Step 1
Check your firmware version on your device by going to Settings>General>About>Version, if it is 4.3.3, skip to Step 3. If it is 4.3.4, google for Redsn0w and skip this tutorial all together.
Step 2
If your firmware is 4.3.2 or earlier, upgrade your device to 4.3.3 using this method :-
First. download the 4.3.3 firmware from the links below according to your device -
iPad 1 or 2 – http://appldnld.apple.com/iPhone4/041-1010.20110503.ScEp3/iPad1,1_4.3.3_8J3_Restore.ipsw
iPhone 4 – http://appldnld.apple.com/iPhone4/041-1011.20110503.q7fGc/iPhone3,1_4.3.3_8J2_Restore.ipsw
iPhone 3GS – http://appldnld.apple.com/iPhone4/041-1009.20110503.M73Yr/iPhone2,1_4.3.3_8J2_Restore.ipsw
It takes a while as the file is quite huge.
Second, open up your itunes and connect your device to your PC/Mac and then select your device on iTunes.
IMPORTANT : Ignore any prompt to update your firmware to 4.3.4
While waiting for your firmware download to complete, do a backup of your device on your iTunes. When both tasks are done, proceed next.
Press the shift key on your PC and click on the Update button. It will prompt you for the firmware file, look for the file you have just downloaded and click “Open”.
Follow the steps to update your firmware according to the instructions.
Once you have completed your update to 4.3.3, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3
Using Safari browser on your device, visit the following website :-
www.jailbreakme.com
On iphone, the site looks like this :-
On iPad, it looks like this below :-
Select the free then install button; like installing any app from the appstore. Wait for it to complete then go back to your home screen.
Step 4
Look for the Cydia icon on your homescreen.
If you see it, you have jailbroken your device successfully. Run Cydia for the first time as it needs to load all the packages for the first time before you can use Cydia as a springboard to greater things on your Apple device.
If you cant find the Cydia icon, reboot your device and then try Step 3 again. It may take a few tries before you can successfully jailbreak your device. This may happen if your internet connection is wobbly or the server at jailbreakme.com is experiencing high traffic.
Step 5
From Cydia, the first thing you need to install is PDF Patcher 2. This will protect your device from the very exploit that made this jailbreak possible. It is important because it closes up the backdoor for other malicious attacks.
Refer to my earlier posts on Cydia to find out what apps you should be installing from Cydia to get the max out of your jailbreak, eg. Adding sources, installing packages like Installous, Appsync, Winterboard, SBSettings, etc.
Welcome to the dark side.
