How to tethered jailbreak iOS 6 and install Cydia

By Allyson Kazmucha
last updated

If you've already updated to iOS 6 but find yourself missing your jailbreak, the Dev Team's redsn0w developer tool that's already been released will allow you to get your jailbreak on right now.

Before we continue, please note this jailbreak is tethered and you'll also have to manually install Cydia. If you just can't wait for an untethered or more stable version, proceed on. If you can, we recommend waiting though.

Supported devices

If your device isn't supported, please don't attempt to jailbreak just yet. It won't work and you could potentially brick your device or even lose data. Currently the only devices supported are A4 devices, namely the iPhone 4 and 4th generation iPod touch. If you're picking up an iPhone 5 or have an iPhone 4S, 3G, or 3GS - you'll have to hold off for a while.

What you need

You'll need to download redsn0w 0.9.13 dev 4 and the iOS firmware files in order to jailbreak iOS 6. Keep in mind it is a tethered jailbreak for now which means you'll have to plug into the computer and use redsn0w to tethered boot if your phone dies or you turn it off.

  • redsn0w downloads page
  • iOS 6 - GSM iPhone 4{.nofollow} - (AT&T, Rogers, etc)
  • iOS 6 - CDMA iPhone 4{.nofollow} - (Verizon, Sprint, etc)
  • iOS 6 - 4th gen iPod touch{.nofollow}

How to jailbreak iOS 6

  1. Launch redsn0w on your computer.
  2. Select Extras from the main menu.

redsn0w main menu

  1. Now choose Select IPSW and navigate to the iOS 6 firmware file for your device.

redsn0w select ipsw

  1. redsn0w should confirm that the build was successfully identified. Once it does this, move on to the next step.

redsn0w build identified

  1. Click the Back button to return to the main menu of redsn0w and select Jailbreak.

redsn0w main menu

  1. Make sure the Install SSH button is checked and continue on.

ssh install redsn0w

  1. Let redsn0w do its thing.

Perform a tethered boot

Once redsn0w has finished jailbreaking your device you'll need to perform a tethered boot.

  1. Place your device into DFU mode.
  2. From the main menu of redsn0w select Extras again and then click Just boot option.
  3. Your device should now boot up.

Install Cydia

Now that you've got your phone booted we need to install Cydia since this version of redsn0w doesn't include it.

  1. Find the Wi-Fi address of your device from your Settings and make note of it.
  2. Now open the Terminal app on your Mac with your device connected and type in ssh root@[youripaddress]
  3. It'll prompt you for a password after connecting. The default password is alpine unless you've changed your SSH password.
  4. Now type in the following - wget -q -O /tmp/cyinstall.sh http://downloads.kr1sis.net/cyinstall.sh && chmod 755 /tmp/cyinstall.sh && /tmp/cyinstall.sh and wait.
  5. You'll notice Terminal running some scripts. Be patient and eventually your device will reboot. After it does, you should see Cydia installed.

Credit for Cydia script goes to kri1sis.net

If you run into issues or have questions, be sure to check out our jailbreak and unlock forums!

Allyson Kazmucha
Allyson Kazmucha

iMore senior editor from 2011 to 2015.

35 Comments
  • Thanks for the update! Can't wait for the Untethered version and support for other iOS devices ..
  • I read untethered, and nearly leaped out of my seat. Then I reread tethered and cried. :/
  • So, no version of the iPad is supported?
  • 3GS is supported! tried myself ytd
    however its currently tethered even u have an old-bootrom 3GS
  • Will this process delete all of my data?
  • It shouldn't. Both my iPod Touch 3 and iPad 2 (both iOS5) are jailbroke and I did not lose my data.
  • Everything works and goes as it should, when after it is done it just starts up in iOS 6 with no Jailbreak. I have iPod touch 4th gen. 6.0GM. I have the IPSW and it works perfectly but like i said after the pineapple logo it says reboot (below the logo) restarts and then comes up in the lock screen and has no jail break.
  • I heard that you could jailbreak your iphone but if you only have SHSH blobs saved. I have an iphone 4 and ios 6, and trying to go back to ios 5, but no luck yet, many websites that says you can do it but most of them are scams.
  • Trying to jailbreak again, but it keeps stalling at exploiting at limera1n, anyone know how i can fix this?
  • I think i fixed it, was using USB 3 instead of 2, and it works fine now. Weird
  • easy way of jailbreak is available here. just go this site and enjoy with your iphone.
    http://www.unlockiphonepro.com/
  • That's for v5.01, this thread is about iOS 6.
  • jailbreak isn't the problem, the point is how to install cydia after the jailbreak done!! they still keep giving instruction for Mac user... nothing about how to do it with windows7 :(
  • the method of unlocking iphone is available at this blog. just go and get knowledge. http://unlock-iphone-pro.blogspot.com/2012/10/unlock-and-jailbreak-iphon...
  • Bad grammar, worse translation, and no info on the topic on hand in this thread. WTF is "Prison splitting" anyway? :)
  • i suppose that now a days grammer is not important. sharing info is enough.
  • Grammar is always important.
  • ok. its your thinking....
  • Didn't work for me. It gave me a message: michael-maines-macbook:~ michaelmaine$ ssh root@192.168.2.5
    ssh: connect to host 192.168.2.5 port 22: Connection refused
    michael-maines-macbook:~ michaelmaine$ Can anyone know how I can get around Connection refused? What am I doing wrong?
    Please send to mmaine@live.com
  • if you are installing Cydia using Windows after you've jailbroken it with Redsn0w, you will need a program called WinSCP (google it!). Open WinSCP, click "New" and type root@(your ip address) in Host name, use Port 22, username: root, password: alpine, then connect! Once you are connected click "Files" go down to "Custom Commands", "Enter", there you will type wget -q -O /tmp/cyinstall.sh http://downloads.kr1sis.net/cyinstall.sh && chmod 755 /tmp/cyinstall.sh && /tmp/cyinstall.sh now click ok and there you have it!!
  • the message say connection refused. what wrong with it?
    please tell me
  • The problem is you havent tether booted using redsnow. Any time you reboot your device, you have to tether boot your device. There are plenty of tutorials on how to boot tethered so I wont get into that. Go search it for yourself. Once you boot tethered, you will be able to SSH into your device either through putty or WinSCP
  • wow that's work! finally someone who cares about windows users ;) thank you tony.. I LOVE YOU!! :p
  • Is it possible to send screen shots of the winSCP? I can't get it to work for the life of me.
  • Stuck on the "waiting for reboot" stage...please help!
  • what the hell? which "terminal" are you talking about? I'm not on Mac, I use windows7!!!! where I suppose to write "ssh root@myipaddress????????????
  • it says "Connection closed by remote host" help?
  • cant wait to jailbreak the iphone 5, i want a hotspot!
  • i need help am using redsn0w 0.9.15b3 n right now am stuck at the reboot missing keys,plist data for this build how do i fix it iphone 4 ISO 6
  • EVERY FUCKING TIME I DO THIS, IT GETS STUCK ON REBOOTING!!! ALL I WANT IS CYDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • can this only be done using a mac?
  • it's a guide for mac user, so yes it can be...
  • where do I find the ios 6 firmware file? and why would I even want to find the files for ios 6?
  • which version iOS do you use on your iPhone ?
    http://appldnld.apple.com/iOS6/Restore/041-7175.20120919.wvv7Y/iPhone3,1...
  • Brand new to the jailbreaking thing, but the jailbreak itself went very smoothly. I am not seeing some of the changes that the Cydia apps say they do, like a colored keyboard and different desktop look.
    Also hard to tell which apps work on iPad. Thanks for any help. Chip