A question most of iOS users has been asking, what is Cydia and what is jailbreak? Well, Cydia is very important for most of iOS users and that’s why we’re making a deep walkthrough in this post.
Our site name is CydiaHelp, so we’ve to tell you what’s Cydia to be able to help you.
What is Cydia?
Cydia is a third-party, independent installer application for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Cydia is developed by Jay Freeman (Saurik) and it’s actually much similar to Apple’s app store. Cydia allows you to download tons of tweaks & utilities that you’ll need to make the best out of your iOS device. Cydia brings you many applications that can be downloaded either for free or for a small amount of money.
What is the difference between app store and Cydia?
That’s a good question. You’ve now known that Cydia is much similar to the app store but you may want to know what’s the difference. Well, some apps that can’t be approved by Apple. Those apps are really very important for your iPhone. Utilities and tweaks can be found over Cydia are those that are not there on the app store.
Cydia offers you over 400,000+ apps and they’re all useful. In the next questions, we’ll show you what kind of apps does Cydia offers and why you will need them.
Why Cydia?
Because Cydia offers you what Apple doesn’t. For example, Apple doesn’t give you the ability to change themes of your iPhone. Every smartphone owner would always like to change his mobile theme. On Cydia, you can install a tweak called “Winterboard” which allows you to download and install themes on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
How can I get Cydia?
That’s a complicated thing for some. To get Cydia, you’ll need to jailbreak. You may don’t know what’s jailbreaking, so let’s head over the next question.
What’s jailbreaking?
In brief, jailbreaking means installing Cydia. That’s a kind of complicated process but it has been confirmed that iOS jailbreaking is 100% legal by the U.S. government. Though, Apple still fights jailbreaking.
The war between Apple and jailbreaking has been there since 2008 when the first jailbreak tool was released by the genius iPhone hacker George Hotz, better known as Geohot.
There’s actually two kinds of jailbreaks, one of them is a bootrom jailbreak which lasts for ever. That jailbreak like Geohot’s latest Limera1n jailbreak. Limera1n’s exploit is still being used up till now on all iOS devices except the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S (which are recently released after the release of Limera1n).
The second kind is the userland jailbreak. This jailbreak is only made for the current iOS software. In other words, it can be patched by Apple in future iOS software updates. This one like JailbreakMe 3.0 for iPad 2 which has been patched only after 10 days.
What is tethered, untethered and semi tethered jailbreak?
As previously posted, tethered jailbreak is that jailbreak where you’ll need to plug in your iPhone into your computer every time the device reboots. Untethered kills that problem and allows you to reboot without any issues. Semi tethered closes the gap between the previous ones, it allows you to reboot without any problems but you won’t get control over some apps (especially those downloaded jailbreak apps). However you can get full access again once you connect it to your computer. You can read more here.
Can I download Cydia without jailbreak?
Absolutely NO! Never believe anyone telling you that you can download Cydia without jailbreak.
How to jailbreak?
So you decided to install Cydia? You’ll need to jailbreak. In order to jailbreak your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you’ll need to know the current iOS you’re using. For iOS 5 users, you can get tethered jailbreak from here, semi-tethered jailbreak from here and better wait for the untethered one. We’re preparing a kind of tool to allow you to find out if your device jailbreakable or not. You can take a look and search on CydiaHelp for more info.
Is Cydia safe?
Cydia is not 100% safe since almost every jailbreak app is approved on Cydia. This increases the chance of malicious apps getting through too. You should only download apps & tweaks from trusted repositories. Repositories like ModMyi and BigBoss are the safest ones. Oh, you don’t know what’s repositories?
What’s repositories?
Repository is the online hub in which developers store their tweaks for quick and easy access and installation. There are a lot of repositories as ModMyi repo and BigBoss repo where we can find out most of tweaks we search for.
Cydia structure
In case you have already got Cydia, you’ll need to know what’s inside it. Once you open Cydia, you’ll find 5 tabs, here’s everything you need to know:
Home – You can find here some applications sponsored, more Sources FAQ, account information and some important settings.
Sections – In this tab, you can see all apps divided into categories. You should just go in the category you need and look up for your tweak.
Changes – All updates and newly added programs can be found here. This tab is updated every time you open Cydia.
Manage – Allows you t omanage Cydia, remove programs, add sources and repositories and have access to all storage.
Search – That’s the tab where you can search for a tweak – only if you got the name.
How do I pay for apps on Cydia?
In Apple’s app store, you can pay through your iTunes Apple ID. On Cydia, you can login with a Facebook or Twitter account and pay using Paypal or Amazon gift cards. Payments on Cydia are easier than you expect.
What useful tweaks to download from Cydia?
In case you’re a new comer and asking for the best tweaks to download from Cydia, we’ve got some tweaks that we recommend:
- Ultrasn0w
- Activator
- SBSettings
- BiteSMS
- AppLocker
- Five Icon Dock
- iFile
- InfiniFolders
- MxTube
- Multifl0w
- Winterboard
- FaceTime 3G
- FolderEnhancer
- GraviBoard
- Terminal
- OpenSSH
- ScrollingBoard
- MultiIcon Mover
- StayOpened
You can also check out the best 15 jailbreak widgets for iOS 5 notification center here and best 30 Cydia tweaks of 2011 here. You can also check here for all iOS 5 Cydia compatible apps & tweaks.
Have we missed something?
I hope we didn’t but In case we did miss something or you have a question to ask, don’t forget to leave a comment below and we’ll be sure to answer you as soon as possible.
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can I use apple app store apps even after I jailbreak ??
Definitely! You 100% can, no matter what kind of jailbreak your running.
Sure you can.
Even if you cannot, you should jailbreak your rotten apple products.
I’m sorry to say that without jailbreaking, they are merely a beautiful piece of crap!
whn untethered jb for ios 5 coming though we listening tht its ready for its official release
When will unthetered jailbreak for ios 5 come out?
Nice ..
now all new iOS users can understand easily after read this article..
Ive jailbroken my phone using the tethered version. Do i have to restore my phone or anything when the untethered jailbreak comes out?
i got my 1phone 4 unlocked thru a company here online and then i had to connect it to itunes to finish the unlock.. will the unlock still be in place after i jailbreak it tethered or untethered or if i have to restore.?
very informative… all the newbies to jailbreaking can now understand the concept of jalibreaking and Cydia.
nice one.
Guys stop asking that question. Ahmed will surely post about any new update regrading the iOS 5 untethered.
No, you don’t have to.
Good Job man
I have upgrade my 3Gs to IOS 5 the base band changes to 05.16.05, I have jail broken the phone but the phone is not unlocked I can not use Tmobile, any suggestions
Thanks
if i installed semi tethered jailbreak for ios 5 for ipod touch n then the unteathered got released and i installed it. all the apps n widgets from cydia will be removed?
I’m new to all of this. Just got the ipad2 wi-fi with 4.3.5. Can this be jailbroken? I’m trying to use my traditional cell phomne and or my Blackberry to access the internet in non WIFI areas. Is this possible?
Thanks
Hi I installed jailbreakme. Com on my iphone 3gs on 4.3.3. Is it fully jailbroken, or do I need to install Redsn0w?
When the new jailbreak for ios 5 comes out do i need to backup the spps I downloaded from Cydia in anyway? Will I loose them when I update to ios 5?
pkgbackup
how do i remove cydia from my iPhone 4 with IOS5. iTunes resort does not allow to restore.
Can I just get my 06.15 3GS back to lower base and start again? I will not need to jailbreak straight away and would like to be able to use iTunes as normal until I wait to Jailbreak. On version 4.1 at the moment but want to go to 5 and get my GPS back as well
what baseband were you on before?
mine is untethered ios 5.0.1 in iphone 4s.. cause i found the software already
bs
All apps, music, videos, cydia changes, Will be lost due to having to do a full update, some stuff can be backed up but for the cydia changes like barrel, instalous etc etc. Cannot be restored so these would need be re-done
Yes it is fully jailbroken, wont need to use redsn0w.Only if you wanted ios 5
As of now the ipad 2 cannot be jailbroken but the dev-team is working on it and have found an exploit just waiting on public release now.
Try putting your phone into restore mode, Turn off the phone and after its turned off hold the home button and insert the usb cable and wait till the iTunes icon and a cable comes on your iphone then release the home button and restore to same firmware.
ios 5 for i phone 4 can jailbreak ? be i rest cannot open bk cydia y?
After jailbreaking, can I still Sync my new app downloaded from appstore to Itunes? would be a pain to redownload both appstore and cydia apps after an update/crash
my Iphone 4 iOs 5.1 has no simlock but if install Cydia will there change anything on my phone like baseband or something ? just wanna make sure thanx
This doesn’t work since itunes DOESN’T let you restore ANY firmware. Is there any other way to completely remove Cydia?
yhu straight bullshitin get out of here nigga
hi i just bought a second hand 3g iphone and it is jailbreaked with cydia and installouson the screen which im finding very confussing trying to learn all about it from scratch as i’ve never heard of it, i just got a warning not to attach to apple and update as it will hard locked. All i want to know is can i still use the apple app store on my phone as i have 3 ipods and another iphone in the family and would like to download some of the apps we have already bought on our account and i dont know if i can a i dont dare try it. Thanks
I jailbroken my phone (ios5) using redsnow but cydia did not come with it. Can I download cydia separately?
@CAT, reboot with redsnow in menu extra
i jailbroke my iphone but the cydia app is not completely booted what do I do?
yes you can use the apple app store and update apps, just not the ones downloaded from installous. This is because you didnt pay for a license so you will have to update via installous. Just dont update your iphone.
reboot your iphone, this should fix the problem because it is a necesity after a jailbreak.
Is it possible to jailbreak the phone, download a cydia app, un-jailbreak the phone and keep the app?
I work on a helpdesk, and our sales guys have iphones/ipads and I want to install veency, but I need to keep the warranties on these phones because these sales guys break the devices like crazy.
I downloaded ressn0w latest version, when I put my iphone in dfu mode i get the error message unrecognized build. I’m running ios 5.0.1 firm ware04.11.08
nany help would be greatly appreciated. Pleas email back at tsaady@gmail.com
Thanks
You need to download the IOS 5 firmware. ( Even though your running the IOS 5.0.1 firmware. ) Then on redsn0w click Extras—>Select IPSW—>( Open up 5.0 fimware )—> Jailbreak ( or ) Just Boot. When the IOS 5.0.2 comes outs just pretend it’s the IOS 5 because until Apple releases IOS 5.1.0 the firmware you have to use is the IOS 5.0 firmware. Hope this helped.
Hi,
I wish to jailbreak my iPod but don’t want to like destroy it. How can I do this? I’ve tried but couldn’t find a specific file.
Does it really screw up your iPod? Oh, and is there any way to do anything Cydia offers without jailbreaking? i.e. view your iPod from your computer, or record your iPod’s screen.
Thanks
Hi, do anyone know if or when iphone 4s can be jailbroken please.
i have cydia with an iphone 3g with t-mobile and don’t have an internet plan. will it effect my internet plan and charge me?
my sis gave me her iphone3g w/ cydia. i’m sure this has been jailbroken. my problem is when i get to use FB, it says that i have upgrade to a higher version (ver.2). what do i do next? does this mean i get to loose all the apps? all the songs? please help … i’m a real newbie
thanks!
and if i do the upgrade, what version should i get. thanks thanks!
I have noooooooo idea how to jailbreak my new Verizon iPhone 4. Can someone please tell me how to do this and which option would be best so I don’t have to keep attaching my phone to my computer? I am so new at this and don’t want to destroy my device. Thank you :0)
You’re saying you want to jailbreak??? Go to Settings > General >About. Get me the firmware version. (4.2.6-5.0.1)
Does it say update software version or firmware version??? “Firmware” means the OS your running. “Software” means the version of the program your running. If it says Update Firmware go to iTunes then click Update. Update to the highest version for the iPhone 3g. You can then rejailbreak it. You lose everything. If it says Update Software just click Update and WHABAM!!!! it works!!!!
No, it won’t. By the way,
HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET T-MOBILE ON IPHONE 3G!?!?!?! I really need to know!!!
No, you can’t… BUT jailbreaking DOES NOT void your warranty anymore, so you can do whatever you want!!!!
Did you check “Install Cydia”????? If you didn’t, you’re screwed. You have to update, then rejailbreak.
Do you have “5.1″ or 5.0.1????? And no, it won’t change anything UNLESS you rely on a carrier unlock. If you jailbroke using another tool besides redsn0w, you have to find an unlocking program.. If you DID jailbreak with redsn0w then you can install ultrasn0w with cydia and then you can have Sprint, T-Mobile, etc..
Sure you can redownload them, but the Cydia apps?? You have to redownload them manually. Go to Cydia, search for all your old tweaks, and get them back.
You know… YES. They WILL be removed. But you can just restore your IOS 5 and then do the untethered jailbreak again and then just download your apps back. OR you can use PkgBackup like the n00b below me said.
To be honest, no one knows except the iPhone Dev Team…
Sorry for the redudancy but I have an iphone 4 version 4.2.6 modem firmware 1.0.05 and want to jailbreak my phone. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Excuse the ignorance, but I just want to clarify. If one were to unlock the iphone 4s with this new progress (via Musclenerd/Devteam), would it a) void the warranty because it HAS to be jailbroken to be unlocked and b) ever be “relocked” with a software update? I am not referring to jailbreaking, rather just unlocking it from a particular carrier that is not my own. I have an iphone 4s under the Bell network but I am under Fido. Just trying to weigh out options.
Hi, I want to unblock my iphone 4… I have down loaded cydia.. does this means its unblocked now or what? Or does any one know how i unblock my phone? Thanks!
Is this correct? If so, when did it change?
I have 3gs ios 3.1.3 running on 5.12.1. I want to upgrade the ios but is it safe, the iphone is jailbroken and unlocked. how do I do it without loosing ability for unlock
How do i jailbreak iphone 3g ios 4.2.1?
how to add reposteries??
I’m trying to find a “iPhone PC Suite” to manage my Jailbroken iPhone 3gs and also so I can sms through the phone from my pc. I downloaded one from NetDragon which was in Japanese with English language capabilitiy. But, couldn’t get it to work correctly. So, a “Freeware” English version of iPhone PC Suite w/SMS PC capabilitiy is what I’m looking for. Thanks!
I want to put iBlueNova for ios ios 4.3.3 and 5
if u update u will lose all ur jailbreak and your unlock i dont recommed u because there is no untethered jailbreak so dont update
u need to download ultrasn0w
is there any hope to have untethered jailbreak for iphone 4.3.5 ?
Any hope for iphone 4s 5.0.1?
Nope I suggest to just upgrade to IOS 5.0.1 and wait for the untethered jailbreak for that which will be coming very soon.
Haha it’s not really that hard:) if you have IOS 5.0.1 just download the latest version of redsn0w, click on the IOS 5.0 firmware in the “Select Firmware” button, then jailbreak it by putting it in dfu mode, Now let it reboot, then turn it off while its plugged into the computer, then click on “just boot” and put it in dfu mode again. Done:)
“coming very soon” Like a couple days soon?
cydia- manage- edit- add
hi , i have just brought an iphone 4 it is on ois 5.1.0 it was locked to an american network at&t i live in uk and need to make it work on another net work is there a way to unlock it or downgrade
Why Cydia does not work on proxy? Or please help me in proxy authentication.
hi again can anyone help me i have jailboke my phone which is on ios 5.1.0 but i cant unlock it , 1 is it posible to unlock it yet ? i have found a site which says on january 1st 2012 they will be jailbreaking and unlocking 5.1.0 it says that all features will then be unlock so i can then use the phone that is locked at the moment to at&t so im unable to use it in ther uk . can anyone confirm if there is a way to unlock it so i can use it here in uk ?
I have an iPhone 4 and my iOS version is 4.3.5 (8L1), my Baseband is 4.10.01 and I’ve made T-Mobile update my IMEI number to the iPhone. The phone is not Jailbroken but Unlocked with the Gevey Sim card, Should I do the preserve the Baseband update and go for iOS 5 or wait?
You should update as updating unlocks a whole lot of new features like notification center etc. Most of all it is untethered and if you want i can help you further with installing siri with my safe and legal tweak S1riX
Hi I am trying to Jailbreak & Install Cydia on 3gs 3.1.3 bb 5.12.01 but keep getting following error
missing keys.plist for this build
Device iphone 3gs
ecid 1546827345199
build iphone2,1_3.1.3_7e18
Any help appreciated
Hi if you Omar or what ever ur name is readed this message ummm. I have a Q how do I jailbrake iPad 2 5.0.1 100% safe if you readed this message please post on yor web site hot to jailbrake iPad 2 5.0.1 100% safe
I am having a problem with 3gs 3.1.3. bb 5.12.01. I eventualy used spirit to jailbreak and install Cydia because nothing else seemed to work, when i install ultrasn0w on restarting it just seems to hang any help would be much appreciated and thanks in advance
Hi. Successfully JB iPhone 3, with no probs. installed a ap via cydia and now I can’t did the ap on the springboard to change settings as its a wall paper. Help!