Hi, I have been trying to get my s4 i9505 networked unlock. It's currently on EE. I bought it from someone who has gone abroad so can't ask them to get ee to do it. I have tried 3 online unlocking sites, the last was recommended on here but non of them can do it. I have tried to install several firmwares but hoping that would remove the ee lock But they all seem to be ee firmware. Is there a firmware that you can tell me about which will do what I want. Or is there a way I can conect to my computer and do a hardware unlock. Hope someone can help as getting desperate now.
A friend of mine has a insurance supplied s4 i9505 Which is unlocked. Is there a way we can copy the firmware on his and install on my or completely clone the phone . ?
Installing firmware will not remove a carrier unlock. Downgrading firmware from Android 4.4.2 to Android 4.2 may work if attempting to use the free unlocking methods on the forums. Naturally, using those methods have risks, up to and including totally bricking the phone. The carrier lock mechanism is part of the modem firmware as RegionLock Away modifies the modem when it functions. Hardware unlocking probably can be done, but I couldn't tell you how it's done. I also can't tell you if copying your friend's modem will help your cause. I CAN tell you that completely cloning his phone is completely illegal and you could render both his and your phones completely useless by trying it.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Installing firmware will not remove a carrier unlock. Downgrading firmware from Android 4.4.2 to Android 4.2 may work if attempting to use the free unlocking methods on the forums. Naturally, using those methods have risks, up to and including totally bricking the phone. The carrier lock mechanism is part of the modem firmware as RegionLock Away modifies the modem when it functions. Hardware unlocking probably can be done, but I couldn't tell you how it's done. I also can't tell you if copying your friend's modem will help your cause. I CAN tell you that completely cloning his phone is completely illegal and you could render both his and your phones completely useless by trying it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply, can I install a modem . I think I have read that you can't down grade the firmware ? If this is wrong. Where can I find the 4.2 firmware . Thanks
You can try, but I don't believe it will help any. While I said that the carrier lock is part of the modem firmware, it's not as simple as installing new modem firmware. The modem firmware that people commonly install really only controls the radios, while the carrier lock is in a different part. That part doesn't usually get touched by a new firmware install. In my experience, the carrier lock reared its ugly head when I destabilized the NV memory of my S4, which caused a reset to the golden backup in the phone.
I also had a SIM tray issue which popped up at the same time, and only by rolling back the firmware to 4.2.2 was I able to get to a stage to unlock the phone, using RegionLock Away. It is possible to roll back the firmware itself, but you cannot roll back the bootloader. Using old firmware with a new bootloader results in a "Kernel is not SEAndroid Enforcing" complaint upon boot.
To cut this down to basics, you can install a 4.2.2 modem and attempt one of the unlock methods available, as long as you are fully aware of the risks involved. If you choose this route you can download a modem from the appropriate thread on XDA and install it through Odin. You'll need to do a search to find it, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Full ROMs are available from www.sammobile.com or www.samsung-updates.com.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
You can try, but I don't believe it will help any. While I said that the carrier lock is part of the modem firmware, it's not as simple as installing new modem firmware. The modem firmware that people commonly install really only controls the radios, while the carrier lock is in a different part. That part doesn't usually get touched by a new firmware install. In my experience, the carrier lock reared its ugly head when I destabilized the NV memory of my S4, which caused a reset to the golden backup in the phone.
I also had a SIM tray issue which popped up at the same time, and only by rolling back the firmware to 4.2.2 was I able to get to a stage to unlock the phone, using RegionLock Away. It is possible to roll back the firmware itself, but you cannot roll back the bootloader. Using old firmware with a new bootloader results in a "Kernel is not SEAndroid Enforcing" complaint upon boot.
To cut this down to basics, you can install a 4.2.2 modem and attempt one of the unlock methods available, as long as you are fully aware of the risks involved. If you choose this route you can download a modem from the appropriate thread on XDA and install it through Odin. You'll need to do a search to find it, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Full ROMs are available from www.sammobile.com or www.samsung-updates.com.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanhs you the info , looks like I'm a bit stuck . I don't really understand why the unlocking sites can't generate a Code. If I put another sim into the phone it doesn't tell me I an incorrect sim .
unlock
Is there anyone on here in uk who can offer to unlock this phone for me
Related
Hi everyone,
Its been a long time since the bootloader was version MDL. As you may be aware this was the last version that could be fully rooted and custom recovery'd before the MF3 firmware locked everybody down. Well a year and a half later and my MDL Phone is having an issue that I can't fix. The Phone keeps failing to recognize the SIM card that is in it (Image), and previously it would randomly disconnect (Image). I've tried getting a new SIM card and that failed to fix the issue; I clean-installed by ROM to eliminate that as a cause, but no luck.
I'm fairly sure my only option now is to go to AT&T and have them fix or more likely replace the phone. Is there any possible way I could get a phone with MDL still? Or are there any alternatives I could try? I don't know what to do now. Thank you.
Tryer1234 said:
Hi everyone,
Its been a long time since the bootloader was version MDL. As you may be aware this was the last version that could be fully rooted and custom recovery'd before the MF3 firmware locked everybody down. Well a year and a half later and my MDL Phone is having an issue that I can't fix. The Phone keeps failing to recognize the SIM card that is in it (Image), and previously it would randomly disconnect (Image). I've tried getting a new SIM card and that failed to fix the issue; I clean-installed by ROM to eliminate that as a cause, but no luck.
I'm fairly sure my only option now is to go to AT&T and have them fix or more likely replace the phone. Is there any possible way I could get a phone with MDL still? Or are there any alternatives I could try? I don't know what to do now. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't go to at&t. The first thing they'll do is "upgrade" you to nj4. You said you Chan installed the rom, does that mean you odin'd the stock firmware? If not I'd flash the mdl firmware in Odin
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Well, there are several options; if you are on mdl, with a custom recovery like CWM or TWRP, you can flash updated modem firmware (see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2496517), to see if it is just the firmware (this will not affect the bootloader); you might also be suffering from the "sim removed" problem, documented here and here
Good luck!
I've got a S4 AT&T running OK2 with root and it ran my AirVoice Wireless SIM perfectly fine for a month while I researched and got a new phone. I'd now like to use it as a backup phone with a FreedomPOP SIM but it's giving me grief about "SIM network unlock PIN". This is the carrier lock correct? I found a tutorial that has you go into the Service Mode and turn off NETWORK LOCK. This tutorial doesn't seem to work (missing the options) in OK2. Do I have to downflash to 4.2.2 in order to get these options? If so, how do I go about doing that? I put OK2 with root on this phone but that process took 2 days and with all the mixed info out there and different versions, it's confusing to say the least.
My other question is, I tried flashing TWRP (jflteatt) and I believe I ended up with the "software not authorized by AT&T" error. Doing some reading, it looks like this may be due to not using a loki'd TWRP?
Any pointers/tips would be much appreciated. All this Samsung stuff is way over my head despite having rooted, recoveried and rom'd maybe a dozen Android devices. I much prefer LG and Moto
natenkiki2004 said:
I've got a S4 AT&T running OK2 with root and it ran my AirVoice Wireless SIM perfectly fine for a month while I researched and got a new phone. I'd now like to use it as a backup phone with a FreedomPOP SIM but it's giving me grief about "SIM network unlock PIN". This is the carrier lock correct? I found a tutorial that has you go into the Service Mode and turn off NETWORK LOCK. This tutorial doesn't seem to work (missing the options) in OK2. Do I have to downflash to 4.2.2 in order to get these options? If so, how do I go about doing that? I put OK2 with root on this phone but that process took 2 days and with all the mixed info out there and different versions, it's confusing to say the least.
My other question is, I tried flashing TWRP (jflteatt) and I believe I ended up with the "software not authorized by AT&T" error. Doing some reading, it looks like this may be due to not using a loki'd TWRP?
Any pointers/tips would be much appreciated. All this Samsung stuff is way over my head despite having rooted, recoveried and rom'd maybe a dozen Android devices. I much prefer LG and Moto
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you're carrier locked. I think you can only downgrade to NB1 from OK2, not sure you can carrier unlock on NB1 or not. As for installing TWRP you can't due to the locked bootloader. You can only use safe strap recovery and boot only custom touch wiz roms. Loki only works on the MDB and MDL bootloaders, once you've upgraded the bootloader past MDL, you can't go back.
If the AT&T phone is like the i337m and m919, you may be able to flash down to 4.4.2, flash a 4.2.2 modem, root, run regionlockaway, upgrade modem back to 4.4.2.
Thanks for the replies. I grabbed NB1 from here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221
and flashed it via Odin. All went well but when it came time to follow various instructions I found online, they either yielded no unlock or the options weren't in the menu. I don't think the free unlock trick via the service menu works on 4.4.2/NB1.
I researched a bit more and feel very stupid with one of the results that came up... AT&T offers online unlocking of their devices and you don't even have to be one of their customers! I figured I could go to one of their retail stores but also figured they would deny me since I'm not a customer. I'll be jiggered though, here it is: https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
Slapped my IEMI in with my e-mail and in less than an hour or so, I got my unlock code for free. AT&T said they would e-mail it but I checked back on the status page and found the code there. Hopefully this helps other people.
So, moving forward now, is OK2 the best I can do with a locked bootloader? I ran it for a while but I found that I burned through my data real quick because when I would leave my WiFi coverage and come back, it would reconnect but for some reason wouldn't actually use WiFi (data was still on, had the 4G icon) until I restarted the phone. Basically, every time I left and came back home, I had to restart my phone. Is this a known issue, did I botch something in the install process? I may make another thread for this.
*EDIT*
Running OK2 for a while, I no longer have the WiFi issues I had before. Doing some thinking, I can only attribute the issue to either incorrectly followed steps the first time around flashing OK2 or the use of the debloater script found in the OK2 downloads thread. I've been using Link2SD to remove system apps and so far haven't removed anything that has affected WiFi.
Hello, All!
I have a G930V (Verizon S7) Non-EDGE, and I wan't to convert it to a G930U Unbranded (Or at least bloat free).
## BY THE WAY ##
Yes, I have seen other threads on this topic. Doesn't answer my confusions though.
Threads by:
tvm2487 (G930U Firmware)
James.Markham0757 (Can someone send me in the right direction...)
DeathAngel66669 (Using SamFirm to download SM-G930U-G930UUEU2APG9...)
## BY THE WAY ##
So anyways here are my questions.
##
1. Looking through Sammobile or Updato I see that a the newest version is
(G930UUEU2APEH) on (XAA), Would that work for the VZW Variant if not, What can i use?
2. Regarding my phone's below details would i be able to convert it to any of the 'U' Firmwares?
3. I don't wan't to trip any security features or mess with KNOX, really don't want to root.
Really just wan't to keep my warranty. Granted I will probably lose that by not using VZW firmware.
4. I thought flashing firmwares not similar to your phone will brick it permenantly. Why does the 'U' firmware run on the 'V'?
5. If i can flash the firmware (Odin?), What should i tick in the boxes for it to flash perfectly fine without errors?
Given this would be my first Samsung Tweaking.
6. Besides the Verizon bloat, What other cons are in the 'U' firmware that I should know about before doing the procedure?
7. Chances of bricking the phone? Would it be reversible?
##
My current S7 VZW Details:
Model: SM-G930V
Ver: 6.0.1
Patch Level: October, 1, 2016
Baseband Ver: G930VVRU4API3
I appreciate the help and your time. Thanks !
1. Looking through Sammobile or Updato I see that a the newest version is
(G930UUEU2APEH) on (XAA), Would that work for the VZW Variant if not, What can i use?
I don’t think it would flash as it is bootloader 2(5th character from right) latest firmware is 4!
2. Regarding my phone's below details would i be able to convert it to any of the 'U' Firmwares?
From what I understand all the USA variants of the Galaxy S7's are the same hardware
3. I don't wan't to trip any security features or mess with KNOX, really don't want to root.
Really just wan't to keep my warranty. Granted I will probably lose that by not using VZW firmware.
I have an AT&T branded S7 SM-G930A and have flashed the U firmware and used it for a while. I have now switched carriers to T-Mobile used the U firmware without issues and now flashed the T-Mobile firmware and it works fine. KNOW IS NOT TRIPPED.
4. I thought flashing firmwares not similar to your phone will brick it permenantly. Why does the 'U' firmware run on the 'V'?
Not sure, Odin may just fail to complete install?
5. If i can flash the firmware (Odin?), What should i tick in the boxes for it to flash perfectly fine without errors?
Given this would be my first Samsung Tweaking.
I never had luck flashing the HOME-CSC file, had to use straight CSC.
6. Besides the Verizon bloat, What other cons are in the 'U' firmware that I should know about before doing the procedure?
One thing I did notice is the visual voicemail app tends to work better when using the specific carrier firmware(both AT&T & T-Mobile).
I'm using T-Mobile and I don't see a need to go back to U at this time as their is not much bloat on the T-Mobile firmware.
7. Chances of bricking the phone? Would it be reversible?
##
I just installed T-Mobile Nougat on my phone and got the error on phone and it was stuck on “You will need to use Smart Switch Recovery” to fix phone! SCARY!!! I managed to finally get firmware installed and running!
Understood.
When I get home today I'll try to install a newer version from SamMobile.
Updato has older versions. Sammobile has the latest which is.
G930U with code (VZW) on
G930UOYM4APL2
(https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/118975/G930UUEU4APL2_G930UOYM4APL2_VZW/)
Would this be compatible?
G930UUEU4APL2 is the latest U-firmware. Everything flashes correctly, it won't trip KNOX, and it is super easy to go back to G930V firmware if you decide you want to send it back for warranty. You can't brick the phone by flashing signed files with Odin. The bootloader won't allow Odin to flash anything that could brick it.
I had already started replying before you posted above me. I'd recommend using my link to the firmware, as Sammobile downloads take FOREVER.
I see, I'm glad.
So, What would i need to make sure to do and not do in Odin 3.11.1?
AP/BL/CP/CSC from your zip? Just flash everything or only certain things?
Re-partition tick box? yes or no?
Flash all four of those files and DON'T CHANGE ANY Odin settings.
Okay. I just flashed it and now my phone repeatedly keeps booting into recovery.
The recovery logs and the red text at the bottom says:
dm-verity verification failed
Need to check DRK first...
Any ideas?
##PREVIOUS##
I think it might have to be because I used HOME_CSC rather than CSC.
What's the difference between both? Can i revert later?
##PREVIOUS##
@CVertigo1
I reflashed with the CSC file rather than the HOME_CSC file as according to your instructions in your thread (Latest G930U Firmware) and it worked perfectly fine!
KNOX is still at 0x0 and warranty void is fine.
( https://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s7/how-to/g930u-firmware-pl2-g930v-success-t3558214 )
No bloat, amazingly fast, and some features i like are present. I'll report back to your thread on the battery life when i get more time with it.
I appreciate your patience.
(Will post screenshots later).
Home_CSC doesn't wipe user data, which causes issues when swapping firmware. That's what caused your bootloop.
Followed this, today, was sick and tired of the damn Verizon bloat slowing the phone down.
The phone runs faster - notably faster.
After installing the SIM, the phone returns, "Your device will restart to configure features supported by the new SIM card."
And then" It's useless. If I hard-power reset it, and take out the SIM, it's viable - it's just useless otherwise.
Phone is a G930V, flashed to G930U.
Any Suggestions? The phone is *NOT* rooted, so I can't easily take out or rename the AutoPreconfig.apk package.. Argh.
Will I get the android nougat update on this ROM?
Just converted G930V to G930U, all 100% working here in the UK. Fully debranded and no verizon warning about sim change. perfect
Mind telling me what thread you used to find the latest firmware? This forum for the phone is so rarely used anymore, it's hard to tell what info to go even go on anymore.
Is PL2 the latest for 930U? I'm VZW but US, not UK
Hi, I got a S7 Edge SM-G935A from AT&T at the end of December.
That same night I tried to root my phone(i got a bootloop), and I didn't know the bootloader was locked.
So I re-flashed a SM-G935U rom, but I would like to go back to the basic one in order to get a new start(SM-G935A), without root and nothing.
Knowing that I have a problem connecting to the wifi, maybe because of the rom that doesn't match.
And also i dont have samsung updates, i'd like to have the latest one im currently on 7.0.
If someone could help me to get my phone with original firmware, I'd be grateful.
Ok, first off, you can run any US/Qualcomm variant software on your device. Unless you just have a hankering for AT&T firmware, the U firmware will work just fine. Either way, find a full copy of either A or U firmware and ODIN it down, and you will essentially factory reset your device in the process.
There are links to both in this forum. I personally prefer U because it is faster and less bogged down with carrier crap, but if you are an AT&T customer, there are decent enough reasons to stick with A.
NOTE: you may need to use Prince Comsy's ODIN tool if you get a mismatch error. Unfortunately, there is no universal ODIN tool, but as a general rule, if you are CHANGING variants you need Prince's. If you are writing over the same version, you need the official.
jshamlet said:
Ok, first off, you can run any US/Qualcomm variant software on your device. Unless you just have a hankering for AT&T firmware, the U firmware will work just fine. Either way, find a full copy of either A or U firmware and ODIN it down, and you will essentially factory reset your device in the process.
There are links to both in this forum. I personally prefer U because it is faster and less bogged down with carrier crap, but if you are an AT&T customer, there are decent enough reasons to stick with A.
NOTE: you may need to use Prince Comsy's ODIN tool if you get a mismatch error. Unfortunately, there is no universal ODIN tool, but as a general rule, if you are CHANGING variants you need Prince's. If you are writing over the same version, you need the official.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not living in the USA and AT&T doesnt exist where i live, but sometime i have a issue with my wifi "internet may not be available" is because of the rom?
Leqz said:
Im not living in the USA and AT&T doesnt exist where i live, but sometime i have a issue with my wifi "internet may not be available" is because of the rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then this is easy. Go download the U firmware and use Prince's ODIN to convert it to a G935U. If you aren't on an AT&T network there is zero reason to keep your device on A firmware, starting with the fact that you will never get updates. (AT&T firmware will only update if you have an AT&T SIM installed.)
jshamlet said:
Then this is easy. Go download the U firmware and use Prince's ODIN to convert it to a G935U. If you aren't on an AT&T network there is zero reason to keep your device on A firmware, starting with the fact that you will never get updates. (AT&T firmware will only update if you have an AT&T SIM installed.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only add-on is to perform this from a Windows 7 pc and not 10. Prince kept crashing on 10 and worked fine on 7.
Hello, I am trying to unbrand my LTE Tab A from Sprint SM-T517P by flashing another CSC, or flashing another PIT on a patched version of ODIN with no success.
Can anyone tell me how to do it properly? I have read about Chimera, and Samkey, but they are too expensive, and I worry about bricking my LTE tablet (do not want to root, and there is no root anyway).
Any help?
I made little progress. I think I got the latest correct firmware for it downloaded, but it didn't want to flash with a patched Odin, but it did flash successfully with a non patched version of Odin.
After that, I tried flashing a CSC from another firmware of an LTE that is unbranded (SM-T515), but I always get a SECURE CHECK FAIL PIT error.
Does that mean I need to unlock the bootloader? Is that even possible? I wonder how Chimera, or Samkey is able to change CSC thru just software, but they are too expensive for me
Any help?
I soft bricked the tablet by flashing the AP, CP, and CSC of the latest firmware of International unlocked model SM-T515... I was able to recover by flashing its latest firmware for SM-T517P.
I worry about hard bricking it, but after so many tries with different things, I feel so close
Flashing only the CSC of any other firmware hasn't worked so far, and flashing anything other than Android 10 Q doesn't work either, even after unlocking bootloader.
I have NOT flashed bootloader of another firmware yet, super worried I may hard brick it if I flash another BL even after unlocking its bootloader.
hmmm i dont think there are many modifying the sm-t517p. i also own one of those on t mobile . i wanted to add twrp and root ....i cant seem to find any version made for it...so onto the magisk played with thatfor a couple days and locked it up a few times ...i think for now ill be okay with no modding ..idk why im compelled to screw p a perfectly fine working tab-phone. i did however just see that kali linux can be run on it without messing the os up..maybe ill ry that next... why did you want to modify yours? so you could switch carriers im guessing? luckily for me t-mobile took over sprint........just curious
bootloader unlock...
Unlocking BootloaderUnlocking the bootloader on modern Samsung devices have some caveats. The newly introduced VaultKeeper service will make the bootloader reject any unofficial partitions in some circumstances.
Allow bootloader unlocking in Developer options → OEM unlocking
Reboot to download mode: power off your device and press the download mode key combo for your device
Long press volume up to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot.
Go through the initial setup. Skip through all the steps since data will be wiped again in later steps. Connect the device to Internet during the setup.
Enable developer options, and confirm that the OEM unlocking option exists and is grayed out. This means the VaultKeeper service has unleashed the bootloader.
Your bootloader now accepts unofficial images in download mode
Crystaltransistor said:
hmmm i dont think there are many modifying the sm-t517p. i also own one of those on t mobile . i wanted to add twrp and root ....i cant seem to find any version made for it...so onto the magisk played with thatfor a couple days and locked it up a few times ...i think for now ill be okay with no modding ..idk why im compelled to screw p a perfectly fine working tab-phone. i did however just see that kali linux can be run on it without messing the os up..maybe ill ry that next... why did you want to modify yours? so you could switch carriers im guessing? luckily for me t-mobile took over sprint........just curious
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I also have a sm-t517p and have searching to find twrp and root. So you had no luck at all? No root even with magisk?