How To Enable Push Notifications On Your Jailbroken iPhone

push-notifications-iphone.png

While jailbreaking an iPhone actually does free it in terms of iOS customization and choice of applications, one downside has been a hit to battery life as well as loss of push notifications. The issue with push notifications stood with almost all jailbreaks due to the fact that most jailbreaks relied on hacktivating the device instead of Apple’s legitimate iTunes activation. People unlocking their iPhones were the worst of victims, since they had no possibility of even considering a legitimate iTunes activation, and hence loss of push notifications and relatively poor battery life was inevitable.

There had been solutions for push notifications like PushFix, Push Doctor, etc. but most of these were paid and let’s face it – not everyone wants to pay. That’s where Subscriber Artificial Module (SAM) came around. Essentially it’s a package that tricks iTunes into generating legitimate activation certificates for your iPhone despite the fact that you’re unlocked with ultrasn0w or Gevey SIM interposer. Doing so not only enables fully working push notifications on your device but also significantly improves battery life. After the break is a detailed guide on activating and enabling push notifications on your jailbroken iPhone with SAM.

For those having issues with SAM (returning the “The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported” error”), please refer to this post: How To Fix The iPhone SIM Card Not Supported Error


Please note that since this is a Cydia package, you’ll need a jailbroken iPhone to use this (obviously). Read this guide for a simple walkthrough on jailbreaking your iOS device: How to Jailbreak the iPad 2, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch using JailbreakMe

Before you start, remember to backup and sync your iPhone with iTunes.

To begin with, launch Cydia and head on to the Manage tab.

enable push on iphone

Tap Sources, hit the Edit button and then Add. Type in the source URL shown in screenshot below and tap Add Source.

For the record, that’s http://repo.bingner.com

enable push on iphone

Wait for the source to get loaded, and select the Bingner repository from the list.

enable push on iphone

Scroll down a bit to locate the SAM and SAM Prefs packages. These are the ones we’re interested in.

push notification jailbroken iphone

Install both the packages – at the time of writing, the most recent version for SAM is 0.1.11-1, and it contains SAMPrefs bundled, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

push notification jailbroken iphone

Once the packages are installed, SAM shall be available in your native Settings app.

push notification jailbroken iphone

Here comes the actual activation part, which can be a little tricky. Since your device is already activated (you’re using it, aren’t you?), you’ll need to first deactivate it and then go for stock activating while SAM spoofs your identification data. Go to SAM > Utilities and choose Revert Lockdown to Stock. Since my device was already activated with SAM, the screenshot comes from an earlier version from the internet.

push notification jailbroken iphone

You should see a Stockification Success message. If you get Stockification Failure, that means there is a version incompatibility of SAM on your iPhone and you may want to reinstall the package from Cydia.

push notifications iphone

Now hit the Settings button in top left to go back to SAM main menu. SAMState should read “Loaded OK”

push notifications iphone

That’s about it. Plug your iPhone into your PC or Mac and wait for iTunes to generate legitimate activation certificates for your iPhone. Your device may get recognized as a new one – set it up as you like and let iTunes backup and sync.

Once iTunes has done syncing and backing up, it is most likely to throw an error 1651. Just click OK and ignore the message. Launch SAM from under Settings again on your iPhone and tap More Information. If all went well, you should be Wildcard Activated.

push notifications iphone

To test if push Notifications are actually working, grab the free iPusher app from App Store and tap Test Push Notifications. If the message that pops up says ‘Yay, push notifications work fine!’, you’re all set to go! Please remember that for this testing, however, you must be connected to a WiFi network with an active internet connection.

So that’s basically how you would go about enabling push notification on a jailbroken iPhone. Did you find this method useful? Let us know through your comments if it helped you.

Update for iOS 5

Follow these instructions if you’re running iOS 5 on an iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 and you would like iMessage or Push notifications to work:

  • Launch Cydia and add this to your sources: repo.bingner.com
  • Once the new source has been added, install SAM and SAMpref.
  • Launch SAMpref and select “Revert Lockdownd to Stock” under Settings -> SAM.
  • In Settings -> SAM and tap on “De-Activate iPhone”
  • Using a USB cable, connect your iPhone to iTunes and activate it.
  • Remove the iPusher app now, if you’ve installed it previously.
  • Go to Settings -> SAM -> Utilities and tap on “Backup Activation” then tap on “Restore Activation”.
  • Reboot your iPhone
  • After your iPhone has fully restarted, sync it with iTunes.
  • Install the free iPusher App from the iTunes Store.
  • Enable your iPhone’s WiFi and connect it to working network.
  • Reboot your iPhone and sync it with iTunes again.
  • Launch iPusher and tap on “Test Push Notifications”. If there is a pop-up saying “Yay, push notifications work fine!” then you’re all good.
  • Turn off iMessage.
  • Reboot your iPhone.
  • Turn on iMessage.

About author
Aatif is a project manager by profession and a gadget-freak at heart. Being a techno-phile since high school, he developed a keep interest in mobile devices and settled with the iOS platform after experimenting through everything else. Being an avid internet user, Aatif likes to brag (tweet) about it through @aatoo
111 total comments on this postSubmit yours
  1. Will this method work with a iPhone 3G running Whited00r 4.4.1 ?

  2. Will this method work with an iPhone 3G running Whited00r 4.4.1 ?

    • It surely works with IPhone 3G jailbroken with redsn0w, but since whited00r uses a different approach I’d rather you confirm it on whited00r forums before proceeding. One good thing is that the 3G is jailbroken for life, so it can never hurt. Still, you won’t want to lose your data either, right?
      Whited00r forums are located at http://www.whited00r.com/forum/index.php

  3. Garrick, Will this work with iPhone 3GS jailbroken with Blackra1n? Thanks

  4. hey. I tried this and this leads to shit.
    mine is iP4 and using Softbank (Japan carrier) Zzzzz it doesnt help and it ruined my iP4

    • Can you please tell us what happened?

  5. nevermind. I got it solved.

    • Glad to hear that!

  6. wonderful

  7. I have a Iphone 4 unlocked via geveysim and am using OS 4.3.1.

    My phone is activated and works perfect however, the push notifications and personal hotspot and facetime do not work.

    Will the procedure described above work for on my version of the iphone with gevey sim. Also, when I connect it to itunes – will i lose all my data?

    • I was running 4.3.3 on iPhone 4 and unlocked with GeveySIM interposer when I tried this. Worked like a charm, and push notifications/FaceTime all began working without an issue. It also significantly improves battery life as legitimate activation certificates do not require the hacktivation daemon to continuously run in the background. Also, there will be no data loss whatsoever.

      That said, please note that all such procedures are to performed at your own risk. We cannot take responsibility for any damage, however unlikely.

  8. thx a lot, it help so much ….. worked great at JB 4.3.3

    • Glad it helped. Keep reading

  9. So I followed all your steps. It says wildcard activated but my push notifications still don’t work. I downloaded ipusher and it just says “waiting”

    Please help. Thanks a lot.

  10. Don’t know if it worked. Ipusher keeps saying please wait.

  11. Waiting for ipusher and nothing yet :(

  12. I followed this tutorial and the problem is not solved and furthermore, iTunes does not recognize the sim and will not sync. Please tell me how to undo this process completely.

    • If iTunes is not recognizing the SIM card, there’s a fix for that – we’ll shortly publish a tutorial on how to work around this issue. However, if you want to remove SAM altogether, I’m afraid you’ll have to go through the whole jailbreak process once again to hacktivate your iPhone and get it up and running.

  13. hi there i have used this and it works for a few minutes. push notifications would work for like 10 minutes before it would stop receiving push notifications. i am running on iphone 4 4.3.5 tethered jailbreak using gevey sim interposer to unlock the carrier.

    • This is strange, Please try following the process from the beginning once again. SAM has been shown to work with iOS 4.3.5, so that should fix everything.

  14. To all above who’re facing the iPusher keeps waiting error, it’s probably an issue with iPusher itself that fails to communicate properly. A possible fix is to uninstall the app from your device, then go to Settings » SAM » Utilities » tap on Backup Activation and then tap on Restore Activation label.
    Now. reboot your phone and sync with iTunes.
    Install iPusher again
    Reboot and sync with iTunes again while connected to an active WiFi internet connection.
    Test notifications with iPusher and they should work fine now.

    • Thank you. The solution with backingup and then restoring activation worked for me.

  15. Having the same issue as Sean, where nothing is solved and itunes won’t recognized my SIM no more.
    So where is this tutorial to get around this?
    and why is this happening?

  16. This solution definitely helped with the push notifications. I am hoping that my battery life will increase as well. Thanks for posting. I had seen this solution on other sites, but the instructions were not as clear and straight forward as yours. I appreciated the corresponding images as I am a 100% visual person. I took my phone to Chinatown in Milan to have it jailbroken and unlocked, so I had no clue how exactly it had been done. I was a little worried once the battery was expiring so quickly and I was not getting push notifications. I did some online research for solutions and considered putting in the original SIM card from AT&T (as some sites suggested) but this would have activated my data plan back in the States, which I wanted to avoid. I am now receiving my push notifications and the phone is working without issue. It didn’t even erase the previous data or treat the phone as a new one when I went through the SAM process. THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this so simple and straight forward for non-tech savvy people such as myself. I will definitely be bookmarking this site! :)

  17. help me! Ipusher keeps saying please wait…

    “To all above who’re facing the iPusher keeps waiting error, it’s probably an issue with iPusher itself that fails to communicate properly. A possible fix is to uninstall the app from your device, then go to Settings » SAM » Utilities » tap on Backup Activation and then tap on Restore Activation label.
    Now. reboot your phone and sync with iTunes.
    Install iPusher again
    Reboot and sync with iTunes again while connected to an active WiFi internet connection.
    Test notifications with iPusher and they should work fine now.”

    i tried this method over and over again but it won’t work. Btw i’m using iphone4 with 4.3.3

  18. solved my push problem already. Does this works on iOS5.0?

  19. Hi I’ve followed all the steps until connecting my iphone to Itunes. This requires to be activated via AT&T. I don’t have that account. what should I do now?

  20. Thanku My notifications are working fine . i hope same is with battery

  21. Just curious….how’d you change your font like in the screenshots? And does it work on iOS5?

  22. hi im using iphone 3g ……..and i updated to ios4 n den downgraded back to ios 3.1.3 ………..i jus want to knw does it work on ios 3….
    plz help m…….. with this notification prob
    thanks :)

  23. in reply to “leovyner”
    I have a 3G from japan, according the model # it’s one from softbank. I tried the steps here : http://www.thedailybuggle.com/iphone-sim-card-not-supported/ but unable to activate my phone. Keeps saying that the SIM card is not supported.

    I tried setting the method on manual, IMSI – 084904021811017297 and ICCID which found on general – about but then it told me that the phone cannot be activated as it might be damaged.

    I wonder how leovyner solved it or anyone can guide me further?
    I tried the steps as shown in this blog. With SIM and Without SIM. Deactivating phone before reverting to stock in SAM and after.
    I tried any Carrier found under Country – Japan but for all I got SIM not supported.

  24. I have followed the guide as stated above and got to work every time with iPusher, however, I do not receive any notification at all unless I go to that apps only I received messages or missed calls from Nimbuzz. Why do I not receive any notifications still after all the installation.

    I am using Iphone 3g. 4.2.1. I also appear offline from both apps when I am on standby… I am supposed to receive something right after installing this feature?

    Please enlighten me it’s causing me to frustrate.

    By the way, I have sample the 2 apps above on my niece’s ipad and when I am on stand by, I do receive the notifications. But when I use my 3G phone, nothing at all.

    I hope to hear from anyone who is familiar with my frustration.

    I look forward to hearing anyone’s opinion and guidance.

    Thanks

  25. i followed ur blog to solve my push notification problem in iphone 3G working on 4.2.1 but still am not getting notification
    m using whats app meebo but am not getting push notification when i will open messenger that time only am getting notification
    anyone can help me for this problem

  26. Thanks a tonnnn… this was really helpful… !! i ve a iphone 3g (unlocked , jailbroken) and im getting push notifications nw! i tried push fix and push doctor, neither worked, the latter depends on certificates avalaible at this site http://www.cmdshft.ipwn.me/blog/?p=787 …. basically a waste of time! i think most ppl re forgetting to deactivate their phones first before chosing the “revert to lock..” option! i hope this solution solves the battery issues as well or does it?

    • how we deactivate the phone pls thkx

  27. oh yea i use whatsapp and bejiveim, getting notifications on both apps!

  28. Hi, Awasome article and work for me on iPhone 3G. Thanks for this good article.
    :)

  29. Am using a iphone2g jailbroken and unlocked using redsn0w….running on 3.1.2….will the above process get notifications to work on my phne??

  30. yeah! its work…… thanks a lot for make it……..

  31. I could get to Revert Lockdown to Stock. Am unable to get to next step. When i connect my iPhone to iTunes, i get the following message.

    We could not complete your iTunes Store request. The Network connection was reset.
    Make sure your network connection is active and try again.

    My Internet works fine.

  32. my iphone is giving me notification for some app but it’s not sending me any thing on apps like facebook what’s app ebbudy
    not any notification from internet connection

  33. is there n e fix for the sucky battery life and springboard crashes … ?????

  34. Hie Atif, please help….please reply..My iphone 4 is
    Version 4.3.3 (8j2)
    Model : MC318ll
    Firmware : 4.10.01
    I dont know what it is jailbroken with but cydia has repo of ULTRASNO0W in it..
    i got stockification success messgage and then deactivated message and after that when i connected my phone to itunes it says : the simcard inserted in this phone does not seem to be supported….
    i went through your other tutoriol of identifying the carrier with model number and followed it…BUT NO SUCCESS…
    when i go to settings>SAM , it just shows main page as the SAM app…dont see any wildcard activated there…PLEASE HELP…am stuck and cant sync anything with my phone..

  35. i did not even synced my iphone with itunes througout the whole process,and push notifications are working

  36. To all above who’re facing the iPusher keeps waiting error, it’s probably an issue with iPusher itself that fails to communicate properly. A possible fix is to uninstall the app from your device, then go to Settings » SAM » Utilities » tap on Backup Activation and then tap on Restore Activation label.
    Now. reboot your phone and sync with iTunes.
    Install iPusher again
    Reboot and sync with iTunes again while connected to an active WiFi internet connection.
    Test notifications with iPusher and they should work fine now.

    Thanks for the help..it worked for me…!!!!!

    • when i clicked on reactivate.. it showed some error msg:28 or something. what to do now

  37. yeah! this worked on a 3G with 6.15 and 4.1 installed!

  38. i cannot made it work on my iphone 4 4.3.3, im in mexico could it be that im using gevey with mexican network? all i got was the facetime may charge extra message but i still cannot make facetime calls or use push with ipusher if someone could contact me im on mypipiolo@hotmail.com thanks!

  39. is this possible WITHOUT a SIM card??!!! i have tried this but itunes wont activate bc of no sim

  40. MC318LL iPhone 4 locked by Apple running 4.3.5 and Gevey Redsnow ok
    I can’t chose the Bundle carrier since it’s not carrier locked but locked directly from Apple, how to fix the Sim Itunes error?
    SAM More Info shows MissmatchedCCID. Thanks!

  41. Thanks for the post. On the other hand I’ve made everything you’ve wrote (even in the comments) but my push notification is still unavailable. iPusher never finishes keep saying please wait.

    Is the described setup works for already installed apps?
    Does the push notification works over 3G? (I’ve used Wifi for the iPusher test altough.)

    Thanks, nORBERT

  42. Tried on 3G ios4.2.1 baseband 05.13.04, jailbroken with sn0wbreeze2.2.1, but push notifiactions are still not working :( ((

  43. I got it working with: A possible fix is to uninstall the app from your device, then go to Settings » SAM » Utilities » tap on Backup Activation and then tap on Restore Activation label.
    Now. reboot your phone and sync with iTunes.
    Install iPusher again
    Reboot and sync with iTunes again while connected to an active WiFi internet connection.
    Test notifications with iPusher and they should work fine now.

    • this dint work for me. iPusher still doesnt work

  44. Hi there I am on ios 5.0.1 with baseband 4.10.01 i JB my iPhone and my push notifcations arent working. I downloaded SAM and it works at times but it isnt working right away. Sometimes its laggy, sometimes it works right away. When I did all the steps for SAM to work. It says it is wildcard activated but I dont get the itunes error message at all. I dont know if i got legitiate activation certificates.

    • How did you get yours to work? I’ve been trying for a couple hours and still no luck. Tried same setup with yours, but now back on 4.3.3 firmware

      • Yeah same. My device is a Japan – Softbank one..yourself? This is so frustrating!!!!!

        • Mine is Softbank too… Why is Softbank being an *ss here!

  45. Hi very helpful post dude, it worked on whited00r ios too..!!!

  46. I think this for who does not have AT&T sim with them… If you have AT&T sim with you insert the sim and connect to iTunes you have valid certificates installed and itunes will recognise your iPhone

  47. Later you can remove AT&T sim and insert Gevey use it as unlocked

  48. IPhone 3GS jailbroken and unlocked with Redsn0w and Ultrasn0w and push notifications are now working wonderfully. Thank you!

    • What carrier do you use?

    • Also, what version of iOS?

  49. This doesn’t work on ios5.0.1. I followed every single step and my iphone still doesn’t push the notifications.

  50. Dude, thank you very much
    I am on iPhone 4, AT&T locked , Gevey sim. iOS 5.0.1 jailbroken, 2.10
    I followed your instructions step by step, and after I was done, iPusher didn’t work so I went through the back up and restoration ( I think you should include these steps in the post itself) and Voila :D
    I am back online receiving notifications from FB, Whatsapp everything.
    The phone really is a dud without the push notifications.
    I guess I just wanna say thank you man. you just Rock

  51. Thanks a lot.This method worked for me.

  52. This app has broke my iphone 3g ios 4.2
    And it doesn’t work anymore !

  53. works on 5.0.1. Thanks a lot!

  54. I am on iOS 5.01 untethered JB with Iphone 4.
    Tried the above steps, didnt work for me, instead, in between it showed me “wildcardActivated” and when I did just balance query, I was charged with international call rates.As if I was in international roaming.
    Please let me know if I went wrong in anything.

  55. Will this work on iphone 2g 3.1.2??

    • i have an iphone 3g with ios 3.1.3, same issue this work with ios 3.1.3???

  56. Excellent fix – I had issues first time round, but did the back up and restoration a second time and voila. Nice job Aatif, it makes my iphone 3G useful again.

  57. Would be useful to have a link for troubleshooting tips rather than reading others post.

  58. i did all the steps including the sim card fix but now iTunes wont recognise my phone to re-activate it? help

  59. 3gs with 4.3.3,,,Screen went blank while installing SAM, Even Power button is not working…..

  60. YAY! This worked! I can get push notifications and therefore use FindMy Iphone! THANK YOU!!

  61. Hi,
    i tried the above instruction, but itunes saying the sim is not supported
    i also tried the method for using bundle name
    http://www.thedailybuggle.com/iphone-sim-card-not-supported/
    but the problem still exist
    i have iphone 3g fomr japan carrier is softbank..
    how can i get the push certificates..is there any other way?

  62. iPhone 3GS, Model MC133X (may be Virgin australia carrier), IOS 5.0.1, using in India, Followed “Update for iOS 5″ steps exactly, but no luck. Push notifications not working.

    Got error in itunes : ” This iphone may be damaged, cannot be activated .blah blah blah”
    Please help..

  63. There is a problem with your iphone. We’re sorry. the iphone you connected maybe damaged and cannot be activated for service.

  64. Mr. Khan…. THANK YOU! After searching online for many hours spanning over two days, I came across your thorough and easy tutorial. It worked the very first time I tried it.
    My push problem came from downgrading 5.0.1 to 4.0.1, but my problem is no more. Thanks for taking the time to post this!

  65. i instal it on my iphone3gs, but since its not work i delete the sam on home screen and my phone now is on emergency status only. the phone have local carrier signal but its lock to emergency call only..pls help how to due plzzzz.

    • It happens to me the same. I had to restore the iphone. With redsnow I did the jailbreak again and installed the firmware . When done, connect it to itunes and just restore the data from your last back up. You will not loose the apps downloaded from itunes but you do loose all the ones from cydia..
      YOu can find some instructions how do to this on the web.

  66. Hi there,
    does it work on a 2Edge USA iphone 3.1.3 ? I tried to install Push Doctor but it always gives me an error. Any alternative solution to have push notifications working on my device ?
    Thanks in advance.

    • @ daniela and paul
      I have the same problem! please update us if u find any solution

  67. @ Daniela

    I have the same problem. I also have a iPhone (1st gen.). I figured out that Push Doctor does not work anymore because it can not generate any new activation codes. That system has been dead now for several months. Now I tried this method and it all works fine until the end. iTunes accepts the activation, but the push notification will just not work. Even after a clean jailbreak/install.
    I will now try to look for other possibilities, any suggestions?

    • I have the same problem here! please let me know if u find any solution

  68. Worked like a charm!!!!, I’ve been searching for this forever, thanks guys

  69. Allah Akbar … barak allah fek … thx my dear brother … god bless you and bless all your friends and family … thx …. it worked out just fine ” AFTER MANY TRAILS ” following ur steps carefully :)

    Greetings from EGYPT ;)

    Duds , Worked for ” IPHONE 4 IOS 4.1 Basband 4.1 ”

    ONCE AGAIN … THANK YOU :)

  70. Now i don’t know if push notifications are working fine and to top it all iTunes won’t recognize my SIM…. Need help, I followed these steps

  71. hello,my phone is Screwed itunes cant recognize my sim as well as i got only keypad i cant call/msg only sos it says and i can receive msgs n calls but i cant make any myself,please help me get it back to normal. dont want ne bullshit notifications just want my phone to work

  72. I have Iphone 4S with version 5.0 . It is jailbroken and from Cydia i installed Sam apps as described above. Its version is 0.1.14-1. I got a Stockification Failure after clicking on Revert Lockeddown to Stock. Although my carrier has changed from AT&T to Airtel (my network sim). SamState: Loaded OK but Activation-state is Unactivated. 
    Can anyone plz help me with this? Anything that i have done wrong or missing something. 

  73. Did this – word by word and it worked. Except the selection of bundle in SAM wherein i disabled auto detect as it resulted in “SIM not recognized” by iTunes… iMessage is working fine. So are Facebook notifications and whatsapp… Thanks for the help guys…

    •  @Anant Awesome!

  74. im havin a problem with ma notification m usin 3GS ios 4.1 lookin to update to ios 5.0.1 is d unlock available ?? will d phonwe lag ??

  75. hi i did the process just now.. everything went well up to the itunes part, itunes says my sim is not recognised. I did try and disable the subscriber artificial module but it still did the same..I also switched between the different mothods but it did not work.. Please assist please please..

    •  @MartinGuy Try reading this article: http://www.thedailybuggle.com/iphone-sim-card-not-supported/

    • Hi everyone the process works, I went through the process and also had trouble with “sim not recognized by itunes” Read the article below linked by JacksonChung it helps. What I found is that your original carrier must be selected either by means of Bundle name or country and carrier. EG i was o2 in the uk, and now in south africa. I switched the method to country and carrier (UK & o2) and then switched between  the different sim id’s. eventually it recognised the sim id and now i’m wildcardactivated. Thank you!

      • Nope push still now works

      • Push still dont work even when wildcardactivated

  76. i did every thing you said but the i pusher dosint say any thing its satys on pls wait???

  77. i did every thing you said but that part i pusher its stays on pls wait n it dosint say yay n stuff
    what can i do now ???

    •  @shima i too have the same problem
       

  78. Awesome!!!It worked for me.. Thanks..One more note: If you are facing problem with network (Wifi), reset your network settings as well..

  79. i have a problem with the process, i have an iphone 3g running the 4.1 IOS and i released it using red snow like around 1 year ago, i tried the sam thing and it responded just fine, the only thing is that when i go ahead and try to connect it to my itunes it will just sinc and everything will remain the same, dont gice any error message or do any change, then i check on sam under more info and it shows wild card activated but when i try ipusher just keeps working and dont give any message no mattter how much i wait, is there anything you can help me with?

  80. Heyyy how to hide this sam…. after the whole process is over

  81. It did work to my iPhone 3Gs with iOS 4.1

    Thanks much ;)

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