Downgrading & unlocking iPhone OS 3.0 (updated)

by ralf.rottmann on March 18, 2009 · 104 comments

in iPhone OS 3.0

Just a quick note with more details in a few hours:

Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0 Beta pre-installation advisory document states that once you’ve updated a device it’ll be in a “locked state” with no way of going back to an earlier firmware.

While this might be perfectly true for regular iPhones it has not been the case for one of my first generation development devices. I’ve been able to do the following:

  • Restore (not update!) to Beta 3.0
  • Downgrade by restoring back to 2.0 via iTunes
  • Jailbreak and unlock by using QuickPwn to custom 2.0 built
  • Update  (not restore) to Beta 3.0

This particular device is now running perfectly on the Beta 3.0 release with unlock working fine – Cydia and Installer are obviously gone, as it has always been the case when applying updates.

To avoid confusion: I’m not aware of any solution, yet, that allows to jailbreak/unlock an iPhone running the current beta of OS 3.0. I did the following: I restored a first generation (not the 3G!) iPhone to the default Apple Firmware 2.0. I then used QuickPwn on a Mac to jailbreak and unlock. This gives me an unlocked iPhone 2G with Firmware 2.0. I then updated to the regular 3.0 Beta via iTunes.

The unlock is preserved, so the update seems to not wipe the modifications done on the 2.0 version. Effectively I’ve now got an unlocked iPhone 2G running OS 3.0 Beta. Cydia and Installer are gone (always happens during updates) but jailbroken apps still run!

Important Note:

Everybody: While it might be legal, I cannot actively support people buying iPhone Dev Portal UUID registrations through my web site. :-)

I’d therefore kindly ask to not submit any new comments related to paying others for getting registered to their iPhone Dev Programs.

I leave comment moderation turned off for the moment but will clear all future comments which do not obey this rule. Had to turn comment moderation on because some readers could not resist to continue to post UUID adding offerings. Sorry. Once everybody has calmed down, I’ll switch it off again.

Hope this clarifies things.

Note: I generally do not encourage jailbreaks or endorse unlocking hacks. I run one of my development devices jailbroken and unlocked in order to make sure, that my App Store software works on these modified devices, too.

Tagged as: downgrade iphone os 3.0 jailbreak

{ 7 trackbacks }

iPhone Downgrade von Firmware 3.0 auf 2.x doch möglich! - i am chr1spy - but not a chicken !
March 18, 2009 at 22:57
iPhone Beware of iPhone Firmware 3.0 Beta! - i am chr1spy - but not a chicken !
March 18, 2009 at 23:00
Downgrading & unlocking iPhone OS 3.0 is possible! - iPhone Breaking News, iPhone Hacks, iPhone News - iPhoneFreakz
March 19, 2009 at 09:00
» Il Downgrade dal Firmware 3.0 a 2.0 è possibile!
March 19, 2009 at 12:46
Fare il downgrade da 3.0 a 2.0 - iPhone | Ottopalla - Un blog che... tecnologia, software, windows, linux, mac, osx, blackberry, nokia, top gear e serie tv
March 19, 2009 at 17:17
links for 2009-03-20 | AntonioScatoloni.it
March 20, 2009 at 10:01
Downgrade Da 3.0 A 2.0 è Possibile! - Anthelia Ita
April 18, 2009 at 16:37

{ 97 comments }

1 madscientist March 18, 2009 at 05:17

So what method do you use to jailbreak 3.0 considering pwnage tool has not been updated?

2 David Web March 18, 2009 at 06:43

how exactly did you downgrade?
I stupidly flashed a 2g device to 3.0 without having registered its UUID in Apple’s dev site.
So now its bricked and I can’t restore it using iTunes or QuickPwn.
Any tips?

3 Roro March 18, 2009 at 10:01

Would also like to know exactly the steps to downgrade. Mine is bricked now :(

4 Brock Woolf March 18, 2009 at 10:30

Have you tried a deep restore? (http://sleepers.net/blank/dfu-mode/)

5 Bjorn March 18, 2009 at 11:48

Hello, me did the wrong thing. Now I’m stuck. I did however enroll in the devloper program, and I am now waiting to be activeted. Does anyone know if I will be able to register my bricked iPhone when I get access to the program?
:(

6 ralf.rottmann March 18, 2009 at 11:57

@Roro: I’ve been able to restore the iPhone 2G which has previously been jailbroken and unlocked to the factory 2.0 firmware. Jailbreak and unlock again (using QuickPwn/Mac) and update to 3.0 Beta via iTunes. You need to put your device to DFU mode. I’ve never had a bricked iPhone. :-) I strongly believe, you can always resolve things by going back to the Apple provided factory firmware.

@Bjorn: What do you mean with “register”? The membership grants you early access to the 3.0 Beta release. Every other version is available without enrolling into the program already.

Hope this helps.

7 Roro March 18, 2009 at 12:16

@Ralf: Thanks for the info, I’m back on 2.2.1 now. Oh well, I really wanted to try out 3.0 but I guess I’ll just have to wait.

8 ralf.rottmann March 18, 2009 at 12:25

You don’t have to. Why don’t you upgrade to 3.0?

9 Dimitri Giani March 18, 2009 at 12:27

Hi, one question. But, if I upgrade to the 3.0 (i’ve the developer program), I can test my apps for the 2.2? Or I lost this possibility? :-/

10 ralf.rottmann March 18, 2009 at 12:36

@Dimitri: Cannot confirm this, yet. I noticed that some of the commercial (App Store downloaded) crash when run on OS 3.0. I’m about to check whether this is possible and report back later. First got to renew a hell of a lot of certificates, provisioning profiles, etc. :-) You might want to subscribe to my blog to stay tuned.

11 Dimitri Giani March 18, 2009 at 12:45

@ralf.rottmann: Thanks for the info. I’ll wait to upgrade.. I must be able to test my apps for now.
I’m registered to your feed, thanks a lot!

12 Caleb White March 18, 2009 at 13:02

I am an iPhone developer so I was able to get 3.0 up and running and it really is nearly impossible to bring a 3G back (worked on it for 4 hours), I was able to get a 2G to go back though using this method.

@davidweb the only way you are going to get your phone back is to pony up to a dev license unless someone can come up with something a way to bring them back..

13 Caleb White March 18, 2009 at 13:03

@bjorn yes once you have access to the program simply register the device within the program and it’ll activate itself.

14 Bjorn March 18, 2009 at 13:07

Hi thanks for quick response. What I did was this: restored to 3.0 without being on the developer program (bad) and then got the message from iTunes that my device is locked because it isn’t registered on the developer program. I now am on the developer program (I just paied and signed up, waiting final approval or something). But still my iPhone sits there bricked and good. It is not jailbroken. What can I do?

15 Bjorn March 18, 2009 at 13:08

Hi again: don’t I need info from my iPhone – currently unavailable – in order to register it?

16 Dimitri Giani March 18, 2009 at 13:19

@Caleb White: Maybe I don’t understood.
You can confirm that I can upgrade my iPHone 3G to 3.0 and test the apps in the 2.0? Or I can downgrade to 2.0 for test my apps in 2.0?

And if this is not possible, the unique solution is to have 2 iPhones? :-/

17 Steve March 18, 2009 at 13:20

Same thing happened to me. You need to download the SDK which will allow you to run XCode. You can then find your UUID in XCode. Then go to the developer site and register the device.

18 Roro March 18, 2009 at 14:46

I got the 3.0 off my friend and didn’t tell me about the ADC thing. Apparently, he’s just got a personal account and cannot add up anyone for the team testing.

I would be glad to be a beta tester if someone out there can add up my UUID as a team tester.

19 Roro March 18, 2009 at 15:36

I got of the 3.0 from a friend but sad to say he only got a personal account which he cannot add a team to test it.

I would be a happy beta tester if someone could add my UUID as a part of a team testing. Oh well :(

20 alfons March 18, 2009 at 16:46

So you had to renew certificates, provisioning profiles because of an upgrade to OS 3.0?
Hmmm. I have to renew my certificate anyway.

21 ralf.rottmann March 18, 2009 at 16:58

Nope. I had to renew because some of the profiles were expiring. Had nothing to do with OS 3.0 beta.

22 Tarek March 18, 2009 at 17:33

Hi steve, ok i have the SDK “installed” and my iphone is “bricked” so i need the UUID. I am downloading the XCODE program and then i just go into it? can you give me more specific instructions? i much appreciate it sir!

23 CJ March 18, 2009 at 17:34

I bricked my phone today as well. Yes, I didn’t have dev account. I blame the folks who uploaded 3.0 to the torrents. :-)

Kidding, I’m the fool. Waiting on my response from the dev program as well.

24 ralf.rottmann March 18, 2009 at 17:44

If you’ve installed the SDK you’ll find Xcode in /Developer/Applications/Xcode.app .

25 Shaw March 18, 2009 at 17:54

Hey Ralf, you said that after updating, jailbroken apps continue to work. Does that mean Winterboard themes still work?

26 Mike March 18, 2009 at 18:01

Ralf, how do you do an ‘upgrade’ to 3.0 as opposed to a restore?

27 ralf.rottmann March 18, 2009 at 18:04

Option-clicking on the check for a new version (forgot the exact title of the iTunes button but it’s not the Restore button, the other one).

28 Mike March 18, 2009 at 18:14

I gave it a shot and it failed for me. Oh well. On to a full on restore…

29 Tarek March 18, 2009 at 18:29

once xcode opens can you point me in the direction of getting the UUID, thank you so very much. Then where do I go to activate using the UUID?

30 Mike March 18, 2009 at 19:43

Open Orgainizer (window menu) and it will be there.

31 Tarek March 18, 2009 at 20:23

where do i take the UUID once i have it?

32 Alex March 18, 2009 at 22:18

I bricked mine as well as I only have a personnel developer account. I downloaded the pwnage tool and a copy of 2.2.1, used the tool to edit the ipsw and then restored from itunes with the edited file. I tried to restore again from within itunes to the official apple file but I got an error. Trying again now but at the worst I’ve got a jailbroken iPhone (I prefer standard systems from apple).

ANy one want to ad my UUID to there account just so I can activate the 3.0 and then they can take it off?

33 ken March 18, 2009 at 22:25

I bricked the phone and have Xcode, I am a paid developer, and can not see it in Xcode in orgianzier…

ANy help would be appreciated

34 ken March 18, 2009 at 22:34

I bricked the phone and have xcode and a I am a paid developer. Had the wrong code,

OI can not find it in xcode. any help would be appreciated

35 Steve March 18, 2009 at 23:59

Here is a link to an image of Xcode with the UUID.

http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/images/portal/overview/LocatingUDID.jpg

36 Oded S. March 19, 2009 at 00:30

Thanks for the tip, but one very critical point:

This WILL NOT WORK if your phone has never been activated!

I understand this works just fine if you are an AT&T customer who upgrades the OS to 3.0.

However, iPhone OS 3.0 will NOT run if you never activated. I bought my device in the U.S., jailbroke and unlocked it. It’s never been activated on the AT&T network.

Once upgraded to 3.0 (I have an ADC account), I could do nothing until the phone is activated.

Tried to restore to version 2.2 with DFU mode – did not work, and the iPhone got bricked.

I am not trying a restore back to 3.0 and then i’ll do an “update” to 2.2 without DFU mode. Hopefully it’ll work, otherwise i’m screwed :).

Thanks.

37 Oded S. March 19, 2009 at 00:43

Update:

Yep, I’m screwed.

I can choose to “restore” the iPhone back to 2.2, but only from XCode, since i don’t have this option in iTunes. All I have is the message about the incompatible sim card.

In XCode, it sends an executable to the iPhone, and then it is “Waiting for device…”.

Forever.

I hope the iPhone dev team comes up with something quickly :(.

38 Joshua March 19, 2009 at 01:33

Can any one with a developer account add my info to activate the phone with 3.0 beta for me

39 M@!@FS March 19, 2009 at 02:09

What is the difference of restoration and upgrade? Can you explain? PLEASE

40 Raheel March 19, 2009 at 02:15

When I try to restore via iTunes it says: “There was a problem downloading the iPhone software. The requested resource was not found.”

Any ideas?

Thanks.

41 Jenkins March 19, 2009 at 04:11

Bricked My 3G trying the pwmage tool method. ive tried to downgrade using Windows Vista that was a joke so now im on my Mac.

ps any one willing to put me on there SDK account id be grateful

42 Alpha March 19, 2009 at 04:21

can u register your device with out the SDK?

43 FingerRoll March 19, 2009 at 05:23

Hi me Finger Roll and a close personal friend has managed to restore from 3.0 to 2.2.1 on a 3G iphone on OS X 10.5.6 by the way of PwnageTool Please check me out at http://www.myspace.com/notamin or message me for info on how to

44 ralf.rottmann March 19, 2009 at 07:59

Hmm. What are you trying to download? (Sorry if the question might seem dumb but could you elaborate a bit more, please?)

45 ralf.rottmann March 19, 2009 at 08:00

Restore puts everything back to factory settings, wipes everything. It’s like a FORMAT C: (that analogy does not work on a Mac, though…)
Upgrade usually keeps your settings, applications – and a potential unlock applied.

46 ralf.rottmann March 19, 2009 at 08:00

Why don’t you try QuickPwn for the Mac?

47 ralf.rottmann March 19, 2009 at 08:01

To further clarify what worked for me: I never activated the concerned 2G iPhone with AT&T. In fact it has never been activated legitimately at all. I applied the Dev Teams unlock (PwnageTool) to unlock the phone on a 2.0 firmware. Then upgraded to 3.0. Unlock still there. No need to activate.

48 M@!@FS March 19, 2009 at 10:05

What is the difference of restoration and upgrade? Can you explain?

49 ralf.rottmann March 19, 2009 at 11:08

I already did. See the comments. Here it is again for your convenience:
Restore puts everything back to factory settings, wipes everything. It’s like a FORMAT C: (that analogy does not work on a Mac, though…)
Upgrade usually keeps your settings, applications – and a potential unlock applied.

50 Robert March 19, 2009 at 12:27

I have registered my iphone ($99) after bricking it and works now
I can still register another 99 devices If anyone interested I can do that for $9 and we can share the account

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