Update : A much faster easier solution for Mac users can be found here. Windows users may resort to ZiPhoneGUI.
I am back after spending 4 hours on the entire process (which includes some hits and misses! Which means, you no longer have to figure out the right steps/combinations!!). Now the process is trimmed down to much lesser time and the best part being : No command line hackery!
All you need is an iPhone (OTB 1.1.2/1.1.3 BL 4.6), Mac (preferable) / Windows, Firmware files (1.1.2, 1.1.3 ipsws), courage to try this all on your pricey iPhones 🙂 (Trust me, it is so easy!!). Please note I used the ATT sim that comes with the iPhone all the way till the iPhone is unlocked.
I am performing this Unlock on a brand new 16gb iPhone that cam out with 4.6 BL and 04_03_13GB BB. Please proceed with his guide only if you have an OTB 1.1.2 or 1.1.3 with 4.6 BL.
UPDATE : After trying this method for one full day, I had some issues with 1.1.3 Dev Team’s soft upgrade. I had no problems restoring it to 1.1.2 and the Unlock sustained just fine. Hence, I recommend using 1.1.2 until a stable 1.1.3 is achieved.
Step 1 : The most important and tricky one : Downgrading OTB 1.1.3 to 1.1.1 (From _BigBoss_)
- Turn your iPhone off and hold the power and home buttons for exactly 10 secs (yeah count them!).
- Now, release the Power button still holding the Home Button till iTunes prompts this message ( you get a beep sound both on PC and Mac ). Remember that the display doesn’t show up at any point.
If you have come this far, you have completed the tough part, now for the time consuming sit-back and let-it-perform part!!
Step 2:
Make sure you have 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 firmware files downloaded. Now hit the ‘Ok’ button on the iTunes prompt and hold the opt(Mac)/shift(Windows) key and hit the Restore button. Now locate the downloaded 1.1.1 Firmware file. Wait for it to restore and repeat Step 2 one last time! Yeah, I had to do it twice. First time, I couldn’t kick it out of the restore mode after the iTunes performed the restore process. Hence, I recommend performing the Restore process once more 🙂
Step 3:
Time for famous WiFi Jailbreak process, thanks to Jailbreakme.com! Follow the process here if you are yet to memorize it!!
Step 4:
Don’t worry about any weird SIM error messages till you reach the last step! Now another routine method, OktoPrep Jailbreak 1.1.2 which is detailed here. So, you now see 1.1.2 iPhone HomeScreen. If you still see the Plug icon (DFU mode) then Lunch iBrickr/ iNdependence to kick the hell out of the DFU mode!!
Step 5:
Now comes the 1.1.3 SoftUpgrade process. Remember not to perform 1.1.3 iTunes upgrade as some did which takes us back to Step 1!! iClarified really detailed this step. It involves adding iClarified repo in installer.app (add source : installer.iClarified.com). Dev Team 1.1.3 SoftUpgrade process takes a minimum of 30 minutes. So be prepared.
Step 6:
So now comes the best part : Freeing your iPhone for any network in the world. Time to use Geohot’s most famous, completely free Software Unlock.
Make sure you set General -> Auto unlock -> Never.
Now Launch installer.app -> iClarified -> Geohot Unlock (1.1.2, 1.1.3) -> install. It should take not more than 5 minutes to free your iPhone! Congratulations – You have successfully unlocked your Apple iPhone!!
Snapshots of the unlock process at iClarified’s detailed post
Install iWorld from installer.app -> Tweaks 1.1.2 to prevent phone/sms crash. iWorld supports only few carriers. If you are still facing phone/sms cras, rush to iClarified to resolve this issue 🙂
Few Observations :
- Sound seems lot better on 16GB iPhones !
- This method doesn’t fix Google Maps faux-gps solution. Locate Me is still needed from istaller.app to guide the mighty ‘Google Maps’ !!
- *SIMS will soon be offered for peanuts, trust me eBayers rush your orders before its too late !!
A video compilation of some important steps in the process is underway. Check back soon!!
Matt
*SIMS will soon be offered for peanuts? i dont follow 🙁
da O
I have timeout problems while installing Geohot Unlock (1.1.2, 1.1.3). Somebody else too?
kiran
@ Matt : I meant that xSIM prices will be drastically reduced given the software unlock can be performed successfully on the latest OTB iPhones!!
@da O : you need to be more specfic about the steps you followed such that I can analyze your unlock situation!!
amart55886
hey Kiran (Admin) quick question, I am happy with my otb 1.1.2 unlocked iphone and all but my question is this…..Since I am on 1.1.2, can i update to 1.1.3 and JB that and run same unlock? Or should I just stay here at 1.1.2 for now?
Ken
For some reason, when I restored the iPhone back to 1.1.1 it gives me an error, and after that the plug and the itunes icon is still there. I tried to use the iBrick to get rid of that screen, but it doesn’t let me. Could it be that I have a bad firmware?
Ken
Sorry to bug you guys again, I bypassed the plug and itunes icon page. Now my main problem is that i’m on step 4, and it tells me to just press update on itunes. The itunes is trying to tell me to update to 1.1.3
Jay
I keeping getting Kicked out on my newly bought 16GB iphone. When it tries to restore the phone, I get an error message *(1)*. I would be greatful if anyone could help me on this.
Thanks.
Will
Kiran, thanks for this guide! I have a 1.1.2 OTB iPhone. I have jailbroken, activated, and upgraded to 1.1.2. I have installer installed. Is there a way I can just go back down to 1.1.1 without having to redo the jailbreak?
gary
I just bought a new otb 16gb how do i get the 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 firmware on itunes can anyone help
Erik
I got everything done..i put a sim in, and i cannot select a network from the select network screen…HELP!?
malc
Hey Ken…I have the same problem you had…I have a new 16gb iphone with 1.1.3 firmware… I restored the iPhone back to 1.1.1 it gives me an error too, and after that the plug and the itunes icon show up and thats it ….i’m stuck on that….i tried using iBrickr too but that program just seems to freeze with no luck…how did u manage to get the phone to boot witht the 1.1.1 firmware?
malc
hey ken….i am getting stuck after loading the 1.1.1 firmware….how did u bypass the plug and itunes icon page…the iphoen seems to be stuck on that…i tried using ibrickr to boot it…but no luck
kiran
@ Amart :: I personally recommend 1.1.2 since I had some issues with 1.1.3 soft upgrade. It messed my phone up, was not showing homescreen and stuff. So, you might want to try 1.1.3 but 1.1.2 is stable and hey, this method is IPSF like, restore and upgrade resistant, hence get back to 1.1.2 without a hitch (via 1.1.1 though). Unlock is retained 🙂
kiran
@ Ken and Malc : It is quite normal actually. You have to restore to 1.1.1 twice before you can see the home screen. I mentioned it in my steps too … 2X1.1.1 == > 1.1.2!!
kiran
@ Jay : It is quite normal too!! I mentioned that getting it to DFU mode is the tricky part here, hence follow step 1 exactly as described. I am posting a video soon.
malc
yes i’ve heard its normal…prob is i did it twice…but with no luck….even 3 times….i simply remain with the plug and itunes icon page…..from various searches i found that ppl suggest brickr to get it to boot up…but unfortunately this doesnt seeem to be working…i’ve managed to restore 1.1.3(firmware originally on this 16gb iphone) but that means i’m stuck with an un-activated iphone….
kiran
@ Will : You can restore to 1.1.1 and then perform the WiFi Jailbreak as described. There is no other way around. Jus out of curiosity, why do you want to go back to 1.1.1?
malc
if i go back to 1.1.1, then i can jailbreak it…and eventually unlock the phoen too to use with other carriers…prob is i’m not managing to go back to 1.1.1 successfully
kiran
@ Malc : Hmmm, after restoring it to 1.1.1 twice I always managed to kick it out of the restore mode by using iNdependence (Mac). Never really tried iBrickr for that purpose (Windows). I heard you have to use the specially modified iBrickr to achieve positive results. http://ibrickr.com/downloads/ibrickr_v0.91.zip
Hope it helps…
kiran
@ Gary : Download firmware files from http://ilikemyiphone.com/wordpress/?page_id=162 and then while Restoring/Updating firmware, hold the Option key (Mac) / Shift key (Windows) and then click on the Restore/Update button.
kiran
@ Eric : Did you get Unlock Successful message when you performed GeoUnlock? Did you follow the guide on this page?? What is the error message you get (or what do you see at the network bar).
[15[0
*******PLEASE READ*********
Ok, so I was frustrated trying to get past step 1 on my NEW (bought on Feb 10) iPhone 16GB (1.1.3 of course).
As posters before me, I thought, this is BULLSH**… And didn’t believe that you could load 1.1.1 FW in there.
I am very stubborn though, so I said, let’s follow the instructions *EXACTLY* how the tutorial say. And…
It WoRkS!
You may wonder, what was wrong then?
Well, silly old me is USED to holding PWR+HOME for ~30 seconds until iTunes discovers “Recovery Mode”. When I would try to load 1.1.1 it would give me the dreaded error (1)… Similar to prior posts!
The solution was:
1. I opened the “Date & Time” application on my computer
2. I held PWR+HOME for exactly 10sec
3. I released the PWR button (holding down Home)
4. iTunes popped the message
5. To my UTMOST surprise, FW 1.1.1 loaded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers for the tutorial, I was very frustrated, but stubbornness paid off!
-[15[0
kiran
@ [15[0 : Yeah, I am stubborn too but this particular step is the most trickiest in the entire guide!! Will post a video now, so many are facing this issue!! CSU @ Fullertion 🙂 Reason to be stubborn 😉
Kurt Covennas
After upgrading to 1.1.3, it doesn’t let me install anything. It just crashes and send me to the main menu. Didn’t install the unlock, I tryed to free up space with “Boss Tools” but it crashed again.
Any Idea?
Thanks a lot.
KurtC