Last time, I mentioned I will write up a series of blog posts for jailbreak beginner to answer the question – What’s next after you jailbreak the iPhone? This is the 1st article for jailbreak beginner series that helps you unleash the power of jailbreak iPhone.
Cydia is the 1st Stop after Jailbreak
With iPhone Jailbreak, Cydia will be the first application you need to know and start with. One of top reasons to jailbreak iPhone is to enpower it to install third-party applications. And, Cydia, developed by Jay Freeman, is the heart of all. You may consider Cydia as the App Store for jailbreak iPhone, that lets you download and install third-party applications on iPhone.
Why Cydia and 3rd-Party applications?
As you know, since the release of firmware 2.0, Apple enables every iPhone with the game-changing App Store. Developers can put up application on App Store for every iPhone user to download. Okay then, what’s the point to have Cydia? The short answer is not every application can get through Apple’s approval process and appear in App Store. A very good example is NetShare, which tries to turn iPhone 3G into a wireless modem, that was banned by Apple for some reasons. Cydia is here to fill the gap and lets you download other 3rd party applications that you probably can’t find on App Store.
Launching Cydia for the very first time
Cydia is very easy to use and manage. If you know how to use App Store, you’ll have no difficulties with Cydia. The first time you launch Cydia, you’ll be asked to select the type of filter:
- User (Graphical Only)
- Hacker (+Command Line)
- Developer (No filter)
For normal user, you can just set the filter to “User”. With this setting, Cydia will filter out those applications which you’re not interested.
Followed by the filter setting, you may be prompted to upgrade some essential packages. Just go ahead to upgrade it. This makes sure you’re using the latest version of Cydia.
A Glance at Cydia
Okay, now you should be in Cydia. Let’s have a quick glance at Cydia interface. Cydia offers an intuitive interface for you to manage application packages:
Home – The home screen shows the latest news of Cydia. You’ll also find featured packages, sources information, user guide and other developer-related information here.
Section – You can find all the available applications for download here. Application packages are organized into specific categories.
Changes – What’s the new application just released on Cydia? “Changes” shows you the latest release available and also alerts you for any application upgrade.
Manage – Keep track with all the installed package. You can use “Manage” to upgrade / uninstall packages. Also, it is the place to add / remove Cydia source (will cover more later on).
Search – Search for application in Cydia
How to install an application in Cydia
So, how do you install an application in Cydia? Pretty straightforward.
- First, locate the application package. Say, MxTube in featured application.
- Just tap “Install” button and then tap “Confirm” to confirm the installation
- And Cydia then download the package & install it automatically.
Yes, it’s so simple.
How to upgrade / uninstall an application in Cydia
As said, all installed packages can be found under “Manage”. To upgrade / uninstall an application,
- Tap “Manage” and then “Packages”.
- Select the package you want to uninstall or upgrade.
- Tap “Modify” and then “Remove” to uninstall the application package. If an upgrade is available, Cydia will also show you with an “Upgrade” option. Just tap on to upgrade the application.
How to add repository source in Cydia
Application in Cydia are hosted by different repositories. From time to time, you may add new repository into Cydia. Say, you find a new repository URL (e.g. http://ispaziorepo.com/cydia/apt) which provides great iPhone themes. And you want to install those themes. To make those applications available in Cydia, you have to install the repository first.
As long as you know the repository URL, add a new repository is very straightforward.
- Tap “Manage”
- Then tap “Source”
- Tap “Edit” and then “Add”
- Type the repository URL and tap “Add Source”
That’s it. Cydia will then look up the URL and retrieve any applications available from the new repository.
Cydia, by default, comes with a list of package sources (i.e. repository). You can find them in the Home screen of Cydia. Just tap on anyone of them and install.
That’s pretty much I want to cover for Cydia. Go ahead and enjoy Cydia. Don’t forget to download Cycorder that powers your iPhone with Video Recorder.
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Hello,
1. I have an iPhone 3G sim free legally and system 2.2. Should I download as well, when wanting to jailbreak my iPhone, the component:
2.2.0 (3G): iPhone1,2_2.2_5G77_Restore.ipsw
2. And the last one. My iphone was legally simfree in France. I updated the system via iTunes to 2.2.
When Apple will release the 2.3 version. Will I be able to update it via iTunes if my iPhone is jailbroken?
Is Cydia for Windows too?
Rik,
If you want to jailbreak iPhone 3G, you can check out this post for detailed information. And, for your 2nd question, when you upgrade to iPhone 2.3 in future, you’ll have to jailbreak your iPhone again. That’s required as Apple’s firmware upgrade will make the existing jailbreak obsolete.
I used your instructions for the jailbreak and unlock (2G), it worked fine…. but when I put in someone else’s sim card to check the unlock it came up with a message; sim card not recognised connect to itunes. Is the phone not unlocked? Do I have to ‘activate’ on itunes with every different sim?
quickpwn it again…
that happened to me too. it did not unlock the 1st 2 times…
is there a way to get cydia without a computer?
@Chris,
No, you need to jailbreak iPhone using QuickPwn / PwnageTool on either Windows or Mac.
i know this must seem really stupid but when i first started i accepted the 4 essential upgrades and then cancelled it because it was taking too long and now i dont now how to get onto the cydia main screen im just stuck in the welcome to cydia bit
Let me brief you first, I am using, I guess, unlocked/jailbroken iPhone 3G. On the day I baught it, I updated it through iTunes and it went onto the ‘Emergency Call’ mode and also said that Insert the valid Sim Card. It was unlocked/opened by a shopkeeper thus don’t know how and by which tools. Now, I came to know about various methods to use firmware updates without getting the phone locked by iTunes.
I tried to restore and update through iTunes by clicking Shift Key and selecting the fiemware 2.2 (I downloaded it) but in both try a msg came that iTunes can’t do it. At the same time on the screen of my phone a Penguin comes and ‘iPhoneLinux.org’ is written below.
Thanks to QuickPwn 2.2-1 which said click and hold the Sleep & Home button for 15 sec and the phone started again as usual.
Now, with all this information, can you guide me to update/upgrade my phone to 2.2 where I also can use any GSM SIM and add any application (Is it unlock and jailbreak?).
In the system the Version is 2.0.2 (5C1) & Modem Firmware is 04.05.04_G
Please help me!!!
NisB
i have a question. how do i jailbreak my iphone? please tell me. im having a hard time.
gotta question on jailbreaking the iphone firmware 2.3 is there any wat of jailbreaking it?
After jailbreaking my ipod touch 2g with redsn0w, i got Cydia, so then i try installing apps and it tells me i don’t have enough sources or packages or anything. Can any1 help me plz???
Thanks in advance
i just upgrade my ipod touch 2g firmware 3.0 & jailbreak it by using redsnow 0.7.1;i dont have wifii conxn on my ipod …so pls help me how to install themes & applications on my ipod touch though i have cydia on my ipod touch!! pls help..
umm i was told that this site was supposed to tell me exactly how to install free apps after u have jailbroken an ipod touch, ive got the jailbroken ipod ive got “Cydia” and “installer” but no one has told me how to actually install apps
@janersa, you can refer to “How to install an application in Cydia” section in this post to learn about how you can install cydia app. Let me know if you need further help.
Hi, Can you please help me know where will the themes I download from cydia will get stored. I downloaded couple of themes but not able to find it now!!!
what shouldn’t i do on itunes after i jailbrake my iphone 3g?
@abdullah, here are the couple of things you need to take note:
1. Do not restore your iPhone. Otherwise, you’ll need to jailbreak again.
2. Suggest to turn off auto-upgrade. Do not upgrade to the latest firmware even iTunes prompts you to upgrade. For your information, the latest version of firmware that can be jailbroken is 3.0.1.
I am so new to this. I don’t really understand much of this at all. But I did just download iREALsms from Cydia. And it worked, it’s on the menu thing. But.. when I open it, it’s just black for about 1-2 seconds then it returns to all my apps again. Help? What am I doing wrong?
Hi,
I was just wondering, I have an app I have seperately downloaded onto my PC – how can I get that onto my iPhone as iTunes gives me an error…
Any help would be greatfully appreciated…I am jailbroken and have Cydia
Thanks
Bear
@Bear85, what kind of app did you download? cydia app or iPhone app from App Store?
how do i download the app??
@me108, just follow the above steps to download cydia app. Or you can launch App Store to download other iPhone applications.
i have a jailbreaken phone, each time i click on cydia, it shows up loading data and then closes, im also on o2, would that make a diffents and y is it closing on me??
pls help..
“How to install an application in Cydia”
my ipod touch In the system the Version is 2.2.1
because in my ipod touch to not have “installer” software
Can help me plz…
pls help…
I have an app cydia zip software download on my PC! but how to take cydia folder put in my ipod touch? thanks you.
can anybody tell me how to redo jailbrake on my iphnoe 3G 3.2.1(7D11)
I did jailbreak the first time and I can’t dowload ayn application through cydia
I am not familiar for this stuff I do not even know if the phone is unlocked properly
you help will be appreciated
can anybody tell me how to redo jailbreak on my iphnoe 3G 3.2.1(7D11)
I did jailbreak the first time and I can’t download ayn application through cydia
I am not familiar for this stuff I do not even know if the phone is unlocked properly
you help will be appreciated
@Daniel, you can use blackra1n to jailbreak iPhone OS 3.1.2. Here is the guide.