iPhone Dev Team have finally released their much awaited software method to unlock iPhone 3G.
Its also the world's first software solution to unlock iPhone 3G and it supports all firmwares including baseband firmware 02.28.00 which they had earlier indicated might not be supported.
Update (Jan 2nd, 2009):
The dev team has released an updated version of their yellowsn0w application (v0.9.4) to unlock iPhone 3G.
Update (Jan 3rd, 2009):
The dev team has released an updated version of their yellowsn0w application (v0.9.5) which fixes quite a few problems including some STK (SIM Toolkit) issues.
The dev team had released PwnageTool 2.2.1, QuickPwn 2.2 for Mac & QuickPwn 2.2 for Windows which can jailbreak 1st gen iPhone and iPhone 3G and unlock 1st gen iPhone running iPhone firmware 2.2 which was released by Apple on Nov 21.
They have just released the world's first and their much awaited software method to unlock iPhone 3G code named yellowsn0w for free.
To unlock iPhone 3G, the dev team has provided the following information:
- The unlock about to be released is only for the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 2G is already unlockable via BootNeuter (as installed by PwnageTool and QuickPwn).
- This unlock works exclusively with baseband 02.28.00. This baseband is provided by the latest firmware update (2.2) from Apple. You’ll need to upgrade to this release using iTunes and then use QuickPwn to activate etc. There are plenty of tutorials about this on iclarified, bigboss, and other established tutorial sites. Because it works on 02.28.00, it is available to everyone on the planet. This means we don’t need to unnecessarily expose holes in earlier basebands, which is an important concern.
- The application is a small daemon that is launched on boot. It injects the payload at boot and also whenever there is a baseband reset. You won’t notice anything about it other than that your third-party sim now works. It’s a small program and unobtrusive. There is no GUI (this is by design).
- You can add the application using the sources outlined below (coming soon). There are Cydia and Installer sources available, so use whichever you are comfortable using.
- There is a known issue with SIM cards that have STK (SIM Toolkit) application menus. These menus are usually items such as “top up” “get credit” etc. These menu items confuse the application sometimes. Removing and reinserting the SIM once after reboot (give it about 10 secs after you see the slide to unlock widget) fixes this issue. We’re working on a better fix.
- For those of you using SIM cards without STK menus, the application has some optional arguments that will make the unlock much faster for you. So either experiment on your own (use “yellowsn0w -h” for usage) or wait for a customization writeup.
- After you install yellowsn0w via Cydia, you should return to the Cydia main menu then reboot your iPhone with the 3rd party SIM installed. Wait for the slide to unlock screen, then wait 10 or 15 secs more. If you don’t see your carrier name pop up, then remove your SIM, reinsert it, and wait 10 secs more. This is the step we’ll be working on eliminating next.
- The application is version 0.9. This is considered beta software, and you use it at your own risk (you know the score). We guarantee that it’s not perfect and will require tweaking. Welcome to the cutting edge. (It’s a good thing these are just temporary RAM patches!)
- The application is released on a non-commerical basis. Please do not accept pirates and scummy ripoffs of this software. We license this software for single use and in a non-commerical environment (meaning you can’t charge for it). The techniques and methods used are not to be used by third party companies.
Basics
yellowsn0w is completely removable through Cydia, the command line, and iTunes.
Details
Other details
Before you start hacking your iPhone, it's a good idea to backup your iPhone.
yellowsn0w is available via Cydia which gets installed when you unlock your iPhone using QuickPwn 2.2 for Mac or QuickPwn 2.2 for Windows. QuickPwn which is a GUI based tool and quite easy to use.
You can follow these instructions:
- Launch Cydia from your iPhone's home screen.
- Tap the Manage tab and then Sources.
- Tap Edit on the top right corner of the screen.
- Then tap Add to enter the resource URL http://apt9.yellowsn0w.com (for Cydia) which will install the yellowsn0w source.
- Tap on the installed yellowsn0w source, and tap Install on the top right corner, this will install the yellowsn0w application which should unlock your iPhone 3G.
As mentioned by the dev team above those users with SIMs that have apps and other menus on them will need to do that extra step. You will know if you fall in this "extra step" category if your carrier doesn’t show up within about 10 seconds of the slide to unlock screen.
iPhone users in this category will need to pull and reinsert the SIM once after rebooting their iPhone to engage the unlock. The dev team is working on resolving the issue to avoid the extra step.
Please do remember that hacking your iPhone could void its warranty so please proceed with caution.
I just tried the above steps (and even removing and reinserting the SIM) on my iPhone 3G but it didn't seem to have worked for me.
Update 1:
The dev team has just updated their blog that they will be yellowsn0w 0.9.1. Here is what they have to say:
It uses a much longer delay to let your SIM card initialize. If you have problems with 0.9.0, try this one and wait a full minute after you seem homescreen, then reinsert sim card. We need both success and failure reports to tune this across the world, so please be patient (but please also report result!)
If you are in the U.S. and are trying this with T-Mobile, you must turn off the 3G switch in Settings. Also if you are good with the command line, you can make it much easier by adding the line <string>-q</string> right after the /usr/bin/yellowsn0w line in /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.iphone-dev.yellowsn0w.plist (that’s and advanced tip, hopefully someone will make a boosprefs type of tool for it)
Update 2:
The dev team has just released yellowsn0w 0.9.1 and I was able to successfully unlock my iPhone 3G which had failed when I tried the first time with yellowsn0w 0.9. If you have added yellowsn0w 0.9 then the update will be available in Cydia, simply upgrade to 0.9.1. If this is the first time then adding the resource will install yellowsn0w 0.9.1 resource. Please remember to follow the instructions mentioned below carefully:
- Removing and reinserting the SIM once after reboot (give it about 60 seconds (with v0.9.1) after you see the slide to unlock widget) fixes this issue. We’re working on a better fix.
- For those of you using SIM cards without STK menus, the application has some optional arguments that will make the unlock much faster for you. So either experiment on your own (use “yellowsn0w -h” for usage) or wait for a customization writeup.
- After you install yellowsn0w via Cydia, you should return to the Cydia main menu then reboot your iPhone with the 3rd party SIM installed. Wait for the slide to unlock screen, then wait 10 or 15 secs more. If you don’t see your carrier name pop up, then remove your SIM, reinsert it, and wait 60 secs more.
Here are some more updates from the dev team:
- If you are in the U.S. and are trying this with T-Mobile, you must turn off the 3G switch in Settings. Also if you are good with the command line, you can make it much easier by adding the line <string>-q</string> right after the /usr/bin/yellowsn0w line in /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.iphone-dev.yellowsn0w.plist (that’s and advanced tip, hopefully someone will make a boosprefs type of tool for it)
- No PIN support yet. Remember how we said this was beta? Well we’re still working out the flow for SIMs with PINs enabled. Please disable any PIN you may have on that SIM before trying yellowsn0w, for now..
The dev team are just brilliant to quickly release a fix to resolve the issue some folks were facing. They are working to eliminate some of the extra steps. I would strongly recommend you to follow the Dev team's blog for more detailed instructions and in case you want to report any issue.
Update 43:
If you try to unlock iPhone 3G running anything other than baseband 02.28.00 then dev team's unlocking solution will not work, it detects the wrong version and quits, so check your modem firmware setting in Settings->General->About.
Update 4 (Jan 2nd, 2009):
Folks at Hackint0sh have published a guide with some useful tips to unlock iPhone 3G. It has helped readers Ricki and maikel to unlock their iPhone 3Gs successfully. Thanks Ricki for the tip.
Update 5:
The dev team has released an updated version of their yellowsn0w application (v0.9.4) to unlock iPhone 3G. Some folks were able to successfully unlock their iPhone 3G. If you have already unlocked your iPhone 3G, I would recommend you to avoid upgrading to the new version as it did not work as smoothly when I tried.
However, if you had tried unlocking your iPhone 3G with the older version and it did not work, you can try upgrading to the new version of yellowsn0w via Cydia.
Also checkout this guide over at Hackint0sh, it has some useful tips to unlock iPhone 3G. I was able to successfully unlock my iPhone 3G (again) with the latest version of yellowsn0w by following it.
Update 6 (Jan 3rd, 2009):
We has just published step-by-step guides to jailbreak iPhone 3G using QuickPwn.
Step-by-Step Guide to Jailbreak iPhone 3G using QuickPwn (Windows)
Step-by-Step Guide to Jailbreak iPhone 3G using QuickPwn (Mac)
Update 7:
The brilliant and selfless dev team have been busy fixing issues which users have reported after releasing world's first software method to unlock iPhone 3G. They have released v0.9.5 of their yellowsn0w application to unlock iPhone 3G. They have mentioned that the latest version fixes quite a few problems including some STK (SIM Toolkit) issues and have adviced everyone to upgrade to this version. You can upgrade to the latest version via Cydia.
If you are still facing issues, please report them here so the dev team can fix them. One of our reader, Kenneth who tipped us about the latest version has reported that he was able to successfully unlock his iPhone 3G with yellowsn0w v0.9.5. He was facing issues with the previous versions of the application. Thanks Kenneth for the tip.
Update 8:
I tried upgrading to yellowsn0w v0.9.5, however I ended up hitting an issue. I used the following steps and was able to successfully unlock my iPhone 3G (again).
Launch Moble terminal app (you can install it via Cydia)
Type yellowsn0w -c
Type yellowsn0w -r
Type yellowsn0w -l (I got an error message "illegal option --l, Unknown message" but I ignored it and continued with the remaining steps)
Airplane mode on (keep it in that mode for more than 10 seconds)
Airplane mode off
Update 9:
We have just published a step-by-step guide to unlock iPhone 3G, hope it helps.
Update 10 (Jan 7th, 2009):
Dev Team have updated their yellowsn0w app to unlock iPhone 3G. It fixes even more problems.
Please don't forget to drop us a line to tell us if you were able to successfully unlock your iPhone 3G.
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I installed 2.2.8 Firmware, Jailbroke it, installed yellow sn0w 0.9.1. Now I put in the 3rd party SIM and it did not work. I restarted the phone with the 3rd party SIM in it and it didn't work. I waited a minute after the reboot and stuck in the SIM card, no luck. Any other suggestions on what I might be doing wrong?
it worked with me BUT you have to switch on the Airplane mode and then switch it off after you switch off your mobile and insert your sim.
On my travels I stumbled upon this link:
http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/showthread.php?p=377760#post377760
If you follow this to the letter, it should make almost any network work properly.
My iPhone is now working on T-Mobile UK network with 3G connection.
After installing yellowsn0w, my calls are dropping like crazy, tried to reinstall it but now its saying "size mismatch" any fix on this?
Hi,
I did exactly what it said in the instructions. i upgraded to 2.2, jailbroke my iphone 3g, installed yellowsnow, rebooted my iphone and it didnt work. tired it again and i was able to recieve calls and recieve and send out text but i could not make a call out. What do i do from here? I read a couple other people had the same problem. if there is a fix to this please let us know. Also thanks to the dev team for all the hard work.
Thanks Mostafa Zalat
Your link helped me out .. now it is working for me !!
Took some time .. but HEY .. it works
Can anyone tell me if this works with FIDO IPHONE 3G (CANADA)PLS REPLY thanks dev team !
Works for a few second then it says No Service.
Seems that it only work when i reset network setting-with or without sim. But it only last a few seconds then it says No Service
I managed to make one phone call the 3rd round i repeat the reset network setting step. Then it says no service again.
I had that problem earlier.
Try the link I posted a few posts above and it should solve that No Service issue.
Thanks Ricki for the tip, I have updated the post with the link for the benefit of other readers facing an issue.
So can I do the unlock now and switch sims back and forth if needed later ?
Some discoveries made today which will hopefully help some others with troubles getting their IPhone to work. My phone worked perfectly until today, but when I tried to install some apps through Cydia such as Cycorder, MxTube and SwirlyMMS my phone lost it's carrier. Tried everything, and when I installed another sim – Vodafone IT – then turned off 3G and roaming, still nothing. Turned phone off inserted back the 3 sim, still nothing just got "no service" which at least is a good sign, turned 3G and roaming back on all went back to normal. So, insert another sim from another carrier, turn off 3G and roaming, turn off phone insert your preferred sim, turn phone on and enable 3G and roaming, works! Somehow installing apps put things out of wack. Try this, replacing sims etc., and hopefully things will work out for you. Hopefully these bugs will be sorted out by the experts, but I'm happy. Mike from Italy.
worked with vodafone uk ,had to use dev team link though
Question: is it important to put in the Unlocked SIM?
e.g If i have Rogers SIM, should must put in Fido SIM to unlock or I can just unlock on Rogers SIM?
I have a t-mobile simcard. Everything is working fine after I unlocked it but I cant make any phone calls.. How can I fix this problem??
thanks
i have an 02-uk phone. works really well. can use orange sim with no snags, but i hav now put my 02 sim back in and still thinks its orange. any ideas. thanks a lot thou, absolutly amzing.
I do hav another iphone which i lost then found again. i hav unlocked it. but says needs to be activated. i think thy hav blocked the phone. any ideas
When 2.2 was released the dev team said NOT to jailbreak with quickpwn if you wanted to JB future firmware versions and you're on windows. So now that the unlock is out, (i have no plans to unlock) they're telling you to use quickpwn if you have windows? I want to jailbreak my 2.2 but would i be able to do it again with say 2.3?
It worked for me. I've got a 16Gb o2 in the UK tried vodaphone and Orange sims works great.
Thanks
im still stuck at the no outgoing calls phase im T-Mobile USA and im using yellosn0w lastest version everything is good untill i try to make a call then all my signal drops
Lets get drunk and eat chicken fingers.
I installed it in a Telcel (mexico) phone and worked correctly, i tried it with a att go phone sim from the us while in the us and it worked correctly.
hi. i hacked it and it works. i used bigboss to reboot it and it worked! but i could only get incomming calls. cant MAKE CALLS i go to the keypad menu and it freezes and looses connectiion and becomes no service now instead of T mobile i need help…. everything works BUT outgoing calls and freezes for like 5 secs and says no service . HELPP!!!!!!!!
with the lastest yellowsn0w application v0.9.4 installed to 3g iphone(bought from O2 uk), my China Mobile sim with or without turbo sim are no longer working. it was working before with v0.9.1 with turbo sim. HK CSL sim still working with v0.9.4.
Hi, for those of you with Tmobile U.S.A sim card that can't make outgoing calls, frozen dial screen, call failed, or 5 dots. The culprit is the sim card itself. I have two newer sim cards bought recently and will not work with my two iphones but when I put in my older sim card from a few years back both iphone work instantly.
Oh man, it crashed my 3 times and logo = gone, can't make any call even reinsert sim card and wait 10-15 sec
i am having the same problem. I get my carriers signal and 3-4 sec later it goes away to no signal. any help?
Can anyone tell me if it works with rogers iphone 3G canada ? pls
Big ovation and thanks to the dev team. i've just made it by following the instructions of upgrading then pwnage and it works perfectly on my O2 uk with either tmobile and orange. big thanks……….
one problem though, is there any possibility to break the " uk network lock of my iphone"?
please give me a clue if you have one.
I got the signal working and it can easily pick it up after lost. the only problem i have is that i couldn't make a call. it always drop it as soon as i dialed the number. Any tips? My sim is FIDO and i think my iPhone is rogers. i have tried the -r -c -l, airplane mode, sim out sim in about a hundreds times and its been the same. i can only snd/rcv text and receive phone calls but cannot make an out going call.
Worked for three days. Finally I got it! Thanks Anton! Your ways is working!
1. Use BossPrefs Turn off everything, especially EDGE!
2. Reboot in BossPrefs, NOT BY POWER OFF BY CLICK THE POWER BUTTON!
3. Wait a while, about seconds, see what you got?!
4. I am happy! Are you?
ps. 1. I am China Mobile and roaming in Canada. The local carrier is Rogers/Fido.
2. Download BossPrefs via Cydia.
Thanks Dev Team! Great work! I don't need the TurboSim any more.
One thing I forgot mention:
I am using "yellowsn0w application (v0.9.5)"
Thanks for your attention.
Jailbreaking was fine on my iPhone 3G 8GB, 2.2, 02.28.00. After installed yellowsn0w, it always reported 'Invalid SIM' if I put in my China Mobile SIM card. It worked after I did a 'reset network settings' from the settings.app.
http://report.yellowsn0w.com/index.php
maybe this can help ?
PLEAS HELP, Urgent.
Hi, I have successfully jailbreak/unlock my 16GB 3G iphone, works very good, no problems at all.
The thing is that now I got a new 8GB 3G iphone but I'm unable to jailbreak it, I did the upgrade from 2.0 to 2.2(5G77) using iTunes, it has also baseband 02.28.00.
My problem is that when I try to jailbreak it with QuickPwn22-1.exe the iphone reboots and gets me a screen asking to connect it to iTunes, the home+power buttons procedure never gets executed because the iphone shuts down before entering recovery mode.
PLEAS HELP, Urgent. Thanks.
update 8 is working very fine
love it. Thank you!!!
I should add that my AT&T sim no longer works. It does the same thing some people are having problems with (carrier for 3-4 seconds then goes away).
T-Mobile USA though, works like a charm which was my intention so I'll take it!
(16GB Iphone 3G with all of the firmware requirements)
does it not work if you have a pin code? ive done everything and installed yellosn0w on my iphone but when i restart it it asks for my pincode..
still no luck unlocking with fido or roger tried it both with my sisters and my phone.
Not working after successfully jailbreaking and unlocking version 0.9.6.
My configeration is a Swisscom Iphone with a Kenya Safaricom (vodaphone) sim.
When it works, there is a COLD TUSKER here for any or all of the Dev team!
Guaranteed!
Hakuna Matata Bwana Dev team!
@connor,
Dev team's unlocking solution does not support SIMs with PIN enabled, so you need to disable the PIN first before trying to unlock your iPhone 3G.
They are currently working on a solution to support SIMs with PIN enabled.
hii guys Hats off to the Dev team !
but im still stuck with an issue, i have a company unlocked iphone from HOng Kong , but it does not go pass the activation with my sim on itunes?do u think i need to uptade my itunes?
some times in the unactivated mode it catched signal n the sayd no sim again ?
need help pls guide?
Upgrade to 9.6! I've been having many problems since the 1st of Jan 09 with the yellowsn0w 9.1, loss of provider etc. Upgraded to 9.6 and my iphone became a monster! Changes from one provider to another always with very strong signals, I have 3 as a provider and I live in Italy, now it changes to all the national providers enabling me to always have a connection, and very strong singals also. Thanks dev team I will make a deposit in your account no doubt! Mike from Italy.
super helpful and clear guide. worked like a charm. att.
I just did this on a new 3G, per instructions I put my tmobile chip in over in Hawaii, and get no signal.. Any advice ?
Help needed.I am using an iphone 3G and on FW 2.2 and i have yellowsn0w installed,also it picks up my network,i am using MTN-NIG but once in while i get NO SERVICE AND OR NO SIM INSTALLED and that can be dis heartnening.is there anything i could do to stop losing service and stop getting NO SIM INSTALLED?
I did everything but i still get the message " No SIM" any advice
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im sad my iphone 3gs shutdown and no thin appear accept a white apple in middle thats after i sycrn in itunes what to do iam sad
please answer quickly