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Jailbreaking consists of removing restrictions (or "locks") in order to be able to make changes to a piece of technology (e.g. running modified software), in a way that is unintended by the company or person that produced it. The term is more often used when referring to Apple/iOS devices than Android devices.[1][2]
When it comes to Android, it is more often referred to as rooting. It consists of gaining access to the same permissions as the superuser account of the system, and does not make changes to the hardware.[citation needed (12 Mar 2026)]
Reasons to jailbreak
Jailbreaking enables users to install unsigned applications and tweak functionality of the OS, being able to have complete control of the owned device.[3]
Legality
| Country | Legal? | Details and Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 | Germany | Yes | Legal if you are not downloading pirated software.[4] |
| 🇵🇱 | Poland | Yes | Legal if you are not downloading pirated software[5] |
| 🇺🇸 | United States of America | Yes | Jailbreaking was declared exempt from the DMCA in 2010[6] |
| 🇬🇧 | United Kingdom | Yes | Legal if you are not downloading pirated software.[7] |
Further reading
References
- ↑ "jailbreak". Cambridge Dictionary. 12 Mar 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "JAILBREAK Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) (Archived) - ↑ "FAQ | iOS Guide". cfw. 2025-09-24. Archived from the original on 2025-12-26. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Aschermann, Tim (2018-09-07). "iPhone/iPad Jailbreak - legal oder illegal?". CHIP. Archived from the original on 2025-08-11. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
- ↑ Różańska, Joanna (2022-12-20). "Co to jest jailbreak?". NordVPN. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Kravets, David (July 26, 2010). "U.S. Declares iPhone Jailbreaking Legal, Over Apple's Objections". WIRED. Archived from the original on 2025-12-31. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Elmore, John (2025-01-27). "Unlocking the Truth: Is Jailbreaking Legal in the UK?". TheTechyLife. Archived from the original on 2026-01-11. Retrieved 2026-01-11.