Ever since iOS 9 released, there has been considerable interest among many users about how the OS could be jailbroken, for greater customization. Initially, there was a buzz that it was not possible to jailbreak iOS 9 – a myth that got busted soon enough. A couple of days back, images were posted online by a developer from Italy (Luca Todesco), of working with the Cydia application on iOS 9.2.1 beta 1. While it has been generally agreed upon that doing a jailbreak on iOS 9.2 is pretty tough (at least tougher than doing the same on iOS 9.1), both the Pangu and the TaiG tools can be used to easily perform basic iOS 9 jailbreak (iOS 9.0 – iOS 9.0.2). We have here provided a step-wise guideline for the same:
- Backup all your data – Jailbreaking your new iOS 9 device is all very fine (and it is certainly not illegal!), but you do not want to lose all your valuable phone data while doing it, right? At the very start, take a backup of all the stuff you need, either on iCloud or in iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest iOS 9.0.2 version installed on your handset (particularly important for those who have gone for OTA iOS 9 updates). Once the jailbreak is done, you can restore the data.
Note: In this discussion, we will only cover iOS 9 jailbreak with Pangu 9.
- Set up Windows Virtual Machine on your Mac system – You can easily set up Parallels Desktop 10 on your Mac OS X machine, which will help you get the Enterprise evaluation edition of Windows 8.1 running right on your desktop. Once Parallels Desktop 10 is downloaded (a free trial is available), click on File → New → Install Windows from DVD or Image file. To start the installation, select the .ISO file. Once the download is complete and Windows Virtual machine is activated on your Mac system, click on Action → Install Parallels Tools to initiate ‘Parallels Tools’.
Note: A few days after the release of the latest Pangu tool for Windows, the team came up with a dedicated version of the utility for Mac.
- Deactivate ‘Find My iPhone’ – For this, you have to browse to Settings → Cloud → Find My iPhone, and toggle it to off. Software and iPhone app development experts also advise disabling ‘Passcode’ (Settings → Touch ID & Passcode → Turn Passcode Off). Put the iDevice you are jailbreaking in ‘Airplane Mode’, and then, use a reliable USB cable to connect it to your desktop.
- Disable all antivirus programs – Firewalls and/or other antivirus applications can block the Pangu tool from accessing the internet on your device. Disable all such security software, and make sure that the latest version of iTunes is installed on your system. It has already been more than a month since the release of iTunes 12.3.2, and you should download it before initiating the jailbreaking process.
- Get Pangu 9 – Next up, you will have to get the new version of the Pangu jailbreaking tool. Those who make iOS apps and other software recommend getting the tool from the official pangu8.com website, instead of any other third-party sources. Windows users need to download version 1.2.0 of Pangu 9, while for Mac-users, the mac 1.0.0 version is required. The sizes of the two versions are 71 MB and 72 MB respectively. Specify the email where the registration code will be sent, click on ‘Enter Code’, and type the code you have received to proceed.
Note: Semi jailbreak on iOS 9 can also be done with Pangu 9 (which downloads the full version of the Cydia app on target iPhones). The semi jailbreak (SJB) option is handy for users who do not have access to Mac/Windows computers.
- Close Xcode – This one is for all the iOS app developers out there. After you have connected your device to your machine, close Xcode AND iTunes (after taking your data backup). Leaving the IDE open can lead to errors in the functioning of the Pangu tool, and consequently, failed jailbreak attempts. If required, restart your system once.
- Launch Pangu – Okay then, everything is now set to start the iOS 9 jailbreak process. Select the ‘Run As Administrator’ option after right-clicking on the Pangu.exe icon. It will take some time for the tool to detect your device. Once detected, a blue ‘Start’ button will appear. Click on it to proceed. Your iPhone will reboot on its own at this stage. Avoid using any other apps at this time.
Note: Do not disconnect your handset from your computer at any stage during the jailbreak. Mac-users will see a .dmg Pangu 9 file, while the right-click option is for Windows-users.
- Go through the prompts – After clicking on ‘Start’ to initiate the jailbreak, another pop-up window appears. Select the ‘Already Backup’ option on it, to continue with the jailbreaking. You will also be prompted to take a data backup and activate the ‘Airplane Mode’ (both of which you have done already). For users with many apps on their iDevices, doing a full backup and restore is advisable.
- Two apps and the progress bar – Apart from the Pangu icon, you will find another app – named WWDC – on the home screen of your device. A circular progress bar will also appear, showing how the iOS 9 jailbreak is proceeding. The progress is slightly slow to start with, but picks up speed later (provided that all other settings are properly modified). There is likely to be repeated prompts to turn on ‘Airplane Mode’ during the jailbreaking.
- Unlock the device – There have been some conflicting reports from iPhone app developers regarding whether the prompt to unlock device appears when the jailbreak progress reach 65% or 75% (majority of users who have utilized Pangu 9 for jailbreaking their iPhone have received the notification at 65%). After unlocking your handset, run the Pangu app directly from the home screen.
Note: Your device will reboot thrice during the entire jailbreaking process – at the start, at 55%, and when the jailbreak is complete.
11. Access and permissions – The Pangu 9 tool requires access to the Photos app of your iPhone (the reason for this is unclear). A popup will appear, on which you will have to tap ‘Accept’ and then ‘Allow’, to provide the necessary access permissions. The jailbreak should now complete without any further notifications/prompts.
12. Find Cydia on your phone – Once the jailbreaking is complete, an ‘Already Jailbroken’ message will flash on the app. Your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch will reboot once again – and when it restarts, the Cydia app (which allows users to download third-party software packages on their phones) should be present on your home screen. Deactivate the ‘Airplane Mode’ now, allow some time for Cydia to ‘prepare filesystem’…and that’s it, your device is now safely jailbroken.
If you wish to have an untethered jailbroken iPhone, do not upgrade your device to iOS 9.1/9.2 (jailbreaks on the upgraded versions are not reliable yet). Reports from online mobile app development forums suggest that certain applications might not run properly after jailbreak (such cases are uncommon though). The Pangu 9 tool can be used to jailbreak iPhone 6S/6S Plus, iPad 4, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air 2 and the 6th-generation iPod Touch. Follow the above steps carefully, and you should have a safely jailbroken iDevice in your hands…in a matter of minutes.
Disclaimer: This article on iOS 9 jailbreak is for informational purposes only. Please note that jailbreaking renders all warranties on your device void. In case of any accidental damage while jailbreaking, the author or the company cannot be held responsible.
Hussain Fakhruddin
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