If you've downloaded an older IPSW file and are looking to jailbreak your device, compatibility depends entirely on your iOS version and the specific processor (A-series chip) inside your iPhone or iPad.
The Current Jailbreak Landscape
There are generally two types of jailbreaks today: Semi-Tethered (requires an app to re-jailbreak after a reboot) and Tethered (requires a computer to boot). Untethered jailbreaks are largely a thing of the past.
A11 Devices and Older (iPhone X, 8, and older)
These devices are permanently susceptible to the checkm8 bootrom exploit. Using the palera1n jailbreak tool, these devices can be jailbroken on iOS 15, iOS 16, and iOS 17.
A12+ Devices (iPhone XS, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
These newer devices are much harder to crack because Apple patched the bootrom exploit. The most prominent modern tool is Dopamine, which supports iOS 15.0 through iOS 16.5.1 (and iOS 16.6.1 on select devices).
If you have an A12+ device running iOS 17 or higher, there is currently no public jailbreak available.
Why Can't I Just Downgrade?
Because Apple strictly controls firmware signing, you cannot simply download an iOS 16 IPSW and install it on an iPhone 15 running iOS 17. The installation will be blocked, meaning if you update past the jailbreakable versions, you are permanently locked out.
Related Guides
If you are troubleshooting Apple firmware issues or managing device updates, explore our other step-by-step guides: