How to Update and Upgrade iPod Touch to Firmware OS 3.0 For Free
Apple has release iPhone and iPod Touch firmware OS software version 3.0. The firmware 3.0 is a major update that adds tons of new features to the portable device. While all generations of original iPhone and iPhone 3G entitles to free upgrade to iPhone OS 3.0 software update, both 1st generation and 2nd generation iPod Touch 2G is required to pay $9.95 to upgrade to to OS 3.0.
Bypass and skip the payment to Apple. It’s obviously unfair practice by Apple towards iPod Touch, who properly do not incur recurring charges. Use the following guide on how to upgrade and update to iPod Touch OS 3.0 software update firmware for free without cost.
How to Upgrade or Update iPod Touch to OS 3.0 Firmware For Free
- Download and install iTunes 8.2 or higher version.
- Download iPod Touch 2G OS firmware 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file, iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw or iPod Touch 1G OS firmware 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file, iPod1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw via the iPhone OS 3.0 software update direct download links.
Note: If the downloaded file is in ZIP format (iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.zip) , then rename the extension from .zip to .ipsw. If the file name is been appended with .zip extension, such as iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw.zip, just remove the .zip off the filename.
If you encounter “an error occurred while processing your request” error message when attempting to download iPod Touch firmware, download the IPSW files from here (for 1st generation iPod Touch) or here (for 2nd generation iPod Touch).
- Plug in and connect the iPod Touch to computer.
- Run iTunes 8.2 or higher.
- Select the iPod Touch from Devices list.
- Optional but recommended, take a backup of the iPod in case of accidental file lost.
- Now there are two ways to update iPod Touch. For user who want to clean and fresh upgrade the iPod Touch, without retaining any existing songs, musics, videos, movies, apps and other media or data files on iPod Touch (mean you will be losing all files stored on iPod Touch), follows these steps:
- In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Restore.
In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and left click Restore.
For user who want to retain and save everything that has been uploaded and stored on iPod Touch or ensure that the media is untouched (not losing any files), follow these steps instead:
- On the iTunes main screen, there should be 2 options: “Check for update” and “Restore”. Click on Check for update.
- A web page showing the iPod Touch OS firmware 3.0 features and offering option to buy for $9.99 will be loaded and shown. Click on Cancel.
- iTunes will return to the previous iPod Touch main page. However, the “Check for update” option has now been change to “Update.
- In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Update.
In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and left click Update.
- In Windows environment, press and hold Shift key and left click Restore.
- Locate and select iPod Touch OS 3.0 Apple Device Software Update IPSW file downloaded in step above.
- The update process will start. iPod may reboot a few times. Do not disconnect iPod Touch until iTunes has completed updating iPod Touch.
- Once upgrading is done, the iPod Touch will be on OS firmware 3.0, for free without any cent been paid.
- Optionally, if you have choose to restore iPod Tunes to firmware OS software 3.0 at factory default, iTunes will offer option to either create a new iPod or restore it from backup. For user already created a backup of iPod, just restore the date files to upgraded iPod Touch.
Note: If there is an error when iTunes attempts to recognize iPod Touch, just unplug and plug the iPod back in again.
Related Articles
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- iPhone and iPod Touch Firmware Software 2.2 Direct Download Links
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- Apple Releases iPhone 1.1.4 And iPod Touch 1.1.4 Updated Firmware
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- Downgrade iPhone on Firmware OS 3.0 to Older 2.2.1 in Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU) Recovery Mode
Entries (RSS)
July 10th, 2009 04:44
I have the iPod Touch version (2G) 2.2.1 and downloaded this Firmware from this site, but when I held shift and clicked Restore & selected the downloaded firmware, a pop up appears saying “the ipod could not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible.” Is there any other links or versions of this firmware I can download?
July 9th, 2009 12:31
worked perfectly thank you so much
July 9th, 2009 04:45
I can’t get it to work, I always get the error message saying Ipod can not be updated because the firmware file is not compatible. I’m at version 2.2.1
July 9th, 2009 03:19
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you xxxx
July 9th, 2009 02:01
Thanks so much! I was JUST about to pay my $9.95, when I decided to do a Google search on this update. Your site came up, and the reviews were positive, so I gave it a chance.
I Ran into problems with the direct link (got the aforementioned error message) for 2.1, but it worked like a charm after I downloaded the file.
July 7th, 2009 04:27
THIS WORKED PERFECTLY!!! I am so happy, I thought I would have to go buy this with my own money. I didn’t have any left because I just bought my 2G iPod touch. I was so happy when I found this site. Thank you so much! next time apple makes some dumb update you have to pay for, PLEASE make another page like this where you can get it for free. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
July 7th, 2009 03:33
thks for posting; did not work on my 1G itouch, using software 1.1.5 right now…
any suggestions>??
July 7th, 2009 03:16
found my old 32GB touch, 1st generation and it is presently running software version 1.1.5;
tried the above method and didnt work; had to do a full restore..?
any suggestions to what i should be doing? thx!
July 7th, 2009 00:32
you are the best!!!!!! thank you sooooo much!!!!!
July 6th, 2009 21:54
wow, I bought my iPod touch 2G yesterday and today I upgraded it to OS 3.0 after reading this post. It works great. thanks a lot. I also used the link in comment #9 which works well
July 6th, 2009 06:24
Thanks for the info.
I’m on Mac, and the previous guide I said told me to hold “Shift” when choosing the “Update” button, but thank you for including Mac OS X instructions as well and telling me to press “Option” in stead. Big help!
July 6th, 2009 00:50
great, works bueno
July 5th, 2009 14:06
thanks (: works fine for me
July 4th, 2009 23:59
Links in the original post don’t work anymore – however the one in comment #9 by squirrelking does. Upgraded my iPod and it works great! Love landscape keyboard!
July 4th, 2009 13:07
hi there ive downloaded the file for the 2nd gen itouch but when i click on the shift button as i click it dosnt let me choose location it just continues on its own i am useing acer laptop aspire 6920 itunes version 8.2 is there a setting or sumthing im missing to do my itouch is 2nd gen 16gb and is not jailbroken!! is it a requierment to have it jailbroken??? please advise thanks
July 4th, 2009 08:58
Thank you so much! My brother (a computer expert), was slightly cynical and worried for my new ipod, but the upgrade worked like a charm! Ive been using my now-3.0 device for the last 20 minutes, and love having the search feature, as well as copy and paste. Thank you again!
July 3rd, 2009 23:07
You can also get the code from this site (which uses valid links to apple’s own download site):
http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/
and then follow this how-to once you have the code.
July 3rd, 2009 22:44
I followed the “iPhone OS 3.0 software update direct download links” link at the end of the same paragraph and the links on that page did work.
thanks
July 3rd, 2009 22:31
I am getting a request error message from the ispw download links. I think they have become dead.
July 2nd, 2009 20:34
Thank you! Downloading it now. Hope it works~~~
July 2nd, 2009 12:00
hi. its working very fine thanks dear.
July 1st, 2009 23:02
All looks fibe apart from the last step if you want to keep all your stuff which confused me:
Optionally, if you have choose to restore iPod Tunes to firmware OS software
3.0 at factory default, iTunes will offer option to either create a new iPod or restore it from backup. For user already created a backup of iPod, just restore the date files to upgraded iPod Touch.
Any help?
July 1st, 2009 10:22
where i should to copy the *.ipsw file?
folder location
July 1st, 2009 09:49
Worked like a charm!
Thanks so much.
June 30th, 2009 09:53
I found that if you download the .ipsw files and copy them into the iPod Software Updates folder (in the iTunes folder under your home/Libary (on the mac), then iTunes will first check that folder before going to the web site and if the file is there, it will start the update as if you’ve just downloaded it using iTunes, from the web site.