Tutorial: Unlock iPhone 3.1.2 with BlackSn0w

It’s official, BlackSn0w is out and available for download. BlackSn0w is not a standalone app. BlackSn0w is part of  Blackra1n RC3.

People who accidentally locked their iPhone on baseband 05.11.07 will now be able to unlock their iPhone using BlackSn0w.

This step by step guide and tutorial will show you how to unlock your iPhone OS 3.1.2 baseband 05.11.07 with BlackSn0w.

If you just want to jailbreak your iPhone and are not interested in unlocking, refer to my BlackRa1n RC3 tutorial.

This BlackSn0w iPhone unlock tutorial will work on both Mac and PC.

In this tutorial, I will assume that your iPhone is currently not jailbroken or unlocked.

If you are a loyal blackra1n user who kept the blackra1n.app on your iPhone, run it. You will see Icy replaced by an option “ra1n”. Install this to upgrade your app. After upgrading, run blackra1n.app again. You will see “sn0w”. Install this, and enjoy your unlocked iPhone.

If you jailbroke using pwnage or deleted your blackra1n.app, you are in luck too. Sometime later in the sn0wday, blacksn0w will be added to Cydia.

UPDATE: This post is outdated. There is now an easier way to unlock the iPhone. Click here for more info.

How to unlock iPhone firmware 3.1.2 with BlackSn0w:

Step 1: Update iTunes to the latest version available and reboot your computer. Make sure your iPhone runs the latest firmware 3.1.2. If not, update your iPhone to OS 3.1.2 and set it as a new phone (do not restore and set up from backup).

Step 2: Download BlackRa1n RC3 from our iPhone Downloads page. As mentionned above, you first have to run Blackra1n in order to run BlackSn0w.

Step 3: Plug your iPhone to your computer and make sure iTunes is closed. Run BlackRa1n RC3 and click on “make it ra1n”.

Step 4: Your iPhone will enter recovery mode and you will see the usual recovery image replaced by a picture of GeoHot.

Step 5: BlackRa1n will run on your iPhone and it will reboot when done.

Step 6: A message will show up asking to donate. If your jailbreak is successful, I think it’s the right thing to do to donate $5 or more. It’s a good way to keep GeoHot motivated.

Step 7: After your iPhone has rebooted, you will notice a new BlackRa1n icon on your springboard. Make sure you have an internet connection and launch BlackRa1n.app on your iPhone.

Step 8: You will now have the option to install Cydia, Rock, or both if you choose to. More importantly, you can also select “sn0w” which is the iPhone unlock for iPhone 3G and 3GS. Select at least Cydia and sn0w, then tap “install”. If you want to unlock an iPhone 2G, DO NOT install BlackSn0w. Simply install Cydia and skip to step 12.

Step 9: Once the packages are installed, your iPhone will respring and you should see Cydia (and Rock if you chose it) on your springboard.

Step 10: Once Cydia and/or Rock, and BlackSn0w are installed on your springboard, you can now uninstall BlackRa1n from your iPhone. Uninstalling BlackRa1n will obviously not remove the jailbreak and unlock. It will simply remove the BlackRa1n.app that was used to install the packages. To do so, simply launch the BlackRa1n.app and select “uninstall BlackRa1n”.

Step 11: After uninstalling BlackRa1n, I suggest you reboot your iPhone.

Step 12: This step is ONLY for iPhone 2G users who want to unlock. I repeat, if you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, DO NOT process with this step. Launch Cydia and search for the BootNeuter app. Download and install it. Launch the BootNeuter app and tweak the settings as the image below.

When all the settings are set correctly, tap the “Flash” button. Now wait. It could take a while so be patient. Under no circumstance should you abort the process.

Done!

The whole process shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes (more for iPhone 2G that needs to be flashed). It definitely is an easy jailbreak and unlock.

If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

UPDATE: Having problems after running BlackSn0w (ie. no wifi, no 3G, no push)? Please see this article for a fix.