If you want to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad after the iOS 8 launch, or be able to downgrade to iOS 7 or another earlier version of iOS, you may want to know about SHSH Blobs, and how (and why) to save them. These snippets of code are part of Apple’s digital signature that controls iOS restores and updates.
How to downgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 7
If you have an iOS device then you can only restore it to the currently deployed version of iOS. So if you click Restore in iOS at the moment it doesn’t matter what OS you are running, you will install the latest edition of iOS 7 (currently iOS 7.1.2, to be exact).
When iOS 8 launches you will restore to iOS 8, not iOS 7 and it will be awhile before hackers get an effective jailbreak up and running. This is where an SHSH Blob comes in handy, it enables jailbreakers to build a custom installation of iOS with your device’s personal digital signature. This helps them downgrade the iPhone to an earlier (and less secure) edition of iOS.
See also:
- How to jailbreak any iPhone or iPad in iOS 7 and iOS 6
- Pros and cons of iOS jailbreaking: Should you jailbreak
What the heck is an SHSH Blob?
The SHSH Blob is the bit of code that iOS uses to prevent an iOS device from installing an older version of the operating system. It’s a unique piece of code built from the iOS version, the device type and the devices ECID (a unique identification number embedded in the hardware).
If you save an SHSH Blob it makes it easier (or possible) for some jailbreaks to work because they can install the older version of iOS (when the jailbreak was effective). The catch is that you have to do it using your device (because of the ECID), and you have to do it before iOS 8 is installed on the device: because then the SHSH Blob is updated to the latest version with all Apple’s new security measures.
How to save your iOS device’s SHSH Blob
Several Mac OS X apps are designed to enable you to jailbreak an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. And they have built in features for saving SHSH files, either to the cloud (in the case of RedSnow) or locally to your computer.
This SHSH file can then be used by the same jailbreak program to assist in jailbreaking iOS. But you have to try to save your SHSH file now.
Unfortunately, there is no ‘best’ tool for us to recommend here. because jailbreaking is a moving target, the programs are constantly being updated in a ‘cat and mouse’ game with Apple. Your success with saving an SHSH program depends on the model of iOS device you own, and which version of the iOS software you are running.
Typically you will find it easier to save an SHSH Blob with an older iPhone 4 device running iOS 6. But your mileage may vary depending on the cat and mouse status at the moment. If you are a keen jailbreaker, you will want to keep an eye on these jailbreaking apps. Each has a built in feature for fetching and saving SHSH Blobs. Currently, these are the three apps you should be testing out:
- TinyUmbrella
- RedSnow
- iFaith (Windows Only)
How to save your iOS device’s SHSH Blob with RedSnow
Here is how to save an SHSH Blob using RedSnow:
- Click Download Selected Tool.
- Open the Zip file in your Downloads folder.
- Drag the RedSnow app to the Applications folder and open it.
- Click Extras.
- Click SHSH Blobs.
- Click Fetch.
- Place your device into DFU Mode by following these steps (also outlined in the RedSnow app).
- Make sure the device is plugged connected to the Mac.
- Hold the Power button and Slide To Power Off.
- Click Next in RedSnow.
- Put the device into DFU (device firmware update) mode by following the on-screen timer and instructions. Hold down the Power button for 3 seconds; Press the Home button (without letting go of the Power button) for 10 seconds; let go of the Power button and just hold the Home button for 15 Seconds).
- RedSnow will now identify your build and send them to the Cydia server. They will then be there waiting for you when the Jailbreak becomes available.
The iJailBreak.com website has more information on how to use the Query command to check that your SHSH Blob has been saved correctly.