IPhone unlocking has become something of an art form in recent years–one that continues unabated ever since the Library of Congress gave its official seal of legality to the entire unlocking — or “jailbreaking — process in mid-2010. Since then, nearly every iOS update from Apple has been unlocked or jailbroken within weeks or even days of its release. The current iOS is the 4.3.5 security update from back in July of 2011. And, true to form, the 4.3.5 iPhone OS has already been unlocked by the team known as “RedSn0w.”
RedSn0w — a group of iOS hackers dedicated to maintaining up-to-date jailbreaking methods — offers a free iPhone unlock program by the same name that makes for an incredibly easy iPhone unlocking experience regardless of your level of technical savvy. There are a few caveats, however. First, this is a tethered unlock, meaning if you ever have to restart your iPhone, you will have to plug it back into your computer to ensure it works properly. Second, the free iPhone unlock only works with the third and fourth generation iPhone. Lastly, you cannot jailbreak iOS 4.3.5 if you are already using a carrier-unlock hack. Assuming none of that has put you off your feed, let’s get started with this easy iPhone unlocking process.
First, download both the iPhone 4.3.5 and the iPhone 4.3.4 iOS firmware updates as well as the RedSn0w program for either Windows or Mac, depending on your equipment.
Once you’ve gotten the required files, launch the RedSn0w program and hit the “Browse” button. Locate the iPhone OS 4.3.4 firmware update, select it and click “Open.”
Click the “Next” button when prompted by the RedSn0w window and then select the “Install Cydia” option. Leave all the other options blank and click the “Next” button again.
Turn off your iPhone when directed by the RedSn0w window and connect it to your PC via the included USB cable. Click the “Next” button yet again once you’ve gotten the iPhone hooked up properly. The next screen will instruct you to put your iPhone into DFU mode for the jailbreaking process.
Hold down the power button — with the iPhone still off — for five seconds. Once the five seconds are up, press and hold the “Home” button on the iPhone without releasing the power button. Hold both buttons down for ten seconds. Release the power button after ten seconds but continue holding the Home button for about another 15 seconds. RedSn0w will automatically detect when your device enters DFU mode.
Click the “Next” button to begin the iPhone unlocking process. This process will take anywhere from a few minutes to upwards of thirty depending on your iPhone and the software you had installed. It is recommended that you not perform any computer-related tasks while your iPhone is in the unlocking process. It is also recommended you not touch or do anything with your iPhone during this process, mostly because trying to use your iPhone during the unlocking will likely result in a bricked iPhone.
Continue waiting until RedSn0w informs you that the process is finished. You should now have a fully-jailbroken iPhone 4.3.5. Please note that any time your iPhone loses power or reboots, you will get stuck in the Apple Logo loop screen. You will have to plug your iPhone back into the computer, run RedSn0w again and check the “Just Boot Tethered Right Now” option in the launch screen in order to get the iPhone working again.
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