Will a Factory Restore Ruin a Jailbroken IPhone?

Your factory Apple iPhone comes with many high tech features and a locked file system. A jailbroken iPhone comes with equally high tech features and an unlocked file system. An unlocked file system allows you to install third party application to your iPhone using the Cydia repository or SSH file transfers. If something goes wrong with your iPhone, you have to factory restore it. So, what happens to your jailbreak if you factory restore it? You need to understand what factory restore does to answer this question.

Jailbreak

Jailbreaking is a technical process that alters your iPhone to receive write access to your root file system. This means you can add, modify and delete files on your iPhone file system. The jailbreak software is installed on your iPhone and takes advantage of whatever exploit that particular software uses.

Jailbreak Drawbacks

Unfortunately, Apple has created some nasty drawbacks to jailbreaking your iPhone. The biggest drawback is that the act of jailbreaking is a violation of your terms of service. This means you void your warranty if you jailbreak your iPhone.

Additionally, Apple frequently releases firmware updates to their iPhone operating system. Each new firmware update typically fixes whatever exploit the hackers chose to exploit for that software. Whenever this occurs, you have to wait for the hackers to find a new jailbreak before you can upload and get those goodies on the firmware update.

Factory Restore

Factory restore erases your iPhone to pristine out-of-the-box condition. This means that you get all your stock applications and all your information is erased off your iPhone. All software, applications, music and files are erased including the jailbreak software. A factory restore is put into effect by plugging your iPhone into your computer and clicking the "Restore" button in iTunes.

How to Factory Restore

1) Plug your iPhone into your personal computer using your USB cord.

2) Turn on the iTunes software.

3) Click on your iPhone under the "Devices" header.

4) On the "Summary" screen, there is a button to "Restore" your iPhone. Click this button.

5) Once you factory restore your iPhone, you can re-install your last backup. This restores the information that was on your iPhone at the time you performed that sync to iTunes.

From this point, you can then choose whether you want to risk attempting a jailbreak again. It is worth noting that the jailbreak software is getting increasingly sophisticated. Most installations of jailbreak software goes through swiftly without incident.