How to SSH Into an iPhone: Complete Tutorial

Jailbreaking your iPhone

Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable. iTunes will launch automatically upon recognizing your iPhone.

Click on your iPhone within the left sidebar of your iTunes session.

Click on “Back Up Now” so iTunes can save a recent copy of all your data. Jailbreaking your iPhone will wipe all data from your device.

Download and install the correct jailbreaking software for the iOS version installed on your iPhone.

Launch the jailbreak software and follow the on-screen prompts to jailbreak your iPhone. The Cydia app will display in the Apps folder after your iPhone has been successfully jailbroken.

Click on “Restore” in iTunes after your iPhone has been jailbroken.

Follow the on-screen prompts in iTunes to finish restoring your personal data to your iPhone.

Disconnect your iPhone from your computer, and close iTunes.

Using Cyberduck

Download and install Cyberduck on your computer from the Mac App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cyberduck/id409222199?mt=12. If using a Windows-based PC, copy and paste the following link into a new browser tab to install a beta version of Cyberduck on your computer: update.cyberduck.ch/windows/Cyberduck-Installer-4.0.1.exe

Launch the Cyberduck application after installation is complete.

Click on “Open Connection” at the top left corner of Cyberduck. The “Server” window will display on-screen.

Launch the Cydia application on your iPhone. Cydia is located in the Apps folder on jailbroken iOS devices.

Search for and install the “OpenSSH” application available from Cydia.

Tap on the Home button, then tap on “Settings.”

Tap on “Wi-Fi,” then tap on the blue arrow displayed to the right of your wireless network.

Type the IP address displayed on your iPhone into the “Server” field in Cyberduck.

Select “SFTP” from the dropdown menu displayed above the Server field.

Type “22” into the Port field.

Type “root” into the username field, and “alpine” into the password field.

Click on “Connect.” The complete file system of your iPhone will display on-screen, and you can now make changes as desired to the hard drive of your iPhone. Click on “Allow” to proceed if you receive an error that reads “Unknown Host” when attempting to establish a connection between your iPhone and computer.