The Always Up-to-Date Guide to
Jailbreaking Your iPhone, iPod touch, and
iPad [iOS 5.0.1]
-A Lifehacker article
Jailbreaking is a process that changes little by little with each iOS upgrade. Rather than
always publishing new guides, we're simply going to keep this one up to date. If you want to
jailbreak your iOS device, you've come to the right page.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Although you can jailbreak both A5-based and non-A5-based
devices running iOS 5.0.1, the method differs. Be sure to follow the instructions for your
device.
Current Untethered Version: iOS 5.0.1
For additional jailbreak options for older versions of iOS, please see the list at the bottom of
this page. As this guide is updated, previous versions of the guide will be archived there as
well.
Current Tethered Version: iOS 5.0.1
We do not recommend tethered jailbreaking, as it requires you to connect your iDevice to
your computer to boot it every time. This is especially bad with new operating system
releases, as they tend to freeze up a bit more. You probably don't want your device freezing
up and becoming unusable while you're out and about, so you really should wait until an
untethered jailbreak is available for iOS 5. That said, if you're jailbreaking for development
purposes or carry a laptop with you everywhere, this post will show you can do it.
Not sure if you should jailbreak?
We love jailbreaking our iDevices, but it's not for everybody. If you're not sure, you should
read both our reasons not to jailbreak and why jailbreaking is awesome.
How to Jailbreak Older (Non-A5-Based) Devices: The Step by Step Process
The video above will show you how the whole process works, both on your computer and
your iOS device, but read on for the steps for non-A5-based devices.
1
Before getting started, make sure you are running iOS 5.0.1, as this jailbreak will only work
on iOS 5.0.1 and not 5.0.0. If you're still running 5.0.0, update to 5.0.1. Also, be sure your
iDevice does not run on an A5 chip. (This means iPad 2s and iPhone 4S'.) Any earlier device
that can run iOS 5.0.1 should work just fine. (This means the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 GSM,
iPhone 4 CDMA, iPad 1, iPod touch 3G, and iPod touch 4G.)
2
Download redsn03 0.9.10b3 for Mac OS X or Windows.
3
Connect your iDevice to your computer, open up the redsn0w application, and turn off your
iDevice.
4
On the redsn0w application window you'll see a Jailbreak button. Click it. You'll be told
you'll need to put your iDevice into DFU mode and to click the Next button when ready.
When you are ready, go ahead and click it.
5
Hold down the power button at the top of your iDevice for three (3) seconds. Next, continue
holding down the power button but also hold down the home button for a total of 10 seconds.
Finally, let go of the power button but continue holding down the home button for another 15
seconds, or until redsn0w changes screens and tells you it's exploiting your device for the
jailbreak.
6
Once redsn0w has finished doing its business, it'll ask you what you want to do for this
jailbreak. By default, only Cydia will be checked. Most of the other options are irrelevant, but
you might want to check Enable multitouch gestures if you want additional multitouch
gestures on your iPhone or iPod touch.
7
Wait a few minutes for the jailbreak to finish and for your iDevice to reboot. Once it has
booted, you'll see the Cydia icon on your home screen (although it may not be on the first
page, so look around). Open it up and you'll have access to a bunch of jailbreak hacks.
And you're done! Launch it and you're ready to go. Not sure what to do next? Check out our
jailbreaking tag page for some ideas.
How to Jailbreak Newer (A5-Based) Devices: The Step by Step Process
The video above will show you how the whole process works, both on your computer and
your iOS device, but read on for the steps for A5-based devices.
1
The greenpois0n absinthe method is pretty simple. You just plug in your iPhone or iPad
(there's no need to enter DFU mode or even turn it off), open the absinthe jailbreak app on
your Mac or Windows PC, and click the jailbreak button.
2
Wait for a while. Your device will go into a fake restore session and reboot. When it reboots,
DO NOT TOUCH IT. The jailbreak process isn't over yet. You will be notified on-screen
when absinthe has finished its work. It will tell you to find the quote-unquote jailbreak app on
one of your home screen pages. The app is not labeled jailbreak, but rather absinthe. Tap that
app and it should cause your device to reboot with the jailbreak complete.
3
If that doesn't happen, however, just open up the Settings app on your device and flip the
VPN toggle switch to on (it'll be towards the top of your main settings options). You'll
receive an error, which you need to dismiss, and then after a few seconds your device will
reboot.
Once you're done jailbreaking, you'll now find Cydia on one of your home screen pages.
Open it up and start installing whatever you want. Not sure what to install first? Check out
our jailbreaking tag page for some ideas.
Jailbreaking Options for Older iOS Devices
Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.3 (the faster, easier, JailbreakMe Method)
Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.3 (the old-fashioned, redsn0w method)
Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.2
Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.1
Jailbreak for iOS 4.2.1
Jailbreak for Apple TV 2G
Jailbreak for iOS 4.1
Jailbreak for iOS 4.0 and 4.0.1
Jailbreak for iOS 3.1.3 and 3.1.5
Jailbreak for iOS 3.1.2
Jailbreak for iOS 2.2.1
Jailbreak for iOS 1.1.4
You can contact Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at adachis@lifehacker.com. You can
also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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