Database Users

[Q] G901F - future non-branded ROMS via OTA possible?

I would have posted this under the S5 'T-Mobile' section, but I think it might be more of a generic discussion.
I am considering in purchasing the S5 Plus (G901F). From what I can see right now, this is only available in Germany, UK and just about now, Netherlands. Problem is that it's exclusive to respective providers and therefore - "branded"
I can find it cheaper from Germany - which is subject to T-Mobile / Telekom (same thing?) branding.
I have asked the shop and they confirmed that the phone is factory unlocked to any provider/country and that there is no "hardware branding" on the phone. Meaning no stickers, no logos or anything else physically on the phone.
However, there is "software branding". Meaning the firmware itself and whatever bloatware the provider has put inside that ROM.
Now, I have read that I can use ODIN and find the least crapware-loaded ROM (from any country) and flash it *without* compromissing the knox bit. So far so good.
What I would like to know is that: What happens when finally Samsung releases a pure, non-branded ROM for the G901F? I can still use ODIN to flash - no problem. But what about future releases. I mean future non-branded firmwares. Would I be able to use OTA from that point on, or would I have to keep an eye and update via ODIN? Can someone please elaborate and explain this?

I get it - that's a 'newbie' type of question, but I would be really grateful towards some help here. All I can do for someone who will spend 2mins for writing a useful/accurate answer is say 'thanks'
Didn't find an exact answer to what I ask here, hence me writing this. Hope it's not a double-post!
jstoner said:
I would have posted this under the S5 'T-Mobile' section, but I think it might be more of a generic discussion.
I am considering in purchasing the S5 Plus (G901F). From what I can see right now, this is only available in Germany, UK and just about now, Netherlands. Problem is that it's exclusive to respective providers and therefore - "branded"
I can find it cheaper from Germany - which is subject to T-Mobile / Telekom (same thing?) branding.
I have asked the shop and they confirmed that the phone is factory unlocked to any provider/country and that there is no "hardware branding" on the phone. Meaning no stickers, no logos or anything else physically on the phone.
However, there is "software branding". Meaning the firmware itself and whatever bloatware the provider has put inside that ROM.
Now, I have read that I can use ODIN and find the least crapware-loaded ROM (from any country) and flash it *without* compromissing the knox bit. So far so good.
What I would like to know is that: What happens when finally Samsung releases a pure, non-branded ROM for the G901F? I can still use ODIN to flash - no problem. But what about future releases. I mean future non-branded firmwares. Would I be able to use OTA from that point on, or would I have to keep an eye and update via ODIN? Can someone please elaborate and explain this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hi jstoner,
I think that while using an unbranded ROM would probably prevent you from receiving OTA's from your provider you would still be left wih the Samsung tool for getting new updates - Kies.
It has the options to check for updates and to flash them.
The geeky option is indeed to keep your eyes out for updates and fire up Odin
Disclaimer: I never used Kies to update my phone so I might be wrong here
Sent from my Android powered Tricorder

I forgot to mention - I live in Greece (but I m thinking of buying the phone from Germany, as it's not available here yet)
Does KIES list all ROMs from ALL regions/providers for a particular phone?
vrl13 said:
I think that while using an unbranded ROM would probably prevent you from receiving OTA's from your provider you would still be left wih the Samsung tool for getting new updates - Kies.
r
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hello,
It seems there is a firmware for Greece for you
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/40735/G901FXXU1ANK3_G901FEUR1ANL1_EUR.zip/

Oh good
Does that mean it's about to be released in Greece soon???
thierry_b said:
Hello,
It seems there is a firmware for Greece for you
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/40735/G901FXXU1ANK3_G901FEUR1ANL1_EUR.zip/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Nobody knows man. But you can always flash the newest updates via odin without triggering knox. After a few month only German Vodafone is building an update. T- mobil stii stuck on h5 firmware. So if there will be an unbranded oce ever ever ever.........you have odin

Wonder if that Greek ROM is unbranded or not
As for hardware branding, it seems that all G901F units sold in Germany under Telekom/T-Mobile have that "LTE+" at the back (also on the retail box). Instead, those EE (UK) units seem to have no hardware branding at all - it just has the "Samsung" logo at the back cover (and nothing on the retail box)
teichy1 said:
No Body knows man. But you can always flash the newest updates via odin without triggering knox. After a few month only German Vodafone is building an update. T- mobil stii stuck on h5 firmware. So if there will be an unbranded oce ever ever ever.........you have odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

There are a few Providerapps inside. All Roms i tested for 901F has the normal Samsung Bootloaderscreener. No Provider startup. So nothing to worry about . Mine has also the LTE+ logo, but former T-Mobile Devices have also Coverbrands on it...Thanks God these not

[Q] Carrier Specific ROMs

Hey Guys!
I have a question regarding stock roms. I've been looking at SamMobile for an official release of Lollipop here in Philippines, the only download I can see is for a local carrier Globe. Will it cause problems if I flash this on my international N9005?
I also want to ask the same question for an S4 I9505, but it's the other way around; the phone is from Globe, network locked, and I am thinking of flashing an international version ROM. Will this cause problems? I know this isn't the right forum but just in case someone would like to answer.
Thank you!

hehsusss said:
Hey Guys!
I have a question regarding stock roms. I've been looking at SamMobile for an official release of Lollipop here in Philippines, the only download I can see is for a local carrier Globe. Will it cause problems if I flash this on my international N9005?
I also want to ask the same question for an S4 I9505, but it's the other way around; the phone is from Globe, network locked, and I am thinking of flashing an international version ROM. Will this cause problems? I know this isn't the right forum but just in case someone would like to answer.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes, you will have problems with the radios. It's not importat where you live that what CSC have your device. Install this APP and look for your CSC. Go to Sammobile.com, look for your csc, download and flash the latest stock rom for your device via ODIN. (Pic attached)
2. Regarding GT-i9505: Yes, it will cause lose of signal. The best you can do is unlock it by IMEI.

Joku1981 said:
1. Yes, you will have problems with the radios. It's not importat where you live that what CSC have your device. Install this APP and look for your CSC. Go to Sammobile.com, look for your csc, download and flash the latest stock rom for your device via ODIN. (Pic attached)
2. Regarding GT-i9505: Yes, it will cause lose of signal. The best you can do is unlock it by IMEI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed a rom from Brazil. Everything works great it's just that the bloatware included is annoying. I figured the best option to flasha ROM from my country but the only one with a Lollipop ROM is carrier specific.

Samsung allows users to use roms from their own region interchangeably. In most cases, even globally.
I've never encountered issues with radio or signal loss when flashing different providers and countries in my own region, and I've had thousands of people flash and use all sort of different EU firmwares. (you can find the region on the sticker on the box.)
(US users have different devices with real carrier locks, so those are excluded.)
Sent From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk

Impossible to unlock?

Hi guys.
I've bought a Note 4 N910W8 locked with Claro (South America) since they are the same that we use in Canada. I ordered the unlock code online and while I was waiting for it, I upgraded it to Cyanogen, the latest stable ROM. When I got code, it didn't work. Tried with another supplier, wasn't able to give me one. BTW, I ordered the international code since I don't know from which country my phone is coming from. So, I was to try with classicunlocking to get a valid code and before they validated my order, it was clearly stipulated that it won't work on phones running modified ROM. Especially Cyanogen ROM... What can I do? Just to put back any Claro ROM and try again? And no :crying: I didn't do any backup of the original one. :crying: Anyone with a link to a valid Claro ROM for a N910W8? Or is there another way? I need a bit of help right now. Thanks SO MUCH in advance.

First go to sammobile and download stock rom according to model and carrier
And this is guide for flashing rom
http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmo...irmware-sm-g920t-firmware-odin-guide-t3077706

Put the phone in download mode, and perform an emergency firmware restore via Kies. That should restore it to whatever carrier ROM it was originally on. Carry on at that point.

Using Emergency restore with Kies did the trick! Thanks a lot Duwenbasden, I haven't thought to that one!

How to unbrand S8?

Hey people,
I have recently bought a G950F in a pre-sale from Vivo, which is the carrier I use here in Brazil.
I hate those carrier extras (apps, splash screen and stuff). Every time I buy a carrier branded phone I flash it to get rid of that stuff. That's what I wanna do with my new S8.
I went to Sammobile site and could not find a specific ZTO ROM. So I took notice about multi-CSC ROMs. I was then searching for a multi-CSC ROM which fits my phone, and I found this one: https://samsung-firmware.org/download/Galaxy S8/60y7/UFU/G950FXXU1AQCC/G950FOWT1AQCC/
This is for Uruguay (UFU), but also is exactly the same ROM I have in my S8, and included ZTO. Since it's for a different country/region, I flashed it (using CSC file, not home_CSC), hoping I was debranding. But I was not, my S8 is still branded.
How do I unbrand it? I have read that I must flash a OXM CSC ROM (it also includes ZTO) to change the original CSC of my phone, since it may not have changed because it was the same that it already had. Is that right?
I will try now an Argentina ROM (https://samsung-firmware.org/download/Galaxy S8/98v5/ARO/G950FXXU1AQDG/G950FOXM1AQDG/) which is OXM CSC.

Samsung was pretty strict about what carriers were allowed to install this time, at least in the US. Try to see if you can just uninstall the carrier specific apps, on my phone nothing was in the system partition so they could all just be removed.

Illrigger said:
Samsung was pretty strict about what carriers were allowed to install this time, at least in the US. Try to see if you can just uninstall the carrier specific apps, on my phone nothing was in the system partition so they could all just be removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not here in Brazil. I can uninstall some, but not all carrier apps.
What bothers me is the awful splash screen. I can't remove that.

When I had a Galaxy S5 with a 3uk or ee splash screen if I remember correctly there was a oem folder or something similar which got loaded everytime irrespective of what rom you flashed, maybe that's the case with branded s8's?

daleski75 said:
When I had a Galaxy S5 with a 3uk or ee splash screen if I remember correctly there was a oem folder or something similar which got loaded everytime irrespective of what rom you flashed, maybe that's the case with branded s8's?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. I had my S7 flashed to debrand it, and that did not happen.
Yesterday I flashed my S8 with that argentinian ROM I have mentioned (https://samsung-firmware.org/downloa...G950FOXM1AQDG/). It looks ok now, without carrier splash screen and bloatware.
But sometimes I get a notification from AutoPreconfig, asking me to use new apps and configurations from my new service provider. If I open the notification, it says that to use apps and configurations from my new provider, I need to restore my phone, all my user data shall be lost, etc. I can press "ok" and nothing happens.
Why does that happen?

Phantom1275 said:
Hey people,
I have recently bought a G950F in a pre-sale from Vivo, which is the carrier I use here in Brazil.
I hate those carrier extras (apps, splash screen and stuff). Every time I buy a carrier branded phone I flash it to get rid of that stuff. That's what I wanna do with my new S8.
I went to Sammobile site and could not find a specific ZTO ROM. So I took notice about multi-CSC ROMs. I was then searching for a multi-CSC ROM which fits my phone, and I found this one: https://samsung-firmware.org/download/Galaxy S8/60y7/UFU/G950FXXU1AQCC/G950FOWT1AQCC/
This is for Uruguay (UFU), but also is exactly the same ROM I have in my S8, and included ZTO. Since it's for a different country/region, I flashed it (using CSC file, not home_CSC), hoping I was debranding. But I was not, my S8 is still branded.
How do I unbrand it? I have read that I must flash a OXM CSC ROM (it also includes ZTO) to change the original CSC of my phone, since it may not have changed because it was the same that it already had. Is that right?
I will try now an Argentina ROM (https://samsung-firmware.org/download/Galaxy S8/98v5/ARO/G950FXXU1AQDG/G950FOXM1AQDG/) which is OXM CSC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get it? I only see SM-G950 available in Brazil.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

What i did was this:
1. get you phones imei:
go to dialer > dial *#06#
take a note of your imei without the /01 at the end.
2. go to phone dialer > dial *#272*(your phones imei)#
3. choose which csc you need and install it.
your phone will reinstall firmware with the new csc region you choose.
done.
Just done this to my S8 SM-G950F and switched from GLB(carrier) to XTC(unbranded) csc.
hope this helps.

andoy13 said:
What i did was this:
1. get you phones imei:
go to dialer > dial *#06#
take a note of your imei without the /01 at the end.
2. go to phone dialer > dial *#272*(your phones imei)#
3. choose which csc you need and install it.
your phone will reinstall firmware with the new csc region you choose.
done.
Just done this to my S8 SM-G950F and switched from GLB(carrier) to XTC(unbranded) csc.
hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesnt work on my Vodafone IT S8.

Phantom1275 said:
Not here in Brazil. I can uninstall some, but not all carrier apps.
What bothers me is the awful splash screen. I can't remove that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to disable apps you can purchase Samsung Package Disabler works well to disable apps you don't want.
Sent from my SM-G950U using XDA-Developers Legacy app

its so sad, i cant find an unbrand tutorial to make my s8 fully Samsungish without carrier stuff

USA SG-975U t-mobile branded in UK, can I unbrand?

Hi
I bought an s10+ from ebay little did I know it was a USA phone I'm in the UK. It seems to work OK.
It does have t-mobile app and branding I'd like to remove.
Am I right thinking a stock fw for USA (U1) is the only option I have?
Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Hi bud, Flashing the whole firmware through Odin
SAVE YOUR DATA, All content will be erased.
I´m not responsably to any damage to your device.
- DOWNLOAD the firmware through FRIJA app (WINDOWS). I´m using the code USC for example
- In odin app load ONLY the 4 firmware archives:
-BL
-AP
-CP
-CSC
DON´T load USERDATA (It has bloatware and configs from US operator)
Note: I use to flash updates by hand monthly sometimes, I think this method doesn´t allow to update OTA. If you want to update OTA you should flash the U1 version through a modded odin.

Thanks Mate. I will be wanting OTA if possible
With CSC would I be better off looking at XAA for the unbranded USA default stock rom?
Everything is working on the phone I just want rid of the T mobile stuff.
Pardon my ignorance, I haven't done anything on samsung phones.
Thanks

Mike830 said:
Thanks Mate. I will be wanting OTA if possible
With CSC would I be better off looking at XAA for the unbranded USA default stock rom?
Everything is working on the phone I just want rid of the T mobile stuff.
Pardon my ignorance, I haven't done anything on samsung phones.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case you should go for the U1 firmware CSC code XAA, unbranded US models.
Download through frija and then use the patched Odin modded for flashing.