How to upgrade to iPhone 3.0 beta on iPhone or iPod?

A couple of days ago we shared links to download the iPhone 3.0 beta Firmware and as promised, we are back with an exclusive article on how to update your iPhone or iPod Touch device to iPhone 3.0 beta firmware.

Before I continue with the procedure, let me remind you folks that it is an advanced level hack so only proceed if you have a clever understanding of what you are doing. I strongly recommend users with unlocked iPhones to wait till the iPhone Dev team releases a patch for the new firmware.

Following procedure is applicable for those with a AT&T locked iPhone and all iPod Touch users.

Installing iPhone 3.0 beta on the iPhone

1. Make sure to have downloaded the iPhone 3.0 beta firmware that relates to your iPhone (2G or 3G).
2. Extract the firmware IPSW to a folder.
3. Connect the iPhone to your computer.
4. Get the UDID registered on the iPhone Developer program. (How to?)
5. Open iTunes and click Restore while holding the Shift key (for Windows) or Option key (for Mac).
6. Locate or browse to the firmware IPSW.
7. Wait for iTunes to unpackage and install the firmware.

Note: Attempting to do this upgrade on a unlocked iPhone can make it useless forever. Even the AT&T locked iPhone users will need to get their UDID registered before trying to upgrade.

Installing iPhone 3.0 beta on iPod Touch

iPod Touch users are pretty safe in this case as there is no question of baseband like iPhone but their is still a catch which I shall be mentioning further below.

1. Once the firmware has been downloaded, extract the IPSW to a folder.
2. Connect the iPod Touch to your computer.
3. Get the UDID registered on the iPhone Developer program. (How to?)
4. Make sure to disconnect from Internet such that iTunes cannot communicate with the web.
5. Only then, open iTunes and click Restore while holding the Shift key (for Windows) or Option key (for Mac).
6. Locate or browse to the firmware IPSW.
7. Wait for iTunes to unpackage and install the firmware.

Note: Step-3 is optional for iPod Touch users but in case you decide not to get your UDID registered, you won't be able to Sync with iTunes. The upgrade method is valid for both iPod Touch 1st Gen and 2nd Gen.

Please note that after upgrading to iPhone 3.0 beta, you might not be able to downgrade to firmware 2.2.1 later on so it is always a good choice to wait for the official release which is due in summer. iPod Touch users are always safe but I have already clearly warned the iPhone users to proceed at their own risk.

Keep checking back for more hacks and tips related to the iPhone, I shall be publishing more of it soon.