How to apply a carrier unlock on a jailbroken iPhone 4 without restoring?
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Tommasino • June 3, 2013 at 4:41am
I have a jailbroken iPhone 4 running iOS 6.1 on baseband 04.12.05. I have purchased an official unlock from my carrier, but I am told that I need to restore the device or erase all content and settings to apply it. Since I cannot use the erase option on a jailbroken device without causing issues, is there a way to apply this unlock without losing my jailbreak?
Answers
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iClarified • January 13, 2026 at 7:08am
To apply a carrier unlock on a jailbroken iPhone 4 without restoring or using the Erase All Content and Settings option, you can usually trigger the activation process manually. First, insert a SIM card from a supported carrier other than your original one. Connect the iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes. In many cases, iTunes will communicate with Apple's servers and apply the unlock automatically, displaying a message that your iPhone is now unlocked. If the unlock does not trigger, you may need to use a tool like Redsn0w to deactivate the device. This forces the iPhone into an unactivated state so that when you reconnect it to iTunes, it is forced to request a new activation record, which will include the carrier unlock. Do not use the erase option in settings, as this will cause your jailbroken device to hang on the Apple logo.