Database Users

[Q] Installing a stock rom on a verizon UNLOCKED s5

Hi everyone!
So during my trip in the US, I decided to buy a brand new Galaxy S5. I was going to use it outside US so I wanted an unlocked version (since they don't sell international versions in us)
So I got a verizon version of the S5.
Model: SM-G900V
The problem
The problem is that i am getting notifications like. Non Verizon sim inserted. Loads of verizon bloatware. and I cant use my mobile hotspot. Similar to this
I absolutely hate this. I paid $800 for this phone and I'm bombarded with verizon's nonsense and restricted for no reason
My question
The question is, can I install a stock rom on my S5? more specifically can I flash the SM-G900f ?? So that I can get rid of this custom verizon software.

vidhu1911 said:
The question is, can I install a stock rom on my S5? more specifically can I flash the SM-G900f ?? So that I can get rid of this custom verizon software.
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Well it's complicated and you have some reading to do if you really want to understand your options. But broadly speaking, the answer is yes. Since you were (or are?) planning to use the phone elsewhere, you'd have been happier had you bought a different S5 variant e.g. a TMobile S5 rather than the Verizon one because you would find it a lot less restrictive, give you more choices and options. And even access to a larger palette of frequency bands should you end up roaming somewhere that uses unusual frequency bands.
Note that there is a dedicated Verizon S5 forum here where you'll find most of what you are looking for. What you are thinking of as a stock ROM would be more accurately called a custom ROM. A stock ROM is.. well what you currently have, with all of the included carrier /Verizon applications that are annoying you. You'll probably want to root your phone and flash a custom ROM to get rid of a lot of superfluous Verizon stuff. That may have warranty implications and you should do some reading about warranty and locked bootloaders (something extra nice that Verizon and ATT do to make it harder to flash your phone).
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Note 4 Unlocked

So im with AT&T and im planning on getting the Note 4. I dont want the att version with all the bloatware. Do I have any options without changing carriers?

10pmStalker said:
So im with AT&T and im planning on getting the Note 4. I dont want the att version with all the bloatware. Do I have any options without changing carriers?
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All the carriers install their own bloatware, and eventually a guide will turn up on here on how you can remove the bloatware anyhow.

10pmStalker said:
So im with AT&T and im planning on getting the Note 4. I dont want the att version with all the bloatware. Do I have any options without changing carriers?
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A. Buy an international version outright
B. Root and remove the bloat with Titanium Backup
C. Root and install a baked version of TouchWiz ROM with all the bloat already removed.
Those are your options and those are ALL of them.

10pmStalker said:
So im with AT&T and im planning on getting the Note 4. I dont want the att version with all the bloatware. Do I have any options without changing carriers?
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I think the best option is said to be T-Mobile - phones work on (most) AT&T bands and their phones are also do not have the locked bootloader that AT&T has.
Also you might want to look at US Cellular models and some of the Canadian unlocked versions - those tend to also have a lot of bands and are unlocked but might be launched later and might be harder to find in US.

Yup, the tmobile version is your best bet. The international version is a no go because it will be much slower data wise with no LTE. Plus carriers are moving to VoLTE. More info here. The same concept applies.

mircury said:
Plus carriers are moving to VoLTE. More info here. The same concept applies.
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I don't think the carriers are going to VoLTE in general(reading literally), because I think they want to go VoIP in general. Because they all going to support voice over wifi soon anyway, working seemlessly when you are in you home but with no or weak cell signal. It's just that anything less than LTE, the latency is too high for good quality VoIP. It's both marketing move and technical move. Moving all the voice on top of data in the LTE means they can convert all the existing cell tower to just support LTE and hopefully support LTEadvance soon. And since moving to VoLTE, it also means that it's technically a VoIP, and thus why wouldn't it works on wifi as well. Thus eliminate one of the people complain that they don't have good signal in the house. I personally don't use the phone to make call that much, so don't view this as too much negativity. I rather care about carrier that have signal everywhere else I go and don't have to keep looking for wifi.

Verizon vs T-Mobile S5 for TING?

Hello all,
I will need some UberGeek advice for this one...lol
I use TING as my MVNO provider. They offer CDMA and GSM networks backboning on Sprint and T-Mobile. I had to get a new phone and ordered a Sprint CDMA version G900P but received a Verizon model G900V. It works perfectly fine on the TING network.
I am just wondering if there is any reason not to get this phone and to go with a T-Mobile model instead? I normally would go Sprint/CDMA but wanted to try out GSM this time. Both have excellent coverage in my area. I also know about the ATT/Verizon bootloader being locked. I have already rooted this and it's running Lollipop just fine a sper the instructions found in threads here.
TING told me the phone is no different essentially and there should be no problems. As always their cust, svc. was excellent and informative. This phone apparently has dual radios...CDMA and GSM. I don't have to worry about warranties, KNOW tripping or Verizon's bs. As I said, I am rooted and running fine. I will either debloat this sucker or go with another ROM. Right now THE only bugaboo I see is that there are so few ROMs for the Verizon model. I am not into switching ROMs. If I ditch a debloated stock setup, it would have to be very something very clean and stable based on Lollipop. Seems like CM 12.1 could be nice but right now slightly risky and they don't have the Fingerprint feature working either.
Does anyone feel it would be smarter to return this and get a T-Mobile model? Any food for thought or advice or "Here is why you'll regret the Verizon model 6 months from now" kind of advice?
Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!

Besides the locked bootloader, the G900V is the same phone as the rest of the S5's (of course with different radios for CDMA). If you're cool with just running stock firmware forever then keep the Verizon model. The T-Mobile model would allow you to do whatever you like with it though, as the bootloader is unlocked. Virtually no possibility of losing root.

Sean89us said:
Besides the locked bootloader, the G900V is the same phone as the rest of the S5's (of course with different radios for CDMA). If you're cool with just running stock firmware forever then keep the Verizon model. The T-Mobile model would allow you to do whatever you like with it though, as the bootloader is unlocked. Virtually no possibility of losing root.
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Thanks for the response. Pretty much what I figured. I have it rooted and using Safe Strap and MIGHT toy with CM 12.1 since there are many out there with the Verizon model that seem to like it. Plenty of YouTube videos too.

US996-> On AT&T or Verizon

I'm considering purchase of a US996. I'm considering this model as I may want to change from AT&T to Verizon. Data from AT&T where I live is VERY slow.
At any rate, I would like to hear from folks with this model on each carrier, and if all seems well for you or not.
Any input appreciated.

ewingr said:
I'm considering purchase of a US996. I'm considering this model as I may want to change from AT&T to Verizon. Data from AT&T where I live is VERY slow.
At any rate, I would like to hear from folks with this model on each carrier, and if all seems well for you or not.
Any input appreciated.
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Love it on At&t. I live where i only get about 2 bars but i do get 4g lte so its not slow. I havent had any issues at all. Idk about verizon though.

Thanks for that reply.

ewingr said:
I'm considering purchase of a US996. I'm considering this model as I may want to change from AT&T to Verizon. Data from AT&T where I live is VERY slow.
At any rate, I would like to hear from folks with this model on each carrier, and if all seems well for you or not.
Any input appreciated.
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I use it on Verizon, only issue i had was the google messenger app wouldn't send mms's. changed to textra and that sorted it. other wise it's great!

lingo2012 said:
Love it on At&t. I live where i only get about 2 bars but i do get 4g lte so its not slow. I havent had any issues at all. Idk about verizon though.
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My experience has been exactly the same.

I use it on Verizon using Weta Rom and it's amazing. Everything works.

chispa9 said:
I use it on Verizon using Weta Rom and it's amazing. Everything works.
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WETA Rom is for 918...So it works fine on the 996 then I guess.
Is it generally expected that you can put 918 Rooms PM the 996?

ewingr said:
WETA Rom is for 918...So it works fine on the 996 then I guess.
Is it generally expected that you can put 918 Rooms PM the 996?
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Actually Weta Rom is for the 996 as welll. Don't try to put a rom for another device on it lol.

Oh. I looked before posting and didn't fond it. But it's good to hear there is now more than one ROM for it.

chispa9 said:
I use it on Verizon using Weta Rom and it's amazing. Everything works.
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I now have one on order.
Activation/IEMI setup
Did you have any issues getting Verizon to get the 996 working? I've read about issues with other folks (likely other phones) getting them to recognize / setup the IMEI on their network.
Weta Rom
I've read a lot of the Weta thread. Being totally unfamiliar with the V20, I can't relate to the 'improvments' of the ROM.
Can anyone give me a few points about the benefit of changing to Weta from stock?

I had no problem getting the nano-SIM card from Verizon. Then the only carrier related problem was getting Advanced Calling to work. The bottom line there was to turn off WiFi when you call Verizon to have AC enabled.
Getting the 996 bootloader unlocked was a real pain for me but I think the problem was PC related. When I finally got it to recognize the phone in adb mode all went well. I would advise to unlock/root right away as the process completely wipes any changes you have made.
My overall experience with the 996 is that it is a fantastic phone that I am very happy with. I thought nothing would be able to top my G3 vs985 but I was wrong. I was worried about the size of the 996 but am totally used to it now. Enjoy yours!

PhoneBill said:
I had no problem getting the nano-SIM card from Verizon. Then the only carrier related problem was getting Advanced Calling to work. The bottom line there was to turn off WiFi when you call Verizon to have AC enabled.
Getting the 996 bootloader unlocked was a real pain for me but I think the problem was PC related. When I finally got it to recognize the phone in adb mode all went well. I would advise to unlock/root right away as the process completely wipes any changes you have made.
My overall experience with the 996 is that it is a fantastic phone that I am very happy with. I thought nothing would be able to top my G3 vs985 but I was wrong. I was worried about the size of the 996 but am totally used to it now. Enjoy yours!
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I really appreciate your feedback.
I'm wondering one thing related to rooting and warranty. Of course, LG voids warranty if it is unlocked. I see folks posting about restoring to complete stock in case of warranty needs. But, from what I can tell, the only way to unlock the bootloader is via the LG site, and it looks like you have to provide phone info...so they would know you are unlocking the phone. Seems to me it would then be flagged as voided warranty.
Any input on that?

Since the "dirty" exploits unlock the bootloaders of carrier branded and usually cheaper variants, I assume you bought the US996 for its LG sanctioned unlock ability and were willing to forego any warranty. I advised unlocking right away but if you don't personalize the phone very much at first, you may want to wait a week or so to get by the infant mortality period. I waited a month. My phone had upgraded to US99610f before I unlocked it so that was not a problem.
The LG official unlocking process inserts a nag screen at boot up that warns that the phone cannot be checked for vulnerabilities. I don't believe there is any way to remove this even if you somehow are able to get the phone in otherwise original condition - but I may be wrong. I don't know what the "dirty" exploits cause, if anything non-stock, on boot up. If warranty is important to you, check out the dirtycow exploit to see what you can find out about completely reversing the unlocking process, including any nag screen.
The only things I hope come along in the future for this phone are the Xposed framework and a mod to enable fm radio, assuming all the necessary hardware is present. Then I would have a perfect phone instead of nearly perfect.

The main reason I am getting the 996 is so that I can put it on either Verizon OR AT&T if I change my mind on carrier.
I haven't had to use warranty often. I may check into 'insurance'.

PhoneBill said:
The only things I hope come along in the future for this phone are the Xposed framework and a mod to enable fm radio, assuming all the necessary hardware is present. Then I would have a perfect phone instead of nearly perfect.
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Yessss! The lack of FM radio kills me considering the carrier versions have it. Like WTF LG?

RichBordoni said:
Yessss! The lack of FM radio kills me considering the carrier versions have it. Like WTF LG?
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Any progress on this?

Creed14 said:
Any progress on this?
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Not that I'm aware of unfortunately...

RichBordoni said:
Yessss! The lack of FM radio kills me considering the carrier versions have it. Like WTF LG?
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I thought the v20 had FM, which ones don't?

affald said:
I thought the v20 had FM, which ones don't?
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Well I know the unlocked version doesn't because that's what I have. As for the carrier models, you'll have to check each one individually and make sure. I'm not positive that all of the carrier models have it, I think maybe one (Verizon?) has it disabled. Could definitely be wrong about that though.
Makes literally no sense why they wouldn't include FM on the unlocked version...

Want to move from Sprint to T-Mobile... too much info, need short answer

I'm kind of newb at this S7 stuff, I'm more of an HTC guy. Yesterday, I bought an unlocked G930P (sprint) and am not sure, but think I learned that normally, people don't change out the ROMs to use a different carrier, they simply unlock the phone and live with the old carrier's bloatware. I started reading up, and first learned that TWRP apparently isn't available on a Snapdragon processor, so the G930A, G930P, etc, aren't candidates for TWRP. At first, I was kind of dismayed. Then, I found the G930U ROM and on a whim, I tried punting the G930U ROM to the G930P. I bought the phone off craigslist, and he said he didn't know where HE got it from, but it was unlocked. Anyhow, the phone took the rom without a hitch and now it looks like a U model...
My goal: Go with T-Mobile. Use Wi-Fi calling. Eventually have Nougat. Remove bloatware, but possibly keep some nice T-Mobile add-ons, if any, because I don't have their service yet (I hated ATT's crapload of stuff). Note this isn't specifically a "TMobile" question, substitute your carrier of choice for the questions...
Get to the damned question, you say? Ok, here goes:
1. I'm not going to ask any "do these bands work" when moving from a P model to T mobile. You guys seem to fight about that stuff until you can't type any longer. I'm going to assume what whatever bands work, that's what I get. Unless I get a T-Mobile specific phone.
2. But I will ask this: do the over the air bands it uses depend on the baseband ROM that is on the device? This is something I can't figure out.
3. I heard T-Mobile uses an updated boot kernel (3.0?) and ATT & others use an older boot kernel, and that if I move to T-Mobile boot kernel, I can't go back to any of the older ones. This process I seriously don't understand. Can I run a T-Mobile OS (or any OS) while using an older boot kernel ROM? I would think NO, right?
4. I don't like all of Carrier X's bloatware. I'd rather use a stripped down, cleaner ROM. I guess there are apps for that, but is it cleaner to do it with a stripped down generic ROM that I see floating around?
6. Speaking of ROM's - I saw a lot of Xetheros or whatever ROM's floating around, but it seems like there aren't any for the snapdragon-based ones. Is this true? The posts on this site don't really talk much about the snapdragon-based phones and why there aren't any ROMs for them, and why it won't work, and what, if anything, is being done to get around this. I guess the G930U is Samsung's answer to that, and allows fooling around with roms, but will the other phones ever be actually rom-able, or should I ditch this G930P and actually buy a G930U? Now that my phone THINKS it's a G930U, did that get me around some weird barrier and NOW I can update other funky roms intended for a G930U?
I'm considering selling the G7 I just got and going from a G930F (now that I'm a bit wiser). Any common sense why not to do that? I already HAVE an ATT G7 (not the sprint one I just bought), but it has a "bad signal". It gets only about 1 bar indoors, on a good day. I took it to a repair facility and they said, "nothing wrong with the antenna, it's your mainboard, don't bother just buy a new phone". Anybody have any advice on that?
thanks

BroncoBilli said:
I'm kind of newb at this S7 stuff, I'm more of an HTC guy. Yesterday, I bought an unlocked G930P (sprint) and am not sure, but think I learned that normally, people don't change out the ROMs to use a different carrier, they simply unlock the phone and live with the old carrier's bloatware. I started reading up, and first learned that TWRP apparently isn't available on a Snapdragon processor, so the G930A, G930P, etc, aren't candidates for TWRP. At first, I was kind of dismayed. Then, I found the G930U ROM and on a whim, I tried punting the G930U ROM to the G930P. I bought the phone off craigslist, and he said he didn't know where HE got it from, but it was unlocked. Anyhow, the phone took the rom without a hitch and now it looks like a U model...
My goal: Go with T-Mobile. Use Wi-Fi calling. Eventually have Nougat. Remove bloatware, but possibly keep some nice T-Mobile add-ons, if any, because I don't have their service yet (I hated ATT's crapload of stuff). Note this isn't specifically a "TMobile" question, substitute your carrier of choice for the questions...
Get to the damned question, you say? Ok, here goes:
1. I'm not going to ask any "do these bands work" when moving from a P model to T mobile. You guys seem to fight about that stuff until you can't type any longer. I'm going to assume what whatever bands work, that's what I get. Unless I get a T-Mobile specific phone.
2. But I will ask this: do the over the air bands it uses depend on the baseband ROM that is on the device? This is something I can't figure out.
3. I heard T-Mobile uses an updated boot kernel (3.0?) and ATT & others use an older boot kernel, and that if I move to T-Mobile boot kernel, I can't go back to any of the older ones. This process I seriously don't understand. Can I run a T-Mobile OS (or any OS) while using an older boot kernel ROM? I would think NO, right?
4. I don't like all of Carrier X's bloatware. I'd rather use a stripped down, cleaner ROM. I guess there are apps for that, but is it cleaner to do it with a stripped down generic ROM that I see floating around?
6. Speaking of ROM's - I saw a lot of Xetheros or whatever ROM's floating around, but it seems like there aren't any for the snapdragon-based ones. Is this true? The posts on this site don't really talk much about the snapdragon-based phones and why there aren't any ROMs for them, and why it won't work, and what, if anything, is being done to get around this. I guess the G930U is Samsung's answer to that, and allows fooling around with roms, but will the other phones ever be actually rom-able, or should I ditch this G930P and actually buy a G930U? Now that my phone THINKS it's a G930U, did that get me around some weird barrier and NOW I can update other funky roms intended for a G930U?
I'm considering selling the G7 I just got and going from a G930F (now that I'm a bit wiser). Any common sense why not to do that? I already HAVE an ATT G7 (not the sprint one I just bought), but it has a "bad signal". It gets only about 1 bar indoors, on a good day. I took it to a repair facility and they said, "nothing wrong with the antenna, it's your mainboard, don't bother just buy a new phone". Anybody have any advice on that?
thanks
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All U.S. models are built the exact same and will all accept each others firmware if done right , so any unlocked s7 you put the U firmware will essentially be a g930u other than the number stamped on the back , I dont believe the U firmware supports wifi calling or VOLTE , There is a t-mobile nougat firmware floating around if you want to try that , your att g7 if it has a hardware issue should be under warranty but if your using it with a different carrier I would flash the appropriate firmware to it and see if that fixes you signal issue and if not put it back to stock and call Samsung , as far as switching from the international model , Well i bought a international edge as soon as they release and it took a crap on me within 4 months and I was unable to warranty it , that was my only issue with using a international model but also i dont think you can get wifi calling on those either . hope that helps
edit* and yes the bands are dictated by the rom , U firmware opens all of them otherwise carrier roms unlock specific , and T-mobile nougat dowgrade back to MM will be dictated by the baseband , I know the Sprint nougat can be downgraded but not T-mobile for sure

goonygugle said:
All U.S. models are built the exact same and will all accept each others firmware if done right , so any unlocked s7 you put the U firmware will essentially be a g930u other than the number stamped on the back , I dont believe the U firmware supports wifi calling or VOLTE , There is a t-mobile nougat firmware floating around if you want to try that , your att g7 if it has a hardware issue should be under warranty but if your using it with a different carrier I would flash the appropriate firmware to it and see if that fixes you signal issue and if not put it back to stock and call Samsung , as far as switching from the international model , Well i bought a international edge as soon as they release and it took a crap on me within 4 months and I was unable to warranty it , that was my only issue with using a international model but also i dont think you can get wifi calling on those either . hope that helps
edit* and yes the bands are dictated by the rom , U firmware opens all of them otherwise carrier roms unlock specific , and T-mobile nougat dowgrade back to MM will be dictated by the baseband , I know the Sprint nougat can be downgraded but not T-mobile for sure
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The U firmware does support WiFi calling and VoLTE on T-Mobile.

myphone12345 said:
The U firmware does support WiFi calling and VoLTE on T-Mobile.
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I guess us AT&T users just done get them features =/ , is it enabled or do you have to do something to enable those features ?

goonygugle said:
I guess us AT&T users just done get them features =/ , is it enabled or do you have to do something to enable those features ?
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I don't believe those features are supported on AT&T (probably at AT&T's own request). Perhaps that might change in the Nougat version but I wouldn't bet on it.