Posted by John in Apple on November 28, 2011  |  0 Comments More from this author  |  Website

Jailbreaking your iOS5 iPhone or iPad can give you a multitude of options when it comes to modification and apps. This also gives you access to the root of the device so you can use File Transfer Protocol to store documents or other files on your device much like an external hard drive. If you would like to jailbreak your iOS5 device but you don't know how, doing it for the first time could seem like a very daunting task. But it doesn't have to be. Jailbreaking used to be a process of downloading all kinds of programs to your computer and then integrating it with your device. It's not the same anymore. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to jailbreak your iOS 5 device.               

This is a fairly simple process that you have probably already done. Connect the USB cable to the bottom of your device and then connect the device to your computer. If you have enabled the auto-run feature on your iTunes software, the software will automatically open. If you have not, just click on the iTunes icon to launch the software.

Updating your Software.

When iTunes opens, go to the left hand side of the screen and click on your device icon. Your device should be listed right above your playlists. When you click on the device icon, a window in the main screen will appear. Click on the Update icon. Wait for the software to update. Updating your software should not erase your data. Once the update has completed, your device will restart. Check over the device to make sure that you music, apps, and other data has not been overwritten. If the data has been overwritten for whatever reason, sync the device with your iTunes software to get your data back onto the device. This might take a while so be prepared.

Downloading Redsn0w.

Redsn0w is one of the most common programs used to jailbreak iOS devices. Whether you are using a Mac or a Windows operating system, you can use this program. Go to the Redsn0w website and download the application to your computer. This program comes in a ZIP file so you will need to unzip the software. If you don't have ZIP software, you can download it for free from CNET or another downloading site. Your computer will prompt you and may even give you a link to download ZIP software.

Opening Redsn0w.

Turn your device off from the button on the top of the casing. Double click on the Redsn0w software icon to open the software on your computer. The Redsn0w software should recognize your device from the window. Click on the Jailbreak icon from the window that appears on the software. There is also an Extras option. You can install the extras if your want, but it's not really necessary for jailbreaking. The extras are more for developers. Click on the Next button and then follow the directions to put your device into Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode.

Redsn0w gives you great directions on how to enter this mode, but if you still don't get it, you just need to hold down the Power button for 1 second. Keep holding the power button down and then hold down the Home button for 10 seconds. Keep holding down the Home button and then release the Power button. Click Next when prompted. Wait for Redsn0w to complete the software installation.

Install Cydia.

Cydia is the main repository for third party applications. If you are jailbreaking your iOS5 device, you should install the Cydia app. This will give you access to thousands of apps, mods, and themes. Click on the box next to Install Cydia and then click on the Next button. Wait for the software to install on your device and then click on the Just Boot icon to reboot your device. Wait for the device to reboot. If everything has gone well, the device will reboot and have a Cydia icon on the far left side of the home screen.

Installing Repos.

Repositories are used to house apps, themes, games and mods for downloading. Although Cydia is one of the best repos for jailbroken iOS devices, the software also allows you to install new repos. Click on the Cydia app on the screen to load the software. Click on the Manage icon at the bottom of the Cydia main screen. You should see a couple of options here. The three options are Packages, Sources, and Storage. Click on the Sources icon. This is where you will enter all of the repos that you want to use for downloading apps.

Here's a list of the best sources for Cydia:

http://iphone.hackndev.org/apt/

http://cydia.iclarified.com/

http://ispaziorepo.com/cydia/apt

http://iphone.freecoder.org/apt/

http://cydia.xsellize.com

http://www.sinfuliphonerepo.com

Click on the Edit button at the top of the software screen. The Manage icon should change over to Add. Click on the Add button and then type in the URL for each of the repos. Wait for the software to recognize the repo and then click on the Search button at the bottom of your device.

Downloading Apps.

Now we're at the last leg: downloading apps to your jailbroken iOS5 device. Click on the Search button at the bottom of your Cydia application. Type the name of the app, theme or mod that you want to download. Wait for the search result to appear and then click on the app. The app will download to your Cydia environment. Click on the Install button to install the app to your device. Once the app has installed, click the Home button on the device. This will take you back to the home screen. Click on the app's icon to launch the app and you're done!

This guest article is by John den Haan. He lives in Australia and enjoys keeping abreast of the latest developments in the dynamic world of gadgets. His most recent project is an Australian blog about iPhone 4S.

Want to write for Technodope, drop us a line at authors@technodope.com. Click here to know more.

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