Introduction
This is a step-by-step guide to upgrade or install your 1st generation iphone firmware to the latest 3.0 firmware. This exercise will use jailbreak+unlock tool i.e redsn0w 0.7.2 released by iphone-dev recently. Please note that for most people, redsn0w 0.7.1 works OK. However, I got problem with 0.7.1 where I got stuck for hours at the jailbreak stage during the upgrading process. But I have to applaud iphone-dev team for a quick fix on this. If everything goes well, it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to finish.
For iphone 3G users, please use ultrasn0w that was also released not long after redsn0w. However, you still have to jailbreak your iphone 3G with redsn0w first before unlock it with ultrasn0w. More info on this here.
Note: This tutorial should be viewed as an exercise by a non-technical iphone owner, like me. The point here is, if I can do it, so can you.
Who Should Read This Guide
This guide is for iphone owners who want to upgrade to the latest iphone 3.0 firmware. This guide is applicable to the following device:
- iphone 2G (1st generation)
- iphone 3G (not 3GS)
- ipod Touch (1st & 2nd generation)
Getting Started:
What you will need before we get started:
Before you begin, here are the basic requirements:
- redsn0w 0.7.2 (Windows). Download here
- Bootloader 3.9. Download it here
- Bootloader 4.6. Download it here
- iphone 3.0 firmware .ipsw restore file. You can either download it here or simply update through iTunes
Other preliminary checks:
- Please backup all your important data (contacts, photos, songs, etc) with iTunes before proceeding, or you will regret later. Also, please take note of all your important particular apps settings as it will be erased after the upgrade. Don’t do this if you want to have a totally new iphone life
. - make sure your iTunes version is 8.2. Even though it’s not part of the installation process, iTunes 8.2 is necessary to sync your new iphone 3.0 later
- Other thing to know: Some apps from my iphone were not compatible and won’t sync after upgrades
Installing the 3.0 Firmware
1. With all installation files above downloaded and ready in your desktop, create a new directory called ‘iphone3′ (or other name as you like). Put all the installation files here so that you can easily identify them during the whole process. The content of the folder should look like this:
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer. Come on, you know how to do it.
3. Launch redsn0w 0.7.2 and click ‘Browse’ button to look for iphone 3.0 firmware file that you have downloaded from the folder. In case you’re asking, the file extension is .ipsw. Click on Next to continue.
4. It will take 1 – 2 minutes to identify and process the firmware file that you just selected. Once finished, the words ‘IPSW successfully identified’ will appear. Click on Next to continue.
5. A status bar will be displayed to show that redsn0w is preparing jailbreak data. This process will also take 1 – 2 minutes.
6. After ‘preparing jailbreak data’ is completed. You will see the installation options screen below. Please select if you want to Install Cydia, Icy and whether you want to unlock the iphone as well. Tick the checkbox appropriately. For this tutorial, I will select everything. Unlocking this iphone will allow you to use any telco carriers. It’s you choice. Again, click Next.
Note: ‘Install Icy’ option is not available in redsn0w 0.7.1
7. A bootloader window will appear, browse and select the appropriate bootloader 3.9 and 4.6 files from the installation folder. We’re almost there. Click Next.
8. The next screen is just to remind you to switch OFF (plus a short tutorial on how to switch off, sigh) your iphone while still keep it connected to the computer. Just do it. But before you click Next, be prepared because the next step is the most crucial step in this whole exercise and will keep your fingers busy. My advice is to read step No. 7 first so you know what to expect in the following screen. Now hold your breath, and click Next to continue.
9. This process is to enable your iphone to enter the DFU mode. Read and understand the instructions carefully. The instructions will be shown and then grayed one by one until it’s done. I’d better put the instructions in writing here so that you can practice a little bit:
- Hold down the Power button for 3 seconds
- Without releasing the Power button, also hold down the Home button for 10 seconds
- Without releasing the Home button, release the Power button BUT KEEP holding the Home button for 30 seconds (please note that this is not necessarily 30 seconds because normally it is less than that. You can release the Home button as soon as the next process started)
10. Your iphone is now in the DFU mode and the jailbreaking and unlocking procedures will start automatically. You don’t have to do anything at this moment other than watching the process goes on. You will see some messages like ‘uploading ramdisk’, ‘uploading second stage’, ‘rebooting’, and so on. At this point, you will see your iphone device blinking and ‘Preparing Jailbreak Data’ images is shown on your iphone screen. Don’t worry, just relax until it’s finished.
11. You will know the jailbreaking process is done when the screen shows ‘Done!’ (what else?)
12. That’s all that need to be done with redsn0w software in your computer. But wait, it’s not really done yet. Now your iphone device will continue the remaining process. Again, nothing you should do at this point other than watch and wait your iphone device completes the installation process. You know the process is completed when your iphone shows the home screen below. Congratulations! Your iphone 2G is now 3.0!
13. Just to make sure that you have successfully install the iphone 3.0 firmware, go to Settings -> General -> About, and check the version information.
I Got It, Now What?
This is the suggested next course of actions after successfully perform the above process.
- Launch your iTunes 8.2 to start syncing your backed-up data such as contacts, songs, videos, and your favorite apps.
- Explore and try the features of 3.0 firmware like ‘cut-copy-paste’, enhanced SMS, ‘shake-to-undo typing’, and so on. Read this article to get you started with the new features. Please don’t be confused and excited by what you read of iphone 3GS features though. Some advanced features like MMS, 3 megapixels camera, and video capabilities are not available in first generation iphone.
- Go and tell your friends or mom about this tutorial
Your efforts here were worth RM100 at low yatt plaza. congrats man! I will try to do it myself. The steps should be easier for maxis iphone owners bcoz they only need to upgrade with iitunes without jailbreaks and unlocks.
thanks bernard,
good luck and let me know if you have successfully done that.
mana lebih bagus? iphone or htc touch diamond? dua-dua harga lebih kurang. cuma htc lebih senang carik kalau nak beli and tak payah ikat contract…
Thanks a lot for your help, but i just have one question….
After completing the steps of the tutorial, is my iphone unlocked and can i use any carrier’s SIM on it or are there a few more things that need to be done to make it unlocked??
omg… just after i did step 7, redsn0w stopped working and closed. my iphone entered recovery mode and i had to restore it. Whats up with that? i tried it several times and the same thing happened. Dude, you should rectify your steps.
Hi John,
If you choose ‘unlock’ during the installation process, your iphone will be unlocked after the process completed. You should be able to use any carriers
Hi John,
I’m sorry to hear that. As explained, the next step after step7 (entering the DFU mode) is the most crucial part of the whole process. I hope you had fully understand and exactly follow the instructions. The first time i did the upgrade from 1.4 to 2.1, i failed miserably when it came to this part because have to shift my fingers between Home & Power buttons. Some practice would help.
Did redsn0w give you any error message before it closed? I’m browsing the internet now, just in case, to see whether anybody else had the same problem. So far most of the upgrade problems are when people upgrade using earlier redsn0w version 0.7.1
i prefer PwnageTool.
it works fine for me.
For anyone having the problem where the the screen gets hung on “Downloading Jailbreak Data…” this is turning out to be a common problem when I researched this.
The fix is to first upgrade your iphone firmware to 3.0 using the .ipsw file you downloaded in this tutorial. Open iTunes, select your iPhone and hold down the shift key while clicking the ‘Restore’ button. Point it to the .ipsw file you downloaded.
Let iTunes restore it.. then start this tutorial from the start. My 2g iPhone (1st generation) is now loaded with jailbroke/unlocked 3.0 firmware.
Time to go do a hand stand now.
Nick,
Appreciate your input here…TQ
If you have an iPhone 3G, you should not tick the unlocking box in redsn0w as you got to use ultrasn0w to unlock you iPhone 3G.
Don’t quote me on that, but I think that how it should word.
I got stucked at downloading jailbreaking data…. for 20 mins. Now it’s done. A pic showing USB cable below iTunes appears on my iphone screen. What should I do ? Tq.
However after following Nick’s guide, which I repeated the whole tutorial, the Downloading Jailbreaking Data… msg came out but not as long as earlier experience. Subsequently a pineapple appeared, and I’ve now got 3.0 firmware on.
hi carl,
glad to hear that, thanks to nick
Dear Mr. Roslan.
1. Does this steps goes the same for Apple Ipod Touch 1G too?
2. Must I upgrade my Ipod Touch 1G to firmware 3.0 to install Cydia?
3. At step 6, for my Ipod can I only install cydia or must I install all 3 (cydia, icy and unlock).
Sorry I am not an IT person, really need your help.
Appreciate if you could email me (Rexelkillerbee@gmail.com) step by step manual.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
chiow…
hi Rizal,
1. Yes. It’s applicable to iPod Touch 1G.
2. Cydia will be installed during jailbreak/upgrade process, provided that you select it
3. just select Cydia. There’s some known problems if you select Icy (please check my other post about it). And Unlock is only for iPhone, not iPod