Cydia is a replacement packaging and repository manager for the original Installer.app for the iPhone or iPod touch. It was created by Jay Freeman to replace BSD Subsystem and Installer.app. Cydia is a UI frontend to his Open Source APT for Debian called Telesphoreo. Cydia pomonella is the scientific name for the codling moth, which is what we often think of as the stereotypical apple worm. Cydia itself looks similar to Installer.app but adds many improvements to organization, functionality and performance of Installer. With Cydia you:
- See the number of apps in each category
- See details of what installing each app includes such as file size and functionality added
- Search for apps by name
- See changes to your currently installed apps and available upgrades
- See details of currently installed apps and easily manage them
- A full user system for app purchases and reviews
- A theme system
- An iPad version
Cydia App Icon To install Cydia you need to jailbreak your iPhone/iPod touch or iPad. There are many ways you jailbreak depending on which device you own and what version of iOS you have installed. Most notably you can use blackra1n, redsn0w, PwnageTool, Spirit jailbreak, jailbreakme 2.0, and QuickPwn. Also, if you already have Installer.app installed just add http://apptapp.saurik.com/ as a source to Installer and install the package “Cydia Installer” from the “System” category.
Generally if you upgrade your iOS to the latest version from Apple, it will unjailbreak your device and/or prohibit you from being able to install Cydia. Jailbreak developers generally support things one release behind the active iOS version. Use this table to easily find out how to install Cydia depending on your iOS version.
| If you have this iOS version and Device | Install Cydia Using |
|---|---|
| iOS 5.0.1 (A5 iPhone 4S & iPad 2 ) | GreenPois0n Absinthe |
| iOS 5.0.1 (A4 not 4S or iPad 2) | redsn0w 0.9.10b3 (untethered) or Corona |
| iOS 5 (A4 not 4S or iPad 2) | redsn0w 0.9.9b5 (tethered) |
| iOS 5 beta 1 | redsn0w 0.9.8b1 (tethered) |
| 4.3.5 (not iPad 2) | redsn0w 0.9.9b1 (tethered) |
| 4.3.4 | redsn0w 0.9.8b3 (tethered) |
| 4.3.3 | redsn0w 0.9.6rc15 (untethered) |
| 4.3.2 | redsn0w 0.9.6rc14 (untethered) |
| 4.3.1 | redsn0w 0.9.6rc9 (untethered) |
| 4.2.1 | GreenPois0n 1.0 RC5 (untethered) |
| 4.0.2 | Not supported |
| 4.0.1/4.0/3.1.3, 3.2.1/3.2 (iPad) | JailbreakMe.com |
| 3.1.3, 3.1.2 (2G unlock), 3.2 (iPad) | Spirit (Windows + Mac OS) |
| 3.1.3, 3.1.2 (2G unlock) (no new 3GS) | redsn0w (Windows + Mac OS) |
| 3.1.2 (newer 3GS models tethered) | blackra1n (Windows + Mac OS) |
| 3.1.2 (but iPhone 3GS Issues) | PwnageTool (Mac OS) |
| 3.0 (3GS Only) | blackra1n (Windows + Mac OS) |
| 2.2.1 (Obsolete) | QuickPwn (Mac OS & Windows) |
Updates: Good News! GreenPois0n Absinthe has been released by the Chronic Dev Team giving you the ability to perform an untethered jailbreak on the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 with the A5 chip. For detailed instructions check out the GreenPois0n Absinthe page.
The preliminary hacking has finally gotten some results. The iPhone Dev-Team has just announced the initial successful jailbreak of iPhone 4S and iPad 2 running iOS 5 with Cydia. The jailbreak is not yet ready for public use. They are working on a few more hurdles still so hang tight.
Check out the screenshots and video of the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 below running Cydia.
This is a video of the first iPad 2 jailbroken running Cydia released by the iPhone Dev Team on Oct 28th 2011. Details to follow.
White Cydia Icon Fix
Sometimes after installing Cydia, you might notice an all white icon. To fix this white icon issue just follow these steps: Open Cydia > Manage > Sources >Edit > Add > Paste the following URL http://apt.saurik.com/cydia-3.7 > Add Source and wait while Cydia updates itself. This should now give you the official Cydia icon.
Cydia has a ton of apps for you to try but some of them can be complicated or not very exciting. This is why we review the best Cydia apps you can download here at AppSafari. To browse our reviews check out the Cydia apps category. We often add new reviews of popular Cydia apps so be sure to come back often.
If you have iOS 4.3.1 you can install Cydia using either redsn0w 0.9.6rc9 (Mac and PC) or PwnageTool 4.3 (Mac only) for an untethered jailbreak.
If you have iOS 4.2.1, you can either use GreenPois0n to do an untethered jailbreak, and you can also try a tethered jailbreak using redsn0w.
With the release of the iPhone 3G which comes with OS 2.0 and the related iPhone pwnage tools many of the apps written for the older Installer.app have to be ported over so developers are working on that. In the next few weeks you will start to see more and more apps in Cydia with lots of cool new features, so check back often.
For Windows users with the iPhone 2.1 software update, you can get both Cydia and Installer on your iPhone really quickly and easily by installing the QuickPwn software on your Windows PC. The entire process is streamlined and takes only a few minutes.
Ultrasn0w for iPhone 3G or 3GS can unlock your iPhone 3G or 3GS with OS 3.0 firmware.
1. Ensure you have upgraded to iPhone OS 3.0
2. Jailbreak your iPhone 3G using redsn0w or PwnageTool & if you have the 3GS use the purplera1n installer app to jailbreak it instead. (after this step you will have Cydia)
3. Run Cydia
4. Add the repo repo666.ultrasn0w.com to Cydia. (that last o is actually the number zero)
5. Search for “ultrasn0w” in cydia and install ultrasn0w
6. Reboot your iPhone 3G
7. T-Mobile USA users should disable 3G before using ultrasn0w
Purplesn0w can also unlock your iPhone 3GS, so use it instead of Ultrasn0w if you wish. The steps are exactly the same as the above. Only use this repo source in Cydia apt.geohot.com and install Purplesn0w from there.
If you have OS 3.1.2 you can use blackra1n or PwnageTool 3.1.4 to jailbreak and get Cydia installed on your iPhone or iPod touch.
If you are running OS 3.1.2, 3.1.3 or 3.2 and want to install Cydia on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, use Spirit. It is simple, takes 30 seconds and best of all it is untethered.
Important: If you install SSH on your device, be sure to change the default root password on your jailbroken device:
1) Install Mobile Terminal From Cydia and run it
2) Type in “su root” and tap return
3) When promted for a password, enter “alpine” hit return
4) Type “passwd” and hit return
5) Type a new password and hit return
6) Re-Enter your new password to confirm and hit return
7) You’re done. You’ve successfully changed your default root password and should feel safer now.
The website jailbreakme 2.0 let’s you install Cydia on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch by just visiting a website, if you have not updated past 4.0.1 yet. No installs or cables needed. Get Cydia in 3 minutes flat.
Most people new to jailbreaking ask the question; is it legal to jailbreak my device?
The answer is, technically yes. Jailbreaking your iPhone will void your contract, but it is not illegal. Having said that, you can restore your device to its factory settings if all else fails as a last resort. Now, it is possible that your device will have issues and you might lose your data stored on the device. This is why it is highly recommended that your always backup your device via iTunes before jailbreaking. This assures that you can restore to a working backup as a worst case scenario.
Cydia keeps getting better on every release and update, and saurik’s support is exceptional. Below are a list of additional features that have been added to Cydia so far.
- Rock was a new mod app store which has been acquired by Cydia.
- Theme Center has been added to Cydia. It gives you the ability to buy and manage jailbreak themes on your iPhone from a single location, as an alternative to a competing app called Theme It. Right now you have a selection of the top selling themes from Cydia in the Theme Center and staff picks. You will soon be able to rate the themes as a user, thanks to the new user account system in Cydia.
- A new user account management system has been added to Cydia that lets users check previously installed packages.
- Cydia is coming to the Mac! Apple is soon to release the Mac App Store. The new Mac App Store won’t allow Mac developers sell in-app purchases for “Lite” apps, create Game Center integration or even to generate promo codes. Since some developers don’t want to deal with going through Apple, Mac Cydia will let you do just that. Contact Cydia via patrick@saurikit.com if you are a developer and want more details on getting your Mac app into the Cydia Mac App Store, set to launch in a few weeks.
- Cydia developers Jay Freeman & chpwn have a new version of Cydia, with full iPad support. It will be out soon with iOS 4.2 jailbreak. Here’s a quick look at how the iPad version of Cydia looks like.
Apple should and sometimes does (folders for example) take a few elements from the Cydia Store and port them to the App Store.
Use iPhone mods and hacks at your own risk! Installing 3rd Party iPhone apps requires you to jailbreak the iPhone before installing the native software and apps. Browse the full list of all iPhone and iPod touch native 3rd party apps filed under the software category.
Cydia Developer’s website is here
Welcome to AppSafari. Our team loves apps and is dedicated to writing iPhone app reviews to help you find the best new & free iPhone apps in the App Store. You can browse the site in either gallery or list layout. Check out our giveaway page to win free apps daily.
Got mail? Subscribe to AppSafari by Email. Watch funny and interesting iPhone Videos gathered from around the web. Pimp your iDevice! Shop for Accessories in the AppSafari Store
can you replace the missing camera icon with this app?
I have cydia on my iPhone 3g but it won’t open. Can you help?
I have cydia on my iPhone 3GS,but it refuse to open whenever I want to open it.So what is my problem by that and any solution? Thanks
Hello! I am need cydia in my phone!! Thank you…
thankzz alot…always backup with antivirus
no matter what software I try redsnow or greenpoison I cannot get my iPhone 3G into DFU mode. Is there anyother way?
how do i get paid things on cydia for free?
use sn0wbreeze to jailbreak 4.3. it is how ever tethered so you will need iBooty as well.
Where/how do i get the cydia,rock account?and where/how do i register for it?
I had been a little bit acquainted of your post offered bright clear concept.Therefore, I will subscribe your blog because you have an awesome post.
Yes I want to know exactly how to jailbreak an iPod touch 3g
Hi
Does anybody know if it’s ok to download some free stuff from apple store with cydia and some apps installed? Does it uninstall them?
Thx for all the help
The Cydia application in my iPhone 3.0 ios stopped opening.I don’t know why.
Hello,
When Apple ever have Cydia in there store as this is so much better!! Gives the iphone an impressive look.
Any answers will be appreciated…
I used purplera1n to jailbreak my 3gs and a pop up came up and told me that it my phone had been successfully jailbreaked. It asked for a donation. The article above says at this poinot I should instantly have cydia but I do not see it.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Hi,
I deleted “Cydia app” by accident. I tried to reinstall it again. But it told me Cydia is already installed. Could you tell me how to get back “Cydia app”?
@Delisa:
I’m still pretty new to jailbreaking, but I don’t think you can ‘delete’ Cydia (atleast not in the normal way: holding down an icon then pressing the “x” when the icons start jiggling).
Are you sure you didn’t just hide it by accident?
SBSettings will allow you to put the Cydia icon in it’s ‘dock’ – thus removing it from the iphone’s homescreen (springboard). You can also ‘hide icons’ directly from within SBSettings.
If you not sure if you have SBSettings installed, drag your finger along the top status bar of your iphone (note: there is no springboard icon for it).
If a menu drops down – that’s SBSettings. Click on the little button that says ‘More’ then take a look in ‘Dock Applications’ and ‘Hide Icons’ to see if Cydia is there.
Hi,
I deleted “Cydia app” by accident. I tried to reinstall it again. But it told me Cydia is already installed. Could you tell me how to get back “Cydia app”?
Thanks!
Delisa
Hey I have installed the GreenPois0n Jail break on to my iPod Touch and for some reason I can’t get onto the internet from my home wireless. How do I fix this?
I need help with cydia on my ipad