A how-to guide to jailbreaking iOS 4.3.1

Here is how to easily jailbreak iOS 4.3.1 running on an iPhone 4 by using redsn0w 0.9.6rc9 (download links below.) So far, the jailbreak does not work with the iPad 2 nor with Verizon's iPhone 4, but it is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, the latest two generations of the iPod touch, and the second generation of Apple TV. Bear in mind that there is always the slight chance of ending up with a bricked device should something unexpectedly goes wrong (power failure, cat chewing on the data cable, etc.), so perform it at your own risk and only if you know what you are doing. Be aware that an unlock for this version does not exist yet!

If you are sure that you want to proceed with the jailbreak, first make sure that your iPhone is running iOS version 4.3.1, and if it is not – hook it up to iTunes and get your handset updated. If you are not sure which one you have installed right now, you can check by simply looking it up on your iPhone. Go to Settings – General – About, and the iOS version will be listed right there.

Now that you have confirmed the software version, download redsn0w 0.9.6 rc9 and Apple's iOS 4.3.1 firmware from the links below. Sit back and relax while the downloads are running because they may take some time. Once both items are downloaded, place them in a new empty folder for convenience, and extract the redsn0w archive's contents.

At this time you should already have your iPhone connected to your computer, and if not – go ahead and hook it up. Run the redsn0w application, which is located inside the extracted redsn0w folder, and click Browse to select the 4.3.1 firmware that you downloaded. After the application verifies the ipsw file, hit Next and let redsn0w do its magic. Leave the Install Cydia checkbox marked and hit Next again.

Now is the time to turn off your iPhone in the usual fashion – hold down the power button until the red slider appears and slide it across to shut the device down. Hit Next one more time and simply follow the instructions that redsn0w gives you:

• hold the power button for 3 seconds
• without releasing the power button, hold the home button for 10 seconds
• release the power button, but keep on holding down the home button for another 15 seconds

Redsn0w will take care of the rest. You should notice some technical mumbo jumbo scrolling down the phone's screen, but that is all a part of the process. The iPhone will be rebooted, which completes the jailbreaking procedure. Congratulations! You have successfully jailbroken your iPhone!

Download redsn0w for Windows or Mac.
Download Apple's iOS 4.3.1 firmware from here.