{last updated February 1st, 2012}
This OS X only guide (Windows guide here) will teach you how to jailbreak various devices using Absinthe. The current version of Absinthe is 0.4. Note this is an UNTETHERED JAILBREAK, meaning you can reboot your phone just like you normally would.
This guide should be used with the following device/firmware combinations (if you're not sure, here's how to find your iOS firmware version and how to find your iOS device type):
- iPhone 4S | 5.0 (9A334)
- iPhone 4S | 5.0.1 (9A405)
- iPhone 4S | “other” 5.0.1 (9A406)
- iPad2 | 5.0.1 (9A405)
If you prefer the simpler version of this guide with no pictures, click here.
NOTE: The team that put together this jailbreak (saurik & MuscleNerd, both core members of iPhone Dev Team, 3 members of Chronic Dev Team: posixninja, pod2g & nikias, and the legendary planetbeing, the globally-admired iOS hacker/developer responsible for initially porting both Linux & Android to the iPhone) IS accepting donations - please feel free to donate via PayPal if you're able!
NOTE: Because Absinthe creates a backup and restores it onto your device as part of the way it gets files on the device, we recommend the device is mostly empty when you start the process. To do this, CREATE A BACKUP IN ITUNES FIRST (connect to iTunes and sync). If you're using iCloud to backup, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage and Backup > Backup Now.
ONLY ONCE YOU'VE BACKED UP, on your device go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. MAKE SURE YOU'VE BACKED UP YOUR CONTENT. You do not have to Erase All Content and Settings if you don't want to, but the jailbreak could take up to 20-30 minutes to complete if you don't, depending on what's on your device.
Alright, let's get started. First thing you'll need to do is download the Mac version of Absinthe 0.4 from mod.my/absinthemac04. Double-click the zip file to unzip it if your browser didn't automatically unzip the file.
Making sure your device is connected, double-click Absinthe to launch it. You will see the Absinthe home screen, and Absinthe should tell you your device (and firmware version) is detected. Press the Jailbreak button.
Absinthe will then go through a few status messages while it jailbreaks your device. It will stop for a bit at Waiting for reboot - not done yet, don't unplug your device yet!, and once the device has finished rebooting it will continue the jailbreak. Do not touch or unplug the device during this process.
Once the process has finished in Absinthe, it will alert you to unlock the screen if necessary and tap the "Absinthe" icon to finish the jailbreak. Remember, the icon may not be on the first page - scroll to find it.
Tapping the icon will bring up a webview with a white page, and then your device will restart.
NOTE: If you see an "Error establishing a database connection" error or a white screen which lasts longer than 1 minute, please go to Settings and turn on VPN, and wait instead. The VPN connection will give an error. This is normal. A reboot should happen a few moments after the error.
You will see the Apple logo with a progress bar quickly as the device restarts, and then your device will power back on.
NOTE: The Set Up iPhone (or iPad) GUI you see when you restore an iDevice will now appear. If you backed up with iCloud at the beginning of this tutorial, please choose Restore from iCloud Backup in the Set Up iPhone GUI, and restore from the backup you took at the beginning of this guide.
The iDevice will then restore from backup, reboot, and you're good to go.
Cydia is now on your device where the Absinthe icon was before!
That's it! You're now holding a jailbroken device. Not too bad, eh?
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