Database Users

Current state of AT&T bootloader?

My partner is looking at getting a new phone, and we are looking around at different models. We want one that we will be able to upgrade and flash custom ROMs on for obvious reasons. For the AT&T model, what's the status of the bootloader? I have read that someone had an unlock method a few months ago, but I've also read that new models have an update that breaks that method. Also I have read that there is a safestrap method to install custom ROMs without having to unlock the bootloader.
Can someone summarize the status of the above for me? We would be buying a new one from AT&T. Would we be able to unlock the bootloader, or use safestrap?
Thanks!

cloakzore said:
My partner is looking at getting a new phone, and we are looking around at different models. We want one that we will be able to upgrade and flash custom ROMs on for obvious reasons. For the AT&T model, what's the status of the bootloader? I have read that someone had an unlock method a few months ago, but I've also read that new models have an update that breaks that method. Also I have read that there is a safestrap method to install custom ROMs without having to unlock the bootloader.
Can someone summarize the status of the above for me? We would be buying a new one from AT&T. Would we be able to unlock the bootloader, or use safestrap?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best place to find the information you want is in the threads you said you read. There is nothing else to tell more than what is already in those threads.

scott14719 said:
The best place to find the information you want is in the threads you said you read. There is nothing else to tell more than what is already in those threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of them haven't been updated in a month or more, or are dozens of pages deep. If you aren't going to be helpful then just don't comment. I frequent boards for other phones and try to help people with questions instead of condescendingly telling them to go trek through the labyrinth that is the world of Android development.

cloakzore said:
Most of them haven't been updated in a month or more, or are dozens of pages deep. If you aren't going to be helpful then just don't comment. I frequent boards for other phones and try to help people with questions instead of condescendingly telling them to go trek through the labyrinth that is the world of Android development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, continue being rude and lazy. I'll leave you to it.

Here's some help, your partner is probably going to get mk2 firmware. It's bootloader locked and probably always will be. You can use the right version of safe strap and flash a few roms.

[Request] Root for Z3C (D5803) -> Solved

HI @all,
now that we have a FW for the device - is root possible?
All known root methods are not working.
BR
UserX10
Edit:
Solved -> Thanks you DooMLoRD
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-...58xx-cwm-based-recovery-6-0-4-7-root-t2890231

Delete.

Jeez.
People haven't even got their hands on the phone yet...
Be patient

Anyone wanna try Framaroot?
http://framaroot.net/index.html

framaroot does not work ...

Ok because I saw it posted on this blog and thought it would work. Strange!

plisk3n said:
Ok because I saw it posted on this blog and thought it would work. Strange!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it says "tested on device" and is from 9/4, before the device was even unavailable. I'd be careful that apk isn't something more.

CollinsJ said:
Well, it says "tested on device" and is from 9/4, before the device was even unavailable. I'd be careful that apk isn't something more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's also the reason why I decided not to download it, I'll just wait till someone @ XDA finds a way to root the device. It's not like we'll die because our device isn't rooted for x weeks/months.

Weeks/months?! I would die! It's been a day and the amount of things I can't do is driving me nuts!

If you have an unlocked boot loader see what I say at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=55709585. If you don't I think you'll be waiting for a while - someone needs to find an exploit and write the app/code needed to exploit it. This has become increasingly hard as Android has become more secure - before Towelroot AFAIK the Z1/Z2 was not rootable for a long time. You'd probably be waiting a similar length of time for the next big root exploit.

tilal6991 said:
If you have an unlocked boot loader see what I say at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=55709585. If you don't I think you'll be waiting for a while - someone needs to find an exploit and write the app/code needed to exploit it. This has become increasingly hard as Android has become more secure - before Towelroot AFAIK the Z1/Z2 was not rootable for a long time. You'd probably be waiting a similar length of time for the next big root exploit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would it not be helpful to contact Sony themselves? They're increasingly developer friendly, these days. Maybe they'd be willing to offer pointers to root app developers?

mudnightoil said:
Would it not be helpful to contact Sony themselves? They're increasingly developer friendly, these days. Maybe they'd be willing to offer pointers to root app developers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I know people at Sony and long story short: if you want root unlock the boot loader. Its as simple as that. You have to understand that while a root exploit looks nice to tinkerers its also a serious security issue which must be fixed - that is why many root solutions also patch the exploit they use after using it.

Does unlocking the bootloader require wiping the phone? I know this is required on the nexus phones. If it requires wipe then its the very first thing I'm doing once I get the phone out of the box.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

tilal6991 said:
Well I know people at Sony and long story short: if you want root unlock the boot loader. Its as simple as that. You have to understand that while a root exploit looks nice to tinkerers its also a serious security issue which must be fixed - that is why many root solutions also patch the exploit they use after using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware of this ... but on the one hand being one of the few if only manufacturers to provide official unlocking for the bootloaders (with the obvious intention of spurring development etc), but on the other actively closing non-simple (i.e. ones requiring a dedicated program) root 'exploits' would seem a little at odds. Is it really that black and white? You'd think it might be in their interests to provide an official complex / secure rooting method.

sublimnl said:
Does unlocking the bootloader require wiping the phone? I know this is required on the nexus phones. If it requires wipe then its the very first thing I'm doing once I get the phone out of the box.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It will wipe everything AFAIK - double check with the website.
mudnightoil said:
I'm aware of this ... but on the one hand being one of the few if only manufacturers to provide official unlocking for the bootloaders (with the obvious intention of spurring development etc), but on the other actively closing non-simple (i.e. ones requiring a dedicated program) root 'exploits' would seem a little at odds. Is it really that black and white? You'd think it might be in their interests to provide an official complex / secure rooting method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your statements contradict themselves. Rooting without unlocking the bootloader needs a security flaw. How can any method which leaves a security hole be secure?
Bootloader unlocking gets around this by letting you control the boot partition of the device so you can disable the "security barrier" that android provides. This is a choice you are explicitly making which is why it is the only "secure" way to root.

Does towelroot work?

MrOeyta said:
Does towelroot work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately Towelroot does not work.

I've read some people saying that unlocking the bootloader causes you to lose your DRM keys which apparently would affect software/ camera issues?
Can anyone verify this?

tacocats said:
I've read some people saying that unlocking the bootloader causes you to lose your DRM keys which apparently would affect software/ camera issues?
Can anyone verify this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is very true. On the z1c I neglected to back up the TA partition. And apparently lost native mirror cast and some camera features when I rolled the device back to stock.
Back up your TA partition before unlocking BL.

dillalade said:
This is very true. On the z1c I neglected to back up the TA partition. And apparently lost native mirror cast and some camera features when I rolled the device back to stock.
Back up your TA partition before unlocking BL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any idea how this could be done?

[Q] No way to root note 3 on 4.4.4??

Hi everyone
it's my first post in this forum
I was wondering why i can't find anyway to root my sm-n900v on kk 4.4.4 or downgrade to 4.4.2?
does it realy difficult to come up with new method?
I have been searching for 4 months
I give up

Locked bootloader so no downgrade. Yes, each version update gets better and better with fewer holes to exploit. Lastly I would guess that many of the best now work for google etc.

Reilly1812 said:
Locked bootloader so no downgrade. Yes, each version update gets better and better with fewer holes to exploit. Lastly I would guess that many of the best now work for google etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply
so that's mean we will wait for long time to get our devices root
There is method to unlocked bootloader?

There is currently only one dev that I know of trying to obtain root on the Version Note 3 for both 4.4.4 and 5.0. He seems confident he can do it with a certain known exploit. Give him a few weeks to work it out and we will likely have root.

There is no way to unlock the bootloader.

Samsung S5 Active Root? *6.0.1

I'm sure there's been many posts on how to root this device before. But my S5 is AT&T, and just received the Marshmallow update last week. Not to mention the last samsung I had attempted to root (S4, 4.4.1 kitkat) didn't end too well.
Can anyone give me links to forums OR if you know how to root my device, care to help me?
-Jos3ph Tayl0r
(jack_null)

You'll not get root access on that s5 active if it's on marshmallow due to the bootloader being locked. I have one and the only reason I have root on it is because I still have the OC5 bootloader on it so it will forever be on TMS5. Sorry buddy.

LuNySLiM said:
You'll not get root access on that s5 active if it's on marshmallow due to the bootloader being locked. I have one and the only reason I have root on it is because I still have the OC5 bootloader on it so it will forever be on TMS5. Sorry buddy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So we're fresh out of luck?
No other options?
Can't unlock the locked bootloader?
Can't downgrade?
Just got to take it. Well f.....
Thanks

I hear I had root options. I'm getting this phone in 2 days from Amazon. I'm searching through forums now. Anyone have anything to add here? Any info would n appreciated.

Skebodan said:
So we're fresh out of luck?
No other options?
Can't unlock the locked bootloader?
Can't downgrade?
Just got to take it. Well f.....
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do believe they have a way to downgrade back to lollipop now and get root access on lollipop but you will need to check your build version/number and see if it matches the one in their instructions. Here's one for s5active which is what I have but I don't see the one for s5. On another note my g870 build has been g900 for as long as I've had it.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/guide-merry-christmas-heres-t3516196

6.0.1 G900VVRU2DPG2 Root

Hi community,
Not sure if this goes against TOS of the forum or if this is even the correct forum to be posting this question in. What is preventing a root from being created for 6.0.1? What would help get a root created for this phone?
I am willing to pay someone to create a working root method; whether it be public or just for me. I have an adequate number of phones to help develop a root. Applicants must be a trusted member of the community with a high reputation.
Please no flame comments. Only serious responses.
Thanks,
Andrew

root on marshmellow requires a unlocked bootloader (this applies to ANY marshmellow device )
if you have a CID15 device you can flash back to PB1 unlock the bootloader and then flash whatever 6.01 rooted rom you want
if you have a a CID11 device with a non-unlockable boot-loader you are SOL its impossible to root marshmallow with dm-verity enabled and there is no way around that
dm-verity cryptographicly checks the block map of the /system partition if there is so much as a text file out of place it won't boot

Legitsu said:
root on marshmellow requires a unlocked bootloader (this applies to ANY marshmellow device )
if you have a CID15 device you can flash back to PB1 unlock the bootloader and then flash whatever 6.01 rooted rom you want
if you have a a CID11 device with a non-unlockable boot-loader you are SOL its impossible to root marshmallow with dm-verity enabled and there is no way around that
dm-verity cryptographicly checks the block map of the /system partition if there is so much as a text file out of place it won't boot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. It was very informative. I'll check which chipset I have on the phones. Hopefully there are some that are downgradable.
Not sure if my terminology is correct but does samsung offer an option to register the device as unlocked? Similar to how HTC offers an option to unlock it? Where they send you the unlock key or something.

andrewr74 said:
Thanks for the response. It was very informative. I'll check which chipset I have on the phones. Hopefully there are some that are downgradable.
Not sure if my terminology is correct but does samsung offer an option to register the device as unlocked? Similar to how HTC offers an option to unlock it? Where they send you the unlock key or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no the only bootloader unlock we have is for s5's with samsung flash memory aka CID15 devices
you can check which you have with this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.vinagre.android.emmc_check&hl=en
first two numbers if its a 15 you are good follow the root and unlock threads if its a 11 nope you are sol

Legitsu said:
no the only bootloader unlock we have is for s5's with samsung flash memory aka CID15 devices
you can check which you have with this
first two numbers if its a 15 you are good follow the root and unlock threads if its a 11 nope you are sol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I checked a handful of my phones and 2 of the 5 were CID 15. I was successfully able to downgrade to 5.0 and root. Using an app to check every phone is very annoying since I have to sideload the apk and launch which takes too long. Do you know of anyway using ADB that I could determine the eMMc chipset?
I spoke with Samsung for a possible solution that is equivalent to a root and they suggested Nox Console. Where I can remove bloatware and disable certain features of the phone for $3ea. Which is alright for locking down the device but apps that require root to accomplish what I need... So not much help there.
In your opinion, what are the chances someone creates a root for CID 11? Impossible?

andrewr74 said:
Yeah, I checked a handful of my phones and 2 of the 5 were CID 15. I was successfully able to downgrade to 5.0 and root. Using an app to check every phone is very annoying since I have to sideload the apk and launch which takes too long. Do you know of anyway using ADB that I could determine the eMMc chipset?
I spoke with Samsung for a possible solution that is equivalent to a root and they suggested Nox Console. Where I can remove bloatware and disable certain features of the phone for $3ea. Which is alright for locking down the device but apps that require root to accomplish what I need... So not much help there.
In your opinion, what are the chances someone creates a root for CID 11? Impossible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you searched the forum before asking any of this you would know the answer to that No not gonna happen extensive research was done it s impossible with the current method we have
for locked devices if you simply wanna turn apps off or block ota's I recommend this app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro&hl=en
cat /sys/block/mmcblk0/device/cid
will return the cid from a shell
CID11's can be downgraded to 5.01 and then you can get root but NOT marshmallow and higher
oncid 15 devices you can unlock the bootloader https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...t/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909
and flash a rooted marshmallow rom if you already have root you can skip right to method 2

Legitsu said:
if you searched the forum before asking any of this you would know the answer to that No not gonna happen extensive research was done it s impossible with the current method we have
for locked devices if you simply wanna turn apps off or block ota's I recommend this app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro&hl=en
cat /sys/block/mmcblk0/device/cid
will return the cid from a shell
CID11's can be downgraded to 5.01 and then you can get root but NOT marshmallow and higher
oncid 15 devices you can unlock the bootloader https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...t/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909
and flash a rooted marshmallow rom if you already have root you can skip right to method 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That emmc command worked perfectly!
I don't load any custom roms so only getting root on stock 5.0 is exactly what I want. I was unaware CID11 was downgradable, the other post were a tad confusing in regards to the CIDs. I guess it was the terminology that I did not understand.
Thank you for the help!

andrewr74 said:
That emmc command worked perfectly!
I don't load any custom roms so only getting root on stock 5.0 is exactly what I want. I was unaware CID11 was downgradable, the other post were a tad confusing in regards to the CIDs. I guess it was the terminology that I did not understand.
Thank you for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...ow-to-flash-custom-6-0-1-roms-locked-t3393943
PB1 = 5.0