It was only yesterday when Apple seeded iOS 5 beta 4 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as well as iTunes 10.5 beta 4 for Windows and Mac. Considering the fact that iOS 5 beta 4 is an OTA update, we immediately got our hands on iOS 5 beta 4 and tried jailbreaking it with the previously released redsn0w. It didn't work so we knew for sure that a redsn0w update to jailbreak iOS 5 beta 4 will be released soon. An so it has.
When iOS 5 was previewed at WWDC 2011 and the first iOS 5 beta released soon after that, it was told to us that jailbreaking beta iOS 5 firmware on those devices which are susceptible to the Limera1n bootrom exploit was possible. Initially, redsn0w 0.9.8b1 for Mac was released so that developers and non-developers alike could jailbreak iOS 5 beta 1.
A long time has passed since then, and now we have our hands on iOS 5 beta 4. Needless to say, the iPhone Dev Team have released an update to redsn0w for both Windows and Mac. You can now download redsn0w 0.9.8b4 in order to jailbreak iPhone, iPad 1 and iPod touch running iOS 5 beta 4.
In conjunction with iOS5 beta4 being released to iOS developers, redsn0w 0.9.8b4 is now available for jailbreak app developers (point the b4 redsn0w at the b4 IPSW). Remember, it’s a tethered jailbreak right now so you’ll need to use redsn0w to boot into a jailbroken state at each power cycle.
NOTE: It appears that by design, the OTA update that became available starting with iOS 5 beta4 will *not* be automatically applied to jailbroken devices. That’s a relief to those who don’t want to lose their jailbreak via OTA pushes. If you’re jailbroken, you’ll need to use the standard iTunes method to get to iOS 5 beta4.
One thing you should keep in mind here is that henceforth, all iOS 5 beta updates are going to be OTA. So if you jailbreak iOS 5 beta 4, you wan't receive iOS 5 beta 5 OTA update. You can either be happy or sad about it, depending upon whether you want to receive OTA updates regardless of the jailbreak or whether you're happy for the fact that you won't lose the jailbreak when Apple releases new iOS firmware, whether beta or whether after iOS 5 publicly releases.
Jailbreak iOS 5 beta 4 iPhone, iPad, iPod touch using redsn0w 0.9.8b4
Step 1: Download iOS 5 beta 4 IPSW for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Step 2: Download iTunes 10.5 beta 4 for both Windows and Mac.
Step 3: Install iOS 5 beta 4 on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Guide posted here.
Step 4: Download redsn0w 0.9.8b4 for Windows and Mac
Step 5: Extract the redsn0w folder and run redsn0w 0.9.8b4. Then select iOS 5 beta 4 ipsw. Click on Next.
Step 5: Check Install Cydia. After that, ensure that the device is both powered OFF and plugged in to the computer.
Step 6: Enter DFU mode:
- Press and hold Power button for three seconds
- Press and hold both Power and Home button for 10 seconds
- Release Power button but keep holding the Home button until redsn0w injects the Limera1n bootrom exploit.
Following automated steps, redsn0w 0.9.8b4 will now jailbreak iOS 5 beta 4 on your device. Once that is done, its time to boot tethered.
How To Boot Tethered iPhone, iPad, iPod touch After iOS 5 beta 4 jailbreak
Step 1: Run redsn0w and select the same iOS 5 beta 4 ipsw.
Step 2: Make sure that you uncheck Install Cydia and check just boot tethered now. Click on next.
Step 3: Follow the step mentioned above to enter the device in DFU mode.
Leave it up to redsn0w now to automatically boot your device tethered. Process can take up to two minutes.
Don't hesitate to ask us for help if you face any difficulties at any step. Just leave a comment below and our team will immediately help you out.