Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3GS on iOS 5.1 Baseband 5.16.05
Updated your iPhone 3GS to iOS 5.1 with baseband 5.16.05 and need to unlock it? Read on as this may be the solution you need.
UPDATE: If you have an AT&T iPhone 3GS, unlock it permanently using this. How to unlock baseband 5.16.08 here.
First of all, please be aware that untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.1 is not yet available and baseband 5.16.05 can’t be unlocked. Baseband or modem firmware version 5.16.05 stayed the same since iOS 5.0 was released back in October 2011.
If you really need to unlock your iPhone 3GS it’s still possible to do it by updating the baseband to 6.15.00. Take note of the following:
- This is an iPad baseband which can break your GPS.
- More risks here.
- If you have the new iPhone 3GS 8GB made after week 28 of 2011, you must read this or you will permanently break your iPhone.
- If you don’t fancy 6.15.00 then these guys can replace baseband chip.
Did you read and understand all the risks? OK, let’s proceed.
Surprisingly, Apple is still signing iOS 4.1. This means you can still downgrade to an earlier iOS version (iOS usually can’t be downgraded if it’s not being signed by Apple). The reason why you need to downgrade to iOS 4.1 first is so that you can update your baseband to 6.15.00. Note: Baseband can never be downgraded!
[Final warning: Proceed at your own risks!]
Steps:
1. Backup your contacts, photos, apps etc. Remove your SIM card. (Note: If you made a backup on the latest iOS, you won’t be able to restore it if you’re running on an earlier iOS version.)
2. Download iOS 4.1 firmware for iPhone 3GS.
3. Download redsn0w 0.9.8rc18 for Windows or Mac.
4. Download latest version of TinyUmbrella from here.
5. Remove iTunes 10.5 and install iTunes 10.4.1 for Windows (32-bit) or Mac.
6. Put your iPhone into DFU mode. See YouTube video here.
7. Launch iTunes, connect your iPhone, hold down the SHIFT for Windows or Option for Mac while you click the RESTORE button in iTunes and select the iOS 4.1 firmware file you have just downloaded. If you get an iTunes error 3194, read here on how to fix it.
8. The restore will end with error 1015 and recovery loop on the iPhone, this can be resolved using the “Exit Recovery” button in TinyUmbrella.
9. Start redsn0w 0.9.6rc18.
10. Browse for the iOS 4.1 firmware you just downloaded.
11. Select ‘Install Cydia’ and ‘Install iPad Baseband’. Warning: installing iPad baseband will break your GPS.
12. Follow on screen instructions to put your device into DFU mode to begin the jailbreak.
13. When the process is done, you will find that your iPhone is now jailbroken on iOS 4.1 with iPad baseband 6.15.00. To make sure you can always go back to iOS 4.1, launch Cydia and select ‘Make my life easier.’
If you’re happy with iOS 4.1 and would like to unlock it, skip to step 19 now.
Step 14 to 18 is only possible if you have your SHSH saved. What is SHSH?
Let’s restore it to iOS 5.0.1 to get untethered jailbreak and then unlock it with ultrasn0w 1.2.5.
14. Download custom iOS 5.0.1 for 3GS from here. You can also build your own custom iOS 5.0.1 using sn0wbreeze from ih8sn0w.com.
15. Download the latest redsn0w from the Dev Team’s website or from here. Start redsn0w, go to Extras > Pwned DFU. This allows your iPhone to accept custom firmware.
16. Reinstall iTunes 10.5.
17. Connect your iPhone to your computer and hold shift+restore (Windows) or option+restore (Mac) and select the custom iOS 5.0.1 IPSW you just downloaded. If you get an iTunes error 3194, read here on how to fix it.
18. Once the restore is done, your iPhone will now have iOS 5.0.1 with baseband 6.15.00. If you are stuck on Apple logo with an empty loading bar, run redsn0w again but this time click on Extras then Just Boot.
19. Launch Cydia from Springboard (home menu).
20. Search for ultrasn0w on Packages in Cydia. If you cannot find it, add new sources by typing ultrasn0w repo:
repo666.ultrasn0w.com (with zero, not o).
21. Install Ultrasnow 1.2.5.
22. Reboot your iPhone. Just in case it’s stuck on Apple logo, run redsn0w again, go to Extras > Just Boot. Follow on screen instructions.
23. Turn off 3G and insert your SIM card. It should pick up your carrier signal.
Not too difficult right? If you follow the exact instructions this will work 99%.
Good luck and leave your comments or questions below.
Did it work? Buy me a beer! Never required but always appreciated!
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74 Comments to “Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3GS on iOS 5.1 Baseband 5.16.05”
I have 3gs on 6.15.00 on ios 4.1 can i update it to 5.1 using this method????
this is not for 5.1, you need to wait
Well, then someone should change the title of the article, since it's very misleading.
it's actually leading you on what needs to be done and letting you know what's possible and what's not
I meant 5.0.1…….Can I apply the above method????
you won't be able to update to 5.0.1 anymore because Apple is no longer signing this iOS, however, if you have your shsh saved onto Cydia yes, you can
Ooh, Im in the same case as Vivek, Cydia say me that there are saved the ios 4.1 and 5.0.1 SHSHs, Can I??
Hey thanks for the guide, appreciate the help. I tried following it and I am stuck on recovery mode now. I've downloaded tinyumbrella but it seems it dosen't detect my iphone. What should I do to kick it out of recovery?
1. Recovery mode = itunes logo
2. DFU mode = black/blank screen
If (1) use TinyUmbrella
If (2) reset by pressing home+sleep for 15 secs, then press power buttom
If still stuck in (2) use iTunes to restore to 4.1 again
Hey, Thanks. I am on recovery mode (itunes logo), but when launch Tinyumbrella, it does not recognize my device. All I see under recovery devices is ?0. What am I doing wrong. Thanks for the help…
click on that ? and see if you can exit recovery it
hello
i have iphone 3gs with modem firmware 05.16.05.
i have done the big erro by upgrading to ios 5.1 from the i tunes as not realizing that my 2 hand phone is locked(t-mobile or at&t i dont know..)and yes i know im a @#$%W% for doing so..
so now my phone is more like a jailbroken ipod.no service..
the solution i was offered was to downgrade to 4.1 and loose my gps/
my question is should i wait for a new solution?
will it come?
i really need my gps
but i need also my phone…
thank you
the hope for a non-iPad bb solution has been around for 1.5 years now…
which means im screwed???
please please let me know if you found some kind of solution ) gevey sim or something like one)
no solution except replacing the chip
Thanks so much for this post. I keep getting stuck between step 12 and 13 – when redsnow is "fetching iPad baseband files" it suddenly closes and the phone is stuck in DFU mode and I have to hard reset to start over. And suggestions? Thanks again, really appreciate your help!!!
try this http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/jailbreak-and-unloc…
I am also getting this same issue.
first jailbreak and install cydia, without ipad baseband flash. When that's finished, do ipad baseband flash.
I have a jail broken 3gs with ios5.1 with iPad base band. I have tried ultrasn0w to unlock with no luck. It will not find t mobile. This phone has been UN activated from att for a while so I have no active att Sim card. Any suggestions?
try this http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/jailbreak-and-unloc…
I've got a Windows 7 64bit machine. Will it work OK if u use itunes 10.4.1 64bit edition?? Because i noticed in the notes it only mentions 32-bit.
Also i had the update on a phone and all was well and working but i gave the phone to a friend and recently they updated through itunes to i0s 5 a screwed it up. i been trying to fix it but i think now the baseband is messed up cause no wifi, bluetooth etc etc. Im going to try and go thru this process though again tonight. Just wanted to know if my baseband is still fixible??? it should be considering this phone was running all this before… I think outta frustration i tried reinstalling firmware again and maybe that killed it???
once you killed the baseband you can only fix it by replacing the chips inside
i did the update and all went well however now i am getting NO SERVICE showing up
help??
try to reflash your baseband again
did that and it is kinda working now… all is well except the reception is real crap… its sitting on just 1 bar… sometimes it completely goes back to no service..
can the baseband update screw up reception quality???
i actually unlocked the phone LEGIT through VODAFONE website. i didnt know u can do it through here. so now i have iOS 4.1 with baseband 6.15 BUT i have removed ultrasn0w as the phone is now unlocked.
So pissed because i could have done it through their website. its crazy though because they dont advertise this anywhere.
Any way to increase the signal strength?? ive noticed when 3G is off the reception is slightly stronger…
sounds like a hardware issue, try to reset the network settings
tried that many times. tried re flashing firmware installing ultrasn0w and reinstalling, disabled 3g etc etc nothing works…
still got crap reception… im ready to throw this thing out the window…
ive flashed a few before and had no dramas but this one is a piece of work…
check on the mainboard if connector #7 is connected properly or not
is there instructions or pics on this anywhere that i can use for reference? have no idea where connector #7 is.
thanks
ifixit.com
THANKS SO MUCH U ARE A LEGEND…
It ended being a hardware error. I opened up the iPhone and noticed connected 7 was completed disconnected to the mainboard. I tried reconnecting but the clip was completely messed up for some reason. Looks like the phone was opened before. So i just got some wire and wrapped it around and jammed it between the connectors and used some electric tape to holds thing in place. Turned on the phone and WALLAH full reception…
Thanks for much for your help. Hopefully this can help someone else out facing the same problem 1 day…
Thanks
Excellent!
I have iPhone 3GS with iOS 5.1 (9B176), Serial No. XX935 and Modem Firmware 05.16.05
in UNLOCKING my phone, i don't have the original sim card (THREE Network from Australia) and i am based here in the Philippines so i am using a local sim (SMART Philippines)
Status now is either No Service or Searching…
What is the best means to do?
Are the steps above applicable to my case?
Thanks.
use this http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/jailbreak-and-unloc…
Thanks for the response, if i followed all the steps in the link .
The last step is..,
Turn off 3G and insert your SIM card. It should pick up your carrier signal.
My question now is….
ANY SIM card will do?
Coz i have SMART SIM card which is not iPhone carrier network.. Thanks
yes because the firmware will hacktivate your iPhone to accept any SIM card
it worked on my old bootrom and on newbootrom (on 3gs ipad baseband )of one of my contacts in twitter
go to http://adf(dot)ly/6RTPJ for the detailed step by step process
replace (dot) with .
Interesting, but definitely risky!
Thank u very much, It's working 100%
what did you do ? the same steps in the giude?
Use the latest snowbreeze to unlock and jailbreak 5.1 on your 3GS. No need to downgrade.
got an iphone 3gs on iOs 5.1 on ipad baseband 06.15.00 after doing this procedure but when i tried putting in sims it says no service how can i fix this? please help me been at this problem for weeks
if you're on iOS 5.1, you need to see this: http://www.beijingiphonerepair.com/hack/build-sn0… and work from Step 12
followed these steps and i've got 5.1 with 6.15.00 running on my iphone 3gs. would it be possible to downgrade to 5.0.1 to get an untethered jailbreak using this tutorial: http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/untethered-jailbrea… or is there any other way to downgrade (ios 4 is fine) to get an untethered break with 6.15.00 baseband?
downgrading to iOS 5.0.1 is only possible if you have saved your SHSH before
Hi there, I followed all the steps after an accidental stock iOS upgrade to 5.1
Now the Iphone 3GS Week 50 is stuck after the step 12 : Redsn0w JB+iPad BB inject.
iPhone rebooted with terminal interface and stays at "Please Wait…" after "failed to mount…giving up…"
Hi, the IOS download of 4.1 is not an ispw extention so itunes does will not accept it as a restore
rename the extension, your browser changed the extension to something else
i am in haiti so i have a iphone 3gs 8g it update to ios 5.1 then i cna't restore back error 28 he don't had shsh blbs save i need our help please
Hi Jocelyn, Unfurtunately, You can´t go back, because you didn´t saved your SHSH Blobs for previous versions of iOS, But whats the reason to downgrade? Is your Iphone Locked? Lets see what I can do for you.
Hi! I have an iphone 3GS on att version 5.1 baseband 5.16.05 and the next 3 numbers to the serial is 293. I want to unlock to t-mobile. Can someone please comment on how to do it without losing my gps? to I downgrade? how about downgrading the baseband? please help. Thanks
not possible to downgrade
Mark call atandt they’ll unlock it for free as long as it not in contract
hi,
I have a factory unlocked iPhone with baseband 06.15.00. Can I update it using iTunes, like regular updates or will this screw up my baseband?
I have a 3GS with BB 06.15.00 on IOS 4.1, built week 41 on 2009.
I recently contacted AT&T and they unlocked my iPhone. now they process tells me to restore the iphone in itunes and that will unlock it.
I tried to restore it for 5.1 but then iTunes or my iPhone doesnt detect the sim card which means I cant activate the iPhone
Which is the major part of the process because thats how my phone will get unlocked.
I really dont care about Jailbreak, Please let me know my options. Thanks
hi i have an iphone 3gs 32g new bootrOOm bb 5.16 jailbroken stuck in dfu, itunes detect in recovery, try to update and restore but always getting error 28..??? what shud i dO ..any tips??
My tip: sell it to me for 10€.
Hey guys! I have a iphone 3gs running 6.15.00 base band and software version: 4.1. I want to update it to the latest software version Ex: 5.1.1. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME.
download latest redsn0w and build a custom firmware
Hi, plz help…i have succesfully installed IOS 4.1 but now i cant upgrade my phone to IOS 5.1. please help..
try this: http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/how-to-update-iphon…
thanx for ur reply, but it doesnt work! shows error 3194, then i tried using TINYUMBRELLA..starting TSS server…then it shows error 2005, i have tried in every possible ways to update my IOS… i am really not being able to update my IOS. please help with a really working solution.
it didnt work! i get error 3194…then if i try using tinyumbrella to avoid this error..it shows error 2005, i have also tried changing 'host' file..still didnt work…please help..i have tried a lot of ways to update my IOS. but i failed. please help with a really good solution
try this http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/how-to-update-iphon…
How can I delete songs from my iPhone 3GS
use iTunes
Is nt working for my phone
try this http://www.iphonejailbreak.me/how-to-update-iphon…
i have iphone 3gs 4.1 baseband 5.16.02. to start with this process should i change my version? or change baseband? and about gps.. will it break conpletely or………?
Ok so i have my iPhone 3GS running 4.1 on 06.15.00 .. now how to i update it to iOS 5? The instructions are a little confusing and i can't seem to download the customer IPSW files.
The links that are there for the 3gs ipsw. you must sign up for a membership for file factory!! any free links? thanks