Why Your Jailbroken iPhone Is Stuck in Read Only Mode and What to Do

PDF download Download Article
Fix the “Read-only file system” error on a jailbroken iPhone
PDF download Download Article

Did you recently jailbreak your iPhone, only to encounter a frustrating “dpkg error: Read-only file system” message when attempting to install or use a tweak? There are a few different issues that can trigger this error. Sometimes the solution is as simple as changing your file system’s access permissions, but in other cases, this error can indicate a more serious problem. In this article, we’ll cover the most common causes and fixes, and also explain what to do if your iPhone is stuck in Recovery Mode after a jailbreak.

How to Fix a Read-Only Error on a Jailbroken iPhone

First, try remounting your system as R/W. If you used palera1n to jailbreak your iPhone, you can do this by opening the palera1n loader app and selecting Remount R/W . If that doesn’t work, you may be trying to use an incompatible tweak, or you might need to re-jailbreak your phone.

Section 1 of 2:

Read-Only File System Error: Causes and Solutions

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Try remounting your system as read/write. In some cases, fixing this problem is simply a matter of changing your file system’s access permissions. This is a common issue in palera1n. If you see the “dpkg error: Read-only file system” notification, try the following solution: [1]
    • Open the palera1n loader app on your iPhone.
    • Tap the gear icon.
    • Select Remount R/W .
    • Retry the operation that originally triggered the error.
  2. 2
    You may see this error when using tweaks that don’t support rootless jailbreaks. With the release of iOS 15, certain parts of your iPhone’s system are now completely inaccessible. These system files are locked inside the SSV, or Sealed System Volume. For this reason, many recent jailbreaks, such as palera1n for iOS 15+, are “rootless” (meaning that they work without accessing or changing parts of your system that require root privileges). [2] Trying to use an older tweak that was designed for full-root environment with one of these rootless jailbreaks may result in a “read-only file system” error.
    • Check with the developer of the tweak you’re trying to use. They may have an updated version that works with rootless jailbreaks.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Re-jailbreak your iPhone. If something went wrong with the jailbreaking process, it could trigger a variety of issues, including the “Read-only file system” error. When other troubleshooting steps don’t work, your best bet may be to unjailbreak your iPhone and then jailbreak it again.
    4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 2:

iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Use an exit recovery command. If your iPhone keeps booting up in recovery mode after you jailbreak it, something probably went wrong during the jailbreaking process. You can use a utility like FutureRestore or a command line tool like irecovery while your iPhone is plugged into your computer to force the recovery loop to stop. Try one of the following commands: [3]
    • Futurerestore : --exit-recovery
    • Irecovery : irecovery -n
    • Palera1n : palera1n -n
  2. 2
    Run the apfs-reseal script. If the Secure System Volume is accidentally compromised during the jailbreaking process, it could cause your iPhone to get stuck in Recovery Mode. [4] You may be able to resolve this issue by running the apfs-reseal script while your iPhone is connected to a Mac (this script is only fully functional on macOS): [5]
    • Open a terminal and enter the following series of commands:
      • sudo xcode-select --install
      • sudo xcodebuild -license accept
      • /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
      • brew tap esolitos/ipa
      • brew install esolitos/ipa/sshpass libimobiledevice jq python3
      • sudo python3 -m pip install pyimg4 remotezip
      • sudo curl -Lo /usr/local/bin/irecovery https://github.com/palera1n/palera1n/raw/legacy/binaries/Darwin/irecovery
      • sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/irecovery
      • sudo curl -Lo /usr/local/bin/palera1n https://github.com/palera1n/palera1n/releases/download/v2.0.0-beta.6.2/palera1n-macos-universal
      • sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/palera1n
      • git clone https://github.com/0xallie/apfs-reseal
      • cd apfs-reseal
      • ./apfs_reseal.command
  3. 3
    Restore your iPhone in Finder or iTunes. If your iPhone is stuck in a recovery loop and you can’t get an exit recovery command to work, you may be able to restore or update your iPhone on your computer in Finder or iTunes. After that, you’ll have to attempt to jailbreak your phone again. [6]
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • Apple does not recommend jailbreaking your iPhone, since it can make your system unstable and leave it vulnerable to security breaches. [7] Always proceed with caution and read any developer documentation carefully before you jailbreak your phone or install tweaks.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get Past the Activation Lock on an iPhone or iPad without the Seller
      8 Easy Fixes for iPhone Messages that Won't Finish Indexing
      How to
      Automatically Forward Text Messages to Another Phone
      How to
      Bypass Your Screen Time Passcode: Reset, Remove, or Hack Screen Time
      How to
      Hard Reset an iPhone
      10 Simple Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android That Won’t Send Pictures
      2 Ways to Factory Reset iPhone Without Apple ID Password
      4 Ways to Find Your Lost iPhone When It’s Offline or Dead
      How to
      Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
      Apple ID Sign Out Unavailable? Here's How to Fix It
      How to
      Use the iPhone Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos
      Malware on iPhone: Signs of Infection & How to Get Rid of It
      How to
      Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message: Explanation and Fixes
      Turn Off Location Sharing on an iPhone Without Anyone Knowing
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://github.com/kitty915/palera1n-mod/blob/main/COMMONISSUES.md
      2. ↑ https://docs.website-msw.pages.dev/docs/reference/environment-types/
      3. ↑ https://github.com/palera1n/palera1n?tab=readme-ov-file#device-support
      4. ↑ https://docs.website-msw.pages.dev/docs/troubleshoot/troubleshooting-steps/#timed-out-waiting-for-download-mode
      5. ↑ https://github.com/lunaynx/apfs-reseal/blob/main/README.md
      6. ↑ https://docs.website-msw.pages.dev/docs/troubleshoot/troubleshooting-steps/#timed-out-waiting-for-download-mode
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/unauthorized-modification-of-ios-iph9385bb26a/ios

      About This Article

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement