Build 225 changes the build toolchain
img4tool build 225, published on November 14, 2026, changes the build process to use Clang. The preceding build, 224, changed Linux builds to always use position-independent code with the -fPIC option.
The release provides buildroot_macos-latest.zip and buildroot_ubuntu-latest.zip archives for macOS and Ubuntu host platforms. The notes describe build-system changes only; they do not announce new file-format features or changes to the tool’s commands.
What img4tool does
img4tool is a command-line utility for manipulating IMG4, IM4M and IM4P files. Its documented operations include displaying file contents, extracting embedded data, creating containers, changing an IM4P type, converting SHSH data to IM4M, and checking signing information against a BuildManifest.
An IMG4 can contain an IM4P together with IM4M or SHSH-related data. IM4P files can hold payloads, while IM4M and SHSH data can be used with the tool’s verification and conversion functions.
Inspect, extract and create files
The print functions can display IMG4, IM4P and IM4M contents. Users can request a full IM4M view or print only the IM4P-related information when they need a narrower result.
Extraction supports pulling an IM4P or IM4M from an IMG4 file, and pulling an IM4P from an SHSH file. The tool can also extract the payload from an IM4P into a separate binary file. If the necessary initialization vector and key are available, it supports extracting and decrypting that payload.
For file creation, img4tool can combine an IM4P with an optional IM4M or SHSH source to make an IMG4. It can also create an IM4P from a raw payload with a selected type and optional description. A rename operation changes an existing IM4P type, while the conversion function changes SHSH data into IM4M data.
Verification and release scope
The verification features can check an IM4M or SHSH ticket against a BuildManifest. They can also check an IMG4 containing an IM4P and IM4M against that manifest to determine whether it is correctly signed.
Build 225 is a regular release and is identified by the exact build tag 225. Its main change is the switch to Clang, while build 224 supplied the earlier Linux -fPIC adjustment. These updates affect how img4tool is built on its host platforms; the release notes do not report changes to parsing, extraction, verification behavior or supported file operations.
