Database Users

[Q] is the bootloader going to be unlocked?

Has samsung announced that they will unlock the bootloader? was the s4 with locked bootloader also?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Verizon may be the only one with a locked bootloader.

I actually don't know... if it's only verizon then that's cool.. i am going to buy the unlocked carrier version.
edit: seeing no custom rom, I thought the bootloader was locked

Yea, I'm pretty sure it's just the Verizon model. Every other model has plenty of roms.

yeahman45 said:
Has samsung announced that they will unlock the bootloader? was the s4 with locked bootloader also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader is already unlocked. On my phone and most other S5's as well. You are apparently making some assumption about some particular S5 variant. A minority of carriers do lock bootloaders, but you didn't even tell us what model of S5 you have or are referring to. You should give some context so that we know what you are talking about.
edit: I see that you implied in a follow up post that you meant Verizon. The bootloader on a Verizon S5 is locked at the behest of Verizon, not Samsung. Samsung doesn't lock the bootloader for TMobile, Bell, Rogers, Telus or hundreds of other carriers. Pretty much just Verizon and ATT and a few sundry CDMA carriers that are that restrictive.
There are tons of custom ROMs for carriers that are more reasonable. You can use Safestrap to emulate a limited number of ROMs on Verizon but it's your choice of carrier that is hampering you here.
.

ok thx guys I am getting the unlocked/carrier free version .. so should not be a problem thx

Locked vs Unlocked Bootloader ?

Hi all,
is there any advantages of having a unlocked bootloader over a locked.
Ive had my samsung s4 9505 since launch and i have never upgraded the bootloader. Ive only ever upgraded the gsm modem.
as development has come a long way since launch is there any benefits of having a unlocked bootloader ?
Many thanks

On a galaxy phone you don't have locked/unlocked bootloaders

minidude2012 said:
On a galaxy phone you don't have locked/unlocked bootloaders
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish that were true. My bootloader got locked by the 4.3 update, which came through as i was setting up my phone when i first brought it.
Didn't find out about it till i accessed the forums later the same day.

anoniemouse said:
I wish that were true. My bootloader got locked by the 4.3 update, which came through as i was setting up my phone when i first brought it.
Didn't find out about it till i accessed the forums later the same day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know then as I've had a galaxy s4 since first came out and the galaxy s4 has never had a locked bootloader

The I9500 and I9505 shouldn't have a locked bootloader. Galaxy S4 devices for AT&T and Verizon in the United States however DO lock their bootloaders. Locking, or more accurately, encrypting the bootloader, makes it extremely difficult if not nearly impossible to load custom ROMs. Which is why you don't want one if you can help it.
In the Q&A forum there is a thread where a forum member describes purchasing what was supposed to be an I9505 off eBay. Through some detective work it was discovered that his device was a Frankenstein, in that it had the IMEI of an I9505 but the motherboard and the other components were from an AT&T SGH-I337. Thus, his "I9505" had a locked bootloader. At last report he was going to contact the seller about this. I thought about offering him a straight up swap, since he needed an I9505 and I could use his phone here in the US and get LTE, but the fact the IMEI is not what originally came with the hardware has me pausing.
If you have an I9505 and a locked bootloader, your phone may have been "refurbished" in this manner by a third party. It might be a good idea to check your phone and see what you have.

[Q] OEM unlock on Note 4?

(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!

Us t-mobile giveway to developer

I am giving away a new S7edge to a developer of my choice to work on and create root/unlock for the snapdragon version.
If you feel you are competent enough to provide root for this device then send me a PM.
If you feel you know a dev that can do it if they had the device in hand then post their name here in this thread or send me a PM. In the end I choose who gets it based on their background. I will pay for shipping, etc for the developer of choice. All I ask is for you to work diligently on this device.
This device is the future of locked, unrootable devices. The sooner we get through this barrier the better for the sake of all future devices. This isn't the end, only the beginning.
There will be no developer bashing in this thread and will have this thread closed immediately if it happens.

Good offer! This giveaway plus the bounty would hopefully entice someone. It's a good chunk of $$$!! I really hope someone with enough time and smarts would find root. I can live with TW as long as it is rooted (I'm a rooted 930F user). See T-Mobile Galaxy S7 Edge and AT&T forums for the bounty threads. I think there is another thread on the Sprint S7 forum as well.
OP's giveaway is for an SM-G935T, Qualcomm SnapDragon SD 820 Galaxy S7 Edge. All US variants are the same (SM-G935T/A/P/V) . A root for SM-G935T should work on the regular US S7 as well (SM-G930T/A/P/V). It is bootloader-locked and it will remain so unless Samsung releases an unlock, but due to the way the BL was locked, it would be near impossible anyway. So, no custom ROM.
It may be rootable if a stable exploit can be found. Folks have been comparing the US SnapDragon to Chinese SnapDragon S7, but it is not comparable. Here is a good summary regarding the bootloader situation:
mathieulh said:
The CROM lock does not exist on non-Chinese bootloaders
Samsung's Chinese handsets bootloaders have in 3 types of bootloader locks, the carrier lock, the CROM lock (which is enabled if the Chinese bootloader does not find the "KIWIBIRD" string written in the STEADY partition), and the reactivation lock, they are not carrier locked.
U.S. variants only have the Carrier and reactivation locks, there is no CROM lock to unlock on these devices (or any international variants either), U.S. variants are however carrier locked, the lock is hardcoded in the bootloader code (there is just no execution path to load an unsigned kernel on the consumer carrier locked variant bootloaders, there is no "lock" Qfuse anymore, the bootloader itself just has no carrier unlocking/locking support, it is always locked by design) and the bootloader is tied to the device ID, for example SM-G935F (which is One Time Programmable) and will refuse to run on anything but the device id that is hardcoded within it, obviously the bootloader is signed so you can't modify it, there is also a revocation mechanism involving Qfuses to make sure you can't downgrade to a vulnerable version (should one exist).
There are presumably Engineering versions of the bootloader that allow running unsigned kernels but those have not been leaked and they probably won't run on devices for which the production mode Qfuse has been blown (the device is in Engineering mode when that Qfuse is not set).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thread closed
There is already a thread on it here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmobile-s7-edge/how-to/t-mobile-s7edge-to-developer-t3383568

Which Galaxy Note 4 to buy with rooting in mind?

Hi,
I want to buy a Note 4 and absolutely need root on it. I just found some ugly stuff about rooting it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4-att/help/root-samsung-sm-n910a-5-1-1-build-t3355869
quote:
----------------------
forgot to tell you the two U.S. carriers that put locks on their bootloaders is AT&T and VERIZON so i wouldnt recommend root unless you unlock bootloader or else your phone will continueously stay in boot mode without letting you exit. that i believe is a bootloop good luck
-----------------------
Since I can chose which one I buy, I obviously want to get the one that can be rooted. It does not have to be easy, I have used odin in the past, no problem. There are quite a few versions out there though, and I'm a little confused which ones will work. Looks to me like that N910A is out and root pretty much impossible.
I have my eyes on the canada version: N910W8
What about the T-mobile version?
Thanks,
Markus

browny_amiga said:
Hi,
I want to buy a Note 4 and absolutely need root on it. I just found some ugly stuff about rooting it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4-att/help/root-samsung-sm-n910a-5-1-1-build-t3355869
quote:
----------------------
forgot to tell you the two U.S. carriers that put locks on their bootloaders is AT&T and VERIZON so i wouldnt recommend root unless you unlock bootloader or else your phone will continueously stay in boot mode without letting you exit. that i believe is a bootloop good luck
-----------------------
Since I can chose which one I buy, I obviously want to get the one that can be rooted. It does not have to be easy, I have used odin in the past, no problem. There are quite a few versions out there though, and I'm a little confused which ones will work. Looks to me like that N910A is out and root pretty much impossible.
I have my eyes on the canada version: N910W8
What about the T-mobile version?
Thanks,
Markus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T and Verizon should be avoided, otherwise you can just flash super-su via odin.

browny_amiga said:
Hi,
I want to buy a Note 4 and absolutely need root on it. I just found some ugly stuff about rooting it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4-att/help/root-samsung-sm-n910a-5-1-1-build-t3355869
quote:
----------------------
forgot to tell you the two U.S. carriers that put locks on their bootloaders is AT&T and VERIZON so i wouldnt recommend root unless you unlock bootloader or else your phone will continueously stay in boot mode without letting you exit. that i believe is a bootloop good luck
-----------------------
Since I can chose which one I buy, I obviously want to get the one that can be rooted. It does not have to be easy, I have used odin in the past, no problem. There are quite a few versions out there though, and I'm a little confused which ones will work. Looks to me like that N910A is out and root pretty much impossible.
I have my eyes on the canada version: N910W8
What about the T-mobile version?
Thanks,
Markus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
910t is mod friendly. To root a 910t, you flash Odin and load SuperSU (systemless) as indicated above or flash a permissive kernal and system level root. It is also compatible with att network if that is your carrier. Just need to unlock it.

Thanks guys, that helps, I will go for a 910t then.

weard1212 said:
AT&T and Verizon should be avoided, otherwise you can just flash super-su via odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bit of a noob, but I'm a bit confused. If I buy an "Unlocked" Verizon phone like the SM-N910V, would I be able to use any custom roms?
I was about to buy either the N910V (Verizon) or N910W8 (Verizon/North America)
Can't the Verizon & AT&T be rooted with Chainfire AutoRoot?

joebelachi said:
Bit of a noob, but I'm a bit confused. If I buy an "Unlocked" Verizon phone like the SM-N910V, would I be able to use any custom roms?
I was about to buy either the N910V (Verizon) or N910W8 (Verizon/North America)
Can't the Verizon & AT&T be rooted with Chainfire AutoRoot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if you buy a developer edition verizon model and last time I checked they were upwards of around $800. Your best bet is W8 or T. I did all the research like you and ended up buying a T and have never been happier

joebelachi said:
Bit of a noob, but I'm a bit confused. If I buy an "Unlocked" Verizon phone like the SM-N910V, would I be able to use any custom roms?
I was about to buy either the N910V (Verizon) or N910W8 (Verizon/North America)
Can't the Verizon & AT&T be rooted with Chainfire AutoRoot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(Unlocked means sim unlocked)
Bootloader Unlocked verizon phones can be flashed with a custom rom, and if you get a verizon phone, I suggest a Bootloader unlocked one. Verizon and AT&T phones with locked bootloaders can't be rooted with Chainfire. Chainfire should NOT be used on a phone with a locked bootloader because it flashes partitions and will most likely hard brick your phone. I would still sugest against a Bootloader non-unlocked Verizon or AT&T phone. Also using a custom recovery or odin to flash super-su has worked much better for me with a lot less less risk than Chainfire.

Whatever you decide upon dont get the EDGE. it needs special roms, and it wont work with gear VRs. i have the euro verison, and didnt have any problems rooting. cf-autoroot and done.

Really appreciate the responses guys. Especially for the clarification around Unlocking ("Unlocked means the bootloader").
I'll check out what custom ROMS work on the Verizon (910V).
Are there more ROMS for the 910W8's or the 910V's. Also if I go stock on the W8s, I would have to choose a Canadian carrier.
I'll definitely stay away from the EDGE, didn't really like it anyway

joebelachi said:
Really appreciate the responses guys. Especially for the clarification around Unlocking ("Unlocked means the bootloader").
I'll check out what custom ROMS work on the Verizon (910V).
Are there more ROMS for the 910W8's or the 910V's. Also if I go stock on the W8s, I would have to choose a Canadian carrier.
I'll definitely stay away from the EDGE, didn't really like it anyway
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Careful there, usually 'unlocked' like on Swappa or similar means carrier unlocked, not boot loader unlocked.