Download Custom Firmware to Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3GS 3.1 [Mac/Windows]

iPhone3GS_iLikeMyiPhone

[img source : Apple.com]

iPhone 3GS users can now safely update to 3.1 firmware without updating the baseband (for unlock). If you are not the one to download all the various files and just want the ultimate result, these files are waiting for you to download! If you rather want to start from scratch, download Pwnage 3.1.3 tool for Mac.

  • Caution #1 : Please proceed further ONLY if you have an iPhone 3GS. iPhone 2G or 3G owners should follow this guide instead.
  • Caution #2 : A restore is going to wipe the iPhone clean. Hence, please backup your iPhone using iTunes and then proceed.
  • Caution #3 : Don’t install Winterboard just yet. There are some issues that need to be ironed out for 3.1 3GS iPhone.

More info about these custom firmware files :

  • Has factory boot logos (Apple and restore cable),
  • Only Cydia, No Icy,
  • 695 MB Root Partition.
Step 1a) Proceed to Step 1 only if you meet the following conditions
  • The following firmware works only with iPhone 3GS 3.0 or 3.0.1.
  • Make sure your iPhone 3GS is Pwned at 3.0 or 3.0.1 (Jailbroken – should have Cydia on it before following the rest of the guide). If not follow these guides first (very important)
  • iPhone 3GS 3.0
  • iPhone 3GS 3.0.1
  • iPhone 3GS 3.1 Out of the Box cannot be unlocked at the moment.

Step 1) Download Files for iPhone 3GS (Please read the following carefully)

OR


Step 2) Join the downloaded files

  • The files downloaded above have an extension .001 and .002. They need a special opensource (free) software HJSplit to join.
  • Download HJSplit to join both the files – Link for Windows Computers here and Macs here.

Step 3) Restore the firmware in iTunes 9.1

  • You should now have the respective firmware file with an extension .ipsw . Please follow the steps in order.
  • Launch iTunes and connect the iPhone to your Mac / Windows computer.
  • If you are aware of DFU mode, proceed further. If not, watch this quick video and pay close attention to the steps to achieve DFU mode.
  • Turn your iPhone off. Press and hold the Home button and the Power button at the same time for 10 seconds.
  • After exactly 10 seconds release the Power button. Continue holding the Home button until iTunes pops up a message saying that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.
  • The iPhone will show you a blank screen (black).
  • Click on ‘Ok’ to the prompt displayed
  • For a Mac : Hold Option key and then hit Restore button.
  • For Windows : Hold the shift key and then hit the restore button.
  • In the dialog box that pops up, browse the downloaded custom firmware file.

Step 4) Give it few minutes to perform the restore. Once the iPhone is up and running, proceed for software Unlock using Cydia. Follow this guide to install Ultrasn0w to software unlock your iPhone 3GS. iPhone 2G is already unlocked with this custom firmware!

You are now good to go! Post a comment if you are stuck at any of the steps described above.

[Pwnage Tool is developed by the Dev Team. This is just a custom firmware file created using that tool]

77 Comments

  • Ong Zhi Yu
    Posted October 8, 2009 12:47 pm 0Likes

    Hi if I used a GSM sim card in Singapore. Should I download the activate or unactivate custom 3.1 firmware. Thanks!

  • DON
    Posted October 13, 2009 4:16 pm 0Likes

    please please post a custom firmware for
    iphone 3gs 3.1.2 not activated i.e. i dont have a at&t sim
    please somebody do it

  • Rakesh
    Posted October 15, 2009 11:10 pm 0Likes

    Hi, Thanks for your post, was very helpful and worked like a charm. i had 3.0 and 3.1 on my phone jailbroken so i was confident this would work. and it did, ur a kl man!.

  • Kiran
    Posted October 15, 2009 6:13 pm 0Likes

    You are welcome buddy!Sent from my iPhone

  • M_useless
    Posted October 17, 2009 6:27 pm 0Likes

    I did not jailbreak my iphone 3gs 3.0.1 (baseband 04.26.*) before using the custom firmware given here (was following steps given on another site). Now I get a 1600 error in DFU mode and 1604 error in recovery mode.
    Am I out of luck at this point?
    I cannot go back to 3.0.1 because apple has stopped signing that version and cannot update to apple 3.1.2 because I won't be able to unlock after that.
    Is there anything at all I can do now?

    Thanks,
    M

    • iLikeMyiPhone
      Posted October 17, 2009 7:37 pm 0Likes

      Yep, all you have to do is try blackra1n and then 3.1.2 custom firmware (put iPhone in restore mode)…

  • m_useless
    Posted October 18, 2009 7:50 am 0Likes

    But doesn’t blackra1n update to 3.1.2 without retaining the old baseband? I need to eventually unlock my phone so, cannot update the baseband. Also, at this point in time, my phone only comes up in recovery or DFU modes. Can blackra1n be used in this state?
    Thanks for your help.
    -M

  • bankim
    Posted October 21, 2009 5:41 pm 0Likes

    When you say "Download the following files ONLY"
    if you have an Official iPhone contract with your cell carrier (ATT and others….) Or

    if you don’t have an iPhone contract (T-Mobile and others…)

    What way shuould I go ? I had AT&T contract, but it is no more. So my iphone can work only with AT&T services (currently not under usage)
    If I want to use it with Tmobile , HOw should I go from above 2 options ??

    Pls suggest

  • iLikeMyiPhone
    Posted October 21, 2009 6:18 pm 0Likes

    If you are planning on using T-Mobile with your iPhone – Download the Activated firmware (T-Mobile and others)…

  • Amir
    Posted October 27, 2009 10:35 pm 0Likes

    YOU SAVED MY ASS !!

  • purushoth
    Posted October 31, 2009 7:38 am 0Likes

    hi i have iphone 3gs with 3.(O2)1, i try to unlock it, but it give 1600 error ,after that i follow that through recovery mode it give 1604error, my display only show emergency call!!! please help me to unlock my iphone to use….!

    • iLikeMyiPhone
      Posted October 31, 2009 4:07 pm 0Likes

      What firmware is on your iPhone right now? You must jailbreak your iPhone before proceeding with 3.1.2 custom firmware… Try blackra1n first at 3.0.x..

      • purushoth
        Posted October 31, 2009 6:03 pm 0Likes

        thank you, iPhone3.1, i'm new for this could you please direct me to get work my iphone please,

        • purushoth
          Posted October 31, 2009 6:15 pm 0Likes

          achualy i'm for sri lanka, i got the iphone from u.k with O2, now i have to unlock and use it please help me, in my iphone display its showing emergency call!! i try to restore the os it give error 1600(dfu mode) and 1604(recovery mode). i tried with Not Activated Custom Firmware. please direct me to don it.!!

          • iLikeMyiPhone
            Posted October 31, 2009 8:03 pm 0Likes

            Please follow the error 1600 steps post on this site. Downgrade to 3.0.1 and jailbreak it using resn0w for Windows and then custom firmware it to 3.1.2…

  • Nick
    Posted February 4, 2010 3:23 pm 0Likes

    hi, im in australia and have 3gs 3.0 whitch was bought from optus and i am using optus sim. im running win xp and itunes 9.0.2.25.
    i used blackra1n to jailbreak 3.0, but it didnt work, and now im stuck in recovery mode.
    i tried to restore using 3.0, 3.0.1, 3.1.2 ipsw files in both dfu and recovory modes, and itunes says that, "this iphone could not be restored, this device isnt eligable for the requested build". I havent tried 3.1 ipsw though. What should i do to fix this problem? could someone plz give me a hand with a step by step process. plz thankyou.

    • Kiran
      Posted February 4, 2010 3:33 pm 0Likes

      Hi Nick,

      Unfortunately, the process for 3GS is way complicated when it is stuck in Recovery mode and the solution is not guaranteed. Did you ever run Cydia on your 3GS iPhone? Did you ever jailbreak your 3GS? If yes, then we can try few more steps.

      blackra1n is not the most elegant jailbreak solution for 3.0 firmware unfortunately. Why don't you try running blackra1n again – give it some time to do its thing and hopefully it will work.

      Apple won't let you get to 3.1 or 3.1.2 since 3.1.3 was just released and only 3.1.3 can be applied to your 3GS if all else fails.

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