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How to Install Android OS on your iPod Touch 1st Generation

by Mathew on June 12, 2010

We have recently posted a guide on how to install Android OS on your iPhone 2G and 3G and we have received a couple of requests for a guide teaching you how to install Android OS on an iPod Touch. So here it is, this is how to install Android OS on an iPod Touch 1st generation.

(All credit for this guide goes to MBFTrace)

What you will need:

An iPod Touch 1g running 3.1.2 jailbroken with blackra1n
Vmware Workstation (If you want to install with windows, not sure if Vmware Player works.)
Ubuntu 10.04 Download here
Openiboot Download here
iDroid Download here
Winscp Download here
iFunbox Download here
OpenSSH (Installed from Cydia on your iPod touch)
Libreadline, Libusb, and pthread need to be installed on Ubuntu. (All 3 can be downloaded from the package manager.)

Alright, so I start here assuming you have the above. Please note that 3.1.2 iPods jailbroken with redsn0w may or may not work, but I recommend using balckra1n as redsn0w did not work for me.

First we will install OpeniBoot, get it from the link.
First, make a folder in your home directory named openiboot, move the files from the download above into the openiboot folder. Now, open a terminal (under applications, accessories) and type “cd ~/openiboot” without the quotes. Next, type “sudo su” (for the rest of this section, do not type the commands with the quotes around them). Enter your password that you use to sign in to linux (don’t be afraid if you don’t see yourself typing anything, its a security feature). Now then, we get to installing openiboot. Plug your iPod touch in with recovery mode (shows up as connect to itunes on your iPod). In VMware, go to the VM tab, go to removable devices, and look for anything saying apple device or iPod. On that, click “Connect (Disconnect from Host)”. Now, in terminal type “./loadibec openiboot.img3″. You should see openiboot come up on your iPod Touch. On your iPod Touch, click the top left button once, so you highlight Console. Now, click your home button. On linux, in terminal, type “./oibc” quickly after doing that last step. You should see the text on your iPod come up in the linux terminal. When you see “Welcome to OpeniBoot” type “install” into the terminal. You should it start to install, so wait a few minutes until it is completed. Congratulations, you have installed OpeniBoot and finished the first part of the tutorial!

Now then, to get Android installed
Take the 6 files from the zip you downloaded (android.img.gz, cache.img, ramdisk.img, system.img, userdata.img, and zimage) and put them in a place you will remember. Next, open up iFunbox and navigate to root file system/private/ and copy those 6 files into the var folder (root file system/private/var). Make sure that the 6 files are exactly the same size as the files on your computer, as this is an annoying part to screw up on. Now that that is done, open up winscp. But before you can do anything with that, go to your iPod Touch and find your IP address (Press the blue arrow in Wifi Settings). Now, copy the IP address into the winscp “host name” box. Then put the name “root” as username, and the password “alpine” as the password. Now, before connecting, change the file protocol to scp. Then, press login. It should take a moment, then display your iPod Touch directories on the right side of the screen. Navigate to private/var and check that all 6 files are there. Now, right click each file, select properties, and change the permissions to 777 (make sure the first 3 rows of boxes are selected).

Turn your iPod Touch off, and then on, and OpeniBoot should come up. Select Android, and it should boot. After boot, please follow the instructions below:
1. At first boot, a pop-up window will came up that ask you what launcher do you want to use. IMPORTANT! This time use Home NOT aHome. Sometimes came a windows that says “System is not responding”. Just tap “Wait” and ignore it.

2. Then connect to your WiFi network to make widget working

3. Long tap Home Screen -> Widgets -> Beautiful Home and set your weather location.

4. Enjoy!

Tips:

If you want to see animated weather, just tap the sun or the cloud or whatever is displayed on the widget

To change weather location, long tap on Home screen -> Widgets -> Beautiful Home.

If you want more themes, long tap on Home screen -> Widgets -> Beautiful Home -> Themes -> Download.

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Tagged as: Android, iPhone, iPod Touch

Coenraad

Where the hell is the 3GS option!!!!

psp2468

Android OS has not been ported onto the iPhone 3GS yet. Once it is, we will post it so stay tuned!
http://www.google.com/profiles/113407588920877771937 vaibzzz123

there is no option unfortunately but r14 is supposed to come today, and it MAY have it

http://www.google.com/profiles/113407588920877771937 vaibzzz123

oh sorry never mind, meant to post on something else

dieter

ok i was wondering why do i need to download ubuntu, i read the instructions and it never said anything about ubuntu

psp2468

You need to be running Ubuntu to do all the steps on the guide or running it through VMWare.

Gug

Hi!

it is the same procedure for the Ipod touch 2g? Can you write a tutorial for his too please?

psp2468

It is not supported yet so you are going to have to wait a bit longer I’m afraid

gammaraptor

can this work on iPod Touch 2G and 2.2.1 jailbroken with redsn0w?

psp2468

No you need to have jailbroken with Blackra1n on OS 3.1.2 and I don’t think this method works with the iPod Touch 2nd gen. ~~I’m going to try and find a guide for the iPod Touch 2nd generation~~ Turns out the iPod Touch 2nd generation is supported with Android OS yet.

blao

so, does works on 2nd generation ipod?!?! mine is jailbroken with spirit but i’ll give the try…….

psp2468

Nope it wont work. Android OS hasn’t been ported for the 2nd gen yet.

blao

thanks man!…looks like i’ll wait a little bit….

dieter

so would have to be changed for android to be ported to ipod touch 2g. because when the new ipod comes out i want to use my old ipod to run android

psp2468

I have no idea to be honest. I know Planetbeing and his team are working on a port now just like they are working for a port for the iPhone 3GS.

George

i dant have a clue about linux, were can u find the home directory?

RJ

If you are on ubuntu, then go to the top bar where it says places. Then go to home directory and that is where you need to put the files or whatever

George

ive done that now when in terminal i try to type ./loadibec openiboot.img3 it says permission denied

mike

me 2

psp2468

Are you guys running as admin in Linux?
George

yeh im admin. ive tryed gksudo and that doesnt work either?
psp2468

Perhaps change the permissions of the file you are using to 777? I’m not sure, I don’t really know my way around Linux.
mike

yep i did sudo su and inputed my pw
MFX

Try this:

sudo su chmod +x ./loadibec openiboot.img3

hit ENTER
then again:

sudo su ./loadibec openiboot.img3
hit ENTER.
It should work. Use it for ./oibc too, if there’s the same error.

RJ

When you say “click the top left button, so console is highlighted, what do you mean. There is no console button and there is no top left button. There is only apple, some circle gear thing, and droid

please help fast. thanks in advance

MFX

It means you have to tap the Power Button (the one on top of the iPod, on the left, that you use to turn off / lock) once, so that selection goes to Console instead of iPhone OS, and then tap “Home”, the button at the bottom, with the “square” on it.

RJ

Nevermind guys, i thought it was a button on the screen, not the physical button for the power button. But whenever i try to boot android, it gets stuck at “multitouch calibration data installed.”
Mark

So when will this b available for ipod touch 2g cuz i have 1 and its on 3.1.3 jailbroken but i forgot wat program i used to jailbreak it so i just want to know a release date for this. And will i still have all my music, games, apps, and info on my ipod? And will i be able to change it back how it was before i would try to do anything to change it into an android cause i still want to play games, listen to music, and use all the emulators on my ipod including cydi(especially for this one)

psp2468

Yes you will be able to run both firmwares on your iPod ie Android and iPhone OS.

As you have OS 3.1.3, you probably used Spirit so once it’s released you will need to downgrade and re jailbreak with Blackra1n on OS 3.1.2.

I dunno when the version of the iPod Touch 2g will be released. Soon I hope

Applesauce Lad

So you have to download all this stuff while running Ubuntu? Or you download it on your mac then run Ubuntu? I’m really confused

psp2468

You need to be running Ubuntu.

im not givin my name

so how do i get it on an itouch 3g???
and what firmware should i use for it(well, im running 4.0, but i have no issues downgrading)

psp2468

Downgrade to OS 3.1.2 I believe.

mcg55

when I type ./loadibec openiboot.img3 it says permission denied What can I do?

MFX

Look up (there’s already a response). Anyway, try typing this:

sudo su chmod +x ./loadibec openiboot.img3
hit ENTER
then type:
sudo su ./loadibec openiboot.img3
hit ENTER.
It worked for me.

Applesauce Lad

where do you get vmware workplace from, do you have to buy it or get a free trial?

psp2468

Free trial from here: http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_downloads/vmware_workstation/7_0

Applesauce Lad

When i type in cd~/openiboot, it says there is no such directory or file?

psp2468

Is /openiboot folder on your desktop?

Applesauce Lad

okay so i got the free trial of vmware workplace, but when you download it you it a .bundle file and won’t open

psp2468

I think you downloaded the mac version. Do you have mac or windows?

HElllllllPPPPPPPppp

I can’t get vmware workstation up and running after i download the free trial, i can’t install it

psp2468

What error is coming up?

Hellllllppppp

there is none, it just a .bundle file and it won’t work or install

mcg55

when I type ./oibc it says permission denied what can I do?

MFX

Try typing this:

sudo su chmod +x ./oibc
hit ENTER
then type:
sudo su ./oibc
hit ENTER.

Should work now.

psp2468

Thank you for helping!

MFX

I have installed iDroid.

4 Problems:
1) Probably it’s not the iPod Touch version, ’cause there’s still apps for messaging / calling /etc which are native…
2) EXTREMELY slow. Probably for Point 1.
3) I can’t put it in standby /lock screen. When I hit the Power button, it goes home. I’ve already tried changing in Spare Parts -> End Button Behaviour, without changes.
4) Can’t turn off. When I press Power for several seconds like in iPhone OS, it screws up! Clock changes and menu keeps opening and closing.

HELP!

psp2468

1) As Android OS in only for phones, it is normal that you see messaging, calling etc.
2) Yeah it hasn’t been perfected yet.
3) That is a problem with the port. You need to turn it off fully by holding down both buttons.
4) You need to turn it off fully by holding down both buttons.

MFX

Okay then, Android installed. But how do I put music on it? I’ve tried booting with iPhone OS and then adding with iTunes, but doesn’t seem that the 2 OS share music folders. Any help?

Thanks!
Maestrochiller

Okay, so everything is done, and it worked, but only two times. the rest of the tries fall dead when i see the linux kernel loading, then the android loading (the blue letters that say android -.-), but after that, it just stoppes. it gives me a black screen, and nothing happens. it only worked two times. help me plz
Andy

Great tutorial everything has worked up to the point of first boot into Android. When I try to boot into Android I just get an infinite fail loop… Something about Buffer I/O error trying to access beyong logical block??? Please help.

Cheers

Andy
LukasD

I have 3.0 firmware on my iPod and the only upgrade i can get through apple is 3.1.3. How can i get 3.1.2? Or can this work on 3.0?

psp2468

As you have never been on OS 3.1.2, you cannot update to that firmware. Sorry

GCorp

Are there any screenshots of the 1st gen iPod touch running the Android? And can all the process be done in linux (Ubuntu 10.04) directly instead of running VMWare??

psp2468

Yes it will work on the full version. Here is a video of Android running on the iPod Touch 1st generation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D5TJVTZxNY

GCorp

By full version do you mean the full version of the Ubuntu OS? and during the whole jailbreaking and installation process will there be data loss like music, photos, notes, apps, etc.?

psp2468

Yes the full Ubuntu OS.

No I don’t think it will erase all your data because you are installing the Android OS only and not touching the iPhone OS side of things. However, maybe you should backup first because I’m not sure.

DragonXDoom

Hello,
Will this work on a iPod touch 1g running 3.1.3, jailbroken with spirit?
Thanks

psp2468

You will need to downgrade to OS 3.1.2 for it to work.

Steve Jobs

So, not yet my league of BALLS!
mike

will this work on windows. i was reading the instructions and you stated we need to ype in the password we use to logg into lynux.

psp2468

No you need to use Linux.

Chin

So we’ll be needing the Vmware Workstation for Linux, right?

psp2468

Yup.

LAkeezy

sorry im a noob. after installing openiboot, i tried to open ifunbox but it appears my device is no longer jailbroken and unable to proceed to next step. but i still boot up with openiboot and still have blackrain and cydia on springboard. im lost here. I’ve been trying to do this for awhile now but im not giving up hope. so any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the hard work you guys! PLEASE HELP!!!

Burnsie93

Hey, I had this problem too and I found out its really easy to fix. All you gotta do is go into Cydia and search for afc2add and install it. This is just something that the makers of the blackra1n jailbreak forgot to put in. After you install it your iPod will reboot, now plug into iFunBox and you will have full access to your iPods memory.
Hope this solves your problem

MFX

@LAkeezy: have you downloaded from cydia/installer/rockapp the package to enanle ssh connections? Otherwise it won’t work it is OpenSSH by Jay Freeman a.k.a. saurik.
MFX

@ LukasD: searching on the net you can find links to download os 3.1.2. Then you have to restore your iPod selecting that firmware, which means ( in WINDOWS): connect iPod to pc, Open iTunes, wait for iPod to appear and then select “restore” while holding SHIFT. It Will open a browse Window where you have to find and select the firmware you downloaded previously. then just wait
here’s the link to download the fw:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HXHEIJTW&f=iPod1,1_3.1.2_7D11_Restore.ipsw

Enjoy
jon

I followed these instructions and had success up until adding files. I discovered you needed afc2add on the JB iPod, so sorted that. (I transferred the files with disk aid on OS X).
I then hit issues with the winscp – i couldn’t see my iPod or getanything up after putting in the IP address etc.
I thought I’d see what happened if I just booted Android and it worked!
So my question is what will I gain from changing permissions to 777?

Oh, BTW, thanks for this. I’m a total noob and this is the first hack I’ve done.

http://www.google.com/profiles/113407588920877771937 vaibzzz123

putting permission to 777 allow any user to read,write, execute and change any thing to the file

Pingback: How to install Android on iPod Touch
Justin

I’m sure I’m missing something here but where do you download those 6 files?

psp2468

The download links are included at the top of the guide.

Tom

I installed success, but I can’t go to Market with wifi connection or setup google account on my iTouch. How can I do it guys?
Saran_singh43

well i hav a ipod touch 2g with 4.1 os, and i hav windows vista…., what shoul i need to install android on my ipod touch 2g ???? plzzzz answer…………………….

http://blog.alltechrelated.com/ psp2468

http://blog.alltechrelated.com/2010/06/06/iphodroid-0-6-add-android-os-to-your-iphone-2g-3g-in-6-steps/ That might work. I’m not sure if it works on iOS 4.1.

Jpgutierrez

? i have install android on a 1st gen ipod touch, however the touch screen does not work? I have double checked i have the androids for the itouch 1g. the home and power button work fine, but i can’t manuever around.
Sankalpsodhani

When i type in cd~/openiboot, it says there is no such directory or file?

http://blog.alltechrelated.com/ psp2468

Are you sure you placed the files in your HOME folder?

angel

i install the openiboot but i mess up everything and i try to run iphone os but apperas a looder bar and i can get in into iphoneos help me

http://blog.alltechrelated.com/ psp2468

Try placing the iPhone is DFU mode and then reloading the firmware: http://blog.alltechrelated.com/iphone-ipod-touch/how-to-enter-dfu-restore-mode/

http://profiles.google.com/d.pachirisu.d Jose Javier Flores

Will this work on a Second Generation iPod Touch MC Model 8GB? My iPod Touch is on firmware 4.2.1 and jailbroken with GreenPois0n

Alex Goodkind

The iPod Touch 2g (especially the MC model) won’t work. Only iPhone 2G, 3G, and iPod Touch 1G

Drew

Yo I followed your instructions, I used bootlace to but the iandroid thing on my itouch 1g but it could not put openiboot on it (which I why I was following your tut.)
Here’s the low down, I downloaded Vmware Fusion for my intel mac, downloaded the ubuntu, set it all up, downloaded the libreader, etc packages, and put the files in my home folder.
But when I type ./loadibec openiboot.img3
the terminal says bash: ./loadibec: cannot execute binary file.

Is this because I downloaded the 32 bit version of ubuntu linux from the link you listed earlier?
(you didn’t specify if we needed the 64 bit version :< (I shoulda asked tho lol)

Please help me as I am not really sure where to go from here.
My itouch is in recovery mode and, well, I don't know what to do. xD
Thank you for your help!
(I hope you see this comment soon xD ^^all the other comments are soo long ago lmao)

^u^ Thanks,

~Drew