December 3, 2024

How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Posted July 7, 2009 at 1:25pm by iClarified
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*****
IMPORTANT: These instructions have been updated for the latest iPhone firmware. Please follow the up to date instructions here
*****

These are instructions on how to jailbreak your iPhone 3GS on the 3.0.x firmware using RedSn0w for Mac. The Windows version of this tutorial is here. The iPhone 3G version of this tutorial is here. The iPhone 2G version of this tutorial is here

This tutorial can be used to jailbreak before applying the UltraSn0w unlock. You can find instructions on how to apply the unlock here.


** If you would like to jailbreak on the 3.0.1 firmware you can follow these exact instructions; however, in Step Two restore using this 3.0.1 iPhone firmware file instead of the 3.0 one. Continue with the instructions as indicated.**

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 3.0 firmware from below and place it in the same folder.

3.0.0 (3GS): iPhone2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw

Extract the redsn0w application from the RedSn0w zip file to the Pwnage folder.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Two
Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch iTunes.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Select your iPhone from the list of devices on the left. Now hold down Option and click the Restore button. Restore is preferred as it won't create any wasted space on your iPhone.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Navigate to the Pwnage folder on your desktop and select the firmware ipsw. Click the Open button to continue.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

*Note: If you are already on the 3.0 firmware and have not jailbroken then you may skip this step.

Step Three
Once iTunes has finished updating your iPhone to the desired firmware you may launch redsnw0w.app from the Pwnage folder on your desktop.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Four
Once RedSn0w opens click the Browse button
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Five
Select the firmware ipsw we placed in the Pwnage folder on our desktop then click Open
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Six
Once the firmware has been verified click the Next button to continue.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Seven
Make sure Cydia is selected and click the Next button.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Eight
RedSn0w will now instruct you on how to put your iPhone into recovery mode. Disconnect you iPhone 3GS from the computer then power it off. Then hold down the Home button while reconnecting the device to the computer. Don't let go of the button until RedSn0w detects the iPhone and begins installation.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Nine
Your iPhone will now reboot
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Ten
RedSn0w will then begin uploading the new RAM Disk and kernel.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)

Step Eleven
Once this is complete you will be notified that RedSn0w is done. Click the Finish button. When your iPhone finishes rebooting (5 minutes or so) it will be jailbroken with Cydia on the SpringBoard.
How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS on OS 3.0.x Using RedSn0w (Mac)
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Comments (145)
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Olivia
Olivia - January 18, 2010 at 1:55am
I've tried this three times but, after I finish each time the screen on my iphone goes black and won't respond so then I have to restore it using iTunes and Cydia is never there. Why won't it work?
Paul R
Paul R - October 17, 2009 at 1:45pm
Who ever can help me: Can i jail brake my Iphone 3G (3.0) using this tutorial which says that is made for iphone 3GS????? please if anyone can help, i will really appreciate it.
Pedro
Pedro - October 21, 2009 at 11:25am
dude, there's a tutorial very similar to that in this site. and it's for the iphone 3g. i did it in mine, and it worked perfectly. glad if i helped.
taraya mccord
taraya mccord - October 13, 2009 at 9:49pm
how can i restore the older firmware 3.0.1 from 3.1.2 without using itunes because that doesnt allow me to do it
Josh
Josh - October 13, 2009 at 9:52pm
unfortunately you are unable to at the moment, I believe. you upgraded too soon :(
4you
4you - October 5, 2009 at 4:14pm
how can jailbreake my iphone 3gs version 3.1 i try many times whit this tutorial but says unable to recognize specified IPSW, i'm using redsn0w 0.8 and firmware iphone2,1_3.0.1_7A400 any help please
Jay
Jay - October 3, 2009 at 3:36pm
I did I jailbreak and unlock my iphone 3g using this(and another about unlock) great tutorial!!!! My iphone works perfect!!! Thank you very much!!!!!!
scared
scared - December 17, 2009 at 10:59am
i'm waiting for it to reboot and its taking forever! I'm so scared it'll be locked or something! HELP~
joe
joe - October 3, 2009 at 2:10am
the firmware for 3gs is a bunch of files how to i get it to look like the box ipsw
decarvalhod
decarvalhod - September 30, 2009 at 3:03pm
I just got my iphone 3GS and it came with 3.0.1 FW. I want to Jailbreak and unlock it however I have a doubt. I have a mac and I know I should use RedSn0w, the only doubt I have is regarding if I should just go ahed open RedSn0w and select the 3.0.1 firmware (I already downloaded) and follow the steps or should I restore to 3.0 FW and then open RedSn0w an select 3.0.1 firmware? Thanks for all the help!
flowctrl
flowctrl - October 2, 2009 at 3:59pm
The comment in the article: ** If you would like to jailbreak on the 3.0.1 firmware you can follow these exact instructions; however, in Step Two restore using this 3.0.1 iPhone firmware file instead of the 3.0 one. Continue with the instructions as indicated.** Is not true. redsn0w only works with the 3.0 firmware. If you select the 3.1 firmware with it, it will say "Unable to recognize specified IPSW". So it appears that the only solution is to downgrade to 3.0. To make matters worse, iTunes no longer allows restoring to an IPSW of a version less than 3.1. So to downgrade or even install a new IPSW, you'll have to downgrade iTunes if you're using the latest version. I *assume* that downgrading iTunes will let you install older IPSWs, but I didn't test that myself. I'm hoping that the DevTeam releases a new redsn0w soon that accepts the 3.0.1 firmware.
Pedro
Pedro - October 23, 2009 at 9:36am
I was just trying to downgrade mine 3gs from 3.0.1 to 3.0 with itunes 8.2 and failed. itunes won't let us do the downgrade.
36chambers
36chambers - September 29, 2009 at 11:01pm
wow, cant say that uve made it easier enough!! ive had troubles in the past with this following alll the other guides on the net and i got a new iphone 2day, luckly enough i came over your guide! no problems what so ever done in minutes first go... thank you very much!!!!!
DAX
DAX - September 27, 2009 at 11:16pm
For the people having problems unlocking their 3G w/ 3.0.1, I tried following the instructions with no luck, so I downgraded from 3.0.1 to 3.0 and the it all worked perfectly JB and unlock! good luck
DAX
DAX - September 27, 2009 at 11:08pm
Hey rebecca, I have teh 3G w/ 3.0.1. so I had no trouble jailbreacking the iPhone, but could not unlock it...I think I followed the exact instructions, but still no luck, so I had the phone downgraded from 3.0.1 to 3.0, and jailbroken again and finally unlocked, and now it works fine..... so you have to downgrade it to 3.0 firmware... cheeers.
DAX
DAX - September 20, 2009 at 11:29pm
iPhone 3G on 3.0.1 I'm stuck in step 2. I've downloaded the A400 restore Ispw gile. I/\'ve resyored my Iphone via iTunes and have the 3.0.1 with 04.26.08 band. How do we use the A400 file in the second step, it says to open it, while the iTunes is restoring the phone, will the iPhone use this file from my computer to restore? On steps 3 and 5 it indicates to select the A341 restore file, do we, 3G 3.0.1 users, use this A341 files or select the A400 file on these steps??? Sorry but I need help///////
PIckerman
PIckerman - September 20, 2009 at 6:21am
Hey, I've got a 3GS 16Gb, bought outright from apple. It was on 3.0.1 when I bought it. I was successfully able to jailbreak it using redsn0w, without the need to restore in itunes 9 (it wouldn't let me restore to 3.0.1 anyways). The jailbreak works like a charm, with cydia and icy installed and all, but the battery life is a nightmare now!! It goes from full charge to power-off in less than 7 hours on standy!! The iPhone is also constantly heated as if it was processing something... (3G, wifi and bluetooth are all off) Any idea or similar cases? Your thoughts are most appreciated, as it's impossible to leave the house now that my battery dies on me every couple of hours :) Cheers.
DAX
DAX - September 20, 2009 at 11:34pm
Hi Pickerman, maybe you could help me.....please see my comment right obove yours, cheers.
user
user - September 26, 2009 at 8:38am
go to settings click on mail then turn off fetch new data , u will be fine for sure
matt
matt - September 29, 2009 at 11:40pm
I have the same problem. Talking to a "pro" TOMORROW AT 5.00 EST.. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED - PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND A WAY- Apparently the way to do it is redirect the itunes apple responce to auriks server! good luck ( we have the exact same problem!)
sanoj2sanoj
sanoj2sanoj - September 17, 2009 at 1:14am
when i try to restore iphone 3g 32 gb ,that showing a message in itunes the device isnt eligible for the requested build
tunin
tunin - September 17, 2009 at 10:59am
Same here. I have read that since the release of the 3.1 fw one can not do the restore to anything except 3.1?? Not sure if this is true or not?
flowctrl
flowctrl - September 30, 2009 at 3:27am
It's true. Apple has effectively disallowed using iTunes to restore any firmware except 3.1. A solution may be to downgrade iTunes to 8.2, which is available here: http://www.ihackintosh.com/2009/06/download-all-versions-of-itunes-for-windows-mac/ I haven't tried that. Back up your music folder if you do.
michael tran
michael tran - October 23, 2009 at 2:50am
hello! i have program like this when i try to restore firmware 3.0 on 3gs .i don`t known why? so i restore firmware 3.1 should be o.k but can`t jairbroken ? can you send back mail? goldenbuddhaveggie@sbcglobal.net
Matthew Chung
Matthew Chung - September 16, 2009 at 9:07am
Hi, so i got through every step fairly easily. But my iphone wouldnt reboot itself after i had clicked finish. I waited over an hour, and it still hadn't rebooted with cydia. So i restarted my phone, and it was functioning properly, except without cydia. Why doesnt it reboot more quickly? or am i doing something wrong..
morphos
morphos - September 15, 2009 at 6:59pm
Hi to the Dev. Team from Augsburg, Germany Many thanks for your tutorial and instructions. Just jailbreaked my new iPhone 3GS and unlocked it (bought in the US). SIM from non tied operator in Germany just works fine. I am glad I do not need to use Deutsche Telekom and I am happy with good plan of BASE (eplus) which provides Internet Flat Rate for just € 10 / month. Keep on helping the free world of Telco users.
Luis G
Luis G - September 7, 2009 at 11:13pm
I have all the downloads and almost in the final of the step two(watching the bar in the iphone), the itunes displays that the iphone will be restored with the original form. I tried tw times and itunes diplay the same thing What can I do? Its an iphone 3gs with the version 3.0.1 (7A400) It's recognize the firmware "iPhone 2,1_3.0.1_7A400_Restore" and start the process but did no t finish this second step. Someone can help me to fix it? Thank you in advance
WAMBO
WAMBO - September 10, 2009 at 12:28pm
choose the 3.0 FW for redsnow, not the 3.0.1 [which is what you are choosing], even though the phone is updated to 3.0.1. Redsn0w need the 3.0 FW
Luis G
Luis G - September 11, 2009 at 6:40pm
Thank you. I tried with the 3.0FW for redSn0w and the itunes displays before finish the restore : "..this device isn't eligible for the requested build"
Josh
Josh - September 7, 2009 at 3:47pm
i have a 3gs on 3.0.1, downloaded the 3.0 firware and restored, but i still get the error in redsn0w- "unable to recognize specified ipsw." i downloaded in firefox and it is a .ipsw file. any ideas? thanks.
Benji
Benji - September 6, 2009 at 3:41pm
My 3GS has not been activated yet, hence when I connect to ITunes it asks to install the original sim. I cannot therefore get past step 2. What can I do?
casper
casper - September 6, 2009 at 2:05am
I'm stuck on step four. I browse to "iPhone2,1_3.0.1_7A400_Restore.ipsw" and open it. Then redsn0w says "Unable to recognize specified IPSW" What can be wrong? Thanks in advance.
Barel
Barel - September 8, 2009 at 2:27pm
You should use 3.0 firmware. 3.0.1 is needed only in step TWO. Just done it with my iPhone 3GS and worked great. As noted in 3rd paragraph: ** If you would like to jailbreak on the 3.0.1 firmware you can follow THESE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS; however, in Step Two (AND ONLY IN STEP TWO) restore using this 3.0.1 iPhone firmware file instead of the 3.0 one. Continue with the instructions as indicated.**
Casper
Casper - September 8, 2009 at 8:10pm
Thanks. It works :)
Alex
Alex - August 30, 2009 at 10:06am
I'm stuck at step 1 or 2 where you restore in iTunes by pressing Option then clicking on Restore. I selected the downloaded firmware but I'm getting an error message that says "blah blah blah because Firmware is not Compatible" Please help
Alex
Alex - August 30, 2009 at 10:08am
by the way I currently have an iPhone 3GS with FW 3.0.1 and I had it jailbroken and unlocked somewhere. I just wanna jailbreak and unlock it again because there are issues with the battery, it gets depleted quite quickly so I want to do it all over again.
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