Iphone 4s Activation Lock Bypass Ios 935 Exclusive May 2026

Quick summary

This topic—“iPhone 4S activation lock bypass iOS 9.3.5 exclusive”—refers to attempts to remove or circumvent Apple’s Activation Lock on an old device (iPhone 4S) running iOS 9.3.5. Activation Lock is a theft-deterrent tied to an Apple ID; bypassing it is generally unsupported, risky, and often illegal or against terms of service.

Method 2: The "DNS Leak" Legacy Trick (No Computer)

Before the checkm8 exploit, there was a simpler, albeit buggy, method exclusive to iOS 9.3.5. This works because Apple’s activation servers on legacy iOS sometimes accept malformed requests.

On the Activation Lock screen, tap the "i" icon in the bottom right corner.
Hold down the Home button and tap "Emergency" (a Siri glitch that works on 9.3.5).
Ask Siri: "What time is it?" – The clock app opens.
Tap the "World Clock" tab, then the "+" sign.
Type random letters into the search bar, then "Select All" -> "Share" -> "Message."
When the blank message opens, double-tap the cursor and "Insert Contact."
Tap "Create New Contact" -> "Add Photo" -> "Choose Photo."
This opens the full photo library. From there, you can force-quit the Photos app and, after several attempts, drop back to the Home screen—temporarily.

This method is wildly inconsistent on iOS 9.3.5. Apple patched the Siri loop in later versions, but the 4s never got the patch. However, the "exclusive" nature of this trick is that it only works on iOS 9.x, not on 8.x or 6.x.

The Perfect Storm: Why the iPhone 4s and iOS 9.3.5 are Unique

The iPhone 4s holds a peculiar place in Apple history. It was the last 3.5-inch iPhone, the first to introduce Siri, and—most critically for our topic—the final iPhone to receive iOS 9. The terminal version, iOS 9.3.5, was released in August 2016. It was a security update designed to patch the infamous "Trident" exploit chain (three zero-day vulnerabilities used by spyware).

For years, security researchers and jailbreak developers have circled iOS 9.3.5 like a lock waiting to be picked. For the average user, however, iOS 9.3.5 represents a digital tombstone. If you buy a used iPhone 4s from a flea market, a garage sale, or find your old device in a drawer, you are likely staring at the dreaded Activation Lock screen—an email address that isn’t yours, asking for a password that you don’t have. iphone 4s activation lock bypass ios 935 exclusive

Apple no longer signs older iOS versions for the 4s. You cannot "restore" your way out. So, what is the exclusive solution for the iPhone 4s on iOS 9.3.5?

Why "Exclusive" Matters (And Why You Should Be Skeptical)

Search YouTube for "iPhone 4s activation lock bypass iOS 9.3.5 exclusive" and you will find thousands of videos asking you to download shady .exe files, enter your IMEI into a website, or pay $50 for a "permanent unlock."

The truth: There is no permanent, server-side bypass for iOS 9.3.5. Any service claiming to remove the lock forever for the 4s is lying or using the checkm8 method (which you can do for free).

Here is the exclusive knowledge that paid services don't want you to know: On the Activation Lock screen, tap the "i"

IMEI Unlocks do NOT work for the iPhone 4s on 9.3.5 anymore. Apple stopped processing IMEI-based removal for A5 devices in 2020.
The Tethered Bypass is free. Sliver, Legacy iOS Kit, and checkm8 are open source.

Troubleshooting the iOS 9.3.5 Bypass

If you attempt the Sliver method and fail, here is why:

Error: "Unable to send iBSS"

Cause: Your USB cable is bad, or you are using a USB 3.0 hub. Use a USB 2.0 port directly on your Mac.
Fix: Try a different cable. The iPhone 4s is extremely picky about voltage when in pwned DFU.

Error: "Ramdisk failed to boot"

Cause: You are not in pwned DFU mode. On the A5 chip, the timing is precise.
Fix: Hold Power + Home for exactly 10 seconds, then release Power but keep holding Home for 10 more seconds. Run ipwnder again.

The Bypass works, but iCloud still shows "Find My iPhone ON" This method is wildly inconsistent on iOS 9

Explanation: This is normal. You have only bypassed the local check. The remote Apple server still knows the device is locked. You cannot sign into a new Apple ID on this device. You are functionally invisible to Apple, but also unable to use iMessage, FaceTime, or iCloud backup.

Understanding the Beast: How Activation Lock Works on A5 Devices

Before we discuss the bypass, you need to understand why the iPhone 4s is easier than modern iPhones (iPhone 5s and newer).

The A5 Chip Limitation: The iPhone 4s uses the Apple A5 chip. This chip has a known, unpatchable hardware-level bootROM vulnerability (checkm8, released in 2019).
No SEP (Secure Enclave): Modern iPhones have a separate chip (SEP) that handles encryption keys. The 4s does not. This means software can directly manipulate the file system where the "Activation Records" live.

Because of these two factors, an exclusive bypass exists that does not work on iOS 10, 11, or 12. It is exclusive to A5 devices (4s, iPad 2, iPad mini 1) running iOS 9.x.

2. What "Bypass" Actually Means for the 4s

Most so-called "exclusive bypasses" for the iPhone 4s on 9.3.5 are tactical workarounds, not permanent unlocks. They typically include:

DNS Method (Deprecated): Changing Wi-Fi settings to redirect activation requests to a proxy server. This worked on early iOS versions but was patched by Apple years ago. On 9.3.5, success is extremely rare.
Sliver / Checkm8-based tools (Limited): The iPhone 4s uses the A5 chip, which is vulnerable to the Checkm8 bootrom exploit. Tools like Sliver (from the checkra1n team) can sometimes bypass the setup screen by sending a fake activation ticket. However, this bypass is tethered—it works only until the device reboots—and often lacks iCloud services (no iMessage, FaceTime, or Find My iPhone).
Changing the serial number/Bluetooth address: Some paid services physically rewrite the device’s chip data via a DCSD cable. This is not a software bypass and requires disassembly or specialized hardware. It is risky and often illegal.