How to Jailbreak and Unlock Your iPhone 3GS Using RedSn0w (Mac) [4.2.1]

These are instructions on how to jailbreak and unlock your iPhone 3GS on the 4.2.1 firmware using RedSn0w for Mac. If you have an iPhone 3GS with the new bootrom you will only be able to perform a tethered jailbreak at this time. This means you will need Redsn0w's assistance to boot into your jailbroken device.

If you want to use Redsn0w to jailbreak a lower firmware version you can find the appropriate tutorial here.

IMPORTANT FOR UNLOCKERS
During this process you can update your baseband to the 06.15 version. If you are on 05.14 or 05.15 or higher you will need to do this to unlock. You do not need to do this for jailbreak only. Please read the following very carefully before deciding whether to do this. You can find out baseband version here.


1. There is no way to come back down from 06.15, and there’s no hiding the baseband version from Apple. You’ll be voiding your warranty in a very obvious way.
2. If some future baseband comes out with a critical fix, you won’t be able to update to it if it remains down in the 05.xx sequence (then again, you wouldn’t update to it if you wanted to keep your unlock anyway).
3. Starting with FW 4.2.1 if you have 06.15 on your iPhone you won’t ever be able to restore to stock firmware (it will fail). You’ll need to only restore to custom IPSWs (then again, if you’re unlocker you should already be doing that).
4. There are reports that 06.15 may disable your GPS. The iPhone Dev-Team is currently working on a fix.

Don’t update to 06.15 if you don’t need to! Only do this if you need the unlock and you’re stuck on 05.14 or 05.15, and you’re willing to assume the above risks. If your baseband is already unlockable and you are on a lower firmware version then use this custom PwnageTool bundle to update to 4.2.1 without upgrading your baseband.

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 (3GS): iPhone2,1_4.2.1_8C148a_Restore.ipsw

Extract the redsn0w app from the RedSn0w zip file by double clicking it.


Step Two
***If you are already on iOS 4.2.1 you can skip this step. If you are on an unlockable baseband and on a lower firmware you should use PwnageTool instead to update without upgrading your baseband.

Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch iTunes.


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.


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 iPhone 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.


You will be asked if this device is a newer fixed model. If yours is then click the Yes button; otherwise, click the No button. At this time you can only perform a tethered jailbreak on the newer model.


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

If you read the warning above and you would like to update your baseband to the 06.15 iPad version for unlock then check Install iPad Baseband. Click Yes when prompted to confirm your decision.


Click the Next button to continue


Step Nine
Please plug your iPhone 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
RedSn0w will then download the iPad baseband and your iPhone will now reboot


Step Twelve
RedSn0w will now 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 iPhone finishes rebooting (5 minutes or so) it will be jailbroken with Cydia on the SpringBoard.


IMPORTANT:
If you have a newer iPhone 3GS and performed a tethered jailbreak you can use Redsn0w to help you boot back into your jailbroken device. Simply select Just boot tethered right now from the options window and click Next


UNLOCK
If you need to unlock you can now follow this tutorial.

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