Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2 with RedSn0w 0.9

Sebastien, Jan 21, 2010

This guide and tutorial will show you how to jailbreak your iPhone 2G, 3G or 3GS running OS 3.1.2 using RedSn0w 0.9.

If you are new to the whole jailbreaking thing, I really suggest you read this information about RedSn0w 0.9. It will tell you everything you need to know about RedSn0w before starting.

I know that some of you won’t bother reading the more info link about RedSn0w 0.9 so here is probably the most important information about this jailbreak:

If you have a late-model iPhone 3GS, or if you have an iPod touch 2G whose serial number begins with “MC”, you can use redsn0w to jailbreak but you are currently restricted to “tethered” rebooting. That means you need to connect your device to a computer to complete the boot after a reset. Also, these devices cannot have custom logos.

redsn0w will ask you whether or not you fit in this category when used with the iPhone 3GS or iPod touch 2G. If you have a late-model device and don’t give redsn0w the correct answer, you will likely need to do a system restore to recover from the mistake.

To do a tethered boot after your late-model device resets for some reason, either run redsn0w again and select “Just boot tethered right now”, or run blackra1n.

This RedSn0w tutorial was written for Windows but I assume the steps are identical for a Mac.

Step 1: Download RedSn0w 0.9 for Mac or PC as well as the correct 3.1.2 firmware for your iPhone from here. To make things easy, save those 2 files on your desktop.

Step 2: Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer, then restore your iPhone to the latest firmware 3.1.2. Restoring is the preferred way to go about it as simply updating could cause issues later on.

Step 3: Launch RedSn0w and browse for the 3.1.2 firmware you downloaded to your computer in Step 1.

Step 4: RedSn0w will automatically check if you chose the right firmware (IPSW). It will then patch the file.

Step 5: For iPhone 2G only (other please skip to step 6)! You will then be offered several options. If you have an iPhone 2G and you want to unlock, now select “Install Cydia” and “Unlock”. You will have to download the bootloaders 3.9 and 4.6 from here. If you just want to jailbreak, disregard this and go to step 6.

Step 6: You will now have the option to “Install Cydia” as well as “Custom boot logo” and “Custom recovery logo”. For the purpose of this tutorial, I suggest you only choose “Install Cydia”.

Step 7: Make sure your iPhone is plugged to your computer. RedSn0w will now dictate you a few steps to have your iPhone enter DFU mode. Follow the onscreen instructions very carefully.

Step 8: Your iPhone will reboot when successfully jailbroken.

Congratulations! You just jailbroke your iPhone using RedSn0w 0.9. If you want to unlock your iPhone 3G or 3GS, simply install UltraSn0w from Cydia.

Any question or concern, please feel free to ask in the comment section below. Happy jailbreak :)

UPDATE: People have encountered quite a bit of problems when running RedSn0w o.9 beta 3 with an iPhone 3GS. Thankfully MuscleNerd has been updating RedSn0w and the 3GS issues should now be gone.  You can download the latest RedSn0w from our iPhone downloads page.

 
← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • JB

    Thank you Mr Bubbles for your earlier suggestion, but I dont think that link applies. I have tried to be more specific in my post above. Thanks anyway

  • JohnnyBLanko

    Is it mandatory to use iTunes to update ur firmware? Can I just update my iPhone 3g 3.0 to 3.1.2 using redsn0w 0.9?

  • JohnnyBLanko

    Also my model is MBxxxxx

  • Ron

    I asked this question a few back and still haven’t received a response, maybe there isn’t an answer, however would someone at least address it…

    Does anyone have this issue or a solution?

    Question for someone… I did a full restore to my iphone removing the entire blackra1n download.

    I did the restore using the iPhone 3G S Firmware from the site provided (http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/iphone-downloads/) I then installed RedSn0w 3.0 for Windows from the same site. Following all the steps provided….

    Here is my question, my iPhone goes all the way through the jailbreak, I even get to where the pineapple part is downloading and then my phone goes black and I can’t unlock it unless I do another full restore…

    Any suggestions would help….

    I hope this all make since….

    Thanks for all the help… Ron

  • anon

    worked like a charm on my 2G, thanks very much.

  • Ron

    Sorry I missed typed in my above blog… I typed redsn0w 3 i meant Reds0w 0.9 beta 3.

    thanks Sebastien for pointing this out to me….

    I asked this question a few back and you suggested I put it on the blog, I
    still haven’t received a response, maybe there isn’t an answer, or is the answer
    there is no fix for this?

    Question… I did a full restore to my iphone removing the entire blackra1n
    download.

    I did the restore using the iPhone 3G S Firmware from the site provided
    (http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/iphone-downloads/) I then installed Reds0w 0.9 beta 3 for Windows from the same site. Following all the steps provided….

    Here is my question, my iPhone goes all the way through the jailbreak, I even
    get to where the pineapple part is downloading and then my phone goes black and
    I can’t unlock it unless I do another full restore…

    Any suggestions would help….

    I hope this all make since….

    Thanks for all the help… Ron

  • Capernicus

    When I try to open redsnow I get this message “You can’t open the application “”redsn0w” because it is not supported on this architecture” what do I do?

  • JB

    would somebody please help. I have 3gs iphone on firmware 3.0.1 and baseband 04.26.08.Also, I run windows xp. Can i update my iphone to 3.1.2 whilst preserving the baseband. videos on sn0wbreeze and redsn0w 0.9 lead me to think that i cannot do this. I have been holding off updating for months waiting for a windows version of pwnage tool that did preserve baseband but maybe preserving the baseband doesn’t matter anymore. frankly I am confused. I would appreciate any advice

  • Ron

    Would or could someone please please please reply to my above blog.   And TY to Sebastian for pointing out typed redsn0w 3 when I meant to type redsn0w 9 .3 beta,

    any help would greatly be appreciated.

  • RobinDz

    3G (July 08):

    I got the same black-screen that other people are talking about … I selected already pwned and install cydia …

    Tried to re-jailbreak without selecting already pwned, and it worked fine … cydia is up and running and iphone is jailbroken using redsn0w!

  • Rob

    Hi Ron, hope this helps…

    I’ve just done exactly as you’ve done to test this (although on a Mac), completely restored iPhone with iTunes and ran RedSn0w without using BlackRa1n first.

    I got Pineapple etc. and after that it rebooted and I was able to install Cydia etc.

    But, although I had restored the previously downloaded apps from ROCK Backup, nothing worked! Not until I ran BlackRa1n then it all worked again.

    I’m at the point I have to admit, at saying start with a clean restored phone and use BlackRain and tethered reboots.

  • Ron

    Yep… I think I am going to stay with blackra1n until the Dev Team comes out with a true jailbreak… I guess they are just waiting until apple releases 4.0

  • Kunal

    Okay. Well, I have a NON-MC model of 3GS (MB). I restored my phone with an custom ipsw…so now I’m on the 3.1.2 firmware with the 4.x. Baseband.
    I was wondering if this would update my baseband? (I know it says it doesn’t do ANYTHING…but I’d rather be safe than sorry, cos I prefer my baseband in the 4′s =p)
    I’m doing this to get custom boot logos and custom recovery logos. Just wanted to know if someone had a problem with an NON-MC model of the 3GS

  • MaxDude

    Worked perfectly on 3G with 3.1.2 ! Thanks a lot for the instructions

  • Eric

    Ok guys need your help. My buddy just bought a 3gs so it’s tethered! Used blackra1n on windows 7 everything went fine. Cydia and everything seemed to be fine not even a hour later he calls me saying “dude it powered off by it’s self the battery didn’t die” so I came over the next day tried booting back up with blackra1n. It shows geohot. Then it reboots back into recovery mode. The damn thing won’t get out of recovery mode. Tried restoring threw iTunes. I get error (9)!!!! so if anyone can help me that would be great. Can I use sn0wbreeze even though it was out of the box on 3.1.2??? Cuz when I started to do it it said that it noticed that it was never jailbroken? I didn’t finish doing cuz of that message…. Also tried restoring manually shift restore. Tried restoring on vista 64bit windows 7, and a mac. Haven’t tried a xp yet but please help me out guys thanks

  • Eric

    Also tried using I -recovery to get out of recovery mode

  • Bryan

    It totally worked for me! It’s been months since I wanted to jailbreak my iPhone 3.1.2. I was actually having many problems with the backra1n. Thank you!

  • Phil

    Is there a difference between the different jailbreak apps you use? I tried the Redsn0w 0.9 beta3 and had issues. Tried the latest Blackra1n and it worked flawlessly. Ultimately, the goal is to install Cydia right? So if blackra1n worked, what would be the purpose of Redsn0w? Also, does SMS message using Data Network or Voice Network? I have AT&T with NO data plan and want to use wifi when at home, but don’t have/want the $30 data plan.

  • Pigeon

    SMS won’t contribute towards your data allowance.

    If redsn0w doesn’t work for you then ull have to use blackra1n. From the sounds of it you have got lucky not to have any issues or haven’t spotted any yet. If you get it to word redsn0w will provide a more stable JB.

  • Pigeon

    @Eric

    the new 3gs past like week 40 has the new iboot so that’s why snowbreeze won’t work.

    Your phone isn’t bricked though coz your in recovery mode. try using the dfu mode tutorial that came with snowbreeze it’s in the help option. Then try run blackra1n whilst in dfu see if you get a responce.

    Or try downloading a fresh copy of the 3.1.2 firmware and shift restore that image.

  • Pigeon

    If you can’t rejailbreak it or you get errors running restore in iTunes give iReb a go.

  • Pigeon

    @kunel

    this won’t update ur BB it just uses the firmware to sucessfully deliver the package with the options you select. I presume if you have built a custom fw why didn’t you set custom boot logo at that stage?

    When you select already owned and leave cydia unchecked it simply flashes with the new boot process, it doesn’t go near ur baseband.

  • WATS UP

    i tried to jailbreak my iphone 3gs with the redsnow 3g and its not working everything was going find but now it stuck at an apple icon and its beens like that all day

  • singkong

    Have my Iphone 3G 3.12 JB again with BlackRa1n RC3 just last month (it was JB using RedSn0w during OS 3.0). Do I need to restore it back to original 3.12 in order to JB using RedSnow 09? I hate to lose all my information and to re keyin those. Any advise or do I have to stay on with BlackRain JB? My Iphone does not have any problem with JB BlackRain though.

  • Pigeon

    @ Wats up
    take you sim out and force power off by holding home and power. If when powering on your not taken into normal boot process you will need to restary and hold the home button to restore. Check it’s not the new iboot causing the problem.

    @Singkong
    I personaly upgraded because I had a few issues with blackra1n and I knew this would be more stable. I personaly think there is litle point in not restoring to stockfirmware first otherwise your running two invasive programs against your software and could end up with any combination off issues that could arrise from either, most likely blackra1n. Unless you don’t want to rejailbreak and just tinker with the boot.

  • Will

    Well I’m glad this worked for some people … but this tool literately F****ed my 3Gs up … After

    the whole process it just gave me a black screen with no logo or nothing. I tried to restore it

    with itunes and it was giving me a an unknown error message. I also tried to do it with

    blackra1n and nothing ! So i was stuck with a black screen and couldn’t do anything , Good

    thing I bought my iphone 3gs 16 GB 2 days ago at best buy, and told them my phone was

    defective, that I had a lot of drop calls, so they simply gave a brand new one ! So I’m just

    gonna wait for a different tool, or I dont know if i should just jailbreak it with blackra1n ? any

    suggestions ?

  • Pigeon

    Well don’t use the exe from this page because it is no longer in beta. go direct here:

    Mac OSX x86 – http://iphwn.org/redsn0w-mac_0.9.2.zip
    Windows – http://iphwn.org/redsn0w-win_0.9.2.zip

    Black screen issue have been resolved, if you receive iTunes errors on restore try iREB:

    http://ih8sn0w.com/index.php/products/view/ireb.snow

    iphone OS 4 will be along soon along with the new exploit for the new boot chip so hope is on the horizon for people having issues.

    Try tinkering with the less invasive options to see if they work eg verbose mode this triggered my 3GS out of the black screen issue. Its difficult to help with so little info to go on.

  • Andy

    Hi, i have installed the software as directed and everything went well until the reboot stage. It went to reboot, the apple logo appeared and then the little sun symbol appeared showing that it was thinking then it freezes. I have tried to reset and tried to reinstall the software but it continues to try to reboot but fails and then just loops over from black screen to rebooting apple logo. I have an OS system and a 3G Iphone.

    PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

    Andy

  • chiaph

    Hello! I would really appreciate if someone can help me out here. I’d an iPhone 3GS, model MCXXXXX and serial XXX46XXXXXX running on version 3.1.2 (7D11). I try jailbreaking with redsn0w 0.9 and had given the correct answer of having the latest device but my iPhone kept on giving a black screen during the process?! How can I get my iPhone 3GS successfully jailbroken?

  • chiaph

    I’d try goggling on some information but there was nothing I found could be put to help…

  • Maxphone

    OOOOOOOOOOOPS .problem .. Redsn0w could not regonice my ISPW. (3G fabric iPhone simlock free)

    what now?

  • Ron

    A word for the “wise” if you have an iPhone 3Gs after week 40, I would go with blackra1n. I tried several times and ways and redsn0w 9 .3 beta doesn’t work. I believe the Dev Team is waiting until 4.0 comes out before they release the true Jail break Redsn0w.

  • iztupidazz

    when you update to 3.1.2….it updates the baseband too, to 5.x.x …..unless you restored it with custom firmware (CFW), which and where there is no way of actually knowing if you downloaded it from whatever site. making CFW is only for mac not windows.

    still waiting for new ultrasn0w for 5.11.x

  • Me…

    When will this update to jailbreak the 3.1.3??? HELP please please please pleas!!!!

  • Valgerð

    Hej ..

    Jeg har en iphone på firmware 3.1.3 og har lige downloade Redsn0w 0,9 og har fået det på pc, men nu jeg skal til at åbne det, og gøre lige det som i siger i teksten, vil intet virker, jeg VED ikke om det er overhovet korekt som jeg gør, ella hvad det er?

    Kan nogen hjælpe mig?
    Sådan at jeg enten får, firmware 3.1.2 elle Cydia på den nye FIrmware? =)

  • chiaph

    Hello! I would really appreciate if someone can help me out here. I’d an iPhone 3GS, model MCXXXXX and serial XXX46XXXXXX running on version 3.1.2 (7D11). I try jailbreaking with redsn0w 0.9 and had given the correct answer of having the latest device but my iPhone kept on giving a black screen with a apple logo during the process?! How can I get my iPhone 3GS successfully jailbroken? My BB is 05.11.07 and I’d try goggling on some information but there was nothing I found could be put to help…

    @ Sebas, are you able to help me out here? Please and thank you! =D

  • Mikey2

    I have been searching this for a couple days and I cannot believe I have not found an answer to this…I have never jail-broke; however, I now need both 3.1.2 and Tethering…

    This thread has come the closest but I am confused… How do I *KNOW* if my Apple 3GS is considered a “late-model” version?

    I bought it soon after it was released; however, some sites say that my model (“A1303″) cannot be untehered-jailbroken.

    However, upon further research, those questions were old and all 3GS models are A1303

    Since “If you have a late-model device and don’t give redsn0w the correct answer, you will likely need to do a system restore to recover from the mistake.” I do not know if I can do it.

    Thank you very much,
    MikeY

  • Pigeon

    @mikey2
    you need to know the week number your device was released. Go settings, general, about and scroll down to serial number it’s the 4th and 5th number.

  • Sid V

    I thought I posted this earlier, but now I can’t find it. I’ve bought a refurbished iPhone 3GS back in January and one in February. Both came with OS 3.1 and serial number after week 45. I was able to upgrade the one in January to 3.1.2 and then use redsn0w so it can be unlocked while tethered, but the one that I got a few days ago I can’t upgrade to 3.1.2. I tried using shift when restoring in iTunes and chose the 3.1.2 software, but it said it couldn’t be loaded on that phone. I then tried the old 3.1 jailbreaking and unlocking with blackra1n RC1 and it didn’t work. Redsn0w 0.9 was able to jailbreak it, but ultrasn0w did not unlock it. I also tried loading http://www.blackra1n.com as a source, but that couldn’t be found. Anyone have suggestions?

  • michelle

    I have an iPhone 2g running 3.1.3 and this worked great for me! Itunes forced me to upgrade to the new OS after my phone crashed. I thought I’d never see the magic of cydia again, but it’s back up and running! :D
    THANKS!

  • Pigeon

    @Sid V

    the cydia repo is http://blackra1n.com without the www.

  • Pigeon

    @Chiaph

    JB using the latest blackra1n exe then run the latest redsnow downloaded direct from there website. Select allready owned and verbose mode. does that display the hard drive icon and no longer the black screen?

    If it does restore to original 3.1.2 and give it another try selecting instal cydia and not already owned this time. Worth a shot!

  • Pigeon

    @ Sid V

    The reason you received an error (i assume “This device isn’t eligible for the requested build”) when restoring to 3.1.2 now is because apple have released 3.1.3 and are no longer signing certificates for that version of firmware.

    Now that you have JB with redsn0w backup your SHSH with cydia or do it manually. You will need this if you get forced to restore to 3.1.3: http://xsellize.com/showthread.php/86577-HOW-TO-Downgrade-iPhone-3Gs-From-Firmware-3-1-3-to-3-1-2

    You should be able to unlock with blacksn0w, the cydia repo you have is wrong that’s why you cant locate it try: http://blackra1n.com/ or http://www.sinfuliphonerepo.com/

    ohh and P.S @ michelle your pic is stunning!

  • rn3sto

    Hey… pls help me.
    I am on windows and when I download the firmware it appears as a .zip file and when I extracted it appears as a folder with crazy stuff inside instead of the .ispw file I’m looking for to jailbreak my iphone (firmware 3.1.2 on 3G)

  • Pigeon

    Just rename the file to .ipsw

  • chiaph

    @ Pigeon

    thanks for the great help, but i’m still not getting my iphone 3gs jailbroken… it hang after it reboot after the redsno0w crack the device and hang at the apple icon? :(

  • Trang

    AAAAAAAAAAAAA I LOOOVE RED SN0W! THANKKK U GUYS SO MUCH

  • Pigeon

    It must be having problems at the restart because you have the new iboot chip. Have you not had any luck with blackra1n? Dev team won’t be updating there tools to exploit the new tech until at least 4.0 I know this is a pain but it will ensure new devices like the ipad and newer devices will stand a chance of a jailbreak on the new fw.

  • Mikey2

    Thanks for your help re: “late-model” ..my 3GS is NOT too late.

    …Or so I thought – I have never Jailbroken, nor have I updated my iPhone past 3.0.1 …However, since I updated iTunes to 9.0.3, I cannot do step 2 above. Apple will not *let* me restore to anything but 3.1.3 via it’s signature server. (Even with hitting “shift” and selecting the .ipsw file.)

    I looked into some sites and even attempted doing things like the Cydia SHSH/hosts redirect server. However, this was futile since I have never Jailbroken thus have missed the “window” to register with Cydia.

    Some links:

    http://www.saurik.com/id/12#howto

    http://modmyi.com/forums/3g-s-downgrading/699480-new-iphone-3gs-trying-force-3-1-3-workaround.html

    Is there anything I am missing? I cannot believe i cannot Jailbreak my old 3GS on firmware 3.0.1…

  • Joe B

    Wow. This worked great on the 1st Gen iPhone. I could not ask for a smoother process. Thanks so much!

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →