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How to Jailbreak the iPhone to Firmware 3.1.2

Written by Sarah Perez / October 12, 2009 7:52 AM / 161 Comments

The iPhone hacker George Hotz, (aka geohot on Twitter) has done it again. Earlier this year, he made a name for himself in the hacking community as being the first to provide a usable iPhone 3GS jailbreak, which he then followed up by releasing a "better" unlock tool for the same device. Now he's again beaten the iPhone Dev Team to the punch with his release of blackra1n, a jailbreak tool for the Apple's latest iPhone firmware, 3.1.2.

Unlocking vs Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking and unlocking the iPhone are two different hacks which allow you to take control of your mobile device in different ways. Jailbreaking is a type of hack that lets you install unapproved third-party applications on your iPhone or iPod Touch from searchable repositories provided by apps like Cydia and Icy. Unlocking, on the other hand, is a hack that lets you use your iPhone on another cellular network. Here in the U.S., that means you can use the iPhone on T-Mobile instead of AT&T. You have to first jailbreak your phone before you can unlock it, but you don't have to unlock a phone in order to jailbreak it.

Unfortunately, what was once a relatively simple process has gotten more complex over time as new iPhone models were introduced and new hacking tools were being put out by multiple parties, often with confusing names like Pwnage Tool, Purplesn0w and redsn0w. With each release of iPhone firmware, it seems as if there's a whole new lexicon of terms to master and new procedures to follow. The 3.1.2 jailbreak is no exception. However, this jailbreak works on all versions of the iPhone and even on the latest iPod Touch.

How to Jailbreak the 3.1.2 Firmware (Windows Instructions)

Before beginning this jailbreak, keep in mind that this is for jailbreakers only - not unlockers. That means if you're currently using your phone on a non-standard carrier (for example, in the U.S. you're using T-Mobile instead of AT&T), then you do NOT want to use this tool because it will disable the unlock.

But if you're just interested in jailbreaking, read on:

  1. Update to 3.1.2: If you haven't done so already, download the latest version of iTunes. Next, update your iPhone to the latest firmware when you're prompted to do so (click "Download and Install" on the pop-up message). Allow the new firmware to install as you would normally. This will un-jailbreak your phone for the time being.

  2. Get the jailbreak tool: To get started with the newest jailbreak, Windows users should head to http://blackra1n.com. and click on the window icon at the bottom of the page to download the executable.
  3. Run blackra1n: After the download is complete, connect your iPhone to your PC and run the executable. Click the "make it ra1n" button and the message will display "entering recovery..." (Note: Vista and Windows 7 users should run it in compatibility mode and as "Administrator." Right-click on the file, go to Properties, then click the "Compatibility" tab. Check the "run this program in compatibility mode for:" checkbox and choose Windows XP Service Pack 2 from the list provided. Click "OK" to close the window. Right-click to run as the Administrator.)

  4. Device reboots: Continue letting the program run, the message now reads "running..." and after you see the image of geohot's face (the same as seen here), the device will reboot. A pop-up message will display prompting you to donate if you can. Click "OK" to close this message.
  5. Launch blackra1n on the iPhone: On your iPhone, look for the blackra1n icon and tap it to launch the program.
  6. Pick your favorite installer program: On the screen that appears, you have a choice between installer programs (repositories of jailbreak apps). Tap the one you prefer - Cydia, Rock or Icy - any will do. Blackra1n will install your chosen program on your phone and will relaunch the iPhone springboard when complete. Your phone is now jailbroken, and you can use Cydia, Rock or Icy to browse, search for and install jailbreak apps.

Tips: If the Upgrade is Stuck at "Running," Try the Following:

  • Set airplane mode on.
  • Move blackra1n to the C:\ drive and run it from there.
  • Kill any iTunes-related services prior to running.
  • While it's stuck on "running," do a hard reboot (push the home and power buttons simultaneously). The app will display a message that says it's done jailbreaking, but it's not. With the USB cable still plugged in, re-run the blackra1n app. This time it should work.

However, be aware that the blackra1n jailbreak is still a little iffy for some users. Several people have reported that they're unable to jailbreak, despite following instructions. If you're not feeling adventurous, you may want to wait for the Dev Team's jailbreak instead.

Mac Users Have to Wait

Sorry Mac users, there is no jailbreak yet available for 3.1.2 just yet. However, you can use the Pwnage Tool to jailbreak older 3.1 versions of the iPhone firmware. More details are here.

Update 10/14/09: The iPhone Dev Team has now released a Mac tool for jailbreaking 3.1.2. More details are here.


Comments

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  1. if I do this, will i loose all my old jailbreak stuff?

    Posted by: Seth | October 12, 2009 8:34 AM



  2. @Seth: Yes, you will have to reinstall your jailbreak apps. However, there IS an app for that. Look into AptBackup.

     Posted by: Sarah Perez Author Profile Page | October 12, 2009 8:44 AM



  3. i have a 2G iphone i had downloaded the lastest update 3.1 i think from itunes not knowing the problem of not to download it but then once i did it locked my iphone only displayign the emergency pad is there a way for me to unlock it and i do not have a sim card i just want ot use it as an ipod right now not as a phone

    Posted by: warren | October 12, 2009 10:56 AM



  4. Do you have to Donate to get Blackra1n ? I can't find a place to download without donating. I will donate after I JB my phone

    Posted by: Mike | October 12, 2009 11:18 AM



  5. stuck on "done, wait for reboot"

    Posted by: MIKE | October 12, 2009 12:30 PM



  6. ...just click on the windows logo, which is a link to the exe.

    Posted by: anonpoo | October 12, 2009 12:34 PM



  7. Thank You

    Posted by: Mike | October 12, 2009 12:39 PM



  8. stuck on running... how long does take on runnning... screen??

    Posted by: dddd | October 12, 2009 1:05 PM



  9. Is there an unlock solution for this jailbreak? I want to use my iPhone when I go to Australia.

    Why is there such a quick solution for this 3.1.2 when the dev team said 3.1 couldn't be broken unless you had previously broken 3.0.1?
    http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10367566-233.html

    Posted by: Eric | October 12, 2009 1:36 PM



  10. @Mike: No, you don't have to donate.
    @MIKE: Try forcing the reboot then re-running.
    @dddd: Check out the "tips" listed for help with that
    @Eric: No unlock yet.

     Posted by: Sarah Perez Author Profile Page | October 12, 2009 1:48 PM



  11. Sat on running for a while. I went back and did a hard reboot ( hold down home and power ) for a few seconds. opened up blackra1n again and there you have it... DONE.

    not bad. kinda buggy process but its all good.

    Posted by: AJ | October 12, 2009 1:57 PM



  12. i tryed every step but still stuck on wait for reboot..after iphone reboots nothing happens.. i have 3.1.2 3gs plz help

    Posted by: dj asif | October 12, 2009 2:25 PM



  13. I have tried everything from closeing iTunes and all its services to running it and running it again when its stuck in the reboot part of the install......NOTHING has worked, i have tried it over 20x in every way imaginable...still gets frozen at the end when its supposed to reboot, never see a picture only the cable connect to iTunes logo then a black screen...Can someone please tell me what the &#&$ I am doing wrong or a way around this i am about to throw this thing out the window lol

    Posted by: Ben | October 12, 2009 7:23 PM



  14. Stuck on "entering recovery". what do i do?

    Posted by: Mathias | October 12, 2009 7:44 PM



  15. I've just tried it....
    I don't know if I'm stupid or not, but I still don't think
    my phones jailbreaked yet......
    The black rain icon appeared, installed cyndia,
    but when I try to use the ifunbox, it still says that
    my phone is jailed.....
    what should I do... I followed all the instructions
    to the dot....
    AM I STUPID, or am I doing something wrong......?

    Posted by: SAM H. | October 12, 2009 10:24 PM



  16. I earlier tried jailbreaking my 3GS but it never worked at all. But the Blackrain was the simplest Jail Break I ever had.... Infact everything went on its own and I never even had to download the custom restore file.

    Thanks a ton geohot and Oh BTW I did donate after the JB..

    Posted by: Arvind | October 12, 2009 11:32 PM



  17. Stuck on step 3 "entering recovery." I restart the process and still the same. If I reboot device when I tried again I get "waiting for iphone" and again stuck. Any advice?

    3GS 3.1.2
    Windows Vista

    Posted by: Alex | October 13, 2009 12:32 AM



  18. will i need to backup my contacts and data before i run it?
    will it replace my whole os?

    iphone 3g 16gb
    windows vista 32bit

    Posted by: nick | October 13, 2009 3:51 AM



  19. Hello I have an iPhone 3gs I got it from the store with 3.1 so I updated it to 3.1.2 to jailbreak it. Well I did every step and I got stuck on (done wait for reboot) it reboot after a while but only if I press the home button. And I never saw this geohot'S face while doing it all I saw was a cable pointing to an iTunes logo. So my phone works fine but I don't see the icon anywhere on my phone. Heeeelp please.

    Posted by: Juan Carlos v | October 13, 2009 6:35 AM



  20. stuck on running.... crap. dead phone. thanks alot for this article, it fuc*ked my phone up

    Posted by: sam | October 13, 2009 6:53 AM



  21. i tried everything from recovery update to lunching it from C drive, Closing all i tunes related programs, running the program from airplane mode. What else is their any ideas??? HELP!!!

    Posted by: Bryan | October 13, 2009 7:37 AM



  22. I used this method and it worked out pretty great. Thanks!

    Posted by: PowerGen | October 13, 2009 8:06 AM



  23. this might help people who are stuckk in rebooting mode, well all u need to do is when u update you iphone to 3.1.2, also click where it says restore on itunes an you'll be good to go how this will help...

    Posted by: dj asif | October 13, 2009 8:14 AM



  24. when u hit make it ran hold down your home button, that worked for me

    it was previously getting stuck on running

    by the way im on windows xp sp3

    i've broken out of jail
    lol

    Posted by: finally | October 13, 2009 8:19 AM



  25. Ok so that means that I have to restore from iTunes after I update???
    I am so confused can the hack creator respond to some of the comments so that we having problems can solve them please. Or someone that had jailbreaked a 3gs. (no BS I'm willing to donate after jailbreak)

    Posted by: Juan Carlos v | October 13, 2009 8:34 AM



  26. Sweet Works like a charm...@

    Posted by: Tito | October 13, 2009 9:07 AM



  27. How long should it stau on "running" before i should decide it didnt work and restart?

    Posted by: Chris | October 13, 2009 9:20 AM



  28. Reply for Chris. I went to YouTube, saw a video and it only takes about 90 secods. However I can't get mine to work either. Please comment if you find a way to do it.

    Posted by: Juan Carlos v | October 13, 2009 9:27 AM



  29. From the logs I have looked at there are alot of

    "usb open failed while sending command"

    This jb has stuck on running twice, and I have followed all "tips"

    Someone get passed this?

    Posted by: Chris | October 13, 2009 9:35 AM



  30. Here's the complete tutorial on how to Jailbreak Your iPhone firmware 3.1.2 Using PwnageTool for Mac | Digital Marketing Talk. http://retwt.me/T9ik

    Posted by: Dave | October 13, 2009 10:01 AM



  31. YESSSSSSS!!!!! AFTER 20 TIMES OF TRYING AND 1 MINUTE AWAY FROM THROWING MY I PHONE AGAINST THE WALL I GOT IT. I RAN THE PROGRAM FROM C: DRIVE AND I HELD DOWN THE BUTTON "MAKE IT RAIN" FOR LIKE 5 TO 6 SECONDS LET IT GO AND IT ACTUALLY WORKED. GIVE IT A TRY I KEPT GETTING STUCK ON THE "RUNNING" PART.

    Posted by: Bryan | October 13, 2009 12:39 PM



  32. will this work with 1st and 2nd gen phones? I am not using my 2nd Gen as a phone. I use it more as an itouch. all the new 3 firmware updates have crashed my iphone. putting it in connect to ITUNES screen. What is that all about? with this new version of iphone firmware do the same thing?

     Posted by: Greg Author Profile Page | October 13, 2009 1:19 PM



  33. OMG i did it. After trying for like two days i just jailbreaked my iPhone 3gs running 3.1.2
    inused to get stuck on done, wait for reboot. Today i moved blackra1n to the C drive then i got stuck on running well notthing happened so i decide to reboot my pc and move the file back to my desktop and opened. At the moment of clicking the make it rain i held the mouse button for 13 seconds and it worked for me. I hope this pot may help all of you guys. Good luck.

    Posted by: Juan Carlos v | October 13, 2009 7:54 PM



  34. yo guys are correct ...even mine worked after holding the MAKE IT RAIN button for 10 seconds..I see the image of GEOHOT...but the phone is not jailbreaked...again i see the NO SIM CARD intalled message...the un-jailbreaked version still persists...
    please help ...
    iused ipsw: iPhone1,2_3.1.2_7D11_Restore.ipsw

    please let me know....if i m doing it correct...i am geting geohot image..phone is restarting but i have not jailbroken it yet...
    PLZ HELP

    Posted by: Raunacq | October 13, 2009 11:39 PM



  35. Too all those complaining about being stuck at "running" check out the "tips" section in the article for help.

     Posted by: Sarah Perez Author Profile Page | October 14, 2009 7:45 AM



  36. I TRIED ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS, ALL USER COMMENTS, 2 DIFFERENT PC’S WITH DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEMS AND STILL NOTHING BUT STUCK RECOVERIES.. 3G, 3.1.2.. MY MODEM FIRMWARE IS 05.11.07 DONT KNOW IF THATS A KNOWN ISSUE..THIS WAS JAILBROKEN ON 3.0 UNTIL THE ITUNES UPGRADE TO 3.1.2, MAYBE THAT HOSED SOMETHING UP ON THE PHONE..

    Posted by: ct6366 | October 14, 2009 11:38 AM



  37. "check out the "tips" section in the article for help."
    Wheres is that at????

    Posted by: ct63366 | October 14, 2009 1:43 PM



  38. When I hit make it rain it just says waiting on phone...I cant get passed that. Yes, my phones plugged in.

    Posted by: kevin | October 14, 2009 1:44 PM



  39. Worked great. Too bad I reset my iphone to orginal settings first. Burn on me

    Posted by: Curtis | October 14, 2009 4:14 PM



  40. Worked first time for me, first jailbreak (was a little nervous too, didn't want to brick it!) and it was as easy as clicking 1 button... can't ask for more than that!

    Just winterboard wont work for me but that's no big deal, I'll manually change the files if needs be!

    Posted by: DemonicSpaceman | October 14, 2009 4:48 PM



  41. i will buy any phone thats stuck in recovery mode, your phone is now garbage

    Posted by: quintel | October 14, 2009 6:49 PM



  42. i follow all the tips and read all the commnets.. and its a big sucess! :) AIRPLANE MODE, CLOSE THE ITUNE FROM RUNNING and HIT THE MAKE IT RAIN 10 sec. before releasing it! the pic will show up and wait for the reboot!! TRUST me it will really gonna work..

     Posted by: Weel Author Profile Page | October 15, 2009 9:37 AM



  43. i forgot also drag THE BLACKRA1n on DRIVE C... hope i help! :)

     Posted by: Weel Author Profile Page | October 15, 2009 9:42 AM



  44. i need help

    Posted by: amber | October 15, 2009 1:23 PM



  45. i cant pass entering recovery mode
    iphone 3G 3.1.2

    Posted by: josh | October 15, 2009 2:30 PM




  46. GOOD JOB! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
    I TRY LOT JAILBREAKS ( LOTS ) BUT THIS ONE IS THE BEST!
    EASY AND FAST!!!!
    I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    CONGRATULATTIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!

    LET'S GO SHOW THIS COMPANIES THAT WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: Roberto B.Da Silva | October 15, 2009 10:17 PM



  47. Ive just restored my iphone to 3.1.2 and whenever i try to go to black rain and make it rain, it goes into DFU mode then itunes and i have to restore again! Can you help?

    Posted by: Tuong | October 16, 2009 5:48 AM



  48. I've been trying this since Monday the 12th and couldn't get it to jailbreak. And I found these instructions from "PuG" on another site AND IT WORKED.. FINALLY ! ! !

    Been messing about with my 3G 8gb for about half an hour trying to jailbreak it lol.. followed everyones suggestions and nothing worked... THEN i cracked it...
    Do all the update stuff first then unplug your iphone and reboot it. compatibility mode your blackra1n, RUN blackra1n and click "make it rain"... THEN and only then plug your iphone back into the computer... was over and done in 30 seconds, popped up wit the message telling me my iphone would be jailbroken once it had reboot and the image of the curly haired lad with the wave of iphones popped onto the screen... it rebooted and now its done.
    Cheers..
    In addition I stopped all Antivirus services..

    Posted by: ct63366 | October 16, 2009 11:54 AM



  49. nothing is working :( i did it like 20+ times and still nothing

    Posted by: marta | October 16, 2009 2:53 PM



  50. wow, its work.. thanks
    anyway want to ask, after jailbreak this using this software, is it i can still sync with my itunes ? since later i want to put it back to original also
    thanks

    Posted by: danny | October 17, 2009 3:13 AM



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