How to Jailbreak Your iPod Touch 2G Using RedSn0w (Windows) [4.2.1]

These are instructions on how to jailbreak your iPod touch 2G on the 4.2.1 firmware using RedSn0w for Windows. The Mac version of this tutorial is here. At this time RedSn0w .9.6b4 cannot jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 on the MC model of the iPod touch 2G. Only users with non-MC models should continue with this tutorial.

If you want to jailbreak a lower firmware version you can find the appropriate tutorial here.

Step One
Create a folder on your desktop called Pwnage


Download RedSn0w from here and place it in the Pwnage folder. Likewise, download the latest 4.2.1 firmware from below and place it in the same folder.

4.2.1 (2G): iPod2,1_4.2.1_8C148_Restore.ipsw

Extract the redsn0w executable from the RedSn0w zip file into the same folder.


Step Two
Connect your iPod touch to the computer and launch iTunes.


Select your iPod touch from the list of devices on the left. Now hold down Shift and click the Restore button. Restore is preferred as it won't create any wasted space on your iPod touch.


Navigate to the Pwnage folder on your desktop and select the 4.2.1 firmware ipsw. Click the Choose button to continue.


Step Three
Once iTunes has finished updating your iPod touch to the desired firmware open the Pwnage folder on your desktop and launch the redsn0w application from the redsn0w folder we extracted earlier.


Step Four
Once RedSn0w opens click the Browse button


Step Five
Select the 4.2.1 firmware ipsw we placed in the Pwnage folder on our desktop then click Open.


Step Six
Once the firmware has been verified click the Next button to continue.


Step Seven
RedSn0w will now prepare the jailbreak data


Step Eight
From this window you can select the jailbreak options you would like.


Verbose boot displays detailed information on boot of your device and is generally only needed by developers and advanced users.

Make sure Cydia is selected. For this tutorial we will also select Custom boot logo and Custom recovery logo.

When you click to select each custom logo option a dialog window will appear asking you to select the image. Locate the image you would like to use then press the Open button.


*Remember the rules for boot logos are: RGB or Grayscale format with Alpha channel and dimension below 320x480. If you would like to use the iClarified ones they can be found here: Boot Logo, Recovery Logo

Notice that RedSn0w has options to Enable multitasking, Enable homescreen wallpaper, and Enable battery percentage. If you do not need multitasking we would recommend deselecting it as it makes your iPod touch 2G run very slow.

Click the Next button to continue


Step Nine
Please plug your iPod touch into the computer and make sure its OFF then click the Next button


Step Ten
RedSn0w will now guide you through the steps to get into DFU mode. You can find more help with DFU mode here


Hold down both the Home button and the Power button for 10 seconds.


Release the Power button and continue holding the Home button until RedSn0w detects the device.


Step Eleven
Your iPod touch will now reboot


Step Twelve
RedSn0w will then begin uploading the new RAM Disk and Kernel.


Step Thirteen
Once this is complete you will be notified that RedSn0w is done. Click the Finish button. When your iPod touch finishes rebooting (5 minutes or so) it will be jailbroken with Cydia on the SpringBoard.


*As usual a big thanks to the iPhone Dev-Team for their hard work and contribution to the iPhone community.