I’ve tried a few ways to jailbreak my iPhone 3.1.3 (which I accidentally upgraded to via iTunes), but they either cause an error message, or it just doesn’t jailbreak. Some methods used to jailbreak with 3.1.2 firmware does work with the iPhone 3G (I am not sure about the iPhone 3GS), but I am never comfortable everytime I had to use an older firmware to jailbreak a newer one. I have psychological issues with it.

So, after fumbling around, I found a solution that works for me in Windows 7. Note that I have my User Account Control settings in Windows 7 turned off (slide completely downwards), so I wouldn’t know if any apps used in this process would require administrator priviledges. If they don’t work, you’ll know what to do then :)

First, preparation for the jailbreaking

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Update your iTunes to the latest version (as of now it’s 9.0.3)
• sn0wbreeze for jailbreaking. You can download sn0wbreeze here
• sn0wbreeze requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. If you don’t have it, you can download it from Microsoft website
• iPhone Firmware 3.1.3 original file (download it here)

Next Step: Backup your iPhone

Before proceeding to jailbreak your iPhone, please sync it with iTunes and back it up properly. Jailbreaking will involve restoring your iPhone with a jailbroken firmware, which also means it will wipe everything in your iPhone. Therefore I strongly recommend that you’ll perform a full backup of your iPhone to save yourself some miseries of setting it up all over again. Unless you’re the kind who like it fresh all the time!

Start the Jailbreaking process!

For easy manageability, I would suggest you to create a folder on your desktop called “Jailbreak iPhone” (or anything, for that matter), and move sn0wbreeze and the iPhone 3.1.3 firmware (that IPSW file) together, so it is easy to find. Also make sure you have installed the .NET framework if you don’t have it, as it is needed to run sn0wbreeze.

I keep my iPhone connected at this point, as it will make it easier in the later steps of the jailbreaking process.

Now, start sn0wbreeze, and you’ll see this welcome screen:

In case you don’t know what to do at this point, click that OK button!

Now click the right arrow at the bottom right corner (yes that blue one!), and then you’ll be presented with this screen:

To make life easier, let’s choose the “Simple Mode”. This does the job and there’s less geeky questions to answer! Press the next button to continue:

At this point, click the “browse”, and locate the iPhone 3.1.3 Firmware file (that IPSW file) that you have downloaded earlier and let sn0wbreeze process the file. I know, the message said “3.1.2″, but don’t worry about it, it works with iPhone 3.1.3 firmware!

Click next once the firmware have been verified (and make sure that iPhone image on the left matches your iPhone, i.e. 2G, 3G, 3GS), now sno0wbreeze will begin jailbreaking the firmware.

At one point it will ask if you want to activate your iPhone. You can choose to answer either Yes or No (you probably want to answer Yes if your iPhone is carrier-locked). In my case, my iPhone is an unlocked unit, so I pick No for the answer.

Now it will begin to jailbreak the firmware. This will take a while, so maybe you can grab some drinks meantime.

More screens throughout the process:

Now sn0wbreeze will ask you whether your iPhone is already jailbroken or otherwise, choose “No/Not Sure” for this. Just FYI, No/Notsure works with both non-jailbroken and jailbroken iPhones. For the simplicity of the guide, let’s choose “No/NotSure“:

Then sn0wbreeze will guide you on how to get your device into the DFU mode:

Click start, and follow the guide carefully. Note that in DFU mode, your phone screen will be off. You can tell that your iPhone already in a DFU mode once you notice Windows started to detect a new device.

Back to iTunes

Once your iPhone is in the DFU mode, start iTunes and you’ll notice that it is saying that your iPhone is in the DFU mode and it will need to be restored. Dismiss this message.

Now, hold your SHIFT key (of course, on your keyboard), and click on Restore in iTunes

A browse window will appear, now navigate to your desktop, and look for the iPhone Firmware file (that IPSW file) that have been customized by sn0wbreeze:

iTunes will then restore your iPhone with the custom, and jailbroken firmware. As you might have known, this will take a while, so let’s grab another cup of coffee (or tea in case you hate coffee). Once the process is done, you’ll notice there’s a Cydia icon on your iPhone.

Have fun with your newly jailbroken iPhone!

Possible issues: Error 1600/ 1601/1604 occured when you try to restore your iPhone with sn0wbreeze custom firmware

I face this issue when trying to restore my iPhone 3G with the jailbroken 3.1.3 firmware. But fret not, there’s a way around this!

You will need a tool called “iREB” which you can download here.

First, put your iPhone in the DFU mode again (I hope you still remember how, if not, here’s how: First, turn your iPhone off, then hold both the power and the home button for exactly 10 seconds, then release the power button and keep holding the Home button for another 10 seconds, until iTunes detected your phone and tells you that it needs restore).

Once iTunes have detected your iPhone in restore mode, dismiss the message and exit iTunes.

Making sure your iPhone is still connected to your PC, start iREB, and click on the model of your iPhone (in my case, iPhone 3G).

After a while you will notice that your iPhone is showing either a white or a red screen (at some point iREB might crash, this is expected so don’t worry about it). Once you see this white screen, start iTunes.

Now perform the Shift+Restore with the custom firmware again, and have fun!

I have been trying to jailbreak my iPhone 3G (currently at firmware 3.1.2) for a few days, causing a lot of frustration, reboots and yet, my iPhone is still not jailbroken. So after a few rounds of trial-and-error, I manage to figure out the easiest way to do this.

First: Download Blackra1n

Go to the Blackra1n’s website and download blackra1n. If you’re somehow lost on how to download (for some strange cognitional reason), click on the windows logo on the blackra1n’s website. Don’t know which one? Are you for real?

Connect your iPhone to your PC

It doesn’t matter whether iTunes is running or otherwise. Just let it complete the backup process, sync, etc. Once you’re done, launch Blackra1n, but DO NOT CLICK on the “Make It Rain” button yet!

Do not click on the button yet!

Turn off your iPhone

While keeping your iPhone connected to your PC, turn it off (press and hold the power button until “Slide to Power Off” message appear, and slide to turn it off). Keep your iPhone connected via the USB cable!

Enter Recovery Mode

Now, hold both home and power button at the same time, the phone will turn on after a while. Keep the buttons pressed until the “Please connect to iTunes” image appears on the iPhone’s screen (it’s exactly like the image above). You can now release the buttons.

Start Jailbreaking

Now, click the “Make It Rain” button, and it would start jailbreaking your phone. Wait for the phone to reboot.

Now, you can click

Install Cydia

The whole idea of jailbreaking an iPhone is to allow installation of 3rd party applications on your iPhone, potentially turning it into a fancy touch-screen “there’s an app for that” device into something phenomenal, and potentially diabolical. If you have no plans to do all these, then I have no idea why you want to jailbreak your phone. Oh wait, maybe because you just can.

Once your phone have been rebooted, you’ll notice a new App called “blackra1n” on your iPhone. Launch this app, and proceed to install Cydia:

This is how blackra1n app looks like

This is Cydia

This is Cydia being installed

Yay, Cydia Installed!

(Optional) Remove blackra1n

If for some reason you’re not comfortable having the blackra1n app remain installed, you can remove blackra1n from the app itself!

No more blackra1n

There you go! Happy Jailbreaking!

Finally, my long prayer have been answered! Kudos to the developers at Nullriver Software and RiP Dev of this one wonderful tool that opens all possibilities to install any desired 3rd party applications!

More screenshots after the jump!

Initial screen – nothing changes here:

Lookie – there’s a search bar on top – finally!

Live Search Baby!

Now all I do is tap on “All Packages” and start abusing the Search! :D