How To: Jailbreak the iPhone 4 on iOS5 (SemiTethered)

Scouring the web for a complete jailbreak guide left us with tutorials that never guided us step by step. Well we are bringing you the absolute every step you need to get your device from stock to jailbroken without any surprises or scares. This guide works with either iOS 5.0 or iOS 5.0.1 but regardless of whether you are on 5.0 or 5.0.1 you will need the 5.0 ispw which you can get from the link below.

First thing you’re going to want to do is get the correct firmware files and software for the jailbreak. If you’re on iOS 5.0.1 you still need the iOS 5.0 ispw to jailbreak so get the correct version below. If you want to stay on iOS 5.0 then just continue to follow the tutorial as normal, if you want to update then update through iTunes to 5.0.1 and then follow this tutorial, the steps for the two firmwares are exactly the same. So grab the iOS 5.0 file for either CDMA ( Sprint or Verizon ) or GSM ( AT&T, T-Mobile, Others ).

redsn0w Download

Download redsn0w 0.9.9b8 for Windows

Download redsn0w 0.9.9b8 for Mac

Once you have the correct IPSW file depending on the carrier of your phone and the correct redsn0w for your operating system, we’re ready to begin. We do recommend having a backup of your iPhone in iTunes before we begin just for safety reasons in case you ever decide to return to stock.

Step 1.

Connect your iPhone 4 via USB Cable to your computer.

Step 2.

Close iTunes if it launches along with any dialog windows that open if you’re on Windows

Step 3.

Extract the redsn0w zip you just downloaded, and open up the folder it creates.

Step 4.

Launch the redsn0w application.

Step 5.

It will open up and you will have two options – Jailbreak & Extras.

Step 6.

Select Extras, you will then have a lot more options – choose “Select IPSW” and navigate to the IPSW you just downloaded.

Step 7.

It will tell you that you have selected the following IPSW file and it will be used for the rest of your session. Now press “Back”

Step 8.

This time, select “Jailbreak”, it will run through a few processes like “Patching Kernel” and what not and then will bring up a new dialog window where you can select your options. By default it will have “Install Cydia” checked, which means you don’t have to change anything just press Next.

Step 9.

Now your device should be plugged in already, if not plug it in and close any windows that open. Then shut your device down completely. Once it is shut down press Next, it will walk you through putting your iPhone into DFU mode. (Hold Power for 3 Seconds – Continue to Hold Power and now hold Home as well for 10 Seconds – Release power and continue to hold Home for 10 Seconds)

Step 10.

If you did it correctly it will begin doing its thing on the device, eventually redsn0w will say the rest of the process takes place on the device, so you can exit the application. The jailbreak will continue to run for roughly 5 minutes on your iPhone (in terminal view so don’t freak out =), eventually it will finish and boot up, but your not done. Unlock the device and check that “Cydia” is installed onto your homescreen, it will be a white icon and won’t launch but don’t worry we have a couple more steps.

Step 11.

With your device booted and still plugged in, your going to open up redsn0w again, go back to “Extras” then “Select IPSW” navigate to the iOS 5.0 IPSW and select it, it will return you to the “Extras” screen. Now rather than pressing back you’re going to choose the first option which is “Just Boot”, it will goto the next screen and prompt you to turn your device off after its plugged in, and then walk you through putting your device into DFU mode again. If done correctly shortly after the process begins you will see a little Pineapple appear on the center of your screen, just let it run and eventually it will boot up into your lock screen. Congratulations you have now jailbroken your iPhone 4 on iOS 5.0 or 5.0.1! Now this jailbreak is tethered which means if your device dies or you power off it will power on but no functions will work, so we will put a Cydia app on that will Semi-Tether your phone, which means you’ll be able to power on and use phone and messages. If your phone dies whether you’re tethered or semitethered you will have to just walk through the “Just Boot” process again.

Step 12.

Adding SemiTether is easy, we just need to launch Cydia (which should now have its icon after the “Just Boot”) and it will initialize, when prompted select “User” for User Type and then it will probably respring. This means its reloading all processes including your homescreen, so the screen will go black with a loading circle and then back to the lockscreen. Launch up Cydia once more and it will prompt you to upgrade some files, select “Complete Upgrade” its relatively small and better to upgrade it all right then and there. Finally we have a fully functioning Cydia we need to go to “Manage” then “Sources” press “Edit” in the top right, then “Add” in the top left. A entry box will pop up with http:// already written, just type – thebigboss.org/semitether/ – once you’ve typed that click “Add Source” and it will begin adding it, once its done a button will appear with “Return to Cydia” press that and now press on the new list item that says – thebigboss.org – It will open its source and inside should be a package called “SemiTether” click that and then tap “Add” in the top right. Once its completed, it may ask you to respring or just return to Cydia, either is fine and now your complete. Experiment and enjoy your newly jailbroke iPhone 4.

Absolutely any questions, please just comment below I will respond to them as quickly as possible!