December 4, 2025
Last Updated: November 25, 2025
For more than a decade, iClarified has published the most trusted jailbreak tutorials. From the era of JailbreakMe, redsn0w, and PwnageTool to modern tools like palera1n and Dopamine, we’ve helped millions take full control of their devices. This page outlines the current jailbreak status for iPhone and iPad in 2025, including iOS 26.
Today, the jailbreak landscape has changed. Apple has significantly hardened the iOS kernel and bootloader, making stable public jailbreaks much rarer. This page serves as both a current status report and a historical archive of the tools that defined the hacker culture of the iPhone.
Note: Jailbreaking is different from unlocking. If you are looking to remove carrier restrictions to use a different SIM card, please see our iPhone Unlock Guide. For firmware files, visit our Download Firmware page.
Currently, there is no public jailbreak available for iOS 18 or iOS 26 on modern iPhones (iPhone XS and newer), nor is there jailbreak support for iOS 17 on those devices.
If you have updated to the latest iOS version, you generally cannot jailbreak. This may change if new exploits are released. Downgrading is typically not possible because Apple stops signing older firmware.
Note that older A8 - A11 iPhones and iPads cannot update to iOS 26. However, they remain jailbreakable on their maximum supported firmware versions (e.g., iOS 16.7.12 for iPhone X, iPadOS 18.7.2 for iPad 7th Gen) using palera1n.
Use these tables to find the correct tool for your device.
| iPhone Device | Chip | Latest Jailbreakable Version |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 / 16 / 17 | A16+ | No public jailbreak (ships with iOS 17+) |
| iPhone 14 / 14 Pro | A15/A16 | iOS 16.5 (Dopamine) |
| iPhone 13 / 13 Pro | A15 | iOS 16.5 (Dopamine) |
| iPhone 12 / 12 Pro | A14 | iOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPhone 11 / 11 Pro | A13 | iOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPhone XS / XR | A12 | iOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPhone X / 8 / 8 Plus | A11 | iOS 16.7.10 (palera1n) iOS 16.6.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPhone 7 / 6s / SE (1st) | A9 - A10 | iOS 15.8.3 (Dopamine / palera1n) |
| iPad Device | Chip | Latest Jailbreakable Version |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Gen) / iPad Pro 11-inch (4th Gen) | M2 | iPadOS 16.5 (Dopamine) |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Gen) / iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd Gen) | M1 | iPadOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th Gen) / iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd Gen) | A12Z / A12X | iPadOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd Gen) / iPad Pro 11-inch (1st Gen) / iPad Air 3 | A12 | iPadOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPad 10 / iPad 9 / iPad 8 | A14 / A13 / A12 | iPadOS 16.5.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPad mini 6 | A15 | iPadOS 16.5 (Dopamine) |
| iPad 7th Gen / iPad 6th Gen | A10 | iPadOS 18.7.2 (palera1n) iPadOS 16.6.1 (Dopamine) |
| iPad Pro 10.5 / iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd Gen) | A10X | iPadOS 17.7.10 (palera1n) |
| iPad 5 / iPad Pro 9.7 / iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st Gen) | A9 / A9X | iPadOS 16.7.12 (palera1n) |
| iPad mini 4 / iPad Air 2 | A8 / A8X | iPadOS 15.8.5 (palera1n) iPadOS 15.8.5 (Dopamine) |
| Apple TV Device | Chip | Latest Jailbreakable Version |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV HD / Apple TV 4K (1st Gen) | A8 / A10X | tvOS 26.0.1 (palera1n) |
These jailbreak compatibility charts are updated for 2025 and cover iOS 14 through iOS 26 devices.
iOS Jailbreaking is the process of using a privilege escalation exploit to remove software restrictions imposed by Apple. Technically, this involves patching the kernel to allow root access to the file system.
Before you learn how to jailbreak an iPhone, it's important to understand what a jailbreak actually does and why Apple blocks it. Unlike Android "rooting," which is often supported by manufacturers via bootloader unlocking, iOS jailbreaking requires finding security vulnerabilities to bypass Apple's "walled garden." This allows users to:
Dopamine is a modern, rootless jailbreak. It is an app-based (semi-untethered) jailbreak, meaning if your phone reboots, you simply open the Dopamine app and tap "Jailbreak" to restore functionality.
palera1n utilizes the permanent checkm8 hardware exploit. It cannot be patched by software updates. However, it is semi-tethered, meaning you must connect your device to a computer every time you reboot to re-enable the jailbreak.
Modern "rootless" jailbreaks (like Dopamine and palera1n) are safer than older methods because they do not modify the root file system. This prevents you from accidentally "bricking" your device by deleting system files. However, jailbreaking always reduces security by bypassing the sandbox, making you more vulnerable to malware if you install pirated tweaks.
In the United States, jailbreaking has been deemed legal under the DMCA exemptions since 2010 for phones, and 2015 for tablets. However, while legal, it can still affect your warranty or support options. Laws vary by country, so always review local regulations and your carrier or device terms.
Jailbreaking the Apple TV allows you to install nitoTV, which opens the door to emulators (RetroArch), web browsers, and UI customization. For older devices and firmware versions not listed below, please see the archive section.
Browse our library of legacy tutorials. These methods are preserved for historical reference.
The era of the semi-untethered app jailbreak.
The era of the Chinese jailbreak teams and the first semi-untethers.
The golden age of "one-click" untethered jailbreaks.
The era of Limera1n, Geohot, and the Chronic Dev Team.
The wild west. BlackRa1n, Spirit, QuickPwn, ZiPhone.
Legacy tools for older Apple TV models and firmware versions.
Jailbreaks for the latest iOS/iPadOS releases are not guaranteed and may not exist at all. Historically, it can take months or longer for a stable jailbreak to appear, and sometimes none is released. You should always confirm that a jailbreak explicitly supports your exact device and firmware before attempting anything.
In the United States, jailbreaking has been deemed legal under the DMCA exemptions since 2010 for phones, and 2015 for tablets. However, while legal, it can still affect your warranty or support options. Laws vary by country, so always review local regulations and your carrier or device terms.
Untethered: The device remains jailbroken after a reboot without computer assistance.
Tethered: The device cannot boot without being connected to a computer.
Semi-Tethered: The device can boot into a non-jailbroken mode, but requires a computer to re-enable the jailbreak (e.g., checkra1n, palera1n).
Semi-Untethered: The device boots into non-jailbroken mode, but you can re-enable the jailbreak using an app on the device (e.g., unc0ver, Dopamine).
Apple does not support jailbroken devices and may decline service for devices that are modified outside the standard software environment. Restoring a device to stock iOS before seeking service may help in some cases, but this is not guaranteed.
Yes. In most cases, you can remove a jailbreak by restoring your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the latest version of iOS/iPadOS using a computer. This erases the device and removes jailbreak-related changes, returning it to a stock configuration.
Old jailbreak tutorials were written for specific tools, devices, and firmware versions that may no longer be supported. Using outdated methods on newer firmware can cause errors or require a full restore. Treat legacy tutorials as historical documents and always verify that any instructions you follow match your exact setup.
Jailbreaking played a huge role in shaping the iPhone ecosystem, driving innovation in customization, multitasking, notifications, widgets, and more. Many features that began as jailbreak tweaks eventually inspired official iOS capabilities.
Today, public jailbreaks are much less common, and most users rely on stock iOS and the App Store. This page is designed to help you understand the current state of jailbreaking, recognize the risks, and explore the rich history of tools and techniques that defined an era—all in one place.
If jailbreak tools or support for new versions of iOS/iPadOS emerge in the future, this page will be updated. Bookmark it for the latest information and historical reference.