Legacy iOS Kit: How To Downgrade and Jailbreak an Old iPhone (2025)

Surprisingly, it’s tricky to find jailbreaking tools for legacy iPhone models. You’d think that earlier iOS versions would be easier to crack, and while they generally are, developers rarely support them anymore because of the low demand. Users are left with outdated, buggy, or even unsafe tools. I think it’s way too time-consuming and risky to try your luck with them.

The best approach is to opt for a trusted, reputable solution: Legacy iOS Kit. It’s specifically designed for older 32-bit and some 64-bit models. Yes, even that old iPhone 3G gathering dust in your drawer is compatible. The toolkit may seem overwhelming, but it requires little CLI experience. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What Is Legacy iOS Kit

Legacy iOS Kit is an untethered, multi-purpose jailbreaking tool. You can use it to restore, downgrade, save SHSH blobs, and, of course, jailbreak older iOS devices through Mac or Linux. It’s compatible with iPhone 3G to iPhone 7 and supports up to iOS 16. As of writing, the toolkit features 40 open-source utilities, although some might not work on specific models.

How To Install Legacy iOS Kit

Follow these steps on Linux:

1. Download the latest Legacy iOS Kit version for Linux and extract the ZIP files, or you can also clone the GitHub repo.
2. Open your preferred Linux terminal app.
3. Go to the extracted archive, drag and drop the restore.sh file into the terminal window, and hit Enter.
   
4. Wait for the dependencies to finish downloading.

How To Use Legacy iOS Kit

The key to navigating Legacy iOS Kit is familiarity. The commands you run will depend on your iPhone’s make, model, and iOS version. Here’s a quick rundown of the toolkit’s most basic functions:

Jailbreak iOS Devices

You’ll need to jailbreak your device first to perform most actions. Whether you’re restoring firmware or installing custom tweaks, jailbreaking lets you bypass Apple’s restrictions and modify your device.

NOTE

While modern tools are easier to use, older devices require more specialized solutions.

Here’s how to jailbreak through your Mac or PC:

1. Connect your iOS device to your Mac or PC.
2. Tap Trust This Computer and open Terminal.
3. Drag and drop the restore.sh file into the Terminal window.
   
4. On the main menu, click Jailbreak Device.
5. Once prompted, put your iPhone in DFU mode.
6. The tool should start jailbreaking shortly.

Sideload the jailbreak app into the device through an active Apple ID and use that to jailbreak the device. Follow these steps:

1. Download the appropriate jailbreak tool IPA and sideload it to your device through AltServer (direct IPA sideloading) or Sideloadly for PC and macOS.
2. You could also select the Sideload IPA option in the jailbreak tool on your Mac.

Restore 32-Bit Device iOS

You can restore and downgrade your 32-bit iOS device through the macOS tool:

1. Launch Cydia, look up OpenSSH, and download it.
   
2. Wait for the download to finish and then connect your iOS device to your Mac or PC.
3. Tap Trust This Computer and open Terminal.
4. Drag and drop restore.sh into the Terminal window.
5. Once the main menu pops up, input 1 and hit Return > Restore/Downgrade.
6. Set the appropriate IPSW(s) needed to continue.
7. When prompted, put your device in DFU mode.
8. Afterward, just wait for the downgrade or restoration process to finish.

NOTE

The process for 64-bit iOS devices is quite similar—just set the appropriate IPSW(s) for the make and model of your iPhone.

Save Onboard SHSH Blobs

Save the SHSH blobs of your current iOS version so that you can downgrade to legacy firmware versions even after Apple stops signing them. It’s especially helpful to back up older, unsupported devices.

1. Connect your iOS device to your Mac or PC.
2. Tap Trust This Computer and open Terminal.
3. Drag and drop the restore.sh file into the Terminal window.
4. Select Save SHSH Blobs > Onboard Blobs.
5. Set and install your current iOS version’s IPSW.
6. When prompted, put your phone in DFU mode.
7. Wait for the SHSH blobs to finish saving.

As the name suggests, Legacy iOS Kit is specifically designed for older devices. If you’re looking to modify more recent iPhone models or iOS versions, explore alternative toolkits. For a simple, mobile-first solution, download TweakBox. It’s an alternative app marketplace that you can use to jailbreak your iPhone, download tweaked programs, and install Cydia.