Step-by-step Tutorial: How to (Un)Tether Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3GS Using RedSn0w 0.9.9b8 (Windows) [iOS 5.0.1]

This is step-by-step instructions on how to perform jailbreak and unlock of your iPhone 3GS on iOS 5.0.1 firmware using RedSn0w 0.9.9b8 for Windows.

If you need unlock Redsn0w will provide you with choice of updating your baseband to 06.15. If you have new iPhone 3GS that was made after 35 week of 2011 upgrading modem will not help to unlock.

Important: official ultrasn0w unlock is not yet ready for iOS 5.0.1. You will need to wait for ultrasn0w update. For now only jailbreak! There is a workaround described here.

Important: If you need unlock and have 05.13 baseband or lower - do not update to Apple firmware, use RedSn0w or Sn0wBreeze to create custom firmware!

Tethered jailbreak means that each time you restart your device you will need to connect it to a computer and run redsn0w.

Important: Please, consider reading our Jailbreak & Unlock FAQ, if you have other device or firmware and especially if you have questions or troubles.

Important information.

Please think first, before you do something.

If you have iOS 5 we recommend not to update to 5.0.1, because this will minimize your chances to get untethered jailbreak in the future. Just use our tutorial for iOS 5.

If you have iOS 4.3.3 firmware - you can do an untethered jailbreak using one of our tutorials.

If you need carrier unlock - do not update to iOS 5.x firmware, use RedSn0w or Sn0wBreeze to create a custom firmware to preserve modem version!

Step One

Create a folder on your desktop (or any other folder on your computer) called Pwnage

Download and save to the Pwnage folder:

1. RedSn0w 0.9.9b8 or higher from here.
2. iPhone 3GS iOS 5 firmware: iPhone2,1_5.0_9A334_Restore.ipsw (yes iOS 5.0 firmware, not iOS 5.0.1)

It is better to download firmware with Firefox, because some browsers (f.e., Safari) extract ipsw.

Extract the redsn0w executable from the RedSn0w zip file into the same folder.

Step Two

Connect your iPhone 3GS to the computer and launch iTunes.

Select your iPhone from the list of devices on the left. Create a backup by right-clicking on iPhone name in Devices (iTunes left pane) and choosing Back Up.

If you are already on iOS 5.0.1 you can now skip to step three.

Download iPhone 3GS firmware iOS 5.0.1 to Pwnage folder. It is better to use Firefox, because some browsers (f.e., Safari) extract ipsw:

• iPhone 3GS iOS 5.0.1: iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw

Open iTunes. Now hold down Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) key and click the Restore button.

Navigate to the Pwnage folder on your desktop and select the iOS 5.0.1 firmware ipsw. Click the Open button to continue.

iTunes will ask if you want to setup your iPhone as a new device or restore from the backup. Choose Restore from Backup if you want to preserve your contacts and other information.

Step Three

Once iTunes has finished updating your iPhone 3GS to the desired firmware open the Pwnage folder on your desktop and launch the redsn0w application from the redsn0w folder we extracted earlier.

On Windows Vista or Windows 7 right click the executable and set it to run as administrator in Windows Vista/XP compatibility mode.

Step Four

Once RedSn0w opens click the Extras button

Now click Select IPSW button.

Navigate to the Pwnage folder on your desktop and select the iOS 5 firmware ipsw. Click the Open button to continue.

Windows with a message that selected firmware is identified will appear. If you see an error - either ipsw was corrupted and you need to download it again, or you have chosen 5.0.1 instead of 5.0.

Click OK.

Redsn0w will ask if you have new or old bootrom version. You can detect your bootrom version using our tutorial.

Answer YES, if you have iPhone 3GS with new bootrom.

Answer NO, if you have iPhone 3GS with old bootrom.

Step Five

Now click Back, to get to the main menu.

Step Six

In the main menu click the Jailbreak button.

RedSn0w will now prepare the jailbreak data.

Step Seven

From this window you can select the jailbreak options you would like.

Make sure Cydia is selected.

You can update your baseband to the 06.15 version for carrier unlock. If you are on 05.14 or 05.15 or higher you will need to do this to unlock. You do not need to do this for jailbreak only. Please read the following very carefully before deciding whether to do this.

1. There is no way to come back down from baseband 06.15, and there’s no hiding the baseband version from Apple. You’ll be voiding your warranty in a very obvious way.
2. If some future baseband comes out with a critical fix, you won’t be able to update to it if it remains down in the 05.xx sequence (then again, you wouldn’t update to it if you wanted to keep your unlock anyway).
3. If you have 06.15 on your iPhone you won’t ever be able to restore to stock firmware (it will fail). You’ll need to only restore to custom IPSWs (then again, if you’re unlocker you should already be doing that).
4. You might get problems with GPS, if you install 06.15 baseband.

Don’t update to 06.15 if you don’t need to, you can just jailbreak without unlocking using this tutorial! Only update baseband if you need the unlock and you’re stuck on baseband version 05.14 or 05.15, and you’re willing to assume the above risks. You can find out your baseband version in Settings -> General -> About -> Modem Firmware.

If you have read all above and want to update your modem to 06.15 select Install iPad Baseband.

Click the Next button to continue

Step Eight

Please plug your iPhone 3GS into the computer and make sure its OFF then click the Next button

Step Nine

RedSn0w will now guide you through the steps to get into DFU mode.

1. Hold down Power button for 3 seconds.

2. Without releasing Power button, hold down both the Home button and the Power button for 10 seconds.

3. Release the Power button and continue holding the Home button until RedSn0w detects the device (~15 seconds).

If you have problems try again.

Step Ten

RedSn0w will then begin uploading the new RAM Disk and Kernel.

Step Eleven

Once this is complete you will be notified that RedSn0w is done.

If you have new bootrom you will see the window with  message that your jailbreak is tethered. Click OK.

Redsn0w is done!

When your iPhone 3GS finishes rebooting (5 minutes or so) it will be jailbroken with Cydia installed on the SpringBoard.

Step 12: BOOT TETHERED

Note: This step is only for new bootrom iPhone 3GS. If you are lucky to have old bootrom device just skip to Step 13.

Once RedSn0w has finished you will need to boot tethered your iPhone 3GS. You will need to do it everytime you restart.

Rerun RedSn0w and this time select Extras button.

Click Just boot button (the first one).

You will have to put your iPhone 3GS into DFU mode (just like on step 5-6):

Please plug your iPhone 3GS into the computer and make sure its OFF then click the Next button

1. Hold down Power button for 3 seconds.

2. Without releasing Power button, hold down both the Home button and the Power button for 10 seconds.

3. Release the Power button and continue holding the Home button until RedSn0w detects the device (~15 seconds).

If you have problems try again. If you experience problems and see error messages - do Step 4 before Booting Tethered.

Now your iPhone 3GS is jailbroken and working.

Step Thirteen

Run Cydia. Let it do all the necessary updates.

To have access to the root file system of your iPhone (via file managers like iFunBox or iPhone Explorer) install application called afc2add in Cydia.

Step Fourteen

Do not forget to change your default password if you've installed openssh.

Step Fifteen

You can convert tethered jailbreak to a semi-tethered jailbreak using our tutorial from here.

Step Sixteen

If you need carrier unlock – install ultrasn0w via Cydia (if you do not need carrier unlock skip this step).

Ultrasn0w supports iPhone 4 baseband 01.59.00 and iPhone 3G/3GS basebands 04.26.08, 05.11.07, 05.12.01, 05.13.04, 06.15.00.

1. Open Cydia.
2. Go to Manage than click Sources.
3. If you see repository http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com, go to step 8.
4. Click Edit button in the top right corner.
5. Then click Add button in the top left corner.
6. Type http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com and click Add Source.
7. Then click Done.
8. Click on on newly created repository http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com.
9. Click on ultrasn0w and hit Install button in the top right.
10. One installed, restart your iPhone.
11. Disable 3G on T-Mobile USA.
12. You're done! You should see the network.