware through Firefox, bot Safri. Also if you updated to 3.0 through iTunes go into your Finder, look for your Library folder, open it and ind the foler called iTunes, open that and select the folder called Iphone Downloads or something along those lines, then find the 3.0 firmware and put it on your desktop for whm you use Redsn0w. Hope o helped

    • abdullah

      thnxxxx aloooot but if i don’t want cydia can i just check install lcy? to unlock only? btw the unplugging for 3 seconds didn’t work:P but thnxxx alooot rly i cant tell u how happy i am:D:D

  • Totofigo90

    If you only want icy then only check Icy. If you want your iPhone to work on Tmobile or other carries with sim cards then check “Unlock”. Glad I was able to help. You unplug the iPhone for three seconds once the “Waiting for reboot” screen is there for about 30 seconds.

    • abdullah

      i have another problem:( when i saw the windows check boxes there were 3 things: cydia , icy(wat’s that?) and unlock…but here on my mac i can only find cydia and icy

      • abdullah

        appreciate ure help btw:)

  • Totofigo90

    Icy is an alternative to Cydia, it’s basicly the same. I like cydia More though. That’s a little weird, it should only do that if you are using an iPod touch or iPhone 3G. Maybe start over and make sure your firmware is for the iPhone 2G

    • abdullah

      i tried installing cydia but it gets stuck in the reboot…is there another program i can use?

      • totofigo90

        try to restore and jailbreak again. when it says “waiting for reboot” disconnect your phone for a couple of seconds and then reconnet. Other than Redsn0w there isn’t anything that will get you jailbroken.

  • roshni

    Can I unlock my iphone 2g firmware 3.0 using itunes 9?

  • hektik

    I have an iPhone 3GS and use pwnage to create the firmware but pwnage refuses to detect the iPhone so it can be put in DFU mode. It’s really frustrating. iTunes detects it fine, but pwnage just sits at the screen where it says connect ur iPhone, then if I do unplug, it says something like DFU failed.
    I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find the solution, can any one help me?

  • Caron

    it helped me to unlock my Iphone – great tool – highly recommended for a beginner … it was my first time – little bit of patience and your good to go ….

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