While both the iPhone Dev Team and Chronic Dev Team are working on finding an untethered solution for iOS 5 jailbreak, the BigBoss has released an iOS 5 semi-tethered jailbreak. This word might be strange to you, that’s why we’re writing a deep walkthrough below.
What’s Semi-Tethered jailbreak
iOS 5 semi-tethered jailbreak is a kind of jailbreak which allows you to reboot your device without needing to a compute for “Just Tethered Boot” option in redsn0w. Yes, it’s similar to an untethered jailbreak but actually 99% of your jailbreak related apps and tweaks won’t work at all. The semi-tethered jailbreak is made as a protection for you if your device reboots while you’re on the road. It allows you to make the most of important functions but you won’t get back to fully functional state until using redsn0w again, when you get home.
For myself, my device sometimes stuck on Apple logo while I’m on the road because of the tethered jailbreak. That will help you a lot in case you’re facing like these problems.
What’s Tethered jailbreak
Tethered jailbreak means you’ll have to plug your iOS device into your compute everytime it’s rebooted and choose the just tethered boot option from redsn0w. In case you don’t have a computer near you (with redsn0w), your device will be stuck on Apple logo.
What’s Untethered jailbreak
That’s the jailbreak where you can reboot your device without having to worry about it not booting up again. Hackers are currently working to get untethered jailbreak on iOS 5.
Supported devices & firmares
You know, they’re still the same. No iPad 2 or iPhone 4S support. It supports iOS 5 on the following devices.
- iPhone 4
- iPhone 3GS
- iPhone 3GS New Bootrom
- iPad 1
- iPod Touch 4G
- iPod Touch 3G
What functions can be done and can’t be using Semi-Tethered jailbreak
Well, the BigBoss summed up almost everything important:
1) Can use phone, sms (text messages)
2) Can use every other stock app on iphone.
3) Cannot use mobile safari
4) Can use other appstore web browsers such as atomic web browser
5) Cannot use mail app. You could install a gmail app from appstore or such instead.
6) You cannot use any jailbreak tweak, app, cydia until you boot tethered.
7) While in the semitether booted state, you should not add a jailbreak ios5 notification such as sbsettings to notifications during this state or your device will be stuck in a respring loop until you get home to “boot tethered”.
How to get Semi-Tethered jailbreak
Below is full guide to get it:
STEP 1: You must have iOS 5 installed, and tethered jailbreak (guide posted here).
STEP 2: Once jailbroken, open Cydia then tap on Manage > Sources.
STEP 3: Now tap on Edit from the upper right of the screen then add and write down the following repository:
http://thebigboss.org/
semitether
STEP 4: Search for SemiTether, install it then reboot your device.
STEP 5: Once done, you’ll be able to reboot your device without being stuck on Apple logo.
We’ve tried the semi-tethered jailbreak for iOS 5 on iPhone 4 GSM and it’s working perfect. However, the SemiTether solution is in beta and you may face some problems.
Here’s the video guide:
Let us know any further questions.
UPDATE 1: SemiTether has been updated to fix some issues.
I updated to 0.7.9. This version will take about 90 seconds after it first boots up and then your device will respring again. This timing was the only way to get some of the launch daemons to properly relaunch.
SemiTether 0.7.9 should fix issues for some of you where:
1) Device does not sync with itunes and only errors. Hopefully solved.
2) Device reboots after 2-3 minutes.
UPDATE 2: SemiTether updated again to support Safari working in non-tethered status. More details here.
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