RootlessJB: Jailbreak Your iPhone Or iPad Running iOS 12-12.1.2

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We have been hearing for months that a public iOS 12 jailbreak could be just around the corner. Though consumer enthusiasm for jailbreaking has declined in the last few years as Apple has made it more difficult than ever before, a large number of people are still eagerly waiting for the iOS 12 public jailbreak tool. We don’t know if or when a public jailbreak would arrive, but developer Jake James recently surprised the community by releasing a developer-centric RootlessJB jailbreak tool for iPhones and iPads running iOS 12-iOS 12.1.2.

RootlessJB is here, but it’s for developers

The SSH-enabled RootlessJB tool can liberate devices running Apple’s A9, A10 and A11 processors. That makes it compatible with all the iPhones from iPhone 6S through iPhone X and iPads running chips older than the A12X Bionic. It’s worth pointing out the tool is aimed at the developer community, meaning casual users shouldn’t attempt installing it.

Jake James’ tool doesn’t offer root access. So, you won’t be able to enjoy the complete freedom that comes with jailbreaking. It also doesn’t support package managers like Cydia or Cydia Substrate. If you want to install any tweaks, you have to install them directly over SSH. However, the developer has released an updated version 3.1 that brings many new features including support for tweak injection.

The developer said in a tweet that the updated version can tweak unsandboxed apps. You can’t use it to tweak sandboxed apps. The PreferenceLoader appears to be broken with version 3.1. Jake James clearly warned that noobs should stay away from it.

How to jailbreak your device using RoolessJB

If you have a compatible device and you are a developer, here’s how you can use RootlessJB to liberate your device running iOS 12-12.1.2.

  • Fire up the Safari browser on your iPhone or iPad and visit jailbreaks.fun
  • Search for RootlessJB using the search bar and you’ll see the tool in results
  • Hit the Get button and wait for it to download on your device
  • Launch the Settings app on your device and go to General > Profiles and Device Management to trust the certificate. Now Trust the newly added developer and trust again on the popup
  • Now turn on Airplane Mode and then launch RootlessJB. Make sure that the Tweaks toggle is enabled before tapping the Jailbreak button
  • Your iPhone or iPad will respring when the process is complete. It means you’ve successfully liberated your device. But if it restarts, it means something went wrong with the process and you’ll have to try again

Again, the RootlessJB tool is suitable only for developers. If you’re a casual user, you won’t have much to gain even if you successfully install it. It’s also worth pointing out that jailbreaking removes the built-in security layers in iOS, exposing you to malware and hacking attempts. It could also cause the native and third-party apps to behave abnormal or even crash. Jailbreaking could also void the warranty of your device.

Earlier this week, Apple stopped signing the iOS 12.1.2 and iOS 12.1.1 firmware versions. People who have upgraded to version 12.1.3 will no longer be able to downgrade to earlier versions. Apple traditionally stops signing the older versions a few weeks after releasing new ones to ensure that users have the latest security and stability improvements. The iOS 12.1.2 was released back in December with eSIM bug fixes. The 12.1.3 was released a couple of weeks ago with bug fixes and stability improvements.

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