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So, I have an Xperia Play that I only use for games. I don't use it as a phone so it is not activated with any carrier. It is a verizon model so the bootloader is locked.
Since I don't intent to use the mobile network, am I cool to install GSM roms if I want? Can I do something about the bootloader? Can I transform it into an ATT model with the unlocked bootloader or anything like that?
Lol transform it into an ATT model? You're kidding right? But yeah, you're cool to install GSM roms as long as your bootloader is unlocked
You can't transform the phone from CDMA to GSM since they require fully different chipsets. However, provided that you unlock tour bootloader, you can flash GSM roms at your leisure.
(my browser spazzed and I lost my last post if it shows up as a double ignore the other one!)
I'm new to Android and finding it confusing so thanks for the help so far!
I have a 910F Note 4 on Lollipop and want to root it to get rid of bloatware and possibly stop ads (if I can convince myself it's ethical) btu I *may* want to custom ROM it later.
So far your help and my reading have taught me this:
-- I can root using chainfire in order to get rid of bloat and block ads
-- If after rooting I later want a custom ROM or Xposed I'll need to get custom recovery in which case I'll be able to add CWM or TWRP later to my rooted phone
Assuming the above are true (if not please tell me!!) my question is this:
What on earth is oem unlock/bootloader unlock? In my reading I've come across people talking about this and it wiping the phone. I can't find an easy answer online. If I root +/- do CWM/TWRP will that automatically do OEM unlock or are they different things? Is bootloader unlock a different thing too? I'm confused! Will I need to root AND custom recovery AND oem unlock AND unlock bootloader?
Thanks in advance!!!
Some devices come with a locked bootloader, where you may be able to root the device via an exploit, but you can't change lower level software (ie kernel and/or recovery)... unless there is an unlock method for the bootloader.
The devices that do have a locked bootloader can be locked by the manufacturer, or by the carrier. That's the difference between the two. Either way the bootloader is still locked, only difference is who called for the locking.
For example, note 4 on tmobile does not have a locked bootloader, however, note 4 on at&t does. That decision was made by at&t, not Samsung. As far as I know, the at&t variant does not have a method for unlocking the bootloader yet so there's not much development for the device.
Compare to nexus devices, where Google automatically has the manufacturer lock the bootloader, but it being a development device, it's the easiest bootloader to unlock. It's literally a one line command in adb. HTC devices are locked but you can get an HTC dev code to unlock it from HTC.
I hope that makes sense. The best way to determine if your device has a locked bootloader is to visit the development forum or the general/Q&A forums for your device. If you have a locked bootloader and there is an unlock method, you only have to do it once (until you update or relock your bootloader). Some locked devices never get an unlock method. It designed to maintain the security and integrity of the device, but it also prevents user tampering.
Thank you for your thorough reply absinthesummer, very helpful.
However I'm still a little confused. My reading suggests to me that T-Mobile (910T) is *rootable* and the AT&T version (910S?) is not *rootable* but I'm in the UK and don't use these providers I use EE. And so I have the international variant of the Note 4 which is the 910F. I don't see a subforum or help for the UK EE version of the note 4 but as it's the 910F I assume that's the one I need to search for and not worry that EE will have put their own lock onto the 910F??
Now, because this happens to coincide with what you are saying has a locked bootloader or not, am I to assume that whether or not something is rootable is the same as whether or not it has an unlockable bootloader? i.e. is something only rootable or not because its bootloader is unlockable or not? If so therefore am I correct to assume that as the 910F which I have is rootable that it is also bootloadunlockable? And furthermore am I correct to assume that the very process of rooting itself unlocks the bootloader? Or perhaps in the case of the 910F it doesn't need to be so is even easier than Nexus devices? i.e. I just simply root and that in itself mean bootloader is already unlocked (and I am assuming that oem unlock is the same thing?)
I'm getting myself in a muddle I think!
Hehe it's totally cool, and yes your carrier could put a lock on it but that's incredibly rare in Europe due to frequent traveling between countries and the need to change Sims and carriers often... or at least that's what I've been told. The US carriers who lock their bootloaders are typically GSM carriers who do not expect you to need to root/carrier unlock/whatever. It's a control thing imo.
Anyway, your note 4 does not have a locked bootloader. If you check the development forum for your device you will see plenty of roms and guides and directions for rooting. That's usually a good indication that a device is unlocked (and those anticipating the release of new devices tend to get lock information prior to release, so they know which device they intend to buy).
Anyway, since you don't have a locked bootloader I wouldn't worry about it... that reminds me of a device I had for about a week, the LG L9. It had an oem bootloader lock but the international variant did not. We could root it & use a specially designed recovery with the bootloader locked but we couldn't flash a custom kernel (with a custom rom). They figured out that we could flash the international firmware and unlock that way, but it would make our display backwards (mirrored) and while that could be fixed, we would never be able to revert the boot screen. Now that's way too much trouble to go through just to unlock a bootloader and I did end up returning it and getting an s3 instead.
Bootloader locks are no fun, but they are not often placed on international devices for various reasons, so really I wouldn't worry about it too much.
If you get a device like a Google nexus, or an HTC that has a known locked bootloader, the bootloader and unlock method will be specifically mentioned in the routing guide. I hope that helps.
One more thing: rootability and locked bootloaders are not mutually exclusive, sometimes you can root devices with locked bootloaders and sometimes people will come up with ways around them (ie note 3 has safe strap recovery that runs parallel to stock recovery) to be able to use custom roms. However, if no exploit is found and there is no workaround, development will stall until one or both of those things is found. You may be able to root a device with a locked BL, but you may not be able to flash custom roms/kernels without a workaround. What I meant though is if you see a popular device with very little development, that's probably due to a locked bootloader and not having found a way around it yet. Most guides will explicitly mention the BL though if it's something you need to do
Yet another thoroughly helpful and detailed reply. Thank you very much indeed. You're a star!
Settings > General > About Phone > Software Info > Tap Build Number until you have Developer Options. Go back to About Phone and tap on Developer Options and Enable OEM Unlock is right there, simply check it off to fully enjoy your beautiful G4.
Just wanted to let everyone know carrying a Telus G4 that it is there in developer options incase they didn't know.
Spudnubs said:
Settings > General > About Phone > Software Info > Tap Build Number until you have Developer Options. Go back to About Phone and tap on Developer Options and Enable OEM Unlock is right there, simply check it off to fully enjoy your beautiful G4.
Just wanted to let everyone know carrying a Telus G4 that it is there in developer options incase they didn't know.
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Awesome find! /kappa
Most models have this option, but it does nothing for us without fastboot, for now..
I saw this in the options, but wasn't sure how it helped us. What is the plus value of doing this? Does it permit to fasboot oem unlock?
**Edit** Read up on it. It only enables fastboot, which you could do once root was achieved anyway, so no big exploit. Anyone courageous enough to attempt to bootloader unlock the sucker?
I thought they all had this option but the T-Mobile variation was the only one where it actually did anything?
EDIT: I attempted to enter Fastboot with Vol-Up and Power without success.
To my knowledge the only G4s that are unlocked are the TMO (811) and International (815EU) everyone else, that option is a dummy option. the reason thats there is because that option is a default dev feature in LP. Checking this unless you have either of the two listed variants has no effect. It makes you able to use the fastboot oem unlock command which is only supported on these two variants.
djkinetic said:
To my knowledge the only G4s that are unlocked are the TMO (811) and International (815EU) everyone else, that option is a dummy option. the reason thats there is because that option is a default dev feature in LP. Checking this unless you have either of the two listed variants has no effect. It makes you able to use the fastboot oem unlock command which is only supported on these two variants.
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Has it been confirmed that the Canadian version has a locked bootloader? Or would it be carrier dependant? There just isn't a lot of people, understandably, talking about the H812.
Usraek said:
Has it been confirmed that the Canadian version has a locked bootloader? Or would it be carrier dependant? There just isn't a lot of people, understandably, talking about the H812.
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Connect your phone to your pc, and run this command in terminal: adb reboot bootloader
if it puts you in fastboot you can issue this command: fastboot oem unlock
if you can't even enter fastboot, then you device bootloader is locked.
Confirmed: Does not work. (Telus H812)
Confirmed locked, Rogers H812.
Worth a shot anyhow I suppose
Well... At least we're one step closer to getting root on Canadian variants. It's a step in the right direction at least.
This is a standard Android option. it only works on a couple of devices. T-Mobile is one. It's definitely not a quick and easy fix to unlock your bootloader for 95% of people.
the_scotsman said:
This is a standard Android option. it only works on a couple of devices. T-Mobile is one. It's definitely not a quick and easy fix to unlock your bootloader for 95% of people.
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Ah well, I can certainly live without flashing a new ROM. LG's take on Android isn't as absolutely foul as Touchwiz was on my S3. I'll be perfectly sorted once we have access to Xposed, Viper, and the other incredible applications that require root.
I guess if it just restarts as usual after issuing the command then the bootloader is locked.
Talking about MTS H812.
Has anybody bugged LG about unlocking the bootloader recently. Last I see is that they unlocked 815 and others were to follow.
I did, however, find this: https://www.change.org/p/lg-electronics-unlock-bootloader-on-all-g4-devices
ETA ?
Is there some information about possibly having support for CM on the H812? It's suck that LG don't seem to want to unlock the locked Canadian and European variant of the G4. If I would have known that earlier I would have went for a Nexus 5 or 6 and not a G4 :/
Not sure where everyone is coming up with this uninformed bullcrap that if your able to boot into the bootloader you are unlocked. The boot loader on EVERY single G4 is LOCKED until you have LG provide you the unlock.bin, after giving them the Device ID from fastboot. If you own an H811 from T-Mobile you can unlock without the unlock.bin. If your lucky enough to be able to access fastboot on other models, it just means you are able to obtain your Device ID for the day LG decides to support the US models. End of discussion, nothing more to talk about!
urlyisis said:
Has anybody bugged LG about unlocking the bootloader recently. Last I see is that they unlocked 815 and others were to follow.
I did, however, find this: https://www.change.org/p/lg-electronics-unlock-bootloader-on-all-g4-devices
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I've recently contacted LG Canada about releasing an unlock tool for the boot loader on the G4 Canadian variant. I conveyed to them that it is one of the primary features I look for in a phone (I have the G2, G3 and got the G4 in expectation of eventually getting to install other ROMS). I've not received a response yet.
Given that the hardware features are gradually becoming indistinguishable between vendors (and LG is no longer on the world wide market share short list), one way to differentiate yourself and place yourself apart from others is to permit the user the ability to do as they wish with the phone, especially when the costs to maintain future OS releases becomes onerous and unprofitable and developers and open source communities are willing to pick up where vendor left the phone to wither and die.
I had advised them that the G4 will be the last LG phone I will be buying if this is the stance they take.
I gave up on this phone, it's out for hardware repair right now, I'm not even anxious to get it back, I'm enjoying my old unlocked rooted s4
Sent from my GT-I9505G using XDA Free mobile app
Well, that is disappointing to say the least.
I am bought the Canadian LG G4 without even anticipating that it wouldn't be unlocked. I had a LG G3 previously and was generally happy with the phone. Lesson learned I guess. I'll make sure my next phone does not have a locked bootloader, and LG won't be on the list for my next device.
Azure1203 said:
I guess if it just restarts as usual after issuing the command then the bootloader is locked.
Talking about MTS H812.
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Can this model be used in the United States?
I obtained an XT1766 (Qualcomm) with build NCQS26.69-64-11 from an mvno called Tello (aka Sprint). The state that all the phones they sell are unlocked. The SIM say Sprint on it. When I asked if I could use it on a GSM carrier they said it is only CDMA compatible.
The XT1766 spec clearly shows it is GSM capable, and Sprint themselves state that they can unlock the phone for at least international GSM, and US GSM after a set amount of time.
I installed a GSM SIM, and the phone report "Hidden Menu" Invalid SIM.
My questions:
1) Is Tello in denial that the SIM is unlocked? It seems GSM locked to me.
2) Does this phone have an Android build created by Motorola that disables GSM?
3) Is the only way to enable GSM is to unlock the bootloader and install custom OS?
4) If the phone is "locked", the Motorola will not give a key to unlock the bootloader. Correct?
5) Can this CDMA sprint based phone be used for other CDMA carriers such as verizon?
Sorry for all the questions. I am new to how these things operate.
turbotechX said:
I obtained an XT1766 (Qualcomm) with build NCQS26.69-64-11 from an mvno called Tello (aka Sprint). The state that all the phones they sell are unlocked. The SIM say Sprint on it. When I asked if I could use it on a GSM carrier they said it is only CDMA compatible.
The XT1766 spec clearly shows it is GSM capable, and Sprint themselves state that they can unlock the phone for at least international GSM, and US GSM after a set amount of time.
I installed a GSM SIM, and the phone report "Hidden Menu" Invalid SIM.
My questions:
1) Is Tello in denial that the SIM is unlocked? It seems GSM locked to me.
2) Does this phone have an Android build created by Motorola that disables GSM?
3) Is the only way to enable GSM is to unlock the bootloader and install custom OS?
4) If the phone is "locked", the Motorola will not give a key to unlock the bootloader. Correct?
5) Can this CDMA sprint based phone be used for other CDMA carriers such as verizon?
Sorry for all the questions. I am new to how these things operate.
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Can't use it on gsm anymore. The new update locked it up tight. You can still unlock the bootloader. But custom ROMs aren't going to help. They closed that hole right up.
What is the build number that locked up the GSM function?
turbotechX said:
What is the build number that locked up the GSM function?
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Either -08 or -10 were the end numbers of the build that did it. Can't go back either. It set an efuse. No amount of downgrading can undo it. It's been tried. To the point of bricks. Sorry bro.
No longer works for domestic unlock if you have late 2018/2019 security updates. You can only unlock it for foreign use
gentlemann said:
No longer works for domestic unlock if you have late 2018/2019 security updates. You can only unlock it for foreign use
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AFAIK no foreign either. Feb 2019 wont lock the device to sprint but it wont unlock you with C.Roms. Jun 2019 will lock the device and no way to unlock it to be used either in the US or outside. Just Sprint by now.
Again... As far as i know. Correct me if i'm wrong please.
Hi everyone, title basically says it all. The phone was fully paid for and unlocked. Formally an At&t phone. I'm trying to use it on Sprint's network as it should support it but however I cannot get it to activate at all. Apparently it isn't even recognized by Sprint's system at all. Any advice?
Is it because Sprint is a cdma network and at&t is a gsm network?
I could be very wrong but I dont believe gsm unlocked phones dont play well with verizon/sprint even though they have all the bands.
Let someone wiser point you in the write direction but probably flashing sprint rom on the phone would probably help. There is a thread in rom section that has you flash the unlocked firmware and then flash carrier firmware. I did this with my att unlocked 10+ and now using as a tmobile device(for carrier stuff).
Take it to a store or call ... they're picky as to letting devices on the network that aren't in their system
Gotta flash the g975u1 firmware on it...