How to update your iPhone 4 or 3GS to iOS 5.1.1 while preserving its baseband

Just as the title suggests, you are here to learn how to update your iPhone to iOS 5.1.1 while preserving your baseband. But before we start let me just write down some technical know-how for the newbie users.  Unlocking is a way of not not being dependant on only one carrier and its monthly charges, unlocking your phone means removing any restrictions it may have regarding what carrier can you use. This way you can insert any sim you like and use it as nature intended. Not being tied down to only one carrier also gives you a major advantage when going abroad because you can simply just buy a local SIM card and call people at more down to earth fees and not use those ridiculous roaming charges.

But, unlocking can only be done on phones that have certain baseband versions and because the baseband is updated alongside the firmware when you do it through iTunes you must use this method, so you can only update your firmware and not your baseband too.

Note: This guide is only for the Windows users!

Note: While this is not mandatory or required it would be good if you can sync and backup your iPhone with iTunes to make sure you’ll save all your important data (photos, music, documents, settings and contacts)

Let us begin, start off by downloading Sn0wbreeze v2.9.5.

Step 1. After you download Sn0wbreeze go ahead and extract it on your desktop.

Step 2.   Once Sn0wbreeze is extracted double click the .exe file.  You must give Sn0wbreeze administrative privileges!

Step 3. Upon launching Sn0wbreeze you will be greeted by a few pop-up windows. Please read them all and click OK.

Step 4. Next you’ll get to the starting screen of SnowBreeze. To continue please click the Blue arrow

Step 5. Now you have to click on the browse button and select the iOS 5.1.1 firmware by clicking Browse for an IPSW. If you have not downloaded the iOS 5.1.1 firmware yet then you can click on the Download iOS firmwares button and start filling out the necessary information.

Step 7.  After you’ve selected the correct firmware Sn0wbreeze will check it and give you an a-ok when the firmware has been correctly identified.

Step 8.  On the next screen you will be shown 4 options, the iFaith mode, the Simple mode, the Expert mode and the Baseband preservation mode.  You must now click on the Baseband Preservation Mode option.

Step 9.  Sn0wbreeze shall begin to create your very own custom iOS 5.1.1 firmware that will keep your current baseband version intact. Please be patient as this process can take up to 30 minutes depending on the performance of your computer.  After it’s done, you’ll find the custom firmware file on your desktop.

Note: As a totally cool added bonus you can play pacman while waiting for Sn0wbreeze to create your custom firmware.

Step 10. Once Sn0wbreeze has finished creating your custom IPSW you will need to put your Iphone in DFU mode. When you’re ready press the OK button and just follow the instructions that Sn0wbreeze will give you.

Step 11. If the phone has been correctly put in DFu mode iTunes should pop up and notify you that there is a iDevice in recovery mode. Sn0wbreeze will also notify you that iReb is successfully running.

Step 12. After this you must open iTunes, hold down the Shift key and press on Restore. Note: Make sure you select the correct firmware file, which is the one that has the “sn0wbreeze_” prefix.

If done correctly, with the help of this guide you have now updated to iOS 5.1.1 while preserving your baseband. Cheers!