How to upgrade and unlock your iPhone using blackra1n


Update 1 (23rd March 2010) – Avoid iPhone firmware 3.1.3

This time, the unlock is best said – “short and sweet”. For this you need little or no technical expertise and works out of the box.
I know we’re late at posting this info, but better late than never. For the regular readers, here you go.

To upgrade all you need is

  • Your iPhone – Hope that’s still in one piece.
  • iPhone Firmware 3.1.2 – (2G | 3G | 3GS) – Choose the right firmware according to your model.
  • blackra1n unlocking software.

The upgrade process is the similar as explained in our earlier articles, but I am putting that here anyway.

Step 0. Backup your iPhone (skip this if its a new iPhone/or you wish to setup a new iPhone i.e loose your previous settings/mail configurations ..yada…yada)

Step 1. Restore your iPhone to the latest firmware 3.1.2 using iTunes. On the summary tab, hold shift (OPTION key for Mac) and click on Restore. Browse and select the iPhone firmware 3.0 file downloaded above. iTunes will restore the phone using this firmware. This step will take approx 10 – 15 minutes.

Step 2. Execute the blackra1n software

blackra1n

Step 3. Click on ‘make it ra1n’ and that’s it.

That’s all you need to unlock the iPhone (for 2G version, for 3G and 3GS – read till last step). You don’t have to worry about DFU mode/boot rooms etc.
After the process ends the phone will reboot.

Step 4. Restore from backup or Setup a new iPhone.

Connect to iTunes and you’ll be presented with a restore from backup screen. Use it to restore from backup.

Step 5. Installing Cydia or Rock from the blackra1n application.

For those who were wondering that Cydia was missing – Cydia has to be explicitly installed by launching the blackra1n application on the iPhone (Check for the application with a black rain drop icon). There’s also a new installer named ‘Rock’ along with Cydia. Try it out and let us know.

Tip: You can use Apt-Backup to backup the list of Jailbroken applications and reinstall them after the upgrade.

Step 6. If you’re using an iPhone 2G. You’re already done. If you’re using iPhone 3G or 3GS. Proceed with this step

Open the blackra1n application and install “Snow”. That should unlock your iPhone 3G and 3Gs. More details here.

UPDATE1 (23rd March 2010) – The latest firmware i.e 3.1.3 doesn’t have any feature updates – If you have an iPhone and wish to jailbreak and unlock it (now or in the near future) – Avoid it if at all possible. Also beware of the scam sites promising a paid unlock.


25 responses to “How to upgrade and unlock your iPhone using blackra1n”

  1. I must say that this is the easiest to follow instructions and update process. It makes light of the complexity of upgrading/jailbreaking/unlocking iphone 3GS. Bravo!

  2. I have a 2G but and I was able to Jailbreak my iphone but there is not an option on how to unlock for use on T-mobile. When I use the app for Blackrain on my iphone, it only lists Cydia and Rock.

    Thanks

  3. hi im using iphone 2g jailbroken 3.0 firmware, i want to upgrade to 3.1.2 and jailbrake it,

    as the above steps are saying after step no 5, is there any thing extra to do, i have seen in youtube that after step 5 they are opening blackrain app and installing cydia and after that installing bootneuter from cydia, with wifi

    as i dont hav wifi setup

    will that will be fine

      • thanks

        but after upgrading 2g iphone to 3.1.2 firmware will i able to get edge setting,

        i mean to say in firmware 3.0 there was no option for edge setting but thanks to cydia i got it.

        after upgrading will i get the option for edge

    • hi Manoj,

      had u got any solution for ur problem ???

      I am also facing same issue. Cydia is not getting installed through Edge network. I am using Airtel sim card.

      If u come across any solution for the same. plz let me know.

  4. MR. SETU

    I HAVE IPHONE 2G. NOW I AM USING FIRMWARE 3.0. SHOULD I USE 3.1.2 FOR 2G IPHONE. I MEAN CAN I JAILBREAK AND UNLOCK MY IPHONE IF I WILL DOWNLOAD 3.1.2 ON IPHONE 2G ? PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

    THANKS.

  5. Hi I did all the step as mention above and successfully upgraded n unlocked through black rain

    but when I'm installing cydia from black rain it dosent install I'm using edge network from aircel n I have iPhone 2g firmware 3.1.2,

    whenever installing cydia it buffer somtime and then suddenly n error ocured,

    plz help me to install cydia

  6. how yo remove emergency call mode from i phone 2G or upgrade iphone using .ipsw please reply me anyone who know all its urgent please ,……….. call 00-91-9230252722

  7. Hi,

    My phone 3GS 3.1.2 JB (blackra1n)
    What I Did:
    Erase All Content and Settings http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/ss
    This option is in the Iphone/Settings

    Now If I connect my phone it show in Itunes–>Device–> "IPHONE" (not the name of my device like before) If I make right click on the device named "IPHONE" I don't have the option of restore insted I have Eject and Open in New Window, but in ITUNES–>EDIT–>Preferences–>Devices I can see my last backup.

    How can I restore from last backup with out updating to 3.1.3?

    Thank you for any comment.

  8. Hi,

    I upgraded to 3.1.2 and jailbroke my iphone using blackra1n. Now the problem is that my service provider is not being identified. I have 1 bar signal strength on the screen. No name of service provider. Plz Help

      • I got iphone 2G, I just upgraded to 3.1.2 firmware… the problem is that although after activating wifi I see the wifi icon on top but on running safari, it is not able to connect… I tried resetting network connections and rebooting but no success.. Plz Help!!

          • My iPhone WiFi icon shows a signal, but when I go to a site I get the dreaded “Safari can?t open the page because it can?t find the server.?”

            I’m not able to install cydia as when I run blackra1n application it says check your internet connection and there is no cydia, rock icon…

            Also im not able to make calls as it is not recongnising the service provider

  9. My iPhone WiFi icon shows a signal, but when I go to a site I get the dreaded "Safari can?t open the page because it can?t find the server.?"

    I'm not able to install cydia as when I run blackra1n application it says check your internet connection and there is no cydia, rock icon…

    Also im not able to make calls as it is not recongnising the service provider

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