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How to install iOS4 NOW.

By Alex Wilhelm Follow Alex Wilhelm on twitter on June 8th, 2010

Update: iOS4 has launched, and you don’t need to hack anymore to get it! Head here to get the details to get started. Have fun everyone!

Want to get a crack at that iOS4 goodness that Steve Jobs graced us with just yesterday, but don’t have the developer account that you need? We have good news, you can get your hands dirty now thanks to the powers of the internet.

The only problem is this, you need a Mac to pull off what we are about to describe. If you do have a OS X machine, read on. Why the Mac component? iTunes 9.2 is required, and as it stands that iTunes build is Mac only. Sorry Windows users, step aside.

You do not need your UDID to execute the installation, which means that Apple should not (no promises) be able to nail you against the wall for doing what we are about to walk you through.

Guide:

1. To commence, download and install iTunes 9.2 (Mac only, download links here, here, or here).

2. Now you need to download the right gold master for your device and save it on your desktop:

  • If you have an iPhone 3GS, download this.
  • If you have an iPhone 3G, this one is for you.
  • iPod Touch 3G, get yours here.
  • And finally if you have the iPod Touch 2G, download this.

3. Now let’s actually install iOS4:

  • Plug in your iOS device, and then tab over to iTunes.
  • In iTunes, alt+click on the ‘restore’ button, and then when promoted to locate the file select the IPSW file we just moved to your desktop.
  • Wait for between 10 and 15 minutes for the new OS to be moved over.

All Done. How cool is that?

A few warnings, this is a hack, so if something goes wrong do not come crying to us about it. If Apple gets mad at you, we warned you. Finally, have fun. The real version of iOS4 is scheduled to drop for the public on June 21st, but who wants to wait that long?

A special thanks to GumballTech for doing all the legwork.

For more Apple related breaking news & chat join TNW Apple on Facebook and Twitter, or grab our RSS feed here.

About the Author

Alex Wilhelm

Alex Wilhelm is a Chicago-based technology blogger and entrepreneur. He has worked for a number of technology companies in recent years, and has a particular interest in watching the social web monetize. Follow Alex on Twitter, or on Facebook. You can reach Alex via email at alex@thenextweb.com

Discussion - 236 Comments/Pingbacks RSS feed for comments on this post

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  1. Rakesh Solanki says June 15, 2010
    Reply

    Still now i didn’t use MAC but in future i am planning to do? That’s time i will try this trick.

  2. kinhkolk says June 15, 2010
    Reply

    Do you have to have Wifi off during the installation of either iTunes 9.2 or IOS 4?

  3. Francisco Goméz says June 15, 2010
    Reply

    This Will upgrade my Baseband?

  4. justabrake says June 15, 2010
    Reply

    I just downgraded back to 3.1.3 had issues with the phone not registering my missed and recent calls , so I downgraded got back my cydia and the chains are off me again LOL

  5. mariano says June 16, 2010
    Reply

    this is just the jailbreak…but not the unlock….so you wont be able to make calls with any carrier.

  6. u no says June 16, 2010
    Reply

    can do on pc now
    just download 9.2 :)

  7. Aaron Lusk says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    Works good on windows now that iTunes 9.2 is out.

  8. Adam says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    If this is a “restore” will you have to re-download your apps, ringtones, etc..?

  9. Eric says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    I get an error message saying it needs to contact the server after extracting….. And can’t.

  10. forced528 says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    I get the same error…

  11. adam8872 says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    i did it on windows with 9.2, it restored fine except my wifi wont work!!! it finds the network and connects to it but i cant get an internet connection!!! could it be the mac filtering on my router and the update changed the mac address? any other ideas? (ive already rebooted it renewed lease and turned wifi off and on… it has a definite network connection though because i can connect to itunes using the remote app)

    • Your Name says June 17, 2010
      Reply

      try this: turn off ur wifi and then reboot it with the wifi off then turn it on and put wifi on it should works

  12. adam8872 says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    also ibooks store isnt there is that supposed to happen???

  13. matt jones says June 17, 2010
    Reply

    Worked for me with Ipod Touch and Windows, had to re-sync and install everything but ios4 working well. They need some multitasking Apps though.

  14. mykal says June 18, 2010
    Reply

    worked w/vista+itunes 9.2…this is a restore…wipes-out everything!!!

  15. Bryce says June 18, 2010
    Reply

    Freak! I did it and t’s awesome. iPod touch 2g. I restores and innate my settings. But no apps or any content! please help! Thanks.

  16. Bryce says June 18, 2010
    Reply

    Restored and i have my settings. No apps or music Or videos. Or photos. ** sry.

  17. juan says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    would i have any problems once the final upgrade becomes available

  18. Dutchster says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    iOS4 should become available at some point today, but you’ll probably have to downgrade to 3.1.3 first as it will not recognize your iphone as having a previous version (it still says 4.0)

    Also I downloaded 9.2 from here first, but replaced it with the official release version. Maybe it will tell you there’s an update available for your iPhone, even if you have the golden master beta.

  19. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    Do u need the official version to get iBooks or has apple just not put it on the app store yet because I can only find the iPad only version… Also if you have this version and try to update it it says this version (4.0) is the current version so yes you would have to downgrade first meaning u probably will lose all your folders and stuff :(

  20. Dutchster says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    iBooks isn’t out for iPhone yet. You will lose your maps when you downgrade but be sure to put one map per space so you don’t have to reorganise when you update again.

  21. juan says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    how do you downgrade to 3.1.3

  22. Dutchster says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    Make sure you back up your phone by right-clicking the name in the left menu bar under devices BEFORE you restore it with a downloaded IPSW.

    you download the IPSW for iOS 3.1.3 and in iTunes you either alt+click (mac) or ctrl+click (windows) to restore from a file on your computer, it will then control and restore your phone.

    I’d wait and see if you can just update the phone or if you have to restore when you know for certain the update is available (10am PST) (8pm EST)

  23. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    ok i restored my ipod touch 2nd gen back to 3.1.3 it said the backup i just made was made with a newer version of the os so i would have to set it up as a new ipod and then update it so i went and tried to update it but it said that 3.1.3 is the current version!!!

  24. Dutchster says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    Then wait till te new version is out.
    I told you all you should wait and see if you can just update when it comes out before you backup, downgrade, restore, resync and then update again… Mine is still iOS4 and I’ll keep you posted if I can just update to the new iOS4

  25. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    wasnt the new official version supposed to come out today??? anyways it doesnt matter i got it back 4.0 after another restore, also i was wondering why shift + update (windows) doesnt work though… it comes up with an access apple sever (error 3002) for me… any ideas??? or does that just never work lol

  26. Mitch says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    @ Dutchster No news yet about trying to update from the GM to the official release? Or is it not yet available?

  27. Dutchster says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    It’s not available yet. 1hr and 15min. To go.

  28. Mitch says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    It’s available. Some of my friends are installing it right now. It doesn’t show up with me when I click the ‘Check for updates’ button. Think a downgrade to 3.1.3 is necessary?

  29. Rob says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    Does anyone know? Will I lose my jailbreak on my jailbroken iPhone 3GS 1.3.1 when I upgrade to OS4?
    Thanks

  30. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    yeah i suggest manually backing up your ipod/iphone backup because downgrading and restoring it to 3.x may delete your backup http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414 under restoring an ipod/iphone/ipad it tells you the location of ur backup copy all folders and files under that directory to another location, i think you can just paste the files back and restart itunes, you might have to restore ur ipod/iphone from the 4.0 u just downloaded and then select a backup… idk havent tried this yet still downloading 4.0 just heads up and ill tell you guys how it goes once its done

  31. Dutchster says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    I tried, it’s necessary to restore first, you don’t have to downgrade. Make a back up though. After the restore it just says there’s an update available and if you press ok, you download and install automatically. Restore from back up and you’re all set!

    One question to you all. I noticed earlier that the iPod icon is in the multitasking bar when listening to music, but it’s also next to the iPod controls. Can I switch it off (make it invisible in the multitasking bar)?

  32. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    well i wished i known that!!! i tried it before on mine and it wouldnt update… now its having trouble restoring from my 4.0 GM backups i might have to restore back to 3.1 and restore from that backup… >:(

  33. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    ok it does work i successfully restored from the backup of a backup by putting it into recovery mode and then i used one back instead of the newest backup, it took a heck of a long time but it worked, probably a good idea to do this if you want to jailbreak it too, or if you just want to keep long term backups of ur ipod/iphone

  34. adam8872 says June 21, 2010
    Reply

    hey what happened to the game center i cant seem to find it on my ipod now

  35. Dutchster says June 22, 2010
    Reply

    Yeah I just realized that. It’s not released for users yet. Not that you’d be able to use it anyway cos apps haven’t integrated it in the latest updates.

  36. Dutchster says June 22, 2010
    Reply

    Also my iPod touch doesn’t have a wallpaper behind my apps. I hadn’t put ios4 on it before.

  37. Sardar Mohkim Khan says June 22, 2010
    Reply

    Thanks a bunch or the tip! glad that the solution is also officially there!

  38. Matt says June 23, 2010
    Reply

    I don’t have faces on mine. I tried restore after the ios4 release but this didn’t fix it. Anyone have any ideas??

  39. NewsGallery says June 24, 2010
    Reply

    Via NewsGallery: THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE iOS4 TUNNEL FOR iPhone 3: http://bit.ly/iOAS43G

  40. ipod to mac says August 05, 2010
    Reply

    I got an error message
    so I did not install that yet

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