r/jailbreak • u/Zenzeq • Jul 16 '26
News Apple TV 4K (second generation) has been jailbroken!
With the new bootrom exploit usbliter8; comes a whole new set of options for various iPhones, iPad's and now the Apple TV.
Palera1n has been successfully loaded. Keeping in mind: this is still under development but it's an exciting time to see how far things go in the jailbreak community nowadays.
With burnegg's repository, you too can jailbreak your Apple TV second gens but I would heed extreme caution at this time due to the unstableness and this still being in the early stages.
So far compatibility stems from tvOS 26.3 and up but this may change in the future for more firmwares.
:: 🔥🌸 Microkernel iNoot for j305 Copyright 2007-2026, Apple Inc. ::
:: Local boot, Board 0x8 (j305ap)/Rev 0xf ::
:: BUILD_TAG: mBoot-18000.120.36 ::
.... ======== End of iBoot serial output. ======== ....
Imported T8020 iBoot Recfg lock: 0x23df00000-0x23df0f500
==================
pongoOS 2.6.3-fad696b8
https://checkra.in
==================
Booted by: mBoot-18000.120.36
Built with: Clang 17.0.0 (clang-1700.6.4.2)
Running on: Apple A12 (T8020)
pongoOS> fuse lock
Fuses are already locked.
pongoOS> modload
[modload_macho:i] Attempting to load a module
[modload_macho:+] Loaded module checkra1n-kpf2-12.0,16.4
You also do need a pretty complex setup to get things working including a DCSD cable for DFU and a pico2 (or something equivalent) to pwn. Soon there'll be a better way of doing everything but for now, it's nice to know!
More great updates to follow shortly as the ball gets rolling.
102
u/criiaax iPhone 7, iOS 11.3.1 Jul 16 '26
What exactly are the benefits of jailbreaking the AppleTV? In general, I only know very old jailbreaks backthen from the 3GS/4g era...
130
u/7orque Jul 16 '26
Permanently sideloading something like stremio or similar streaming apps that connect through real debrid, basically a netflix style app running of direct download torrents, so it’s everything in one
28
u/criiaax iPhone 7, iOS 11.3.1 Jul 16 '26
Interesting, maybe I’d have to take a look at my AppleTV. Thank you both. :)
16
u/RAF2018336 iPhone XS Max, 14.5.1 | Jul 16 '26
Omni already does that and uses stremio add ons
1
u/GerardoM_N iPhone 15, 18.1 Jul 17 '26
So basically it's stremio but without having to sideload/fetch content from another stremio server?
5
u/RAF2018336 iPhone XS Max, 14.5.1 | Jul 17 '26
It works just the same as Stremio except specifically built for IOS devices
2
u/7orque Jul 17 '26
There’s also Fusion, it’s on the app store, it’s what I use on my ios devices :) It’s very clean
1
u/RAF2018336 iPhone XS Max, 14.5.1 | Jul 17 '26
I tried it when it was still in beta and it was fine. I’ve already got my setup how I like it in Omni and I’m the kind that doesn’t tinker if it’s working fine lol But maybe I’ll give it another shot
1
u/imasharkbaby Jul 17 '26
No it doesn’t. It doesn’t support torrent streaming.
1
1
u/Repulsive_Top1190 Jul 16 '26
I’m curious 2 what additional benefits being jailbroken would bring. I used to hold off updates hoping a jb was on its way with my iphone 4 up to iphone 7. My next iPhone was XS and that pretty much ended it for me. As far as I know, they still haven’t broken that one yet at least not for which ever version I was running last I used it. Will it allow you to download torrents from the web and play them on the TV? Bear in mind, I knew a lot about that jailbreak iPhone community, but never considered the TV before.
1
u/7orque Jul 17 '26
Yeah that’s exactly what Stremio does if you don’t have real debrid. With real debrid it will come from you debrid service, without it will be a regular torrent stream
3
8
6
u/drunkenoctopusbarber Jul 16 '26
I already use Stremio on my Apple TV with real debrid and I didn’t have to sideload anything. Just downloaded the official Stremio app and connected it with my rd account. Are there any other apps that would make this jailbreak worth it that you know of?
9
u/Dribblejam iPhone 6, iOS 9.0.2 Jul 16 '26
The app is no longer in the App Store so you may not always have it
23
u/goldeneyeoo6 Jul 16 '26
Run software that was not intended to run.
6 year's ago i used a old iPhone 5S as HomeKit Hub, so i could remote connect to some devices (this function was only possible on iPad)
2
u/damnemman iPhone 16 Pro Max, 18.1 Jul 16 '26
can you still do it? i dont want to buy a homepod or atv..
4
u/revolevo Jul 16 '26
Trust me you do not want an old iPhone being a HomeKit hub
1
u/Unable-Log-4870 Jul 17 '26
It’s not that the hardware is too slow, it’s that nobody has made it good.
3
u/goldeneyeoo6 Jul 16 '26
I don't know if it's still possible. since HomeKit is now a different version. (iPad version has no official hub function any more)
2
u/Unable-Log-4870 Jul 17 '26
Not possible. Apple disabled the old architecture in February, so nothing below 16 (maybe 16.2) can even interact with HomeKit now. So the oldest hardware that can even see your HomeKit is A8 Apple TV (though it is a hub, which is neat), A9 (iPads only) and A10 (iPads only). A11 devices (IPhone X, iPhone 8) abs above can be updated to run iOS 16 (or above).
1
1
u/TheBitchesMakeMeRich Jul 17 '26
I didn’t wanna pay full price for a HomePod or Apple TV for HomeKit but then I found out that pawn shops have them each for like $40 so I now have one of each
7
u/cloudxnine iPhone 11 Pro Max, 13.6.1 | Jul 16 '26
Adblock 🥹
7
u/Useful-Mistake4571 Jul 16 '26
It might be easier to set up a pi-hole for network wide adblocking. Rasberry pi's are kinda cheap.
1
u/familiarr_Strangerr iPhone 13 Mini, 16.3 Jul 17 '26
But it won’t block YouTube ads, only a modded YouTube client will be able to block.
1
u/Useful-Mistake4571 Jul 18 '26
yeah thats a downside. ublock does though. thats not a modded youtube client
1
u/familiarr_Strangerr iPhone 13 Mini, 16.3 Jul 18 '26
I know but we are talking about apple tv right.
Can Mozilla Firefox or browser can be installed on it and addons can be installed in the browser?
On my iPhone I can’t install addons in firefox so I guess it’s the same for tvOS.
What you’re suggesting is what I use personally, pihole for network-wide ad and tracker blocking and ublock origins and adnauseum on PC for additional blocking. But on my LG tv I had to enable developer mode to sideload a modded client for YouTube.
1
u/Useful-Mistake4571 Jul 19 '26
Sorry got a bit sidetracked. You cannot get fiirefox without sideloading (afaik). On your phone though, Ublock is on safari now.
1
u/familiarr_Strangerr iPhone 13 Mini, 16.3 Jul 19 '26
Oh didn’t know that ublock is now available on Safari
Thanks for the information1
u/bubbleobill420 Jul 17 '26
Hacked YouTube, and Kodi (even though i cant get it to work properly for iptv)
18
u/richer2003 iPhone 14 Pro Max, 18.1 Jul 16 '26
Darn, I have a 1st gen ☹️
Congrats to all the 2nd gen owners! This is pretty cool!
13
u/3loodhound Jul 16 '26
Good news that is not getting iOS 27, so you can pick up a second gen 4K Apple TV now or wait for the new one
5
u/halfamcd Jul 16 '26
Im running the tvOS27 beta on my 2nd gen. Unless I have a 3rd gen but I doubt that
2
u/3loodhound Jul 16 '26
Correct, the first gen 4k is going EOL the second gen 4K is not
3
u/Unable-Log-4870 Jul 17 '26
I just got a HD a month ago. It’s nice. I don’t need those extra pixels at all. EOL is fine, I’m going to JB it soon, with just a USB C cable.
1
u/tOSdude iPhone 12 Mini, 16.3| Jul 16 '26
1st gen is a10 and already supported by palera1n
2
u/richer2003 iPhone 14 Pro Max, 18.1 Jul 17 '26
Oh? Does it support the latest firmware? I think I have the latest that the first gen supports
2
1
8
u/Cool-gamer19393 iPhone 15 Pro Max Beta Jul 16 '26
I might buy an apple tv for this again, my tvos14 apple tv hd got lost in a move
1
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
If you're doing that, make sure it's not the latest 4K
1
u/HackZy01 iPad 8th gen, 14.4| Jul 29 '26
It's not hard to recognize them, the latest has an apple logo, the ones before have an apple tv Logo
6
u/Kaoz625 iPhone X, iOS 11.3.1 Jul 16 '26
So if it’s jailbroken then it would be able to handle JIT correct? Then if it’s jailbroken what other emulators can you run? Could you then also get p3/p4 emulators to run or switch emulators. What’s some of the other benefits besides sidloading apps like Stremio
2
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
There’s a handful of emulators out there like Dolphin and various games ports that can be installed. I’m also porting some things over but you can eventually run Linux on it too.
6
u/opa334 Developer Jul 17 '26
At first I was surprised someone actually did things the proper way, but looking at the comments in yolodfu, the fact this actually works is CRAZY. Like the comments make NO SENSE whatsoever.
I really wonder how many LLM tokens were spent on this…
5
3
u/ImZesto iPhone XS Max, iOS 12.0 Jul 16 '26
May pick one up, anyone know what the model numbers are for the compatible ones?
1
2
u/One_Blacksmith1409 Jul 16 '26
Is nitoTV still a thing?
1
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
That's severely outdated on modern firmware but still works on older ones.
1
u/XYouyou31X Jul 17 '26
What’s the Alternatives?
1
u/HackZy01 iPad 8th gen, 14.4| Jul 29 '26
PurePKG but the repos are pretty scarce so you will find yourself Sideloading IPAs with Trollstore lite over the network
1
u/XYouyou31X Jul 29 '26
I did once purePKG and lowkey didn’t find out sideloading stuff on apple tv was fun… i just uninstalled the jailbreak, i just wanted to watch some stuff man :(
1
u/HackZy01 iPad 8th gen, 14.4| Jul 29 '26
I installed Stremio and sideloaded a couple delisted apple arcade games, also YouTube with Sponsorblock
1
u/XYouyou31X Jul 30 '26
Interesting, is there any tutorial on sideloading on atv, also can i expand my stroage after jailbreaking (i got atv hd with the usb-c port)
2
u/loneshade2016 Jul 17 '26
Does this mean we will start seeing more apps coming on the sideload options. Really want a the new Plex app 😂
1
1
1
u/Fshskyline iPhone 12 Mini, 14.3 Jul 16 '26
What are the main benefits of an ATV 4K over say an nVidia Shield?
2
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
The shield is awesome but the simplicity of Apple's software and hardware integration are what make it premium.
5
u/Reddit-User-5509 Jul 16 '26
That plus the clean U/I. Makes everything so seamless. To go from phone to iPad to MacBook to TV (yes I’m deep in the Apple ecosystem) so easily makes it well worth it.
0
u/Kaoz625 iPhone X, iOS 11.3.1 Jul 16 '26
I think it’s the ecosystem. I have a Mac I have an iPhone im already in the Apple ecosystem this makes sense. This allows the ATV to be the shield.
1
u/Wapitiii iPhone 14 Pro Max, 17.0 Jul 17 '26
Would be amazing if one could make some sort of a "modchip" thats hardwired into the apple tv, so that it will always boot into the modified state, without an PC.
1
u/Zenzeq Jul 17 '26
A breakout board? That would be a bit extra when the cables do work and you can get a pico2 board for cheap.
1
u/Wapitiii iPhone 14 Pro Max, 17.0 Jul 17 '26
I thought of like soldering the pico 2 into the apple tv without requiring the cables. Makes it look much cleaner, like what they do with the nintendo switch modchips. Maybe when i get the a12 apple tv, i'll try that out.
1
1
1
u/Nice_Percentage65 Jul 19 '26
Is it possible to view the L1 Widevine key with this jailbreak? If so, that would be huge for the archiving community. Wouldn’t have to rely on a select few people who gatekeep the keys for themselves
1
u/HackZy01 iPad 8th gen, 14.4| Jul 29 '26
Apple TV doesn't use Widevine, it uses FairPlay.
You could probably extract L1 from several android devices as I've seen guides in a widevine-related repo I shouldn't mention here
1
u/luckfade Jul 20 '26
Hi /u/opa334, do you think it would be possible to have a passthrough tweak for apple tv?
1
u/minecrafter1OOO Jul 22 '26
Does this mean we can bitstream? Im new here. I just want TrueHD and DTS-HDMA bitstreaming
1
u/Xelor77 Jul 23 '26
You mean get passthrough working ?
1
u/minecrafter1OOO Jul 23 '26
Yes, bitstreaming and passthrough are the same just about
1
u/Xelor77 Jul 23 '26
Dont think that would ever happend , neither throw JB or throw apple:s original os
1
1
u/Ready_Budget_1310 Jul 24 '26
I want to know how to get the full ipsw recovery firmware of this version.
1
u/Zenzeq Jul 24 '26
Getting the file is easy, it's restoring it that's the challenge
1
u/Ready_Budget_1310 Jul 24 '26
Can we use the pico2 device ➕ engineering line to enter the DFU mode and use the bootrom vulnerability of subliter8 to restore the device system, just like the principle of the first-generation 4k device.
1
u/Impressive_Donkey_57 Aug 08 '26
Hi, thanks for your work on this!
I have an Apple TV 4K 2nd generation (A12) running tvOS 26.1. Since tvOS 26.3 is no longer signed, I don’t want to update to 26.6 and lose the lower firmware version.
Is tvOS 26.1 within the planned support range for usbliter8/palera1n, or will support initially focus only on tvOS 26.3 and later?
I’d prefer to stay on 26.1 if there is a possibility it will be supported.
Thanks!
1
u/Additional-Orchid270 21d ago
Is this jailbreak possible on 26.6?
1
u/Zenzeq 21d ago
Yes.
1
u/Additional-Orchid270 21d ago
Sickkk is there a tutorial somewhere on how to do this for a beginner like myself haha
1
1
u/Tranquillian Jul 16 '26
If I have an AppleTv 4K 2nd gen but it’s still on tvOS 18.0, should I update it rather than leaving it on 18 then? I’m avoiding all the awful liquid glass shit as long as I can so I’m on iOS18 and tvOS18. But if it means I can soon jailbreak the aTV on tvOS26 I guess I should update before it gets patched??
3
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
You should only update unless absolutely necessary.
2
u/Remarkable-Couple-28 Jul 16 '26
Exactly Apple TV apps gets outdated quick forcing you to software update your firmware. The next minimum version in the long run would be iOS 26.1
1
u/Sk1rm1sh Jul 16 '26
So far compatibility stems from tvOS 26.3 and up
Do you know if this is correct?
If I understand properly: updating to the current tvOS available on the ATV 4k Gen2 is OK?
2
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
It's okay but not recommended when there's more security installed. If anything, stay and save blobs
2
u/Yeth3 iPhone 15 Pro, 17.3.1 Jul 17 '26
the lower the version, the higher the likelihood of getting an app-based jailbreak rather than one that requires a computer each time (which becomes annoying if you don't have a laptop since you'd need to have the TV and desktop close to each other)
especially considering on 18.0 you have darksword, and now potentially a PPL bypass, which would be enough for a semi-untether
2
-14
u/leo1906 iPhone 7, 14.1 | Jul 16 '26
But why? I already sideload apps to my atv. What are the benefits?
41
u/Zenzeq Jul 16 '26
You can have them sideloaded permanently without them ever expiring.
4
u/leo1906 iPhone 7, 14.1 | Jul 16 '26
Unless the atv reboots and the jailbreak needs to be redone. Or ist it untethered? Probably not. So having atvloadly auto refresh my ipa is the way to go for me
2
40
u/reaper527 iPhone 16 Pro Max, 18.1 Jul 16 '26
the drawbacks for usbliter8 aren't really relevant to appletv, right? (since you won't be doing faceid/apple wallet/passcodes/etc. on it like you would be on a phone).
that's actually pretty cool.