How to Use WinterBoard (SummerBoard Replacement): A Walkthrough
Author: Nic Elder | Posted under: How-TosTags: customize, cydia, jailbreak, kate, summerboard, themes, winterboard
While we might not see a free version of SummerBoard, one of the most highly-anticipated jailbroken apps, iPhone customization-junkies are turning to an alternative: WinterBoard.
For those of you who don’t know what SummerBoard is, it’s an application that runs in the background of your iPhone and allows you to easily apply pre-made and custom themes that you can download directly from Installer / Cydia. The themes can have customized elements such as icons, backgrounds, title bars, docks, etc..
SummerBoard was created by a company named Nullriver (also the original creators of the famous Installer.app or Apptapp Installer, as well as the controversial Netshare App). Nullriver licensed the rights of SummerBoard, and Installer, to a new company called RIP Dev. RIP Dev has an application you can purchase ($45 for an unlimited subscription) that now has a more advanced feature-set of SummerBoard included (called FaceLift). The application is called Kate.
For those of us who have no money, and wish to have SummerBoard style theming anyway, Saurik (the creator of Cydia) has blessed us with WinterBoard. WinterBoard is an open source application that promises to apply any SummerBoard theme, as well as allow for some new amazing effects (ie. animated/changing backgrounds, theming batteries, sliders, etc.).
Here, I’ll walk through installing WinterBoard and downloading a theme from Cydia to apply to the iPhone Springboard. I’ll also show you a few of the different variations of theming that can be applied using WinterBoard.
Walkthrough
1. Download WinterBoard from Cydia
2. *** RESTART YOUR PHONE ***
In order for WinterBoard to work correctly you MUST restart your phone after installation. To do this hold down the power button until the “slide to power off” slider appears. Power off the phone, and then press the power button again to turn it back on.
3. Open WinterBoard
Tap the WinterBoard icon on the Springboard.
3. Apply Selected Theme(s)
WinterBoard comes with a few built in themes. One is Saurik’s own to show off changing backgrounds and other elements that WinterBoard is capable of. I say ‘Theme(s)’ in the title of this step because WinterBoard allows you to apply multiple themes at one time. For instance, you might apply one of Saurik’s themes and also want ‘Transparent Icon Labels’. You could select both, and elements from both would be applied to your Springboard.
4. Download Custom Themes From Cydia
Now that we’ve verified theming is working ok, let’s try a custom theme from Cydia. I noticed an NBA theme, so being a basketball fan I’ll use that for this example.
- Open Cydia
- Tap ‘Sections’
- Tap ‘Planet-iPhones Mods’
- Install ‘NBA Theme’
- Open WinterBoard
- Uncheck everything
- Check NBA-Theme
- Exit WinterBoard
5. Applying Multiple Themes
I mentioned earlier you could apply multiple themes to combine elements. Let’s try adding Saurik’s theme to the NBA-Theme. We should get Saurik’s Background and Dock and NBA-Theme’s Icons.
- Open WinterBoard
- Leave NBA-Theme Checked
- Check Saurik
- Press Home to return to the Springboard
Ok, I admit it’s a really bad example as these two themes look hideous together, however it does show the power of WinterBoard compared to the original SummerBoard.
6. Remove All Themes
If you want to return the phone to a stock look, simply open WinterBoard and uncheck all themes.
Summary
Though I think WinterBoard represents just the beginning of the functionality it will provide in the future, it is already a very stable and usable application. Saurik is updating it regularly, and as you can see above, applying themes is relatively easy and straightforward. You can install/apply any SummerBoard theme, as well as new WinterBoard themes.
If you are on a budget and don’t want to spring for ‘Kate’ ($45), then this is definitely the solution for you. As usual this requires a jailbroken phone, and a desire to have an original looking phone.
Happy Theming!!
We missed something? Having trouble? Let us know below!
Finally, a way to make my iPhone look bad! Sweet!
Caleb on August 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
@Caleb: haha I side w/ you, though I have found a few nice themes. Personally I’m a fan of iGlassSol found in Cydia
Nic Elder on August 14th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I ended up installing a couple of the wallpaper packages but ran into difficulties. After I switched back and forth a couple of times between images, the wallpaper defaulted to my original wallpaper image and wouldn’t change. The original image I had was a photo in my library, after deleting it and restarting the phone I now have a totally black wallpaper. Toggling the settings or the winterboard “User Wallpaper” option doesn’t do anything. However, applying a theme still changes the wallpaper behind the icons, but not my lock screen. Any suggestions?
Brett on August 14th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Great step-by-step guide. This is working great and now my iPhone doesn’t look like everyone else. Thanks!
gicutie on August 14th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
@Brett
I had similar troubles with an application called Customize. It seems like using apps to alter wallpapers (both lock screen and springboard) generally ends in something like this for some people. If you are looking for an application that is good with wallpapers, I suggest Kate/RiP Dev. You can get it from Cydia. It’s a very simple app that installs a section to the bottom of your settings and offers some pretty neat customizability. Hope this helps.
shnorb on August 14th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
@Shnorb
Thanks, I’ll check it out later today =D
Brett on August 15th, 2008 at 7:56 am
[...] How to Use WinterBoard (SummerBoard Replacement): A Walkthrough While we might not see a free version of SummerBoard, one of the most highly-anticipated jailbroken apps, iPhone customization-junkies are turning to an alternative: WinterBoard. For those of you who don’t know what SummerBoard is, it’s an application that runs in the background of your iPhone and allows you to easily apply pre-made and custom themes that you […] Bookmark iFones!SubscribeBlinklistDiggdel.icio.usFacebookNewsVineRedditStumbleUpon [...]
Apple 3G iPhone - How to Use WinterBoard (SummerBoard Replacement): A Walkthrough | iFones.com Apple iPhone 3G iPhone News on August 15th, 2008 at 8:46 am
@Brett: If it’s the same problem that was happening w/ customize then it’s likely an issue w/ permissions on the background file of the theme. Try installing mobile Terminal and running the following command
rm -rf /var/mobile/Library/LockBackground.jpg
The command is case sensitive
Nic Elder on August 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am
@Nic + Shnorb
Installed Kate (after many bad urls [needed to reset network settings to get it downloaded]) and attempted to change the lock background to no avail. Seems the only thing I can do is turn the background on (to the single non-changing image I’ve had for awhile) or off (black screen).
I navigated the phone using DiskAid and deleted both theLockbackground.jpg and some special Kate related lock screen that was also in that directory. Now all I have is a black lock screen, it’s incapable of being changed either by using Kate or the default settings panel. After deleting the file and then changing the wallpaper using the default method a new LockBackground.jpg appears but doesn’t appear to update. Perhaps this problem is more serious than I’m imagining.
Brett on August 15th, 2008 at 10:24 am
@Brett: try removing winterboard and see if this rectifies the problem (remember to restart the phone after removing winterboard)
Nic Elder on August 15th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Removed both Kate and Winterboard, restarted many times, deleted LockBackground.jpg on several occasions and nothing. Looks like I might have to restore.
Brett on August 15th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Reinstalled Winterboard and things surprisingly seem to be working. Thanks for all your help guys =D
Brett on August 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
@Brett: Glad everything worked out.. you had me worried. I hate when users have to restore based on trying one of our tutorials
Nic Elder on August 15th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
How i can made my own Winterboard Theme?
blumikus3d on August 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
@blumikus3d
SEARCH google.ca or browse some iPhone forum sites, there’s LOTs of tutorials! Good luck
Lilskaterpunk on August 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
hi, i have a problem,i have already installed cydia,but i can’t find winterboard in it, i have look for it in the search option and nothing, am really new in this, so it would be helpful if you give me a hand thanx everyone there.
ricardo torres on August 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
The one thing you didn’t go into is how to delete a theme you downloaded from Cydia from your winterboard list. Is there a way to do this without having to download OpenSSH?
mto on August 21st, 2008 at 8:22 am
Can’t get winterboard to work :/
When I install it (& restart phone) I get an empty screen when I open winterboard.
Lio on August 24th, 2008 at 8:57 am
DON’T BOTHER ASKING ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS @#$! WON’T ANSWER!!!
Name... on August 25th, 2008 at 6:27 am
@ricardo: You may have selected the wrong kind of user filter for your applications in cydia. Select Manage at the bottom, and then Settings on the top left, and then select Developer, this will take out all filters. Search should then show WinterBoard (if you type winterboard it is near the bottom of the list.
Nic Elder on August 25th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
@mto: To remove a theme you should be able to just make sure it is unselected in winterboard, and then remove the package from Cydia (manage, -> packages -> select the theme you installed from the list -> click modify at the top -> remove)
Nic Elder on August 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
@Lio: Did you download any themes from Cydia? You may have a corrupt installation fo WinterBoard as well… go into Cydia, goto Manage at the bottom, Packages, find WinterBoard in the list, click Modify on the top right, Reinstall. Then restart the phone again (after it completes)
Nic Elder on August 25th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
@Name: We have a great track record of responding to users questions, and comments, I’ve been out for the last few days moving, and haven’t got a chance to keep up. What was your question that was never responded to?
Nic Elder on August 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
i tried reinstalling winterboard but it stills doesnt work..what should i do???
jas on August 27th, 2008 at 4:43 am
i tried reinstalling winterboard…and when i wanted to uninstall it..i couldn’t find it under cydia/manage…am i doing something wrong??
shhhh on August 27th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Im just installing winterboard now but its said (in cyida) “rebooting spirngboard” for the past two hours now. Should I Power my iPod Off? Will this cause any damage
AJ on August 29th, 2008 at 7:32 am
@AJ: You should be able to hold down power+home for 10 seconds and have it reboot. It may take 5 minutes or so to reboot. If it gets stuck on the boot logo (pineapple) then you’ll have to restore. It’s an issue w/ apple’s SpringBoard and having too many apps installed at once, it has happened to me without jailbreaking numerous times.
Nic Elder on August 29th, 2008 at 8:20 am
@shhhh: when you search for winterboard does it come up in the list?
@jas: try restoring your phone, I’ve never seen it do what you’re describing.
Nic Elder on August 29th, 2008 at 8:22 am
when i open up my winterboard nothing comes up just a blank screen? What to do? Has anyone else had this problem?
Mike D on September 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
@Mike D: I haven’t experienced this problem, sounds like an installation issue w/ winterboard, an update was released today or yesterday, try upgrading, make sure you restart the phone afterward. If this doesn’t work I can only recommend a restore as I did for jas up above.
Nic Elder on September 4th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
i accidentally deleted the themes folder and now i dont have the default winterboard things like “User Wallpaper” can anyone please please upload the original winterboard themes folder.. please
Thanks
yunus on September 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
@yunus: You should be able to go into Cydia, go Manage -> Packages -> WinterBoard -> Modify -> Reinstall… That should download the winterboard package and reinstall everything it came with
Nic Elder on September 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
How do I get this on my jailbroke iphone 3g?
I have cydia and Installer 4 installed on the phone, but when I nagivate to “featured packages > winterboard … I get this message:
“ the package winterboard cannot be found in your current sources. I might recommend installing more sources.”
Even when I do a search for it, there is not listing of this App under “All Packages”
Can anyone help me resolve this issue.
thanks
Bernard on September 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
[...] or higher, there haven’t been many useful apps worth jailbreaking for, other than Customize, WinterBoard, and [...]
The cons of jailbreaking your iPhone / iPod Touch on September 15th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I also tried everything already and all I get is a blank winterboard, tried reinstalling it, restoring everything, and nothing…
Edd on September 15th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
UPDATE:
*MUST DISCONNECT FROM ITUNES BEFORE DOWNLOADING AND RESTARING PHONE
I tried to do it once I was away from my computer and it worked, I can’t believed I spent hours in the computer trying to figured it out.
Edd on September 17th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
@Edd: I have tested both connected to the computer and disconnected, and have had no issues. “RESTARTING THE PHONE” is important, but is also covered in the tutorial above (#2 in Red/Bold)
Nic Elder on September 18th, 2008 at 8:39 am
@Bernard: In Cydia make sure you install all available updates, restart cydia, and then goto search and type WinterBoard. Toward the bottom of the list in the W’s you will find it.
Nic Elder on September 18th, 2008 at 8:40 am
hi. I need some help. I have obviously jailbroken my phone and have cydia and winterboard and I am also using an application called customize. My lock screen is stuck on a picture that I can’t change at all. Tried everything but it seems to be locked on the one picture. I have read a few posts on the net and most people referred to something called openssh and then deleting sumtn called lockbackgroung. Can someone give me instructions in what to do as I am really sick of my picture that is on the lock screen, thanks.
zoey on September 21st, 2008 at 9:37 am
Hi
I am trying to figure out the way on installing the battery icons. I have installed 2 icons from Cydia under the Themes(battery) sections. The two being 3D gauge and the other one NOS battery. They appear in Winterboard and checking or unchecking them makes no difference. They still dont appear anywhere on the phone.
Please help.
Rajat on September 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
@Rajat: Battery icons refer to the large battery on the phone when you plug it into an outlet for charging. I tried installing the NOS battery and it shows up just fine for me. Plug your phone into the wall (and only check one of the battery themes in winterboard)
Nic Elder on September 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
@Zoey: Please refer to comment #8 above for instructions on deleting lockbackground
Nic Elder on September 22nd, 2008 at 9:24 am
I have the same problrm with black screen. How ti remove Winterboard manualy via SSH?
Duche on September 24th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I don’t understand how to do this! Am i supposed to download the app Cydia from the App store first?
shannon on September 24th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
@shannon: WinterBoard (and Cydia) are only available on jailbroken phones. Please check out our jailbreak tutorials here:
Windows: http://www.appleiphoneapps.com/2008/07/how-to-newbies-guide-to-winpwn-20-jailbreak/
Mac: http://www.appleiphoneapps.com/2008/07/how-to-newbies-guide-to-iphone-3g-jailbreak/
Nic Elder on September 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
i have done the code in comment #8 but i keep getting an error saying ” rm: invalid option — /
how do i get rid of the lock background picture???
makaveli on September 28th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I removed and reinstalled winterboard. It only came with BlackJainDim and Neurox Leopard but nothing else. I downloaded many other themes and none of them show up in it.
Mike on October 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Has anyone solved the problem to those with the blank winterboard? I’ve checked blogs and this does seem to be an issue, but with no concrete solution, even with the newest winterboard update. After every step with reinstall and restart you come up with the same result. blank winterboard with no themes, and any added after install dont show up. Does anyone have a solution for this either through SSH or otherwise without having to do a restore?
GYO911 on October 9th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
me too… I could not see the theme i installed from cydia on my winterboard. Pls help…
kshen on October 14th, 2008 at 3:43 am
Занимаюсь дизайном и хочу попросить автора http://www.appleiphoneapps.com отправить шаьлончик на мой мыил) Готов заплатить…
brient on October 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I can’t see the winterboard install icon whenever i go under featured, or the search tab, i’ve even looked under section > System and winterboard is nowhere to be found. Is it bugged up or something ? Please e-mail me if you know the answer. Thanks alot !! I really want to get my themes up
Bryan on October 14th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I have downloaded a number of themes and tried adding them through WinSCP but only 2 actually show up. Does anyone know how to fix this. Could it be that they were from Summerboard or a different firmware and need to be updated or something?
Downloaded from modemyi.com or theme your iphone and I can only get Dew to work.
Kimberly on October 17th, 2008 at 3:55 am
@Kimberly: What folder did you add them to on the phone? If you add the themes to the /Library/Themes folder they should appear in winterboard w/ no problem.
Nic Elder on October 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I downloaded winterboard and some themes and nothing I apply works. The only change I have seen is that slide to unlock button changing. Help plz?
Josh on October 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 am
Same problem with me…. none of the themes i downloaded seems to work, not even the built in themes like saurik. Plz help。・°°・(((p(≧□≦)q)))・°°・
Moichi on October 24th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I too have downloaded winterboard, but mine came with no themes already installed.
I downloaded IGlassSol and have checked it in my winterboard icon, however it doesnt seem to have any effect on my iphone theme?
Have i done something wrong?
Jay on November 13th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Hi there….firstly thanks for this wonderful tutorial….I am getting this msg on my desktop in small fonts…..
This doesn’t really do anything yet, but it did get loaded off the server ;P (Awesome, huj?)
Also, to let you know that I have jailbroken my iphone with 2.1 firmware…..Thanks
RON on November 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I have winter board, and its pretty cool but personilly i like customize 2.0 from when i had 1.1.4 WAY better!its so much more orgenized and u can see what your going to pick, it has a preview. in winterboard after downloading alot of themesit gets crammed; so u cant see what your installing. also some themes overpower others so you cant really fully customize it =( customize 2.0 (1.1.4) was the best!!! i wish winterboards’ set-up wasn’t a list; I wish they had the same set up like customize, each theme( summerboard,sliders,battery,ETC.) was in there own folder.well thats my thought .
ed on November 21st, 2008 at 7:56 am