Jailbreak
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Jailbreaking, in general, consists of bypassing artificial restrictions of a system.[1]
When referred to as rooting, it consist of gaining access to the SuperUser account of the system, or at least, to get the same permissions as that user.
It is worth noting that the terms "to root a device" and "rooting a device" are misleading, as root is a concept that only exists when a kernel is running. Rooting is performed on software, not hardware.
Reasons to jailbreak
Jailbreaking enables users to install unsigned applications and tweak functionality of the OS.[2]
Legality
| Country | Legal? | Details and Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 | Germany | Yes | [3] |
| 🇺🇸 | United States of America | Yes | Jailbreaking was declared exempt from the DMCA in 2010[4] |
| 🇬🇧 | United Kingdom | Yes | Legal if you are not downloading pirated software.[5] |
Further reading
References
- ↑ "JAILBREAK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "FAQ | iOS Guide".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Aschermann, Tim (2018-09-07). "iPhone/iPad Jailbreak - legal oder illegal?". CHIP. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ↑ Kravets, David (July 26, 2010). "U.S. Declares iPhone Jailbreaking Legal, Over Apple's Objections".
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Is jailbreaking iphone illegal in UK?". Student Room. Retrieved 3 September 2025.