The background and “the why?”
Apple has a very evolved sense of security and thus you won’t be able to install any application not listed in the AppStore. In order for you to be able to install WinterBoard (a replacement for that main menu), themes, sounds, ringtones, wallpapers and all those goodies, you need to jailbreak your iPhone which means you have to make it be able to install any software you choose.
Each time you update to a new firmware version, a new QuickPWN tool is necessary. This article covers the update to 2.2.1, but it is exactly the same for any older version (I’ve tried them all).
Warning! This is not the same as unlocking your phone, which means making it work with any GSM operator out there. This article is not about this. Unlocking is illegal, while jailbreaking is legal and usually doesn’t break your warranty.
How to jailbreak your iPhone
1. Update
The first thing to do is have the latest version of iTunes installed in order to update your iPhone to the latest firmware. Just connect it to a internet-enabled computer with iTunes and you’ll instantly get the message to download and install the latest firmware, if you haven’t done so already.
2. Get the tool
Go to http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/01/official-quickpwn-221-and-pwnagetool-jailbreak-for-windowsmac.html and download QuickPWN 2.2.1 for Windows. It’s small piece of software that does exactly this: jailbreak your phone.
QuickPWN Official website
When the 3.0 version will be out, this is where you should come and get the latest version.
A word of caution. I’ve seen that fresly releases of QuickPWN tools for fresh firmware versions are not fail-proof and you may run into trouble. You should wait for at least a month before jailbreaking your phone after a new version is released just to make sure that most of the bugs are identified and fixed. That is what I do.
3. Start the tool
Have the iPhone connected via USB cable to the computer and fire up the downloaded QuickPWN tool. It will show up like this:
QuickPWN Tool startup screenshot
Do not worry, the procedure is easy and it’s very unlikely that something will go wrong.
4. Firwmare file
Select the upgraded firmware. Once iTunes upgrades your iPhone firmware version to 2.2.1, it automaticaly saves the firmware somewhere on your drive. QuickPWN tools needs this file in order to patch it and reapply it to your iPhone.
If you have the file, is already selected in the textbox, if not, you can download it from here. After selecting it, or if you already had it selected, a progress circle starts spinning telling you that he’s working on patching the selected file. It does it in some backup file, so have no fear.
QuickPWN select firmware page
5. Touching the firmware file
After the tool patches the firmware file, you’ll see a big checkmark next to the phone picture. Click on the left arrow to go to the next step.
QuickPWN patched the firmware successfuly
6. Select what you wish to install
Installing application will still be done from the iPhone, but there are two very nice applications to help you in doing that: Cydia and Installer. You should leave them both checked and go to the next page.
QuickPWN selecting Cydia and Installer
7. Check the USB connection
This is where things will start to be applied to your phone and for that check that the phone is correctly connected to the PC and click next.
QuickPWN checking the USB connection
During the jailbreaking you will be asked to keep the Start button pressed for a few seconds, then (while still keeping the Start button pressed) you will be asked to also push and keep pushed the power button for a number of seconds, and then, without releasing the Start button, to release the Power button and keep the Start button pressed for some more seconds.
Don’t panic, even if you don’t get it right the first time, you cand just try and try again. Just have your fingers correctly positioned and click next. This operations are required to put your iPhone in firmware upgrade mode, which cannot be done by software.
8. The jailbreaking
This is where the real process starts. As the iPhone connects in Recovery Mode you’ll see the firmware upgrade indicated on your phone.
iPhone in Recovery Mode
After entering Recovery Mode, the jailbreaking procedure will start:
QuickPWN jailbreaking your iPhone
While the jailbreaking is in progress, your iPhone will show this screen:
QuickPWN jailbreaking almost complete.
This is going to take a few minutes. Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal.
Just before it ends, your iPhone will restart and show up a progress bar indicating the final touches:
QuickPWN reboots the iPhone and adds the final touch.
9. Hurray! Your iPhone is out of it’s cage, and you can start benefiting from the tons and tons of applications, games, utilities and themes out there. How to install applications by using Cydia and Installer will be the subject of another article.
DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible if, for whatever reason, your phone, PC, ego or anything else is damaged or harmed in following this how-to. People all around the world jailbreak thousands of iPhones and have no problems, but you may have, for no apparent reason. Do this on your own risk!
