It is no question that the iOS 5 firmware packs some great new functionality for your iPhone. In fact the iOS 5 firmware includes over 200 new features such as wireless syncing, iMessage, Reminders, Newstand; the list could go on and on. It is because of these new features that so many individuals are upgrading to the iOS 5 firmware. Even Jailbreakers can upgrade to iOS 5 without loosing their ability to Jailbreak. This is because tools such as RedSn0w and Sn0wBreeze are compatible with iOS 5 (for a tethered Jailbreak).

The only roadblock you may face when updating to the iOS 5 firmware is if you are trying to upgrade your unlocked iPhone to iOS 5. If you have an unlocked iPhone you CANNOT simply upgrade to the iOS 5 firmware. This is because iOS 5 will update your baseband, which means you will not be able to unlock your iPhone after updating iOS 5. To get around this issue you need to use a Jailbreaking tool which supports custom IPSW creation.

Jailbreaking tools that feature custom IPSW creation range from the PwnageTool to Sn0wBreeze. One tool that was recently updated to support custom IPSW creation, however, is RedSn0w. RedSn0w was recently updated to version 0.9.9b5 which now includes the ability to create custom IPSW’s. RedSn0w is probably the easiest Jailbreaking tool at this time to create custom IPSW’s and is cross compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. Thus, in this how to guide from iJailbreak.com you will learn how to update to the iOS 5 firmware without updating your baseband so you can then unlock your iPhone using UltraSn0w once iPhone is Jailbroken.

Note: Windows users can follow our Sn0wbreeze baseband preservation tutorial by clicking here.

UPDATE #1: If you are wishing to upgrade to the iOS 5.0.1 firmware without updating your baseband simply select the iOS 5.0.1 firmware instead of the iOS 5.0 firmware.

Updating To iOS 5 Without Updating Baseband

Note: At this time RedSn0w 0.9.9b5 is only compatible with the Mac OS X operating system. RedSn0w 0.9.9b5 will be available to Windows users shortly. Until this time Windows users will need to use a tool such as Sn0wBreeze to preserve their iPhone’s baseband while updating to the iOS 5 firmware. We may provide a how to guide for this in the near future (if this would be of use to you let us know in the comments section at the bottom of this post).

Step 1) - The first thing you will need to do is download the official iOS 5 firmware for the iPhone model you are wanting to upgrade. You can do this by going to the iJailbreak Downloads Section which provides direct links (from Apple) that will allow you to download the official iOS 5 firmware. Additionally you will need to download RedSn0w 0.9.9b5 which can also be downloaded from the iJailbreak Downloads Section.

Step 2) - After you have downloaded the official iOS 5 firmware and RedSn0w 0.9.9b5 you may proceed to launching RedSn0w 0.9.9b5.

Step 3) - When RedSn0w 0.9.9b5 is up and running you will need to click the Extras Button.

Upon clicking the Extras Button you will need to click the Custom IPSW Button. A window will now pop up asking you to select the official iOS 5 firmware file you downloaded. Select the iOS 5 firmware file now and RedSn0w will begin creating your custom firmware file. Once it has finished creating your custom firmware file you will notice it on your desktop (or wherever the location of the iOS 5 firmware you selected in); it will have a NO_BB prefix in front of the firmware file name.

UPDATE: If you are wishing to upgrade to the iOS 5.0.1 firmware without updating your baseband simply select the iOS 5.0.1 firmware instead of the iOS 5.0 firmware.

Step 4) - With your custom iOS 5 firmware created you will now need to put your iPhone into Pwned DFU mode. It is important to keep in mind that you cannot just put your iPhone into normal DFU mode to restore this custom IPSW. To put your iPhone into Pwned DFU mode you will simply need to click the Pwned DFU Button on the Extras screen.

Step 5) -Upon clicking the Pwned DFU button you will be presented with instructions on putting your iPhone into DFU mode. Read this instructions and click the Next Button to actually begin putting your iPhone into Pwned DFU mode.

• Hold down Power (corner) button for 5 seconds.
• Without releasing the Power button, also hold down the Home (bottom center) button along with the Power button for 10 seconds.
• Without releasing the home button, stop holding down the power button for up to 15 seconds.

Step 6) - Once your iPhone is in Pwned DFU mode iTunes should launch and tell you your iPhone is in Recovery Mode. From this screen you will need to hold the option key down and click the Restore Button.

A new window will now pop up asking you to select the firmware file you wish the restore to. You will need to select the Custom firmware file you created earlier using RedSn0w. It is important to remember this firmware file will have the pre-fix NO_BB. Ensure you select the firmware file with the prefix or you will end up updating your iPhone to the stock iOS 5 firmware which will also update your baseband.

Step 7) - After you select your custom iOS 5 firmware file iTunes will begin restoring your iPhone to iOS 5. This process can take up to 10 minutes so please be patient. After your iPhone re-boots it will be in a usable state. Congratulations! You have just updated your iPhone to the iOS 5 firmware without updating your baseband.

Note #1: Your iPhone will not be Jailbroken after restoring to the custom iOS 5 firmware you created. You will now need to follow one of our guides to Jailbreak your iPhone, if you wish to unlock your iPhone with ultraSn0w 1.2.4; which was recently updated to be compatible with the iOS 5 firmware.

Note #2: If you are unlocking an iPhone 3GS on the the Special iPad baseband 06.15.00 you will need to take heed to the following warnings by the Dev-Team:

Note: there’s a special “trick” that iPhone3GS owners with baseband 06.15 need for iOS5.  During the new setup screens you see when you start iOS5 for the first time, you’ll be asked about Location Services.  Be sure to select “Disable Location Services” when asked!  Later on in the setup, you’ll have the chance to turn on Location Services again when asked if you want to use “Find my iPhone”.  It’s fine to turn it back on at that point, if that’s your desire (or you can always go in and enable it in Settings.app).

Also, some iPhone3GS users with the 06.15 baseband may have tried to install iOS5 using a stock IPSW (even though you should never ever try to use a stock IPSW if you’re an ultrasn0w unlocker).  If you did try this, your baseband is probably in an inconsistent state, and you’ll need to reflash the 06.15 baseband again (using redsn0w).  Be very careful if you use redsn0w to reflash the iPad baseband — don’t interrupt the process! And please avoid using stock IPSWs in the future.  Unlockers should never go near stock IPSWs

If you have any questions please leave them in the comments section below…

Note #3: Windows users can follow our Sn0wbreeze baseband preservation tutorial by clicking here.