Using QuickPwn (on 2.1 firmware)

intel Mac & PPC

Updated: September 27, 2008





Who is this guide for?

• 1st generation iPhones (3.9 or 4.6 bootloaders) Not for those people who are unlocked! There is no activation or unlocking with this program.
• 3G iPhones (who don't care about unlocking, at least not until the next update).
• Officially unlocked 3G iPhones.
• Make sure to Sync your iPhone prior to using this tutorial. This way your personal information, and any App Store applications will be preserved.

Thanks again go out to the iPhone Dev Team for providing this amazing, and FREE program for jailbreaking, activating, and customizing the 1st generation and 3G iPhones. You can visit their website here.

Here is an excerpt from the iPhone Dev Team's website about QuickPwn:



I used a 3G iPhone, that was updated to 2.1 with iTunes. This iPhone is on contract and was fully personalized. It was also previously QuickPwn'd, although you don't have to be to use this tutorial.

Step 1.

If you have not already updated to 2.1 firmware via iTunes, then do so. Click Update, NOT Restore!




I had not updated iTunes to 8.0 yet, so I received this pop up next:




After iTunes and QuickTime had both downloaded, been installed and the computer rebooted, I then received this message. Click Download and Install.





The iPhone was backed up, and then updated.




The iPhone will reboot when it has finished, and you should now see an activation message on the iPhone.




As you can see, all my applications, and podcasts remained, and iTunes confirmed I was now on 2.1 firmware.

Step 2.

Download QuickPwn 1.1 from me here, or via the iPhone Dev Team's download link list here.

Step 3.

Launch QuickPwn. Connect your iPhone and then click OK.




QuickPwn will detect your device.




QuickPwn will then search for the 2.1 firmware on your Mac. Since you just updated, it will be easy to find.





You will be asked if you would like to switch out the standard Apple boot logo, and restore screen which shows a USB cable pointing at the iTunes program logo.





You will get a PwnApple (pineapple) for the boot logo, and a Steve Jobs caricature for the restore screen if you select yes. Otherwise, select no to leave them alone.




Your custom 2.1 firmware file (.ipsw) will now be compiled.




QuickPwn will prompt you for your system password. There is nothing nefarious in this request, the reason it is asking (and PwnageTool asks) is because it is creating your firmware and running commands as the root account (or superuser) on your computer. There are various processes where unmounting and mounting of a file systems is necessary. This is performed while using a system UID of 0 which causes the prompt for a system password. The root access is only for the creation of the ipsw file. So it's completely harmless.




Now simply follow the on screen prompts for putting your iPhone into DFU mode. First press the Sleep/Wake (or power) button to turn the iPhone off.




You will get 5 seconds to get your fingers in place to press and hold the Sleep/Wake (power) and Home buttons. Then hold them for 10 seconds.






Then release the Sleep/Wake (power) button.




Continue holding the Home button for 10 seconds.




A couple files will be sent, and iTunes should launch. You'll get a pop up from iTunes about your iPhone being in recovery mode. Just click ok. I just dragged iTunes out of the way at this point.




It will then send the 018-4122-1.dmg file, and some others.




Note: You may see this pop up. Click OK.




You'll then receive this pop up. Click OK.




You should see the Pwnage logo (or the Apple if you chose no to use custom boot logos) on your iPhone at this point.




You should then receive this message. Understand what it says, then click OK and wait. This stage took about three minutes.




You will see this screen, and a few different messages (Replacing kernel, Flashing NOR, Installing bundles, Syncing file systems) on your iPhone during these three minutes.




You should then see the success message. If it fails, then repeat the process. The process could fail for numerous reasons, the least of which being you were running (or trying to run) a memory or CPU intensive program in the background at the same time, et cetera.




The iPhone will reboot. If your iPhone was already personalized, it should still be that way. The only changes should be that Cydia and Installer have been added to your SpringBoard.




You can confirm your firmware versions here. You are on 2.1 firmware, and your modem (baseband) was updated to the correct version as well.