Apple released iOS 8.1.1 yesterday, which includes bug fixes, increased stability and performance improvements for iPad 2 and iPhone 4s.
Apple has also patched 3 security flaws that were used by the Pangu jailbreak, so it is not longer possible to jailbreak iOS 8.1.1 using Pangu.
Here are some of the tips for jailbreakers with the iOS 8.1.1 release:
1. Do Not Update or Restore
The Pangu Jailbreak does not work with iOS 8.1.1, so if you’re either on iOS 8.1 or lower, you should avoid upgrading to iOS 8.1.1 if you don’t want to miss your favorite jailbreak tweaks. If you upgrade to iOS 8.1.1 then the jailbreak will be erased along with the jailbreak apps and tweaks, and you won’t be able to jailbreak iOS 8.1.1.
2. Downgrade/Upgrade to iOS 8.1 while you can
Apple is still signing iOS 8.1 firmware files, so don’t miss this chance to downgrade back to iOS 8.1 from iOS 8.1.1 or upgrade to iOS 8.1 from iOS 7.x.x. You won’t be able to downgrade or upgrade to iOS 8.1 once Apple stops signing the iOS 8.1 firmware file. If you need help then follow our simple step-by-step guide:
- How to install iOS 8.1 update on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
- How to downgrade from iOS 8.1.1 to iOS 8.1
Check real-time signing status: To find out if Apple is still signing the firmware file, check this link. Green rows with a tick means that Apple is still signing the firmware file, and you can downgrade from iOS 8.1.1 to iOS 8.1.
3. Stop the Jailbreak Tweaks Binge
If you’re someone who installs anything and everything from Cydia, then you may want to take it easy, and reassess the situation. You should be very careful while installing jailbreak tweaks as a bad tweak could easily force you to restore your device, which would mean that you will lose the jailbreak and all the tweaks installed on your device.
It may also be prudent to check iPhoneHacks.com for the reviews, check this comprehensive list of iOS 8.1 – iOS 8 compatible jailbreak apps and tweaks or feel free to ask us a question about the tweak you want to install in our Forums.
4. Uninstall Jailbreak Tweaks that you don’t use
Since you are more likely to run into an issue with a tweak due to compatibility issues with other tweaks, it is a good idea to uninstall jailbreak tweaks that you do not use. This will reduce the probability of running into an issue if an update for the tweak has some problems.
5. Do not tinker with the File system
We have come across readers who have got into trouble for trying to tinker with the filesystem such as deleting a file using iFile etc, which ends up being a system file and results in forcing the user to restore their device. You should only be tinkering with the filesystem if you know what you’re doing, and now with the lack of a jailbreak for iOS 8, you’re better off avoiding it as much as possible.
6. How to Get Out of Reboot Loop problem
In case you’re not aware, it is possible to recover from a reboot loop problem on your jailbroken device thanks to the safe mode feature of mobile substrate. There are a number of people who still don’t know this, and end up restoring their device, and thus end up losing their jailbreak. So if you get into an endless reboot loop after installing a jailbreak tweak, check our article on how to recover from it.
7. Install OpenSSH
SemiRestore, the tool that allows you to restore your jailbroken iOS device to near stock condition without losing the jailbreak, can come in handy when you get into a reboot loop issue because of a problematic/buggy tweak, and the volume up trick to fix the problem does not work. Since it removes the jailbreak tweaks during the restore process, it can help in such cases. The developer of SemiRestore is working to make it compatible with iOS 8.
SemiRestore needs OpenSSH to be installed on the jailbroken device for it to work, so it is a good idea to install it from Cydia so that you can use SemiRestore when you run into issues. Please note that you should change the root password of your jailbroken iOS device after installing OpenSSH to prevent someone from remotely accessing your iOS device. You can check our guide if you need help.
If you’ve any questions, please drop us a line in the comments section below.
Update:
Updated the post with the link to the site where you can check out the real-time status whether Apple is still signing iOS 8.1.
