Database Users

Outside of u.s

Have really small but a bit worried question that bothering since I got the phone.*To cut the long story short I am living outside of America but my brother sent me today [email protected] galaxy s4 unlocked everything went smoothly beside I spent 4 hours and 2 attempts to root it only had before international s2 and later s3 now I start realizing that I did something wrong in my life why I have to suffer so much, nevertheless after root I wanted to install recovery. ... yap you got it right MF3 of course with my luckSorry for the oftopic.My question is will the [email protected] official bring the update to my device (outside of U.S) when you get it in guys? Maybe anyone experience it before or friend told some news.*I did not found 90% sucees recovery installer for that bloody baseband so I hope to get 4.3 atleastc stock but still good.Thank for any responseP.S that stock keyboard sinply suck

You can simply download the official at&t firmware and flash it by odin and you will be back to unrooted official condition. I always download official firmwares from other countries and as soon as there is an update for this country I get a notification.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app

mohahahaha how would i possible flash anything on [email protected] MF3 blocked device > you simply cant flash o r do anything bad on it, i root it with the help of 10+ pages of reading to be safe for sure.
Thats why i asking since i am not sure that i will get 4.3 update from [email protected] (inbuild software) as any1 else at U.S
and there is no other way i can flash any rooms since we cant make recovery at this phone

MF3, MD5, 4.3...Ive gotten myself lost

I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
I know since then there have been a number of updates, none of which I have received as I have frozen my update service.
Im totally unaware of what improvements, if any, these updates may have brought and am wondering whether I should allow AT&T to update my phone (and get whatever benefits come from 4.3, etc.) or whether I should stick to my 4.2.2 which (I think) is the MF3 that people recommended Id want to preserve.
Advice?
Thanks.

lirong said:
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
I know since then there have been a number of updates, none of which I have received as I have frozen my update service.
Im totally unaware of what improvements, if any, these updates may have brought and am wondering whether I should allow AT&T to update my phone (and get whatever benefits come from 4.3, etc.) or whether I should stick to my 4.2.2 which (I think) is the MF3 that people recommended Id want to preserve.
Advice?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really have no interest in roms then you can go ahead and update. I'm on mf3 on a rom, so am not 100% sure on root, but it looks like some people have been able to upgrade and keep root, you might want to look more into that. But if you have no interest in roms and you can update and still root then I would say go for it.
However, if you are pre mf3 that's when it becomes tricky. If you are pre mf3 and update you lose a lot of freedom with ROMs. So if you have interest in other roms and are currently pre mf3, I would stick with pre mf3 and not update.

lirong said:
I purchased my S4 shortly after its release...around the beginning of the summer.
I immediately rooted it and, at the advice of these forums, froze with Titanium Backup the service that calls for OS updates (so I wouldnt loose the ability to roor, custom backup and ROM). I am running stock ROM on a rooted phone and for now dont intend to put anything custom on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm kind of in the same position, and I've been wondering the same thing.
I got my S 4 in May 2013. It came with 4.2.2 on MDL. I immediately rooted and froze the update service. I installed a custom recovery with the intention of exploring newer roms at some point, but I'm not sure what I'm missing by staying on 4.2.2 vs. 4.3. So much of the activity now surrounds the capabilities of 4.3, that I am feeling a bit left out!

mikew99 said:
I'm kind of in the same position, and I've been wondering the same thing.
I got my S 4 in May 2013. It came with 4.2.2 on MDL. I immediately rooted and froze the update service. I installed a custom recovery with the intention of exploring newer roms at some point, but I'm not sure what I'm missing by staying on 4.2.2 vs. 4.3. So much of the activity now surrounds the capabilities of 4.3, that I am feeling a bit left out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youre one of the few that actually still have a custom recovery! Use it to your advantage to flash a MK9 rom, as I think thats the latest software version from samsung
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

bennyboy78 said:
Youre one of the few that actually still have a custom recovery! Use it to your advantage to flash a MK9 rom, as I think thats the latest software version from samsung
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All Canadian variants can run custom recovery. No locked bootloaders in canada. However doing so, does trip knox. If you don't care about knox, and have an sgh-i337m then custom recovery away. This includes latest mk6 jb4.3
Sent from my SGH-I337M

Here's my $.02
If you STILL have MDB or MDL bootloaders that CAME on your phone keep the same bootloaders and DO NOT UPDATE with the OTA's.
You can find Roms JUST LIKE YOUR ON that are PURE STOCK 4.2.2 MF3 or PURE STOCK 4.3 MK2 without losing any of the functionality of those on the 4.3 or 4.2.2 stock firmwares.
OR you can use some STOCK BASED Roms Like ShoStock-MF3 that has some added benefits WITHOUT sacrificing anything. Or try even NEWER 4.3 Roms Like ShoStock-i 4.3 MK8 with all the added benefits of stock firmwares with some slight added benefits as well. Basically if you keep your original bootloaders you CAN DO anything you WANT without sacrificing what those users lost by upgrading or buying with MF3 or newer already installed.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337

And like "RockRatt" +$.02
I know for myself I haven't been on MDL for a long time so until this nut gets cracked I'm up to date .those that are pre MF3 should hold on to what you have. cause like I tell most normal people that don't mess with there phones like we at XDA do that have a problem with there stock phone.Samsung devs do the same thing as XDA devs do minus the mad improvements/mods , so expect bugs of any sort from either. What I'm getting at is pre MF3 you have the option to find perfection using "Loki".
I will add that the newest update (MK2) runs pretty good
ROOTED ATT MK2 using Tapatalk

No kitkat update

Can anyone help me upgrade to kitkat because when I tried to go to software update it tells me that my current version is the latest one which is 4.3. I rooted my phone and I guess its 0x1

If you've rooted you probably won't get OTA updates. You'll have to manually flash via Odin, there's plenty of info around to help you get going
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

radicalisto said:
If you've rooted you probably won't get OTA updates. You'll have to manually flash via Odin, there's plenty of info around to help you get going
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i see. btw is it okay if i use other countries stock firmware for 4.4?

Well other countries and carrier firmware have had issues flashing on some devices, I'd recommend XEO which is the Polish version, most people are using it. But you need to definitely read, because if you have a HK Note or an NEE note flashing KK Can cause massive headaches.
Ask yourself, do you need the upgrade right now? My advice is have a good think.. There are some minor bugs with EXT SD Card, some random reboots and freezes and third party accessories not working properly. I'd wait for an incremental update that fixes any issues if I was you. Unless you wanna install a custom ROM.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

radicalisto said:
Well other countries and carrier firmware have had issues flashing on some devices, I'd recommend XEO which is the Polish version, most people are using it. But you need to definitely read, because if you have a HK Note or an NEE note flashing KK Can cause massive headaches.
Ask yourself, do you need the upgrade right now? My advice is have a good think.. There are some minor bugs with EXT SD Card, some random reboots and freezes and third party accessories not working properly. I'd wait for an incremental update that fixes any issues if I was you. Unless you wanna install a custom ROM.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i see thnx for the advice! mines a singapore note 3 btw haha. i was planning to flash bobcat ROM coz it is supporting 4.4 already coz when i use bobcat on 4.3 i cant go to "about device" on settings it gives me error like " unfortunately settings has stopped working" lol thats why i wanted to go 4.4 maybe they have a fix for it already coz i really like the ROM

[Q] Will an OTA remove root access?

Hello there,
I've had an AT&T Galaxy S4 for about a year now and I've been on custom ROMs since January of this year. When I was last on Stock, I had Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. Recently, I've been running into a lot of problems with my ROM so I tried installing other ROMs only to find more issues that were bothering me. I decided to just go back to stock but I was curious as to whether taking an OTA update will ruin my root? I do apologize for asking this but I'm still rather new at this. I was also curious if taking the OTA will remove my custom recovery as well as re-lock my bootloader? If I'm not supplying enough information for someone to determine the answer, please let me know and I'll provide that information.

BrokeEven said:
Hello there,
I've had an AT&T Galaxy S4 for about a year now and I've been on custom ROMs since January of this year. When I was last on Stock, I had Android 4.2.2 Jellybean. Recently, I've been running into a lot of problems with my ROM so I tried installing other ROMs only to find more issues that were bothering me. I decided to just go back to stock but I was curious as to whether taking an OTA update will ruin my root? I do apologize for asking this but I'm still rather new at this. I was also curious if taking the OTA will remove my custom recovery as well as re-lock my bootloader? If I'm not supplying enough information for someone to determine the answer, please let me know and I'll provide that information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One question my bro, what galaxy s4 do you have?
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app

I don't know the specific model name but I know it's the Galaxy S4 for AT&T

BrokeEven said:
I don't know the specific model name but I know it's the Galaxy S4 for AT&T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't know what model you're on you shouldn't be rooted. The at&t version is the i337, and yes if the ota works you'll lose root.
And questions go in the q&a forum, not general
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

you need to know your build first, so you can install right .tar
odin will replace everything. except sdcards. best to back up cards anyway and/or pull ext card.
use terminal emulator and type in
SU
getprop ro.bootloader
it will give you your build--:good:
btw your bootloader was never unlocked on an i337.
EDIT: Beat me jd

Oh really? Cuz whenever I turn my phone on it shows a pad lock unlocked. The same animation appeared on my Galaxy Nexus when I had it so I just assumed the bootloader was unlocked

No, that comes up in the rooting process. The i337 has not been unlocked. There is an exploit called loki-doki for pre MF3 builds that bypasses Sammy's security checks. It allows those of us on early build to flash custom recoveries/kernels. Otherwise you need to use SafeStrap and only TW roms. If you are not familiar with SafeStrap then you are probably on a pre MF3 build.
Some people refer to the exploit as unlocking the phone. That's incorrect though--

You should get the ota root keeper, it backs up the root, then after ota update, you can restore back.
Sent from my XT1031 using XDA Free mobile app

Is my phone rooted, if yes how do I flash?

Here's my situation. Last year I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 unlocked AT&T (SGH-i337) phone from ebay. I am using Cricket. A few months back I tried updating it by going to the update area and checking for an update. I am on 4.2.2 and wanted to upgrade to KitKat. Well my phone tells me every single time it's up to date even though I know it's not. I decided to use Kies to see if I could update it using that instead. Kies tells me my firmware is also up to date. I gave up for a few months.
Now that Lollipop is out for my phone I tried once again doing the same things. Once again both ways say my phone is up to date. I looked through multiple forums to finally find a possible answer. My phone may have been rooted at some point and apparently if it was, it can't be upgraded. I read it needs flashed back to stock. I looked at a nice long guide on here on how to flash back to stock and saw you need to know which boot loader you have?
Please help me guys. I'm assuming my phone was rooted and have never rooted myself but I want to flash to stock so that I can upgrade to Lollipop. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Flash the nb1 tar file in Odin and then let it ota up to 5.0.1. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=50912149
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

I flashed it successfully and am now on 4.4.2 however OTA and Kies both still say my device is up to date. At this point it doesn't look like I will ever be able to update using these two ways. I looked around trying to find a Lollipop flash but didn't know if any of them were safe. Can anybody point me toward a safe stock flash for Lollipop, or does this not exist yet?

GMLancers58 said:
I flashed it successfully and am now on 4.4.2 however OTA and Kies both still say my device is up to date. At this point it doesn't look like I will ever be able to update using these two ways. I looked around trying to find a Lollipop flash but didn't know if any of them were safe. Can anybody point me toward a safe stock flash for Lollipop, or does this not exist yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ota's are rolled out in phases. You might have to wait a day or two for it to show up
Edit, alternatively you can read thru this carefully, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53758227
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app