GitHub - Jinketomy-Masheldia/uPhone: ubuntu for iPhone 7 / 7 Plus

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uPhone

uPhone is an experimental dual-boot project for iPhone 7/7 Plus devices, allowing iOS 13.X and Ubuntu 22.04 to coexist.Basic hardware such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the touchscreen may work, (you can use Bluetooth keyboard / mouse / headphones, speakers and other Bluetooth devices.), but many other components, including the GPU, are likely non-functional. Devices with aftermarket modifications or third-party components may not function correctly.

It creates a USB gadget interface on the host. Set its IP to 172.16.1.2/255.255.255.0 to access the iPhone at 172.16.1.1.

In the default Ubuntu desktop, color display may be incorrect (red and blue channels are swapped). This issue is not yet fixed. Using XFCE4 can provide correct colors.

This project is intended for personal research only. It involves many high-risk operations that may permanently damage your device. Use at your own risk.

Ubuntu Xfce4
Ubuntu on iPhone Ubuntu on iPhone with xfce4

⚠️ Disclaimer

  • The project does not guarantee success.
  • The author is not responsible for any device damage, data loss, or other consequences.
  • In theory, this sets up iOS and Ubuntu dual-boot without losing iOS data, but risks remain.
  • Back up all important files before proceeding. Ensure there is no critical data stored on the device.
  • Follow instructions exactly as described.

📋 Requirements

  • Device: iPhone 7 / 7 Plus only
  • iOS Version: 13.X (other versions are not supported)
    • The project does not support tethered downgrade devices.
  • Device Storage: Recommended 128 GB or higher
  • Dependencies on Host Computer:
    • adb
    • iproxy
    • sshpass
    • debootstrap
    • libusb-1.0-dev
    • binwalk
    • lzma / xz
    • qemu-user-static (for non-arm64 devices)
    • Standard Linux build tools (gcc, make,etc.)
    • etc.

Optional but recommended: Backup your SHSH blobs and perform a clean restore before proceeding. For a clean iOS 13.X installation, you may use the Turdus merula tool.

🚀 Usage Guide

  1. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/Jinketomy-Masheldia/uPhone
cd uPhone

  2. Set up resources:

    bash ./01-setup-resources.sh

    Do this first before running any other scripts.

  3. Prepare rootfs:

    bash ./02-setup-rootfs.sh

  4. Partition the device:

    • Prerequisite: Jailbreak iOS using utils/jailbreak-ios.sh

    • After the first jailbreak, please use the Checkra1n Loader application to install Cydia and other jailbreak components.

    • Note: This operation will remove all snapshots and you will be unable to remove the jailbreak.

    • run

    During this step, an Android image will also be installed to help install the Ubuntu rootfs.Make sure to shrink iOS properly; remaining space will be allocated to Ubuntu.

  5. Install Ubuntu rootfs:

    • Prerequisite: Start Android using utils/boot-android.sh and connect to your computer

    • Run:

      bash ./04-install-rootfs.sh

  6. Build the Linux kernel and dtbpack:

    bash ./05-build-kernel-dtb.sh

    All compilation steps are performed inside the previously prepared rootfs using chroot, so they will not affect the host system or its dependencies.

  7. Boot Ubuntu:

    • First, boot pongoOS using:
    bash ./utils/boot-pongoOS.sh
    • Then boot Ubuntu with:
    bash ./utils/boot-ubuntu.sh

🔹 Utility Scripts Notes

Script Requirement / Prerequisite Description
backup-ubuntu.sh Booted to Android Backup the Ubuntu installed on iPhone
boot-android.sh Start from PongoOS Boot Android to install rootfs
boot-linux-sshrd.sh Start from PongoOS Boot a minimal Linux ramdisk for maintenance purposes
boot-pongoOS.sh Start from iOS / recovery Boot PongoOS
boot-ubuntu.sh Start from PongoOS Boot Ubuntu
uninstall-ubuntu.sh Jailbroken iOS Remove Ubuntu and reclaim the storage space

Note: To boot pongoOS, you must use a USB-A port. USB-C is not supported. If the process repeatedly hangs or fails, it is recommended to restart both your computer and the iPhone.

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