Apple TV 4: jailbreak for tvOS 9 - does it work?

The jailbreak for the 4th generation Apple TV appeared at the end of March. This runs with tvOS 9, which is based on iOS 9. We show you what the jailbreak can do, what requirements are mandatory and how you install it.

Apple TV 4: when does the jailbreak for tvOS 9 come?

• The first jailbreak for the Apple TV 4 was released on March 23. This is what the developers of the Pangu jailbreak announced. The Pangu team has already developed the popular jail breaks for iOS 8 and iOS 9.
• The new 4th generation Apple TV runs on tvOS 9. The operating system is relatively similar to iOS 9 and therefore offers the same points of attack. However, the normal user will be relatively disappointed with the first jailbreak, more on that below.
• A jailbreak was also released years ago for the somewhat older Apple TV 2. The Apple TV 3 was overlooked in the development of jail breaks, and not a single functional jailbreak has appeared to date.

Apple TV: jailbreak for tvOS 9

• The Apple TV 4 can only be jailbroken via SSH access. According to Pangu, the jailbreak is primarily intended only for security vulnerability testing and for other jailbreak developers.
• Since a graphic interface is completely missing in the first version, the jailbreak is not suitable for laypersons. To connect the Apple TV 4 to your Mac, you need a USB-C cable.
• Since the jailbreak was only published recently, the range of apps is still limited. Inexperienced users will hopefully have a much easier time with the next jailbreak.

Preparing to install the Apple TV jailbreak

• The jailbreak for the Apple TV 4 only runs under tvOS 9.0 or 9.0.1. If you have already updated to tvOS 9.1 or 9.2, a downgrade is no longer possible.
• It can take several weeks to months for the jailbreak to be adapted for the latest versions. If you want to use the jailbreak in the future, you should no longer install updates for the time being.
• If you don't know which version of tvOS is installed, just take a quick look: Open the "Settings" on the Apple TV and select the "Info" item under "General".
• Switch off the automatic updates so that the jailbreak can be installed in the future. To do this, open the "System" category in "Settings" and then "Software update". Deactivate the "Update automatically" option here.

Instructions: Install jailbreak on the Apple TV 4

Currently you can only install the jailbreak with a Mac or MacBook. Further requirements such as a free developer account and the Xcode software are included in the following instructions. Before proceeding, issue the automatic updates using the instructions above.

1. First download the programming software Xcode from the publisher Apple and install it. Connect the Apple TV 4 to your Mac using a USB cable.
2. Open the following Apple website and log in with your account. Activate the available option below and click on "Submit". Now you have a free developer account with Apple.
3. Download the Pangu jailbreak for the Apple TV and the iOS app signer. Extract the ZIP files on the desktop.
4. Start Xcode and click on the item of the same name in the menu bar. Under "Preferences" select the "Accounts" and add your Apple ID.
5. Now select a "Project" in Xcode under "File" and "New". Click on "Application" under "tvOS" on the left and select a "Single View Application".
6. Click on the "Next" button and enter "Jailbreak", your name and "com.jailbreak.appletv" in the top three lines. The project is created via "Next" and "Create".
7. Click on "Product" at the top of the menu bar and select "Apple TV" under "Destination". Select the version "9.0" below under "Deployment Target".
8. Select the previously used Apple ID under "Team" and click the "Fix Issue" button if necessary. Once this is done, Xcode can be minimized.
9. Open the iOS App Signer, click on the "Browse" button and select the jailbreak folder from the desktop. Select the "atvipa" file in the "Payload" folder and click on "Open" at the bottom right.
10. Select your Apple ID in line two and the entry "com.jailbreak.appletv" in line three. Click on "Start", change the location to the desktop and click on the "Save" button. The Signer app can be closed.
11. Open Xcode again and select the category "Devices" under "Window". Select the Apple TV on the left, click the plus icon at the bottom and select the IPA file from your desktop.
12. After a short wait, the Pangu app appears on your Apple TV. If you start the application on the Apple TV, the jailbreak will be installed. With the IP address of the Apple TV you can now access it via SSH.

3 reasons for the jailbreak

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to install the Pangu jailbreak for iOS 9 and thus free your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch from Apple's bonds.