Since it includes modifying the operating system (enforced by a 'locked bootloader'), installing non-officially approved (not available on the App Store) applications via sideloading, and granting the user elevated administration-level privileges (rooting), the concepts of iOS jailbreaking are therefore technically different from Android device rooting.Įxpanding the feature set that Apple and its App Store have restricted is one of the motivations for jailbreaking. While sometimes compared to rooting an Android device, jailbreaking bypasses several types of Apple prohibitions for the end-user. Apple views jailbreaking as a violation of the end-user license agreement and strongly cautions device owners not to try to achieve root access through the exploitation of vulnerabilities. Different devices and versions are exploited with a variety of tools. A jailbroken device permits root access within the operating system and provides the right to install software unavailable through the App Store. Typically it is done through a series of kernel patches. On Apple devices running iOS and iOS-based operating systems, jailbreaking is the use of a privilege escalation exploit to remove software restrictions imposed by the manufacturer. Not to be confused with bootloader unlocking or SIM unlocking.