iPhone Dev Team Says “Yes!”: Firmware 2.2.1 Jailbreak Available

by Simon Ng on January 31, 2009

Just two days after firmware 2.2.1 release, iPhone Dev Team has made the impossible possible again. iPhone Dev Team has just released an updated version of PwnageTool and QuickPwn for iPhone 2.2.1 jailbreak.

The updated versions are now available for Mac users only. For Windows users, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer for the update (I think it won’t take too long… and probably be released in these couple of days).

As I mentioned before, firmware 2.2.1 is only a minor bug fix update. I don’t recommend you to upgrade to this version if you already satisfy with firmware 2.2. But if you insist to upgrade to this latest firmware version for whatever reasons and plan to jailbreak your iPhone, please continue to read on carefully.

For iPhone 2G User

If you’re using the 1st generation iPhone, that’s pretty easy for you. The firmware 2.2.1 does not upgrade the baseband of iPhone 2G. So, it’s quite safe to use QuickPwn 2.2.5 or PwnageTool 2.2.5 to jailbreak firmware 2.2.1.

Again, it’s up to you to decide whether you need to upgrade to firmware 2.2.1. For jailbreak, you can download QuickPwn 2.2.5 or PwnageTool 2.2.5, and follow the same jailbreak guide to jailbreak the iPhone.

For iPhone 3G User

It’s a little-bit complicated for iPhone 3G user, as the firmware 2.2.1 upgrades the iPhone baseband to version 02.30.03. That said, the current version of iPhone 3G unlock application (i.e. yellowsn0w) cannot handle this baseband (at least for now). So, please take note if you plan to jailbreak and unlock iPhone 3G on firmware 2.2.1:

1. If you plan to upgrade to firmware 2.2.1 and unlock iPhone 3G, please do not use QuickPwn 2.2.5. Use PwnageTool 2.2.5, instead. PwnageTool allows you to create a custom version of IPSW that can be updated safely without affecting the baseband. So, you can then use yellowsn0w to unlock iPhone 3G.

2. So, when should you use QuickPwn 2.2.5 on iPhone 3G? If you just plan to jailbreak but NOT to unlock your 3G iPhone, you can use QuickPwn.

Please read the above points carefully and make sure you understand before you dive into the upgrade. Okay, you have made up your mind. You can download PwnageTool 2.2.5 and follow this jailbreak guide to jailbreak iPhone 3G. For QuickPwn 2.2.5, you can download it here.

To unlock iPhone 3G after using PwnageTool, you can download yellowsn0w 0.9.7 via Cydia and perform the unlock.

For the official release note for QuickPwn 2.2.5 and PwnageTool 2.2.5, you can refer to iPhone Dev Team’s blog.

Did I make the things clear? I hope so. As always, drop me message if you have any questions about the jailbreak.

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Tagged as: iphone 3G, jailbreak-iphone, PwnageTool, quickpwn, Unlock iPhone, Unlock iPhone 3G

{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }

1 andrew January 31, 2009 at 3:51 pm

I just purchased an iPhone 3G but it is installed with 2.02 firmware. If I upgrade to 2.21 using pwnage tool 2.2.5, how do I upgrade the baseband to 2.28 since the pwnage 2.2.5 does not upgrade baseband except the custom ipsw to 2.21?

2 Edison February 1, 2009 at 1:44 am

nice simon! thanks for doing all of this

3 wayne February 2, 2009 at 8:19 pm

Hi Simon,Could you give me the link of jailbreaking iphone 3g firmware2.2.1 for Windows users

4 Simon Ng February 2, 2009 at 11:48 pm

@wayne, you can check out this post for QuickPwn 2.2.5 download.

5 wayne February 4, 2009 at 4:37 pm

Simon,I’ve downloaded quickpwn 2.2.5,Can you give me the steps?

6 Simon Ng February 4, 2009 at 10:46 pm

wayne, the jailbreak procedures should be very similar to the jailbreak guide for iPhone 2G. But please make sure you’re using QuickPwn 2.2.5 and firmware 2.2.1.

7 wayne February 4, 2009 at 11:02 pm

Simon,mine is iphone 3g..

8 wayne February 4, 2009 at 11:12 pm

Simon,i just found the jailbreak guide for iphone 3g,do i need to go through step 1-5 .

9 wayne February 5, 2009 at 9:22 pm

Simon,i want to jailbreak my iphone 3g firmware 2.2.1,i found the jailbreaking guide for iphone 3g,can i skip step 1-5 ( restore)

10 thanh February 7, 2009 at 1:17 am

Hey Simon, I want to know if it is possible that you can make Pawnage tool 2.2.5 for window users because I don’t have mac. I am able to download the file but I can’t open it because it is a dmg file which only mac computers can open. Do you have any suggestions for me? or do I wait until the dev team comes out with another version?

11 Simon Ng February 7, 2009 at 9:21 am: @thanh, for Windows, you can use QuickPwn 2.2.5 instead of PwnageTool.

Reply

12 Simon Ng February 7, 2009 at 9:24 am

@wayne, you can skip step 1-2 and start from step 3 to jailbreak the iPhone.

13 thanh February 7, 2009 at 1:16 pm

Oh ok then, and another question…I use the quickpawn 2.2.5 to jailbreak the iphone 3g, it means that I am jailbreaking the 3g with baseband 2.30.03 right? And if I follow the instructions right, using the yellowsnow installation of cydia and such I will be able to unlock my iphone and use any sim card correct? Because I had accidentally upgraded my phone to baseband 2.30.03…and can’t unlock my iphone so I’m waiting until the dev team comes up with something for this…any suggestions for me??

14 wayne February 7, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Simon, in step 4 the restore part…i only have the restore file for firmware 2.2 (5g77),but firmware 2.2.1 is 5h11..where can i get the restore file for firmware 2.2.1(5h11)

15 Simon Ng February 7, 2009 at 8:55 pm: @wayne, I have updated the jailbreak guide for firmware 2.2.1. Please refer to this post for details.

Reply

16 weshah February 9, 2009 at 8:33 pm

my device is Iphone 2g and I just made the update to the newest version of firmware 2.2.1
my only problem with the device that I can’t see the network ( No network ) Coverage…..
Do I have to active the PIN CODE of my SIM card or there is any solution

17 tvisuals February 12, 2009 at 3:35 pm

i tride to use new 2.2.1 jailbreak my phone is dead now….please help

18 Simon Ng February 13, 2009 at 7:50 am: Are you using QuickPwn or PwnageTool to do the jailbreak? Can you please tell me more about your problem, so we can help.

Reply

19 Xanron February 17, 2009 at 12:18 am

Hi I’m new to all this all I want to do is jailbreak my phone I got 2.2.1 (5H11) but don’t want to unlock due to me being on contract so can anyone tell me what to do pls I don’t real under stand I just don’t want to brick my phone

20 Simon Ng February 17, 2009 at 8:06 am: @Xanron, you can just follow these jailbreak guides and jailbreak your iPhone:

Jailbreak Guide for Windows user using QuickPwn (iPhone 2G / iPhone 3G)
Jailbreak Guide for Mac user using PwnageTool

Reply

21 mave February 21, 2009 at 1:25 am

Hi, I by mistake upgraded to 2.2.1 and used t he quickpwn 2.25 not the pwnagetool … presently i am connect to my phone service provider … is there anything we can do to get my phone service

22 Ryan March 3, 2009 at 7:37 am

hi Simon.i did upgraded to last firmware 2.2.1 and my baseband is 02.30.03 and then i did jailbreak my iphone 3G.i use AT&T so i dont really need unlock my phone.my question is if the itune ask me to upgraded.should i upgraded or i just stay which what i have on my iphone 3G for now?Thanks

23 Simon Ng March 3, 2009 at 10:46 pm: @Ryan, as your iPhone is installed with firmware 2.2.1, you’re already using the latest firmware version. But say, in future, iTunes prompt you for firmware update. I suggest to hold off the upgrade until a jailbreak solution is available.

Reply

24 benedictus March 4, 2009 at 6:36 am

Hello!

a friend of mine updated his iPhone 3G ‘accidently’ to firmware 2.2.1. & baseband 02.30.03. The device is locked cannot be used to make/receive phonecalls. I want to help him.

As I understand it – he is screwed. Apparently there’s no software solution for this – for now. And no clear view on a solution from the DevTeam is not in sight.

So what are the options: buy a new one, obtain a valid sim or … do the trick with a turbo sim. Will that help my friend? What I read on the interweb tells me there’s no guarantee that the turbo sim will actually make it work.

Is this a correct summary of the options?
Thanks for helping me helping my friend out.

Regards,
Benedictus

25 Simon Ng March 5, 2009 at 12:55 am: @Benedictus, at the mean time, I suggest to obtain a valid sim. I’m not sure when the soft-unlock solution will be released.

Reply

26 benedictus March 6, 2009 at 5:41 am

Simon, thanks. The thing is that the phone was bought in Thailand, and my friend wants to use in the Netherlands (T-mobile is the only provider, as far as I know.)

Doesn’t that imply that the only way to obtain a valid sim is to buy an iPhone, with a valid sim ??

The thaIphone will still be dead, then.

- can I buy a foreign valid sim?
- do I need a soft-unlock for the turbo sim as well?

Thanks again.
Benedictus

27 benedictus March 11, 2009 at 4:27 am

update;
bought the turbosim … doesn’t work.

28 jon March 11, 2009 at 12:55 pm

i recently jailbreaked my iphone 3g using quickpwn and i have no service please help

29 agent_green March 13, 2009 at 1:13 am

can someone help or give me some advice to unlock my iphone 3g i accidentally update my pone to 2.2.1 version and using 02.30.03 basebandim desperate to use it again

30 Salman March 13, 2009 at 3:23 am

Hi,
When will you release the unlocking of 2.2.1 with 02.30.03 baseband?????????

31 Simon Ng March 13, 2009 at 8:22 am: @Salman,

The unlock solution is developed by iPhone Dev Team. You probably need to wait a bit longer. I’ve heard of any news that it’ll be released in short period of time.

Reply

32 Usman Butt March 14, 2009 at 9:50 pm

hello Simon me to accidentally updated my iphone 3g to 2.2.1 aculty i reset all setting first then i restore back due to which it was updated now plz can you tell how much time will it take to unlock it.i mean to say with in how many days that software will be availibe.thnk you for your help..

33 Simon Ng March 14, 2009 at 10:56 pm: @Usman, at the mean time, there is no software to unlock iPhone 3G with firmware 2.2.1.

Reply

34 Usman Butt March 14, 2009 at 10:18 pm

i have read a post of your which is with the name of…
Complete Guide: Jailbreak & Unlock iPhone 2.2 (2G) using QuickPwn (For Windows) [Updated for firmware 2.2.1]
i have upgraded with 2.2.1 but now my iphone is unlock
can i do as you said in this topic…plz help me bro.

35 Usman Butt March 14, 2009 at 11:45 pm

can i jailbreak my iphone without unlock.as you describe in a topic which i mention in my second post.

36 Simon Ng March 15, 2009 at 11:55 am: @Usman,

Yes, you can just perform jailbreak for iPhone 3G and refer to this jailbreak guide for the procedures.

Reply

37 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 1:33 pm

Simon i went to mobile repair shop and ask him to jailbreak my iphone 3g,firmware 2.2.1 ha said 1st of all we have to flash back it and then we can jailbreak it whats flash back.

38 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 1:35 pm

and one more thing after jailbreak can i operate my phone with anysim..
i mean is it a sort of unlock.

39 Joovie March 15, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Simon, i’m a complete newbie to all of this. i haven’t done anything to my iphone 3g except for connecting it to itunes and allowing it to update my phone. so, normal service and everything, but i’d like to jailbreak and unlock it later. but which one do i do first? i know i’m limited based on what i’ve read so far, but can i do anything to my phone? i’m a windows user too, if that helps. what would you suggest i do, along with waiting for a break-thru with the 2.30.03 firmware issue?

40 Simon Ng March 15, 2009 at 9:05 pm: @Joovie, as you’re already on baseband 2.30.03, there is currently no way to unlock your iPhone 3G. I think iPhone dev team is working hard on the unlock solution. But you’ll need to be patient for the solution.

Reply

41 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 9:39 pm

hi simon h r u
hope you will be fine
bro tell me one thing the 3.0 farmwere is the next version of 2.2.1 farmwere or it is something else.

42 Simon Ng March 15, 2009 at 10:05 pm: @Usman, right. Firmware 3.0 is the next version for iPhone firmware update

Reply

43 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 10:14 pm

ok so can we upgrade it from itunes.and if we can update then how much possiblities are there it will agian unlock the iphone.

44 Simon Ng March 15, 2009 at 10:16 pm: @Usman, iPhone 3.0 is not yet released. You can check out this post for further details.

Reply

45 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 10:18 pm

ya i know its not release yet.and i already read that post.ok.bro last question
if i jailbreak my iphone3g which is 2.2.1 firmwere then can i use it with anyother network sim.

46 Simon Ng March 15, 2009 at 10:20 pm: @Usman, jailbreaking is different from unlocking that it will not let you use other network SIM card. If you want to learn more about jailbreaking, you can check out this post.

Reply

47 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 10:23 pm

in Reason #5 you said it is necssary to jailbreak iphone before unlock its mean i have to jailbreak my iphone if i want to unlock.

48 Usman Butt March 15, 2009 at 10:30 pm

bro what is flashback.

49 Joovie March 16, 2009 at 1:18 pm

hey, thanks simon. i know i’m stuck. should i even jailbreak it at least? probably not, huh. no worries. thanks again dude. laters…

50 Usman Butt March 17, 2009 at 1:21 am

hey simon h r u bro howz the firmwere 3.0 and plz do tell us what are the main features of its new version and one thing more when will be the unlock will be availibe for it.

51 benedictus March 18, 2009 at 5:28 am

Hello everyone-with-a-dead-brick-iPhone,
there’s a solution I’ve read about today!

Get a ticket to Hanoi in Vietnam, and for 80 dollars they take out the baseband chip, modify it, and solder the thing back together!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10107580-1.html

regards,
Benedictus

52 Chris April 20, 2009 at 7:22 pm

I’m a lil late on the updating and I can’t seem to get itunes 8.0.2 can i upgrade from 2.2 to 2.2.1 using quickpwn with itunes 8.1.1? I have a 2g iphone.

53 Simon Ng April 20, 2009 at 11:02 pm: @Chris, QuickPwn also works with iTunes 8.1.1. So, you can upgrade to the latest iTunes version for the jailbreak.

Reply

54 Joovie April 23, 2009 at 1:25 pm

hey simon. any word on the 02.30.03 baseband thingy yet? just read your comment. am i able to do anything to my iphone3g yet? if so, what would you recommend and how cause i’m just lost with the whole jailbreak/unlock thingy. thanks dude…laters.

55 violiance May 8, 2009 at 6:18 am

hi simon,
any way to unlock iphone 3g 2.2.1 with baseband 2.30.03?
how long we need to wait?
if it’s possible to this version of iphone?

56 violiance May 8, 2009 at 6:19 am

hi simon,
any way to unlock iphone 3g 2.2.1 with baseband 2.30.03?
how long we need to wait?
if it’s possible to unlock this version of iphone?

57 Simon Ng May 8, 2009 at 1:05 pm: @violiance, you have to be patience and probably wait a little bit longer. Presently, there is no software solution to unlock baseband 2.30.03. But if you can’t wait for the unlock solution, you may consider to purchase some SIM solutions (e.g. RebelSIM) for the unlock.

Reply

58 robb June 4, 2009 at 6:42 am