Install Android on iPhone

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android on iphoneFinally, it’s now possible to DualBoot  Android on iPhone. Thanks to the work by Linux on the iPhone Project, we are now seeing it running with minor glitches.

The project started more than a year ago and we had seen some non-GUI Linux running on iPhone. Over the year, the project made progress and here we see something that could change the way people use their iPhones.

Update: Newer Easy Guide to Install Android on iPhone 3G, 2G is now available.

Update 2: Install Android 2.2 Froyo on iPhone

Update 3: Install Android 2.2.1 Froyo on iPhone 2G, 3G [Very Easy]

How to Install Android on iPhone

Download the Image from one of the choices:

Download via torrent | Download via SourceForge

Important: Currently it works only with iPhone 2g (original iPhone) but it should soon become pretty easy to port forward to the iPhone 3G. Apparently, The iPhone 3GS would take more work.

If you need any assistance, feel free to drop a note @taranfx on twitter

Instructions – iDroid: Android on your iPhone 2g

Step 1. Jailbreak your iPhone.
Step 2. Unzip the files into a location, say desktop. and replace two files (android.img.gz and system.img) in the prebuilt directory using the files from this archive. However, if your installation fails, (it failed for me when I tried to install using same image on a different iPhone 2g) you should create these 2 files using the process outlined here. [Why? Due to licensing issues, certain files like Multitouch driver, WiFi driver will have to be manually generated]

Step 3. Copy everything from “prebuilt” (i.e.   ramdisk.img, system.img, ramdisk.img, userdata.img, cache.img, android.img.gz, and zImage) into “/private/var” on the iPhone using sftp client like Filezilla, or Winscp (windows).

Step 4. Installing OpeniBoot.

Note: This step requires you to have a running Linux. If you happen to be a Windows users, you can use Ubuntu Live CD and boot with it (or use it in Virtualbox). Also, make sure you have “libusb” installed. If not, get it from Synaptics package manager. (libusb is installed by default on regular installations, not on LIVE CDs)

  1. Put your iPhone into recovery Mode ( Turn the device completely off and disconnect it from cable/dock. Hold down the home button. While holding down the home button connect to a computer with a cable or dock. Keep holding down the home button until you see a connect-to-iTunes screen. You are now in recovery mode)
  2. Navigate to the directory where you unzipped the tar.gz file and then to “utils” directory. i.e. “iDroid > utils”
  3. Copy “loadibec“, “openiboot.img3″ and “oibc” to your home folder. (You can know your home directory using command “cd ~“) and “openiboot.img3” to “utils” directoy of the unzipped files
  4. Open Terminal and run “sudo ./loadibec openiboot.img3“. Doing this will show up openiBoot menu on your iPhone.
  5. Press the Lock button to select the openiboot console, then press the Home button.
  6. Run  “sudo ./oibc“. Terminal should now show the same lines of text that’s displayed on your phone’s screen.
  7. Type “install“. Once done, type “reboot” when you see message “Refreshed Image List” (look at the screenshot below)
  8. The phone would boot back into openiboot. Select Console with Power button and then hold the Home button for more than two seconds to start booting Android.

Running iPhone OS Again

  1. Reboot your iPhone and openiBoot menu would appear again.
  2. Press the Lock (Power) button to highlight the Console option.
  3. Press and hold the Home button for 2 to 3 seconds. This will boot Android.

If you need any assistance, feel free to drop a note @taranfx on twitter

What’s next?

With the project taking shape, soon we would make Android a real alternative a Dual Boot for iPhone users. And finally freedom from Apple’s closed system and Real Flash 10.1 on iPhone!

We write latest in  Google, Android, iPhone and Tech news, Grab them all via @taranfx on Twitter or subscribe below:

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40 thoughts on “Install Android on iPhone”

    • It would soon be ported to 3g, and probably will take a little longer for 3GS. I`ll keep you posted of the progress

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  6. When I try to do this command “”

    sudo ./loadibec openiboot.img3

    I get the following error

    “syntax error “(” unexpected

    Any idea why this happens? Running Ubuntu 9.10

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  7. You actually need to install libusb-1.0.0 on the liveCD for Ubuntu. The CD already comes with liveusb-0.1-4

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  8. YAY, it's been a while since I've been so excited about owning an old iPot 😀

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  9. i completed the process upto step 4 with my iphone 2g but it hanged up. Now it won't restart or repond
    kindly help me.

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    • I think initially its going to have some problem. As someone also mentioned here that Touch screen isnt working. I think we need to check from different users because if Touch screen isnt working which is the essence of smartphones that why we even install Android even we have the option to ?

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  10. Taran, awesome job on the android. Are you planning a 1g/2g ipod touch port as well? Thank you.

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    • The first thing that the developer would do is port it to iPhone 3G (which should be couple of days) then probably we should see some progress for iPod Touch. I`ll keep you updated.

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  11. i installed it but touch screen doesn't work? the home and power button works though.

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  13. Man, it stops at welcome openiboot screen at iphone after loading, and when i type: sudo ./oibc nothing appear on my linux screen. iphone still shows the same welcome message. what's wrong?

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  14. does this delete the files that i already have in iPhone OS?

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  15. man i done all of the guide but when i type install and then reboot it loads alot of text and then stock at welcome to openboot help pleasseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

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    • You missed a file when FTPing. Go back and check everything is in the right spot.

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  17. ok i have ubuntu, i think its 9.1, but i dont have any libusb in my synaptic, and i noticed in another package manager that 0.1-4 is installed, but loadibec openiboot.img3 is telling me it needs libusb 1.0 which is not in any of the visual package managers, nor in aptitude, nor apt-get

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  18. Great guide. I'm running Vista with Ubuntu in Virtual Box and am stuck at the very last step. After running ./oibc, I see the Welcome to OpeniBoot in terminal but when I try to backup the NOR or just run 'install', after hitting enter the cursor goes to the next line without running the code. I've got all the prerequisite packages installed I think. So, instead of installing OpeniBoot, after running the 'sudo ./loadibec', I just ran Android but my data connection and wifi wouldnt work, so I would like to be able to install it on the NOR.

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  19. I have a ipod touch 2g, i am a great hacker, so i can do all this but will the idroid software work on the ipod touch 2g? Im willing to try even if it messes up my ipod(because i have another.)

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    • it works on ipod touch 1g the only reason it does not work on the ipod touch 2g is because openiboot is not ready for ipod touch 2g

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    • Using a tool that someone else made is not hacking you fucking idiot. Its the equivalent of being a script kiddie. So no, you probably are not a great hacker.

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  24. when i try to use the sudo command it said this :

    ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop/Installer$ sudo. /loadibec openiboot.img3
    No command 'sudo.' found, did you mean:
    Command 'sudo' from package 'sudo' (main)
    Command 'sudo' from package 'sudo-ldap' (universe)
    sudo.: command not found

    Any idea???

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  25. ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop/Installer$ sudo. /loadibec openiboot.img3
    No command 'sudo.' found, did you mean:
    Command 'sudo' from package 'sudo' (main)
    Command 'sudo' from package 'sudo-ldap' (universe)
    sudo.: command not found

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