October 1, 2023
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Posted January 30, 2009 at 12:35pm by iClarified · 2194998 views
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****THIS TUTORIAL HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR THE NEW ULTRASN0W UNLOCK THAT WORKS ON THE 3.0 FIRMWARE. IF YOU ARE ON THE 2.2 FIRMWARE THIS TUTORIAL WILL STILL WORK; HOWEVER WE RECOMMEND YOU UPDATE TO 3.0 AND FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS****

These are instructions on how to software unlock the iPhone 3G for use with any GSM cellphone carrier.

Before you can follow these instructions you must have a jailbroken iPhone and you must be on the 02.28.00 baseband(modem firmware). This means that you must be running the 2.2 firmware or have used PwnageTool(NOT QUICKPWN) to install 2.2.1 without upgrading the baseband.


To find your firmware and modem firmware(baseband) versions you can follow this tutorial. If you are not on baseband version 02.28.00 then you need to follow one of these tutorials before unlocking: Mac, Windows


For your convenience this tutorial is available in video format also.

Step One
Press to launch Cydia Installer from your SpringBoard.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Two
Press to select the Manage tab at the bottom of the screen.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Three
Press to select the large Sources button
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Four
Press the Edit button at the top right of the screen.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Five
Press the Add button at the top left of the screen.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Six
Enter http://apt9.yellowsn0w.com/ as the source url and press the Add Source button.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Seven
Once the source has been added press the large Return to Cydia button.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Eight
Press the Done button at the top right of the screen.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Nine
Press to select apt9.yellowsn0w.com from the list of user entered sources.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Ten
Press to select yellowsn0w from the list of packages
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Eleven
Press the Install button at the top right of the screen.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Twelve
Press the Confirm button at the top right of the screen.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Thirteen
After installation completes successfully press the large Return to Cydia button.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Fourteen
Now press the Home button then power off and power on the iPhone. You do this by holding down the power button for 3 seconds then moving the power slider that appears to the right. Press the power button again to turn on the phone.
How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

How to Unlock the iPhone 3G

Step Fifteen
You should now be able to insert the SIM of your choice!

***HINTS: It seems that getting your iPhone to pick up your new carrier can be helped by turning off 3G and perhaps toggling the Airplane Mode switch on and off. If you are still having problems try removing and reinserting the SIM or booting with the new SIM already inside. Finally, you can also try to Reset Network Settings from the Settings:General:Reset Menu.

***IMPORTANT: For those having trouble. The yellowsn0w application can simply be uninstalled. If you have tried all the hints and suggestions and still have problems just use Cydia to remove the package and then reboot. You will then have service with your locked carrier as always.

***THANKS: A big thank you to all the members of the iPhone Dev-Team for all their hard work! It is much appreciated by all.

***UPDATES: The Dev-Team has made yellowsn0w 0.97 available. This version supports the 2.2.1 firmware using the 02.28 baseband.
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Roby
Roby - January 8, 2012 at 5:08pm
We need a lot more isngihts like this!
Xavi
Xavi - August 5, 2010 at 3:52am
very helpful;)
name
name - November 6, 2010 at 8:23am
OK GUYS THE WAIT IS OVER ITUNES HAS 4.2 FOR THE PUBLIC NOW OPEN ITUNES TO UPDATE AND THE UNLOCK WILL BE HERE AT 1PM TODAY
Nick Slaven
Nick Slaven - July 16, 2010 at 12:34pm
I jailbroke and unlocked my 3G to use on the T-Mobile network and it is working fine. The only thing is that prior to jailbreaking and unlocking it, you were able to send pictures in text messages. Once I unlocked it however, the icon button to "add a picture" into the message no longer appears. Anyone have any ideas? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks is advance!
name
name - November 6, 2010 at 1:15pm
OK GUYS THE WAIT IS OVER ITUNES HAS 4.2 FOR THE PUBLIC NOW OPEN ITUNES TO UPDATE AND THE UNLOCK WILL BE HERE AT 4PM TODAY
Janeece
Janeece - January 11, 2012 at 5:53am
Yup, that'll do it. You have my apprceiation.
Mr. P
Mr. P - May 20, 2010 at 12:29pm
Hi, I´m trying to jailbrak my Iphone 3Gbut I can´t download (under source) apt9.yellowsn0w.com. The message it gives: Sub-process /bin/bzip2 returned an error code (2) FW 2.2 is installed. I also have restarted the phone several times, but no change. Is it possible that the provider (Tmobile) has to do something with the problem? What can I do to solve this problem? Do you have any idea or alternatives..? thanks! Hallo, bin gerade dabei mein Iphone 3G zu jailbreaken kann aber mit Cydia unter Hinzufügung der Quelle: apt9.yellowsn0w.com die datei nicht runterladen. Anmerkung: Sub-process /bin/bzip2 returned an error code (2) FW 2.2 ist drauf. Hab auch mehrmals neugestartet und immer nach Anleitung vorgegangen. Kann es am Netzanbieter (Tmobile) liegen? Was kann ich machen um das Iphone freituschalten? Habt ihr ne Lösung, abdere Alternativen? Vilen Dank.
And1
And1 - January 23, 2010 at 8:17am
I just keep on getting erroe messages when I enter apt9.yellowsn0w.com in cydia. Is the server down? What is wrong?
mano
mano - October 6, 2010 at 6:09pm
did you resolve this error. I'm also getting this error.
Marty
Marty - January 19, 2010 at 5:41pm
this method did not work for me. I have iPhone3G. I just got a blank screen. I did get it unlocked at http://how-to-unlock-your-iphone.blogspot.com/ it took about 5 minutes to unlock my iphone.
VirginiaDudgeon
VirginiaDudgeon - November 13, 2010 at 5:09am
The Apple is my favourite brand! i want to buy a new iphone! my friends have but i don't. i'm so upset about that! but i have no idea about the iclarified
semso
semso - October 17, 2009 at 12:36pm
kako da otkljucam iphon 3g 16gb
Dax
Dax - September 22, 2009 at 10:24pm
But, you have to pay USSS$29.99....this site is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joao
joao - July 20, 2009 at 6:41pm
I have major problem. I forgot my passcode and I cannot unlock my iPhone or jailbrake it using iTunes. Can anyone help me with this.
adam
adam - July 14, 2009 at 1:03am
Ive gotten as far as updating the sources. It says downloading packages at the bottom of the screen, the blue bar is completely filled but it froze right then and there... any ideas here?
Gwenn
Gwenn - June 21, 2009 at 4:47am
Hi guys, Downgraded baseband, jailbroken, unlocked Everything worked great!!!! It tool me quite a lot of reboot and airplane mode to get it to recognize the new sim but now it works like a charm Thank you guys
margarita
margarita - June 4, 2009 at 9:54pm
after everything, my iphone still is not picking up the new sim... it is att but pay as you go...
harshil
harshil - June 4, 2009 at 8:26pm
I bought iphone from at&t network,2.1 firmware…unlocked with turbosim in india…now I did jailbroking using quickpwn(windows user) firmware 2.2 basenand 2.30..now when I inserted my Indian sim card(airtel without 3g service)..it did not work….please help..my iphone is just PAPER WEIGHT now
Zlatan Kocovski
Zlatan Kocovski - May 23, 2009 at 5:39pm
Yo !!! You people rule!! I'm from Macedonia and i have an iPhone 3G, i used it with turbosim card but it was B A D!! so i said let me try this... and it really works!! thakns u saved me 30 euros !!
Ted
Ted - May 12, 2009 at 3:32pm
Thanks for the tutorial, worked like a charm i can finally get rid of my annoying turbosim!
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