Prepare Your iPhone\iPodTouch\iPad for Future Jailbreak

Rumors have it that Apple is going to announce iPhone 4.0 during the event that's taking place tomorrow.

With the new OS and the new phone near approaching, it's time to ensure that you have your ECID\SHSH files secured for jailbreak. Apple has developed a pattern of pushing the new firmware, and stop signing the signatures for older firmware to prevent users from restoring to older firmware.

Once the new firmware update is applied without saving the SHSH on file, user lose the ability to jailbreak or downgrade the device to the older firmware. BUT, if the SHSH is preserved, a downgrade and jailbreak option is always available.

There are two ways of saving the SHSH files, please refer to the steps below and see which one applies to you.

Note: This guide is important for iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 3G and iPod Touch 2G (MC) owners. iPhone 3G and 2G users do not need to worry about this. We highly recommend not to upgrade your device to the latest firmware until an appropriate jailbreak tool is released.

If you device is already Jailbroken:

Launch Cydia. Check if there’s any mention of “this device has SHSHs on file for iPhone OS: 3.0, 3.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3” at the top of the Cydia home screen. If there is, then you don’t have anything to do. You may not have saved all SHSH on file but it’s Ok to have the latest one. Current firmware version is 3.1.3, so make sure you have that one mentioned there. Checkout the screenshot:

 

If there’s nothing mentioned at the top of the Cydia home screen, Scroll down the Cydia Home Page and look for “make my life easier” and tap on it. This will automatically save your ECID SHSH on Saurik’s server. To confirm, simply close and re-open the Cydia and see if there’s a mention at the top now.

 

That’s it, you don’t need to do this for each new firmwares, Cydia will automatically save ECID SHSH of future firmware for you.

If youre device is not Jailbroken: (This also works for the jailbroken devices, but the step above is easier)

Please refer to our guide here to jailbreak your device.

Follow the steps below to grab ECID\SHSH file:

NOTE: You can save ECID SHSH on file only for that firmware version that Apple still signs, currently it’s 3.1.3. It is very important to keep doing this for every firmware version that comes out after there. But, if you jailbreak your device at any point in future, simply follow the jailbroken device steps mentioned above and leave the rest to Saurik.

How to Get ECID [Windows]

Option 1

1. Put your device into Recovery Mode:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Open iTunes and connect the iPhone via USB.
   • Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. (you device will turn OFF and then ON)
   • Continue holding the both buttons until your iTunes pops up a message telling you that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.
2. Download ECID Grabber from here.
3. Run the ECID Grabber and hit Get ECID button. Then copy and save your ECID from ECID Grabber.

To get out of recovery mode, simply turn your device off and then turn back ON.

Option 2

1. Put your device into Recovery Mode
   
   
   
   
   
   • Open iTunes and connect the iPhone via USB.
   • Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. (you device will turn OFF and then ON)
   • Continue holding the both buttons until your iTunes pops up a message telling you that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.
2. Download USBView from here.
3. Go to Options Menu and check mark “config descriptors” (enable it)
4. Hit F5 key on your keyboard to refresh.
5. Scroll down till you see Apple Recovery (iBoot) USB drive in the left pane, and then click on it.
6. Note down your 16 number ECID code from the right pane.

To get out of recovery mode, simply turn your device off and then turn back ON.

How to Get ECID [Mac]

1. Put your device into Recovery Mode
   
   
   
   
   
   • Open iTunes and connect the iPhone via USB.
   • Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. (you device will turn OFF and then ON)
   • Continue holding the both buttons until your iTunes pops up a message telling you that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.
2. Now go to Applications -> Utilities -> System Profiler
3. From the System Profiler window, go to USB from the left navigation pane and in the right pane click on Apple Mobile Device (Recovery Mode).
4. From the Lower-right pane, copy the 16 numbers ECID code for your device.

To get out of recovery mode, simply turn your device off and then turn back ON.

How to save SHSH File

1. Download the firmware Umbrella from here, and Java Runtime Environment from here (It’s required for umbrella to run on Windows)
2. Run the downloaded firmware umbrella (both Windows and Mac version available in download)
3. Enter your ECID
4. Select your device version - iPhone 3GS – 3.1.3 or whatever
5. Select SHSH Repository:
   
   
   
   
   
   • If your iPhone is NOT jailbroken, Choose the Apple from the drop down menu
   • For already jailbroken iPhone Choose Saurik – Cydia from the drop down menu
6. Hit the Submit button.

While downloading the SHSH’s it will freeze for a minute or two and would seem like it’s not responding, don’t panic, it’s normal and soon enough the SHSH saved! message will appear at the status bar of the Umbrella Window. Your iPhone SHSH will be downloaded and saved in the same folder as Umbrella is. The file size should be around 64kb.

That's it, you are done!

If you run into any issues, or need help, feel free to leave us your comments below.