Database Users

i337 ATT S4 downgrade from 5.0.1

So I'm on 5.0.1 I want to root my device, install a custom recovery so that I can sim unlock the device. Everywhere I read, it's only possible from 4.4.4 and lower. So my question is, how do I downgrade? I know how to get into recovery. I know how to sideload files. I'm all ears right now. Someone show me the way.
Update: I followed this tutorial and everything worked out fine. I am now rooted on 4.4.4

If you have an Galaxy S4 AT&T you have a locked bootloader, that means you cannot install a custom recovery.
You can go from 5.0.1 OC3 to 4.4.3 NB1 using Odin.

emptyPD said:
If you have an Galaxy S4 AT&T you have a locked bootloader, that means you cannot install a custom recovery.
You can go from 5.0.1 OC3 to 4.4.3 NB1 using Odin.
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does oc3 lock the bootloader? will going back to nb1 give me access to Safestrap again?

Tank87 said:
does oc3 lock the bootloader? will going back to nb1 give me access to Safestrap again?
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The bootloader is always blocked.

emptyPD said:
If you have an Galaxy S4 AT&T you have a locked bootloader, that means you cannot install a custom recovery.
You can go from 5.0.1 OC3 to 4.4.3 NB1 using Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
emptyPD said:
The bootloader is always blocked.
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Click to collapse
so if the BL has always been blocked how have i been able to install custom recoveries? ie TWRP and SafeStrap... am i wrong in thinking they were custom recoveries?

Ahhh you have a i337 with LOKI exploit. Im.not sure but if you install a stock system(vía Odin) you will lock your bootloader for ever. Search in the forum.

emptyPD said:
Ahhh you have a i337 with LOKI exploit. Im.not sure but if you install a stock system(vía Odin) you will lock your bootloader for ever. Search in the forum.
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i been searching and i guess i finally got my answer.... so i just locked my bootloader and i wont be able to downgrade, right?

Update: I followed this tutorial and everything worked out fine. I am now rooted on 4.4.4

How do I upgrade from rooted 4.4.4 to 5.0?

Is it the same process as just installing the root for lollipop 5.0 manually? Also are there any advantages/disadvantages from to 5.0 from 4.4.4? Thank you in advance.

You flash a rooted Lollipop ROM. Just look for the "keep root" threads. This method will allow you to still downgrade back to 4.4.4 if you are unhappy.
CAUTION: Do not flash anything through Odin that updates the bootloader past BOD5. Anything BOE1 and newer will lock your bootloader, and you can never downgrade. The threads will say if the file is safe. For instance, jrkruse's "BOK3 image with BOD5 bootloader" is safe, as are any ROMS you flash through SafeStrap.

painiac said:
Anything BOE1 and newer will lock your bootloader, and you can never downgrade.
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Sorry if I'm misunderstanding.
I'm on Android 4.4.2 - G900VVRU1ANCG rooted considering upgrading. And I don't remember what I did to block the OTAs. And from what I understood, no matter how old our bootloader is, it was always locked / unlockable. That being said, on boot, I always have a splash screen with an unlocked lock logo that says "Custom" below it.

Royal2000H said:
Sorry if I'm misunderstanding.
I'm on Android 4.4.2 - G900VVRU1ANCG rooted considering upgrading. And I don't remember what I did to block the OTAs. And from what I understood, no matter how old our bootloader is, it was always locked / unlockable. That being said, on boot, I always have a splash screen with an unlocked lock logo that says "Custom" below it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't use OTAs. Use Odin-flashable files only.
You are correct that the bootloader is and always has been locked. What changed is that as of BOE1, the bootloader update also trips a hardware qfuse that makes it impossible to later downgrade below BOE1.

All of the ROM threads seem to want Flashfire / Safestrap. I haven't found a clear instruction thread yet that provided all the necessary links to get these tools and how to upgrade with them.
Help!

suprdave3 said:
All of the ROM threads seem to want Flashfire / Safestrap. I haven't found a clear instruction thread yet that provided all the necessary links to get these tools and how to upgrade with them.
Help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try the SafeStrap thread?
Read the section of my guide on Custom Recovery Environments. You'll find all the info and links you need there. http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/guide-painiacs-essential-guide-to-t3319848

Is bootloader unlocked?

Hey all.
I've a question. In GT-i9500, is there the need to unlock bootloader as in Motorola devices before flashing custom ROMs. Or it comes with it's bootloader pre-unlocked?
Would be very glad on your response
Thank You!

munimjaffer said:
Hey all.
I've a question. In GT-i9500, is there the need to unlock bootloader as in Motorola devices before flashing custom ROMs. Or it comes with it's bootloader pre-unlocked?
Would be very glad on your response
Thank You!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in I9500 we can update bootloader and go back to old without problems and we can flash roms without need to unlock

Verizon and AT&T devices usually have locked bootloaders. Everything else should be unlocked.

Ngadhnjim said:
in I9500 we can update bootloader and go back to old without problems and we can flash roms without need to unlock
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thanks alot for ur reply

GDReaper said:
Verizon and AT&T devices usually have locked bootloaders. Everything else should be unlocked.
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Click to collapse
Then we should first of all unlock bootloader before flashing roms?

Unless the S4 is a US model sold by AT&T or Verizon, which yours isn't, the bootloader will be unlocked. That means being able to update the bootloader, radio, and installing custom ROMs, as previously stated. Keep in mind the following: Samsung does not use fastboot, thus any commands you could use on a Motorola device will not work on a Samsung device. You will have to use Odin.

munimjaffer said:
Then we should first of all unlock bootloader before flashing roms?
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i dont known for verzion ,he ask for i9500

munimjaffer said:
Then we should first of all unlock bootloader before flashing roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I-9500 came with factory unlocked bootloader.
If your phone really is i-9500 as you said,
install the custom recovery like TWPR or CWM via odin and
flash the custom rom of your choice via the custom recovery.

sway8966 said:
I-9500 came with factory unlocked bootloader.
If your phone really is i-9500 as you said,
install the custom recovery like TWPR or CWM via odin and
flash the custom rom of your choice via the custom recovery.
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Click to collapse
Ok thanks

l have a question if my i9500 says secure download enabled does that mean its bootloader locked +++

Asked and answered already in this thread. Unless your S4 is an SGH-I337 or SCH-I545 (AT&T and Verizon respectively) your bootloader will not be locked.

G900V tried to root with CF Root and now I have weird issues

I flashed the appropriate CF Root for my phone using download mode and odin, everything was fine until I turned the phone back on, I started with android 6.0.1, and I downloaded the 6.0.1 CF Root file, but now the phone is on 4.4.2, and it seems like a factory testing version. There are only apps that are on here for system testing, no google play services or anything else. Even when I plug my phone into my PC it does not show up anymore. I have tried to flash the stock ROM but I don't know what I am doing. I tried to install TWRP but I don't know how to do that either. I attached some screenshots I was able to get off the phone via Wifi file transfer, and I was able to install it by sending the apk via bluetooth. Please help.

Confirm that the phone model # is sm-g900v in download mode. If it is, flash the latest stock ROM from sammobile.com using Odin: https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s5/SM-G900V/VZW/ and try cfautoroot again.

audit13 said:
Confirm that the phone model # is sm-g900v in download mode. If it is, flash the latest stock ROM from sammobile.com using Odin: https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s5/SM-G900V/VZW/ and try cfautoroot again.
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I am downloading the latest 6.0.1 firmware (I guess firmware is the same thing as a ROM?) it's going to take a while tho since its 1.67GB and is downloading at >500kbs

Yes, the words ROM and firmware seem to be used interchangeably on XDA.
Always a good idea to keep a copy of that firmware in case you need to flash back to stock.

audit13 said:
Yes, the words ROM and firmware seem to be used interchangeably on XDA.
Always a good idea to keep a copy of that firmware in case you need to flash back to stock.
Click to expand...
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lets hope the flash works, because I've been trying to flash ROMS and I keep getting errors

Which ROMS are you flashing? The bootloader is unlocked?

audit13 said:
Which ROMS are you flashing? The bootloader is unlocked?
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Click to collapse
I was trying to flash any ROM I could, but no the bootloader I think is locked, like I said I'm not too sure what I am doing since I couldn't really find a solid tutorial out there

If the bootloader is locked, this could be the reason that cfautoroot is not working. I'm not 100% about this since the 900v is a phone that is exclusive to Verizon. I'm in Canada and the s5 bootloader is not locked for any Canadian carriers.
As for flashing custom ROMs such as Lineage, it can't be done with a locked bootloader.

audit13 said:
If the bootloader is locked, this could be the reason that cfautoroot is not working. I'm not 100% about this since the 900v is a phone that is exclusive to Verizon. I'm in Canada and the s5 bootloader is not locked for any Canadian carriers.
As for flashing custom ROMs such as Lineage, it can't be done with a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I unlock the bootloader?

Here's a thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...t/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909
Whenever flashing a phone, it's possible that the phone winds up bricked.

Ashchu117 said:
How do I unlock the bootloader?
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Click to collapse
The following is also a good one for unlocking the G900V...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3561529
Good Luck!
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I DO NOT provide support via PM unless asked/requested by myself. PLEASE keep it in the threads where everyone can share.

Okay, I will try and see what happens once the download of the stock ROM is done, I'll keep you guys posted... thanks so much!

stock ROM flashed successfully!!!

audit13 said:
Here's a thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...t/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909
Whenever flashing a phone, it's possible that the phone winds up bricked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the eMMC CID 11, says I can't unlock the bootloader

Ashchu117 said:
I have the eMMC CID 11, says I can't unlock the bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please see the OP information on the thread I had provided you (on my previous post).
It has instructions for unlocking the bootloader on the CID11. Be sure to take your time and follow it carefully.
I've got 2 G900V devices with the CID11 and their both Unlocked with TWRP and one with the Official LineageOS 14.1 and the other has, an oldie but goodie, CyanogenMod 13 Snapshot build (for testing purposes).
Good Luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I DO NOT provide support via PM unless asked/requested by myself. PLEASE keep it in the threads where everyone can share.

firmware

I recently unlock my bootloader on my Verizon note 3. Is it still safe to flash firmware?

Can you elaborate as to what your question is? As in, which firmware are you referring to? Custom ROMs maybe?

terminator911 said:
Can you elaborate as to what your question is? As in, which firmware are you referring to? Custom ROMs maybe?
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I heard that after unlocking bootloader it was not feasible to flash a stock ROM with Odin anymore

That is inaccurate! You can still flash stock firmware via Odin and it will work fine as long as you understand that doing so will put you right back to where you were before; locked bootloader and stock recovery.

terminator911 said:
That is inaccurate! You can still flash stock firmware via Odin and it will work fine as long as you understand that doing so will put you right back to where you were before; locked bootloader and stock recovery.
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Nope. It won't allow. I tried several times. Thanks.

jerryspring said:
Nope. It won't allow. I tried several times. Thanks. It's cuz I unlocked the bootloader
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