How to Jailbreak Your iPhone for Free (iOS 11—iOS 14)

Every time a new iOS version is released, many fans eagerly await the release of the new jailbreak for that iOS version. Thankfully, unc0ver recently launched v6.x of its jailbreak software, which added support for up to iOS 14.3, as well as the 2020 iPhone lineup.

You won't find unc0ver on the App Store, so read on for the latest installation tutorial as we show you how to jailbreak your iPhone.

What Is Jailbreaking?

Jailbreaking is the process of cracking into your iPhone to bypass the usual iOS restrictions. This lets you install software on your phone from developers that can't publish to the App Store. The main reason people choose to jailbreak is for more customization options.

To jailbreak your iPhone, you have to go through the process of installing Cydia on your device. If you're wondering if jailbreaking is right for you, we've previously looked at whether or not you should jailbreak.

It is worth noting that jailbreaking your iPhone can leave it open to security vulnerabilities in apps, software, and iOS itself. In some cases, if you have a problem with your iPhone, Apple may not fix it if your device is jailbroken.

Also, once you have jailbroken, you cannot update your iPhone without needing to re-jailbreak. You won't be able to do this if there is no jailbreak for the new version of iOS.

Before You Start Jailbreaking

This jailbreaking tutorial requires a couple of elements. You're going to need the following:

• A computer
• Your iPhone
• An Apple ID Account
• A Lightning cable
• The unc0ver Download
• iTunes (if you're using Windows)
• No pending updates waiting on your iPhone
• A recent backup of your iPhone before jailbreaking, in case something goes wrong

It's worth noting that a Mac is the easiest platform for completing the jailbreak process. If you have access to a Mac, we recommend using that computer. Whichever platform you use, though, you'll need some additional programs for the jailbreak. We'll show you how to download these and what to do with them in the relevant tutorial.

Your iPhone can be running any version of iOS between 11.0 and 14.3 for this method. At some point, you'll need to download the latest version of unc0ver on your iPhone. The site has an FAQ section for any questions you might have.

Note that there are no official iPhone-only methods for jailbreaking at this time. Thus, you will need a computer for the jailbreak process. Be wary of any websites that offer an iPhone-only method of jailbreaking.

Nnow that you've got everything that you need to jailbreak your iPhone, let's get started.

How to Jailbreak Your iPhone Using a Mac

There are few different methods to install the jailbreak using macOS; we're going to show you the easiest way to do it. This doesn't require downloading the giant 9GB Xcode or having a paid Apple Developer account.

To start, download AltStore for Mac.

Once the file has downloaded, unzip the file from your Downloads folder.

Once unzipped, move the new AltStore app to your Applications folder. Go ahead and launch AltStore once you've done this.

Now that you've got AltStore open, click on its icon in the Menu Bar, which looks like a diamond with curved edges. Then click Install Mail Plug-in.

You'll then need to click Allow and enter your password. After this, open the Mail app and go to Mail > Preferences. Once there, open the General tab followed by Manage Plug-ins.

Once this window opens, tick the box next to AltPlugin, then click apply. You now need to restart Mail by closing and re-opening it.

Now, connect your iPhone using its cable. Once connected, click AltStore in the menu bar on your Mac, then go to Install AltStore and choose your iPhone. Log in with your Apple ID (or create a new one, if you wish) when prompted, then click Install.

Next, open Settings on your iPhone. Go to General > Device Management and tap on your Apple ID. Select the Trust AltStore option. After this, open the unc0ver site on your iPhone and tap the Download button. Choose the option to Open with AltStore, then AltStore will install the app.

Finally, open the unc0ver app and tap Jailbreak.

How to Jailbreak Your iPhone Using Windows

When using a Windows computer, there is an extra step in jailbreaking. You need to make sure you have iTunes on your device so that AltStore can work properly. It must be the standard desktop version of iTunes, not the Microsoft Store version.

Once again, we're showing you how to do the easier of the two methods, which doesn't require a paid Apple Developer account. To start, open iTunes on your PC; you can minimize it, but leave it open. Next, download AltStore for Windows.

Right-click the ZIP file that downloads and choose Extract All. In the extracted files, double-click Setup.exe to open it, then follow the on-screen instructions. Once that's done, connect your iPhone.

Next, on your computer press Win to open the search bar, type AltServer, and open the app. Click the diamond-shaped icon in your System Tray at the bottom-right corner; you may need to hit the arrow to show more icons. The icon will say AltServer when you hover over it.

From the options that appear, hover over Install AltStore and select your iPhone. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted. If desired, you can create a new Apple ID for this step.

Now, open Settings on your iPhone. Go to General > Device Management and tap on your Apple ID. Choose the Trust AltStore option.

Moving on, open the unc0ver site on your iPhone and tap the Download button. Choose the option to Open with AltStore; AltStore will now install the app. Finally, open the unc0ver app and tap Jailbreak.

How to Jailbreak Your iPhone Using Linux

Unfortunately, the only method for the iPhone jailbreak process on a Linux computer requires a paid Apple Developer account. These accounts cost $99 per year, so it's a pricey fee to pay for the jailbreak.

To start, download Cydia Impactor for Linux, choosing the right download for your operating system.

Once downloaded, extract the application file and open it. You now need to connect your iPhone to your computer. Download the latest version of unc0ver to your computer. This will install an IPA file; drag the file into the Cydia Impactor window. Enter your Apple ID and password associated with the paid account.

Next, open Settings on your iPhone. Go to General > Device Management and tap on your Apple ID. Click on the Trust Unc0ver option. Now, open the unc0ver app and tap Jailbreak.

What Happens Once You Jailbreak?

Once your iPhone is successfully jailbroken, your iPhone will respring. This is essentially a mini reboot of the springboard (home screen manager). You will see the Apple logo like a normal reboot at this point, followed by the Cydia application appearing on your Home screen.

Sometimes the jailbreak process may show you an error, or fail. If that happens, restart your phone, reopen the unc0ver app, and try to jailbreak it again. In case the app keeps failing to jailbreak your iPhone or seems stuck, you need to force-close the unc0ver app, restart your iPhone, turn on Airplane mode, and then try to jailbreak your iPhone again.

Your iPhone Is Now Jailbroken!

You've successfully walked through to jailbreak your iPhone. Now it's time to install some tweaks. Tweaks are mini apps that you can't usually install on your iPhone. You use Cydia to install these tweaks to your device. Through Cydia, it's possible to add repositories that store the tweaks, which you can then download them on your iPhone.

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