How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS Using PwnageTool (Mac) [4.2.1]

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Posted February 16, 2011 at 3:13am by iClarified

These are instructions on how to jailbreak your iPhone 3GS on iOS 4.2.1 using PwnageTool for Mac.

Step One
Make a folder called "Pwnage" on the desktop. In it, you will need a couple of things. PwnageTool 4.2, found here or here.

You will also need the 4.2.1 iPhone firmware.
4.2.1 (3GS): iPhone2,1_4.2.1_8C148a_Restore.ipsw

When downloading the IPSW file, it is best to download it with Firefox since Safari often auto extracts it!

How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS Using PwnageTool (Mac) [4.2.1]

Step Two
Double click to mount PwnageTool then drag the PwnageTool icon into the Pwnage folder.

Then from the Pwnage folder double click to launch the PwnageTool application.

Click Ok if presented with a warning.

Step Three
Click to select Expert Mode from the top menu bar

Step Four
Click to select your device. A check-mark will appear over the image of the device. Click the blue arrow button to continue.

Step Five
You will be brought to the "Browse for IPSW" page. Click the Browse for IPSW... button.

From the popup window select your firmware from the Pwnage folder then click the Open button.

Step Six
You will then be brought to a menu with several choices. Click to select General then click the blue arrow button.

The General settings allows you to decide the partition size. Check Activate the phone if you are not with an official carrier then click the blue arrow button.

NOTE*: Deselect Activate if you have an iPhone legitimately activated on an official carrier.

The Cydia settings menu allows you to create custom packages so you do not have to manually install the necessary them later.

Click to select the Download packages tab. Then click the Refresh button to display all the available packages. Double clicking the package you want will download it and make it available in the Select Packages tab.

Checkmark the ones you want then click the blue arrow button.

The Custom Packages Settings menu displays listed package settings for your custom IPSW. For know leave these settings as is. Click the blue arrow button to continue.

Step Seven
You are now ready to begin the pwnage process! Click the Build button to select it then click the Blue arrow button to begin.

Step Eight
You will be asked to save your custom .ipsw file. Save it to your Pwnage folder you created on your Desktop.

Your IPSW is now being built. Please allow up to 10 minutes.

You will be asked to enter your administrator password. Do this then click the OK button.

Step Nine
Once your ipsw has been built you will be asked to connect your iPhone to the computer. Once it detects your device PwnageTool will guide your through the steps to putting your iPhone into DFU mode.

Press and hold the power and home buttons for 10 seconds.

Then release the power button and continue holding the home button for 10 seconds.

Once your iPhone is successfully in DFU mode, PwnageTool will prompt you to launch iTunes.

Step Ten
Once In iTunes, hold the Alt/Option key and click Restore.

Step Eleven
Navigate to the Pwnage folder on your desktop using the dialog window that appears. Select the custom IPSW that was created and click the Choose button.

Step Twelve
iTunes will now restore the firmware on your iPhone. This can also take up to 10 minutes. Once done you will be rebooted into jailbroken iOS 4.2.1!

***THANKS: Thank you to Geohot and the Dev-Teams for their hard work in making this jailbreak and tutorial possible!

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Rands - July 20, 2011 at 5:23pm

Please help! I was following this tutorial and got to the last step, as I was restoring it in itunes I kept getting the following message: "The iPhone cannot be restored at this moment because the iPhone software update server could not be contacted or is temporarily unavailable" Now I'm stuck in DFU mode, what should I do?? :(

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Tony - July 20, 2011 at 5:33pm

Hold the home and power buttons till you see the apple icon.

Rands - July 20, 2011 at 7:02pm

Okay, I just rebooted it using blackra1n and it's working again. It's still tethered and running on the old iOS, but at least I got my phone back and didn't lose any of the info. Guess I'll just stick to 3.1.2.

Pat_O - April 4, 2011 at 3:35pm

Hi All, Great work Dev Team. Now my question was, I created a custom restore(using PwnageTool) for my iPhone3G 4.2.1 and managed to jailbreak it. The problem that I now have is, both wi-fi and bluetooth are not functioning. For example, wi-fi has address but doesn't pick up any signals. I have tried to re-jailbreak but still get the same problem. what solution can you recommend?

dragonmorphs - March 12, 2011 at 9:14pm

So I just went through all the steps and when I went to restore the Custom_Restore, I got a message from iTunes "The iPhone "iPhone could not be restored. This decise isn't eligible for the requested build." What to do? My iphone is 4.2.1, BB 5.15.04, bought unlocked. My macbook I used is up to date and so is my iTunes... could that be the reason?

david - March 18, 2011 at 12:13pm

i get the same error message with my factory unlocked 3gs!

dragonmorphs - March 18, 2011 at 10:38pm

Yeaaa. I think it's 'cause we don't have SHSH (well i didn't save any with TU) and Apple isn't allowing anymore 4.2.1.... i think

david - March 19, 2011 at 8:00am

i checked out greenpoison, and it worked, and apart from that its much easier :-)

Miguel - April 2, 2011 at 5:31pm

I just ran into the same error trying to upgrade from 4.0 to 4.2.1. How did you guys resolve it? Thanks!

iHacker - March 4, 2011 at 4:49pm

To all queries regarding BB 06.15.00 : worked Wonderfully!! Successfully "Un-tethered" my previously jailbroken tethered device! NO issues/bugs whatsoever! iPhone 3G [S] with NEWER bootrom previously jailbroken but TETHERED on iPad baseband 06.15.00 on iOS 4.2.1. Here's what you do: 1.0 Just follow the above given procedure (Step by Step). 2.0 If error 16xx is encountered in iTunes during restore, don't worry, DO NOT TOUCH the iPhone (leave it on DFU mode plugged in) and RESTART the computer. 3.0 Open iTunes (if not automatically) and repeat the "Option-Restore" process. This should do the trick and voila!!, you just got yourself an UNTETHERED Jailbreak!

jo-b - March 14, 2011 at 9:10am

Hi, the Mac-Restart doesn't solve the problem here. iTunes always gives the message: "The iPhone cannot be restored, because the iPod-Updateserver[!!] isn't available yet." or "Restoring is not possible" (>> both free translated from german.) Restoring from the old (4.1) ipsw is also not possible. Are there any other ideas out there? tia jo-b -- iPhone 3GS, MBP 10.6.6, iTunes 10.2.1

claudia - March 3, 2011 at 7:13pm

I made it, thank you sooo much! It worked the second time y tried.

T1m - February 25, 2011 at 4:28am

So if I'm officially unlocked and I only want the jb, can I update my bb. Or should I stick with 05.13.04?!? Thanks

Jigar Doshi - February 24, 2011 at 2:17pm

hi im currently using iphone 3gs 4.2.1 jailbroken through redsn0w and then have run ipad baseband to upgrade the baseband and unlocked using ultrasn0w. now my iphone is working but evertime by battery goes off, i have to connect iphone to redsn0w and then boot the phone. i am confused will the help? will i need to connect to redsn0w everytime when battery goes off?

windows version - February 22, 2011 at 10:29pm

do you have a windows version? i found sn0wbreeze and says its like Pwnage Tool for windows. is it safe to use it? I only trust tools posted on iclarified.com Thanks.

Jess - February 22, 2011 at 12:43pm

Hi I have a 3gs bb 05.12.01 I followed all the steps below but when restoring I get the 1611 error, I allready tried to plug and unplug iphone but in the screen with the apple logo and scroll band it never starts loading... and then gives me the error, any idea why??

Tony - February 22, 2011 at 10:30pm

Did you install Tinyumbrella or change your hosts file?

T1M - March 15, 2011 at 4:46am

Have you tried re-pwnage the firmware. Best download the firmware restore again and create another custom firmware. Worked for me. I was stuck on apple logo and connect to iTunes. Believe it was the same error! GL

Ryan C Lee - February 21, 2011 at 9:43pm

Hey All I'm in Buenos Aires using 'Personal'! So I JB/unlocked the my iPhone 3GS (Version 4.2.1 (8c148a) Modem Firmware:06.15.00) using the redsn0w application, and then within Cydia I used ultrasn0w to unlock the phone. This worked, however i could only tether the jailbreak and therefore was unable to turnoff or reboot, which was fine until I let the battery die. After repeating the steps, I was only able to receive phone calls/ text messages (however i could call to check my phone balance, and when i friend call she told me she received a message for Personal saying I was trying to contact her). So I found this site, followed the directions (except I downloaded Ultrasn0w through custom packages and now Cydia because it wasn't working). 3rd time it worked! I'm now able to turn my phone on and off without having to re-tether. BUT, I'm still only receiving texts and calls???? Do you'll think it is a phone company issue?

claudia - March 3, 2011 at 5:04pm

Hey there!, Im now in Buenos Aires, and i had my iphone working perfectly, but i updated de iphone trhough Itunes and now it's block or something. Th screen only shows the connect to itunes image. I follow the steps here but it didn;t work it says error (21). Help please!!

Ryan Lee - March 3, 2011 at 5:08pm

I believe the update might have killed your chances (unless you updated it using the update provided above. If not, keep trying! It took me 4 or 5 times to get it to work! suerte!

claudia - March 3, 2011 at 5:20pm

thanks! i'll kee p trying a friend from cr told me that it can be unlock, it's just not too easy

Shasudi - February 20, 2011 at 11:45pm

I have iPhone 3GS running 4.01 with baseband 5.13.04 and it is not carrier unlock. Can I use PwnageTool to jailbreak and activate the phone and also unlock ? Somebody please help me

Tony - February 21, 2011 at 10:55pm

Yes. Use Pwnagetool in expert mode to jailbreak and activate and then once you have jailbroken your phone, run cydia and install ultrasn0w to unlock. Do not select update baseband!!!

Shasudi - February 22, 2011 at 1:36am

Thanks Tony I followed the tutorial and it is activated. But the problem is that Cydia crashes and I cannot unlock it. Any solution. Please help.

Tony - February 22, 2011 at 8:46am

Have you tried rebooting? Turn off your phone and restart it.

yaman - February 22, 2011 at 10:23pm

Same thing happened to me when I tried using Pwnage. I tried 4 times and rebooting wouldn't do anything for me. I used GreenpoisOn and it worked perfect. I had 3GS on 4.0.1 with baseband 5.13.04 upgraded to 4.2.1 and kept my baseband. Cydia started right away and unlocked.

Shasudi - February 22, 2011 at 11:57pm

Thank you, What I did was I have installed Cydia Installer from Custom packages and not from General. It is working fine.

caue - February 20, 2011 at 7:21pm

the tutorial for windows tells that, to make the download of greenpois0n (gp_win_rc5_b2.zip). however, when i click at the windows link the file is different! (gp_win_rc6.1.zip). and it's not working to jailbreak my iphone. does anyone know why?? thks.

Jakub - February 20, 2011 at 3:39pm

Guys what about all the people who jailbreaked previously with upgrading baseband to 6.15? Can we use this to get rid of the tethered jailbreak and unlock with Ultrasnow? Please I'm waiting for this desperately, anyone knows?

Rodoga - February 19, 2011 at 5:47pm

Can I use a custom ipsw from this release, with the earlier redsnow release for Windows (direct to DFU mode)? I don't want to upgrade my baseband.

escdotdot - February 19, 2011 at 8:37am

I have a 3GS on v4.0 (8A293) and firmware 05.11.07. Should I let iTunes upgrade me before running this PwnageTool? Thanks for your help!

Tony - February 19, 2011 at 6:48pm

Dont use itunes to update if you need to unlock. Pwnagetool helps you keep your current baseband if you are using ultrasn0w. If you do not need the unlock, then you can update through itunes and use greenpois0n to jailbreak.

escdotdot - February 20, 2011 at 1:01am

Thanks Tony, All went well with the jailbreak, but I think I made a mistake by trying to use blackra1n to unlock. Now the phone restarts and cannot get past the apple logo, and gives an error type 21 when I try to restore. I guess I should have used ultrasn0w. Any idea how to reset the iphone so I can start again?

escdotdot - February 20, 2011 at 3:03am

UPDATE: by following the above instructions again (this time to the letter) I was able to reboot the iPhone and from there install ultrasn0w and get everything working again. fan-bloody-tastic! Heartfelt thanks to all the contributors!

Zeljko - February 18, 2011 at 5:24pm

work like a charm.... Thanks guys

yaman - February 18, 2011 at 8:22am

I have 3GS with 5.13.04, I followed all the steps exactly as they say. Once I try to restore with custom fw in itunes the phone is stuck with the apple logo and the progress bar almost at the end. I've waited over an hour and nothing. Would anyone no why? Thanks for you help!

yaman - February 22, 2011 at 10:28pm

Figured it out, I used greenpoisOn instead of pwnage and it worked like a charm.

resho - February 17, 2011 at 5:19pm

well, i made all these steps but whem restoring to the custom fw itunes give me error 1600 can any one help please

Ecua4ever - February 18, 2011 at 12:06pm

Just unplug your iPhone and plug again then press alt and select custom firmware and try again

Jess - February 22, 2011 at 12:52pm

Same problem here... tried to unplug and choose custom firmware again, still gtting the same answer, error 1611... The scroll bar below the apple logo never starts loading. HELP!!!

T1M - March 15, 2011 at 4:50am

Have you tried re-pwnage the firmware. Best download the original restore again and recreate the custom firmware. and try again Worked for me.

rodney - February 17, 2011 at 9:58am

i am using an iphone 4 with 4.2.1 and after i create custom ipsw and restore it in itunes i doesn't complete and gives me an error 21. anyone know why?

Tony - February 17, 2011 at 4:27pm

This is for iPhone 3GS, not iPhone 4.

claudia - March 3, 2011 at 5:07pm

Same happend to me error21

gerisgame - February 17, 2011 at 4:45am

After build 3GS 4.2.1 custom ipsw and put iphone to dfu mode, by Pwnage and Opt-Restore in iTunes, I meet error in iPhone: firmware not compatible. What is my problem? help please!!!

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