iOS 9 Jailbreak Release: What You Need to Know

Just 19 days after the official release of iOS 9, Chinese developer group Pangu has announced the release of its jailbreak tool for almost all iOS devices running iOS 9. Allow, including installation of alternative app stores and unapproved tethering tools.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest iPhone jailbreak.

The Pangu jailbreak tool supports all devices running an updated version of iOS 9 (which means iOS 9.1 is not a beta version) up to and including iOS 9.0.2. Supported devices include:

This makes this jailbreak one of the most supported ever in terms of multiple devices. Earlier model iPhones benefit more from jailbreaks and related tweaks than current devices. Older phones start to feel slow and sluggish as later generations of iOS include new features; By installing a few Cydia apps and tweaking iOS, you can make your slower iPhone feel like new again.

While some previous jailbreaks have been obtained on the phone itself, this particular edition requires software running on a computer. For Pangu, that means using a Windows app – OS X support may come, but if history is any indication, it may be in a few months.

If you’re already using a PC, great! You are ready. But if you’re using a Mac, you’ll need to install Windows via Boot Camp or download a virtual machine like this. Microsoft enables testing web browsers.

Cydia’s Substrate has been updated to take advantage of iOS 9 compatibility and features.

Cydia’s Substrate is Cydia’s programming framework for developers of jailbroken apps. Updating the Substrate allows jailbreak developers to create new apps and tweaks targeting iOS 9 features and update old apps so they can work properly on the new software.

The new version of Cydia is said to be compatible with almost all iOS versions from iOS 2.0 to iOS 9.0.2. Given that they’ve made “major internal changes” to Cydia Substrate to ease compatibility with the new Pangu jailbreak, it looks like the group has reached out to Cydia and gave it some advance notice.

What this means for you: You can safely update your iOS 8 device to iOS 9 and keep your jailbreak or redo it, but every app and tweak you’re currently using may not be available until they’re updated. Moyens I/O has a list of apps and tweaks that are known to work.

Apple recently sent out the fifth beta of iOS 9.1 to developers and public beta testers, which probably means it’s almost ready to release it to the world. Pangu specifically noted that iOS 9.1 closes some of the loopholes they use to jailbreak your iPhone – meaning that when you upgrade from iOS 9.0.2 to iOS 9.1, there’s no guarantee that you can jailbreak your iPhone. Pangu will likely find a new way to jailbreak your device, but it may take days, weeks or even months.

Remember, while jailbreaking your iPhone is a powerful tool that lets you manipulate it in ways Apple never imagined, it also comes at a price, namely security. Almost the same kind of walled garden as Cydia as in the official App Store. This is actually kind of the point of jailbreaking. But it also means you have to be careful about the type of software you install on your device.

Companies known to provide malware to governments and other powerful groups have had leaked documents showing that many of their iPhone monitoring tools only work when the phone is cracked. Even last month, iPhone hackers took advantage of security compromises on jailbroken iOS 8 devices.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t jailbreak your iPhone – just be careful what you install.

Still excited to play with your iOS 9 device in a brand new way? get over your head Pangu’s website to download the new tool. If you’re a little more cautious and need some help before you dive in, don’t forget to check out our guide on how to jailbreak your iPhone with Pangu iOS 9 jailbreak.