PW4 Safest Version to Update to?

stuckinoh08 · 08-12-2024, 02:23 AM

I jailbroke my PW4 a few years ago and am still rocking version 5.11.2. Now I know there have been some software improvements and added features since then but I don't want to lose my JB. So, what is currently the safest version to update to that will hopefully still leave my JB intact?

Or should I just leave well enough alone and not tempt fate?

FWIW, I've read the index which points to 5.15.1.1 breaking things, but later on says don't go beyond 5.12.x. Additionally, I've read that LanguageBreak is supposedly stable at 5.16.2.1.1. Too many numbers to keep track of and I'm not really sure if there is any feature or security fixes that are with messing with it.

shamanNS · 08-12-2024, 01:29 PM

Prior to installing newer firmware update make sure to first install the latest version of jailbreak hotfix (that has changes & fixes for >= 5.15) from the snapshot thread and do 2 extra reboots / restarts after that. After that you're safe to update to desired firmware version (and then again re-do the hotfix installation + reboots).

As for what firmware version is "the best" that is highly subjective thing. I could only point out couple of important firmware versions that introduced important UI and/or functionality changes.
Like the fact that many many longtime Kindle owners hated the changes regarding collections that were introduced with firmware 5.14.3 IIRC.

Anyhow, as long as you don't lose the jailbreak in worse case you should always have an option to do a "downgrade" firmware to a particular version you liked the best and/or considered the last good firmware.

j.p.s · 08-12-2024, 02:30 PM

The best current consolidation of the history, new features, and lost features of kindle firmwares is the Kindle Firmware wiki page:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_Firmware
and its discussion thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=356161

Be prepared to invest some time and thought. As shamanNS wrote, what is better is very much a personal matter, as are trade offs between "two evils". On top of all that, it is a complicated topic.

Note that wiki page also has links to new firmware specific threads for some firmware versions.

08-12-2024, 02:23 AM	#1
stuckinoh08 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Safest Version to Update to? I jailbroke my PW4 a few years ago and am still rocking version 5.11.2. Now I know there have been some software improvements and added features since then but I don't want to lose my JB. So, what is currently the safest version to update to that will hopefully still leave my JB intact? Or should I just leave well enough alone and not tempt fate? FWIW, I've read the index which points to 5.15.1.1 breaking things, but later on says don't go beyond 5.12.x. Additionally, I've read that LanguageBreak is supposedly stable at 5.16.2.1.1. Too many numbers to keep track of and I'm not really sure if there is any feature or security fixes that are with messing with it. Last edited by stuckinoh08; 08-12-2024 at 07:39 AM.

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08-12-2024, 01:29 PM	#2
shamanNS Guru Posts: 993 Karma: 11000000 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Serbia Device: Kindle PW5, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle PW1	Prior to installing newer firmware update make sure to first install the latest version of jailbreak hotfix (that has changes & fixes for >= 5.15) from the snapshot thread and do 2 extra reboots / restarts after that. After that you're safe to update to desired firmware version (and then again re-do the hotfix installation + reboots). As for what firmware version is "the best" that is highly subjective thing. I could only point out couple of important firmware versions that introduced important UI and/or functionality changes. Like the fact that many many longtime Kindle owners hated the changes regarding collections that were introduced with firmware 5.14.3 IIRC. Anyhow, as long as you don't lose the jailbreak in worse case you should always have an option to do a "downgrade" firmware to a particular version you liked the best and/or considered the last good firmware.

08-12-2024, 02:30 PM	#3
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,522 Karma: 100606001 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	The best current consolidation of the history, new features, and lost features of kindle firmwares is the Kindle Firmware wiki page: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_Firmware and its discussion thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=356161 Be prepared to invest some time and thought. As shamanNS wrote, what is better is very much a personal matter, as are trade offs between "two evils". On top of all that, it is a complicated topic. Note that wiki page also has links to new firmware specific threads for some firmware versions.