Unfortunately, getting to the real Cydia without jailbreaking the device is impossible. This is because Cydia relies on access to your iPhone's system files, and this can only be achieved by jailbreaking. Fortunately, jailbreaking is easy now. If you want Cydia on your iPhone, you can jailbreak and install Cydia in under an hour.
Step
Step 1. Understand why jailbreak is important for Cydia
Cydia is a package manager program for the iPhone that has gone through the jailbreak process. Cydia relies on the permissions granted to access the iPhone system, and these permissions are obtained when the jailbreak is performed. Without a jailbreak, Cydia is completely useless. There's no way to install Cydia on an iPhone without jailbreaking it. Any site or guide that claims to be able to install Cydia without jailbreaking is either a scam or will just produce a fake Cydia icon. This guide will take you through the basic process of jailbreaking iOS 8 and 9 if you really need Cydia.
Step 2. Understand the risks when jailbreaking
Jailbreak is usually only recommended for advanced users. By jailbreaking, users can install apps and install system tweaks (tweaks) that can't be found in the App Store. Apps obtained through jailbreak do not go through Apple's review process, and may cause your iPhone to stop working normally. Jailbroken iPhones are also more susceptible to malware, but the risk of getting your phone infected depends largely on your browsing habits. The jailbreak process may render your phone unusable if you don't follow the instructions exactly. Jailbreak will void your phone's warranty, but you can easily remove the jailbreak before sending your phone to a warranty service center.
Step 3. Check your iOS version
The jailbreak tool you'll need depends on the version of iOS you're running. You can find the iOS version by opening the Settings app and tapping "General". Tap "About", then find the "Version" entry.
Step 4. Download the proper jailbreak tool for your iOS version
Different iOS versions require different jailbreak tools. The jailbreak tool provided works for both Windows and Mac. The computer must also have iTunes installed.
- iOS 8.0 - 8.1: Pangu 8 (en.8.pangu.io/)
- iOS 8.1.3 - 8.4: TaiG (taig.com/en/)
- iOS 8.4.1: There is currently no jailbreak for this version of iOS.
- iOS 9 - 9.1: Pangu 9 (en.pangu.io/)
- iOS 9.1.1: There is currently no jailbreak for this version of iOS.
Step 5. Connect iPhone with computer
Connect iPhone to computer via USB cable to run the jailbreak process.
Step 6. Use iTunes to back up iPhone files
By backing up your data, you can restore your iPhone to its current state in case something goes wrong in the middle of the jailbreak process.
- Open iTunes, then select your iPhone in the row of buttons at the top.
- Click the "Back Up Now" button, then wait for your backup to be created.
Step 7. Turn off "Find My iPhone" and your iPhone passcode
Both features must be disabled before you start the jailbreak process.
- Open the Settings app, select "iCloud", then toggle the "Find My iPhone" option to the off position.
- You can disable passcodes in the "Passcode" section of the Settings app.
Step 8. Enable Airplane Mode
This is an important step before you start the jailbreak process. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then tap the Airplane Mode icon. You can also enable it from within the Settings app.
Step 9. Start the jailbreak tool, then click "Jailbreak" or "Start"
The jailbreak tool should display your device in the main window. Click the "Jailbreak" button to start the process.
- If you are using TaiG, uncheck "3K Assistant". Make sure that "Cydia" remains checked.
- If the jailbreak tool doesn't recognize your device, you may need to install an earlier version of iTunes. Delete iTunes now installed, then download iTunes with a version suitable for jailbreak here. See How to Remove a Program for guidance on removing programs like iTunes.
Step 10. Wait for the jailbreak process to complete
This process may take 20-30 minutes. Your iPhone will restart several times during the jailbreak process. The jailbreak tool window will show the progress of the process. Don't worry if development stops at a certain percentage for a moment. Do not unplug the iPhone in the middle of the jailbreak process, or the iPhone may become unable to turn on.
Step 11. Launch Cydia once the jailbreak process is complete
Once the jailbreak process is complete, you will need to launch Cydia to set up the jailbreak filesystem. You can find Cydia on one of your device's homepages. Cydia will restart the device once it finishes preparing the necessary things.
Step 12. Enable "Find My iPhone" and your passcode
You need to turn on Find my iPhone again just in case your iPhone is lost. It's also a good idea to re-enable the passcode for security reasons.
