HOW-TO: Hacking the iPod firmware (changing the graphics)

So on Monday over at Hack A Day we posted a link to an iPod hack over at iPodHacks that let you extract all of the fonts and graphics from the player's firmware. Since then, a new application came out, and we wrote up how to change all the graphics on your iPod.

Before we get started, here's a video (QuickTime) of our first hacked firmware to give you an idea of what we changed.

In this How-To we're going to show you how to change the "Do not Disconnect" circle/slash icon that endlessly and annoyingly flashes all the time on our desk. We replaced ours with the Engadget logo, the Sony CEO, and Hello Kitty but any graphic will do. You can also change battery icons, power status, boot up logos and fonts, or so it seems. We sprinted to write this up, so we might update it as we try some new things. Now on with the How-To!

For this hack you'll need an iPod, obviously. We're using the iPod photo, but it should work with most iPods, so far we've seen one person also hack an iPod mini and a 3g iPod.

Next you'll need a Windows PC with Apple's iPod software installed.

You can get that from here.

Download and install the Apple software, this software contains the firmware we're going to add our own graphics to. Warning: When you do this, you will be restoring your iPod and will loose all data, etc...Also, this most certainly voids your warranty, so if something happens, you're screwed. But hey, you'll have your own branded iPod, that's hot and well worth it, right?

Next up, download "iPod Wizard" from here.

We're not sure if Apple is going to freak out about this, it's just like changing icons in Mac OS X, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Unzip the file, and start iPodWizard.

Click Open Updater and choose the Apple Update Application you downloaded, it should be in Program files > iPod.

Once open, choose the firmware for you iPod, we hacked the iPod photo first, so it's the IDR_FIRMWARE 5.4.0, we didn't try all the others out yet, but we're guessing folks will post which one is for which iPod as they start to hack away at it. The color one was easy, once you select the firmware you can click the arrows to see the icons, in our case, they were color.

Find the image you wish to replace, we wanted to replace the circle / slash icon. Once you find it, click Save Bitmap and save the file to your system.

From there use any bitmap editor to edit the image, we used PaintShop Pro and pasted the Engadget logo over the icon then saved it. Click Load Bitmap and load in the image you just created.

Click Write, this will edit the firmware on your PC and then prepare it to restore to the iPod. Once that is complete, open up Apple's iPod update.

Make sure your iPod is plugged in, and iPod updater will look for what firmware you can restore to, for us, it found the iPod photo and we had the option to restore, which will then add the new firmware with our custom image.

Click restore, and in about 5 minutes you'll have the new image you made, keep in mind this kills all your data, so back up before you do this. Here's ours...

The other one is Hello Kitty, since we know it's just a matter of time until someone starts selling a Hello Kitty branded iPod.

Here's Sony's CEO holding the Network Walkman upside down. We like this image to remind us that even if you're Sony and invented the WalkMan, someone like Apple can come along and beat you hard.

An image proclaiming that our iPod does not have any RIAA music or content!

And, of course, Mickey Mouse.

We also made one for our pal Leander from Cult of Mac. We think this is a great way to protect your iPod if someone steals it, too. Add your picture, name and phone number, it won't stop the thief, but it's still a good measure.

On a side note, Apple and every other music player maker should make this part of the software that comes with their device, we all change the icons, desktops, and everything else on our computers, so it makes sense to be able to brand our music players any way we want.

Here are some of the other graphics that you can likely change, lots of cool stuff for sure. Please post up links to your images in the comments, if someone does something really wacky, we might give out a prize or something.

For more information on all this, and some troubleshooting, post up in our comments or over on where it all got started and where folks are still trying lots of things, on iPodHacks.

iPod Wizard, whoever you are, nicely done!

---

Phillip Torrone can be reached via http://www.flashenabled.com

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Is there a way to enable the Notes area to allow images? The potential in this area is going far underutilized. I'm eager to release a photo-enhaced version of the wiPod (the listing of free wi-fi cafe's for your iPod at http://metrofreefi.com ).

How about passing the 1000 Note limit?

[TrueDis @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Well that video was a waste of the download time.

[zsk009 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

no mac version availible

the ipods firmware can be updated without restoring the entire ipod, before running the updater follow these steps:

go on your ipod to ipod_control>device>sysinfo
and open the file in wordpad.
find this line of code:

buildID: 0x03028000 (3.0.2)
visibleBuildID: 0x03028000 (3.0.2)

Change a number with a lower number

buildID: 0x03018000 (3.0.1)
visibleBuildID: 0x03018000 (3.0.1)

Now the updater will think you have firmware version 3.0.1 and will let you update without restoring the entire thing.

this has been tested with 3g and 4g, the example above is 4g, the 3g uses different numbers but its virtually the some thing, just decrease the number. it should also work with other ipods but im not sure

(the ipod_control folder is a hidden folder)

[Kapila Wimalaratne @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

-- Posted Dec 8, 2004, 8:35 PM ET by TrueDis
-- Well that video was a waste of the download time.

No it wasn't! That was totally cool.

Kap

[teetime @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Will this hack be able to change the default font to work better with international languages. I live in Thailand and I have a bunch of Thai CDs ripped with Thai names, but iPod cannot display them. Luckily iTune can.

[kainjow @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Yea if I could find out who made that app, I could get the source and port to Mac! I want!

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

This is really cool. Does anyone feel like do our website logo?

I would love to do it but a little busy. First person to do it gets a prize!

[FormatC @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

I recommend mirroring iPod Wizard now! Apple lawyers will be on this like a fly on shit. :-)

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Mirrored:

www.digitalresolve.co.uk/ipodwizard.zip

[CJM @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Has anyone tried flashing this thing back to the original firmware? Just thinking it might be va,uable if the Pod ever needs warranty repair or a trip to the "Genius" Bar.

[Zack @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Run Ipodsetup, then go to your ipod folder "C:/Program Files/Ipod" default" and check in the ipodupdater folder...

[colin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

okay i went in and edited the thing on the file.. but since i had already updated the thing before (and it let me update.. this was before i had done anything at all, my ipod actually needed the 3.0.2 update) but i had replaced images on the wrong firmware thing.. so now it recognizes that i changed it to 3.0.1 and it says "(needs update)" but the update button does not work.. take a look

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/screenapple.JPG

any ideas?

[Chris Knight @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Just hacked my new 40 GB 4G iPod to show Bungie's Marathon Logo as my rating and do not disconnect graphics. Looks awesome!

[Chuck @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

4.3.0.2 = iPod 4th Gen

[myke @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

i belive 3.2.4 is for the mini..... because the disconnect logo is smaller than the others

[alex @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=254936&st=0#entry585069755

thats my 3g 20gb

[Calvin The Bold @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

what i really want is the ability to put the song title in the top menu thingy, because when im playing solitaire, sometimes i dont know the song, but if i hit menu, i lose my game... anybodyu know how to do this? or somethat knows someone whos roomate is going out with a apple R&D guy?

[gautch @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

So if ipodwizard is only for windows... then is it safe to say that Apple uses windows to load all the ipods in the factory?

[kainjow @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

If you can gain access to a PC and run the program, and then extract the new firmware file from the iPod Updater.exe file, you can then copy that into the iPod Updater.app file on your Mac (/Contents/Resources/Updates), rename appropriately, and run the iPod Updater. I haven't tested this, but it should work since the original firmware files are exactly the same on the Mac and PC in the iPod Updater programs.

gautch: the program is for Windows because the programmer chose to program it for Windows. Nothing more, nothing less :)

[zushiba @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

I have a 3G 15gig what firmware do I want to load?

[zushiba @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Also is there any guide to which pic is which by the index?

[Tyme @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

2.2 is the 3g version. Wow! this program is so awesome. Who would have thought we could customize our iPod???

[zushiba @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Hmm
I changed
buildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)
visibleBuildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)

to
buildID: 0x02208000 (2.1)
visibleBuildID: 0x02208000 (2.1)

and I cannot update, I am having the same problem as the guy up there with the image
http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/screenapple.JPG

Can I force the upgrade in any way?

[iPod wizard @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

You guys seen the comp here?
http://ipodcases.biz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=79

I'm going to give it a go! Race ya!

[raZmus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Just thought about why this would void the warranty. If anything happens, couldn't you just restore your iPod with an original firmware?

[bwapod @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Well if your iPod goes really broke... you may not be able to get back in to restore the original firmware. That's my thought, at least...

[raZmus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Then again, these hacked firmwares will soon be all over the place and "innocent" people will maybe download them to update their players. Can the pod really brake due to software updates? My thought is that it's always fixable ;)

[Louie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

zushiba,
you need to fix
buildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)
visibleBuildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)

to this

buildID: 0x02108000 (2.1)
visibleBuildID: 0x02108000 (2.1)

It looks like you forgot to change the long string of digits too, and not just the digit in the ( ).

If you have a 2G ipod like me you would need to change

buildID: 0x01408000 (1.4)

to this

buildID: 0x01308000 (1.3)

And it will work.
Also with the 2G it seems you cannot change anything from pic 53 and up.

[Sebhelyesfarku @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Is there any firmware hack to make the iPod to play mp3s gaplessly?

[skyblue @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

To update my 3g ipod, I changed from:

buildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)
visibleBuildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)

to
buildID: 0x02108000 (2.1)
visibleBuildID: 0x02108000 (2.1)

Hope it helps. :)

[Brad B @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Post #31: I already did it. :P

Post #35: Apple didn't make this firmware hack. A clever >>Windows<< programmer did.

[Folkestone Gerald @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Good to see a real impressive hack at last!

[harry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Someone make a Mac version. Now.

This is embarassing

[Mario @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

http://mitglied.lycos.de/creamworks/ipod/ipodhack/mnipod.jpg

[Jonathan del Strother @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

"2. The logo of something called 'PIXO'"

Pixo are the company that Apple contracted to develop the iPod's interface.

[blythy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Anyone know why on the 3G 2.2 Firmware after the picture index 93 the images can't be loaded? I've changed the do not disconnect and ok to disconnect ones, but i'd need to connect to a computer to show those off but i want to change the apple logo when the iPod boots up from heavy sleep cos then at least i can show my m8s i have a cooler iPod

[Iceseven @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Can someone please help me?

When I want to open the updater file (2004-11-15) it gives me an error "Unable to find resources!" Any solutions to this?

Thanx

[Iceseven @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

OK, I got the solution myself. The updater Software has to be installed. Only the downloaded file doesn't work.

@rich: What do you mean with change "2" to "1"?

[TallGuy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

not all the graphics are on there, anyone know why? Like when the battery is depleted and when the thing wont boot. also solitare

[rich @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

I forgot to change the "2" inside buildID and visibleBuildID to a "1" like below (I only changed the number inside the parenthesis):

buildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)
visibleBuildID: 0x02208000 (2.2)

to
buildID: 0x02108000 (2.1)
visibleBuildID: 0x02108000 (2.1)

[thicksoup @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

God bless the writer of this hack. My iPod can retake the thrown as my favourite gadget. Can't wait to see what the 3 colours my 3gen has can be pursuaded to do.

[boogie_doggie @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Cool. I'm almost considering getting another iPod instead of waiting forever for the Rio Chroma...

[Ben Spink @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

As for a Mac version, why not just write this in Java to begin with? Nothing here is 3d intensive requiring C++, and a Java app would work the same on Windows or OS X. Of course you can always spend your time developing twice, or just ignore the other users....but really, why not allow everyone to run it?

Convert the code now to Java, and it will be easy to maintain and add additions. Just my opinion as a Java developer. :) This seems like another wasted java opportunity. :(

[thabenksta @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Thanks for the tutorial guys. And Thanks to IpodWizard. That was so easy.

Here's mine
http://ipodstudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7152#post7152

[dan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

hey, you got something like this for os x?

[Kapila Wimalaratne @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

Kickass!

The first thing I'm going to do, after I get my iPod mini, is replace that Apple logo with the Happy Mac :-)

Kap

P.S. Anyone know if a Mac version of iPodWizard is available?

[colin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

i really need to know how to locate that hidden folder and everything.. please explain, thanks!

[Zack @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

While nosing around in the B&W iPod's firmware, I found 3 interesting things.
1. A triangle with an exclaimation mark in it with the words 'Coming Soon' next to it
2. The logo of something called 'PIXO'
3. A mercator projection of the globe with time zones shaded in different tones

Rather strange..

[Big Dog @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

We need a Mac version! Is there any way to do this on a Mac?

[myke @ Dec 19th 2005 2:27AM]

ummm... did apple change their download link. the thing i just now downloaded from them is called iPod Setup.exe (vs. ipod updater) and ipod wizard says it cant find resources :-/

can someone host the old one somewhere??