Database Users

To Update my Sprint Unlocked S7 Running on Cricket, do I need to use a Sprint sim?

I am concerned because I'm looking forward to Android Nougat but I haven't gotten a December security update and the phone uses sprint software. It's using the November update, and I updated right when I got the phone. Except I can't remember if the Sprint sim was in when I updated. For the phone to update, does there need to be a Sprint sim in or can I use my cricket sim? Thanks.

AkagisComet said:
I am concerned because I'm looking forward to Android Nougat but I haven't gotten a December security update and the phone uses sprint software. It's using the November update, and I updated right when I got the phone. Except I can't remember if the Sprint sim was in when I updated. For the phone to update, does there need to be a Sprint sim in or can I use my cricket sim? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need any specific SIM for OTA's.

Verizon or US Unlocked?

I have a Verizon HTC 10, which I have converted to US Unlocked and run LeeDroid, which mostly works, but it requires me to dial *#*#4636#*#* to select radio after every reboot.
I plan to stay on LeeDroid ROM, so don't need or want to take OTAs. I just want everything to work, including Samsung gear for my watch, advanced calling (HD calling mainly), visual voice mail and Android pay might be nice.
Now that Verizon firmware for nougat is available and I could convert back, dues it make sense? Is there any advantage to running US Unlocked or Verizon version? LeeDroid ROM provides everything for Verizon to fully work (or will very soon), so is it just fine to install the latest Verizon firmware and radios onto the US Unlocked version?

If you're just gonna use the phone on VZW, common wisdom states you should stick with VZW software, especially if/when Nougat is now available.

JustinChase said:
I have a Verizon HTC 10, which I have converted to US Unlocked and run LeeDroid, which mostly works, but it requires me to dial *#*#4636#*#* to select radio after every reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not required...LeeDroid has always run perfectly well on Verizon firmware and not needed any dialed codes like that.
JustinChase said:
I plan to stay on LeeDroid ROM, so don't need or want to take OTAs. I just want everything to work, including Samsung gear for my watch, advanced calling (HD calling mainly), visual voice mail and Android pay might be nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The latest version of LeeDroid has Advanced Calling working for most Verizon users. For some reason, it's not working on mine, but there are reports of it working perfectly for a handful of other folks.
JustinChase said:
Now that Verizon firmware for nougat is available and I could convert back, dues it make sense? Is there any advantage to running US Unlocked or Verizon version? LeeDroid ROM provides everything for Verizon to fully work (or will very soon), so is it just fine to install the latest Verizon firmware and radios onto the US Unlocked version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's been discussed on here before (can't remember which thread, sorry) that it's always better to use Verizon firmware + radio when on the Verizon network. It's tweaked to work the best with Verizon's towers and signal.
It might be overkill, but since you are coming from US Unlocked firmware, I'd recommend using the full Verizon RUU and starting from scratch. That way, when you flash LeeDroid, you don't have any funky remnants of the old setup.

Tarima said:
If you're just gonna use the phone on VZW, common wisdom states you should stick with VZW software, especially if/when Nougat is now available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but it wouldn't be 'sticking with' VZW software, it would be re-converting back to VZW software, which isn't so cut and dried.
Posted from my phone, forgive any spelling errors.

btonetbone said:
That's not required...LeeDroid has always run perfectly well on Verizon firmware and not needed any dialed codes like that.
The latest version of LeeDroid has Advanced Calling working for most Verizon users. For some reason, it's not working on mine, but there are reports of it working perfectly for a handful of other folks.
It's been discussed on here before (can't remember which thread, sorry) that it's always better to use Verizon firmware + radio when on the Verizon network. It's tweaked to work the best with Verizon's towers and signal.
It might be overkill, but since you are coming from US Unlocked firmware, I'd recommend using the full Verizon RUU and starting from scratch. That way, when you flash LeeDroid, you don't have any funky remnants of the old setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, no, it doesn't work perfectly well on Verizon if your using nougat firmware, the codes are required.
However, it does seem it is all working great now that we have VZW firmware for nougat, so I will probably convert back now.
I just wanted to see if there was any other reason to stay on US Unlocked, but it seems there isn't.
Off to find the no wipe firmware now.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Posted from my phone, forgive any spelling errors.

QJ3 updated bootloader

QJ3 <stock sprint> updated the bootloader from v4 to v5. Just a heads up for those of you wanting to flash the U firmware and getting errors.

So, probably a dumb question, but what do I need to do to avoid the errors? I messed up trying to flash a T-Mobile rom right after updating the firmware, and now I can't boot. I can get to download mode, but can't find a firmware that will flash without failing.
From what reading I've done, I need to find a newer firmware than the one that was on my phone originally, but I can't seem to find anything that will work.

prnorm said:
So, probably a dumb question, but what do I need to do to avoid the errors? I messed up trying to flash a T-Mobile rom right after updating the firmware, and now I can't boot. I can get to download mode, but can't find a firmware that will flash without failing.
From what reading I've done, I need to find a newer firmware than the one that was on my phone originally, but I can't seem to find anything that will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to flash QJ3 or maybe the latest tmob one. Check sammobile or updato... Just checked, not posted yet. Have you tried a Google search for the qj3 firmware?

lvpre said:
You should be able to flash QJ3 or maybe the latest tmob one. Check sammobile or updato... Just checked, not posted yet. Have you tried a Google search for the qj3 firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I wasn't sure what the latest version is so that helps. I did try flashing the latest T-Mo and Sprint firmwares on both Sammobile and updato.com, but it looks like neither are newer than QJ3 so I guess that's my problem. I'll just search or wait to find a new version posted. This phone isn't a daily driver so it's not critical right now.

prnorm said:
Thank you, I wasn't sure what the latest version is so that helps. I did try flashing the latest T-Mo and Sprint firmwares on both Sammobile and updato.com, but it looks like neither are newer than QJ3 so I guess that's my problem. I'll just search or wait to find a new version posted. This phone isn't a daily driver so it's not critical right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same issue and just loaded the latest PIT. It allowed me to start my phone with my old Sprint OS.

Here is a version of the QJ3 zip for odin.
Click Here
You should be able to flash and restore your phone

lvpre said:
Here is a version of the QJ3 zip for odin.
Click Here
You should be able to flash and restore your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much, this worked perfectly.

Has anyone tried going to the u firmware via pit file? I remember this working in the past. You have to flash the version pit file and previous stock rom, then you could flash the u rom.

Is there any way to downgrade bootloader from P version and then install U version?

Meerk4t said:
Is there any way to downgrade bootloader from P version and then install U version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe. About a year ago, you could load a PIT file. Not sure if that method works with the newest bootloader. @spamforme mentioned something about it a few posts ago.

Meerk4t said:
Is there any way to downgrade bootloader from P version and then install U version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now there is no way to downgrade to install the U version software. Sprint upgraded to the version 5 bootloader and is the only carrier in the US to do so, so you can't install any other carrier software on your S7 or S7 Edge right now once you have Sprint software installed on it. I have a SM-G930U I took to sprint this past July under the 1 year free service before taxes promotion. Fully unlocked version I purchased online, after having trouble installing a Sprint sim, I had to go in to the store to get the phone to activate.
Once activated Sprint sim locked my unlocked phone(found this out 2 months later when I tried to put another sim in it.) At this point it was still running the SM-G930U Unlocked firmware. I escalated a sim unlock request in September, 2 months pasted and they still didn't unlock my phone. I ended up having to go back in to a Sprint Store to facilitate the unlock, and during that process the Sprint store, flashed my phone to 5BQJ3, that being said, after they did that to unlock my phone they were unable to put the Unlocked firmware back on the phone in the store, I have failed to put the unlocked firmware back on my phone since also, I have escalated this to Samsung, as my phone is under warranty and Samsung say there is nothing they can do. So Sprint sim locked my unlocked phone, and during the process of getting my sim unlocked phone back unlocked, they hijacked my phones software and put all the sprint bloatware and malware on my S7 SM-G930U unlocked phone, and it can't be removed currently as Sprint is the only carrier using bootloader 5 in the US.
I ended up filling out a complaint with the FCC about this last week, and waiting for Sprint to respond as the FCC filed the complaint with Sprint on December 22, 2017. and they have 30 days to respond. But I have tried everything I can think of to get the phone back to the U version software without any resolve. As far as I am concerned Sprint owes me a replacement Samsung Galaxy S7 Unlocked phone or newer model, and right now the only "Unlocked" variant Samsung phone Sprint even stocks is the new S8 Active SM-G892U phone which is the same phone for Sprint as it is for T-Mobile; but we shall see what happens I am not holding my breath with Sprint and will probably just have to take them to small claims court for the replacement cost of my phone as it is cheaper than submitting a formal grievance with the FCC is the informal one doesn't solve the issue.

is there any other carrier firmware with the same bootloader version that i can flash to? i need a phone for Verizon, i'm stuck on the sprint firmware. there's a band that is disabled on the sprint one. hopefully one of the others, if there is one available, will have the bands needed enabled.

oponewbie said:
Right now there is no way to downgrade to install the U version software. Sprint upgraded to the version 5 bootloader and is the only carrier in the US to do so, so you can't install any other carrier software on your S7 or S7 Edge right now once you have Sprint software installed on it. I have a SM-G930U I took to sprint this past July under the 1 year free service before taxes promotion. Fully unlocked version I purchased online, after having trouble installing a Sprint sim, I had to go in to the store to get the phone to activate.
Once activated Sprint sim locked my unlocked phone(found this out 2 months later when I tried to put another sim in it.) At this point it was still running the SM-G930U Unlocked firmware. I escalated a sim unlock request in September, 2 months pasted and they still didn't unlock my phone. I ended up having to go back in to a Sprint Store to facilitate the unlock, and during that process the Sprint store, flashed my phone to 5BQJ3, that being said, after they did that to unlock my phone they were unable to put the Unlocked firmware back on the phone in the store, I have failed to put the unlocked firmware back on my phone since also, I have escalated this to Samsung, as my phone is under warranty and Samsung say there is nothing they can do. So Sprint sim locked my unlocked phone, and during the process of getting my sim unlocked phone back unlocked, they hijacked my phones software and put all the sprint bloatware and malware on my S7 SM-G930U unlocked phone, and it can't be removed currently as Sprint is the only carrier using bootloader 5 in the US.
I ended up filling out a complaint with the FCC about this last week, and waiting for Sprint to respond as the FCC filed the complaint with Sprint on December 22, 2017. and they have 30 days to respond. But I have tried everything I can think of to get the phone back to the U version software without any resolve. As far as I am concerned Sprint owes me a replacement Samsung Galaxy S7 Unlocked phone or newer model, and right now the only "Unlocked" variant Samsung phone Sprint even stocks is the new S8 Active SM-G892U phone which is the same phone for Sprint as it is for T-Mobile; but we shall see what happens I am not holding my breath with Sprint and will probably just have to take them to small claims court for the replacement cost of my phone as it is cheaper than submitting a formal grievance with the FCC is the informal one doesn't solve the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow - nice persistence following up with FCC! Would love to hear how that gets resolved. I'm also stuck with a 930P v5 bootloader and no way to install 930U firmware. What is the best way to track 930U firmware bootloader versions so that I know if/when v5 is released?

kpl388 said:
Wow - nice persistence following up with FCC! Would love to hear how that gets resolved. I'm also stuck with a 930P v5 bootloader and no way to install 930U firmware. What is the best way to track 930U firmware bootloader versions so that I know if/when v5 is released?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
G930UUES4BQL1 is bootloader 4.
G930UUEU2APG9 is bootloader 2.
G930PVPU5BQJ3 is bootloader 5.
At the end, go 5 digits back and you will get the boot binary version. So when the U firmware gets to G930UXXX5XXXX it should be good to go. Based on the U history, it looks like the bootloader will get updated if/when oreo gets dropped to the device. It seems like they went with 2 for MM; 4 for Nougat; and hopefully 5 for Oreo. Every carrier seems to be updating the bootloader version about 5 months before the actual release of the new OS...maybe that means that Sprint will be the first to receive Oreo.

lvpre said:
G930UUES4BQL1 is bootloader 4.
G930UUEU2APG9 is bootloader 2.
G930PVPU5BQJ3 is bootloader 5.
At the end, go 5 digits back and you will get the boot binary version. So when the U firmware gets to G930UXXX5XXXX it should be good to go. Based on the U history, it looks like the bootloader will get updated if/when oreo gets dropped to the device. It seems like they went with 2 for MM; 4 for Nougat; and hopefully 5 for Oreo. Every carrier seems to be updating the bootloader version about 5 months before the actual release of the new OS...maybe that means that Sprint will be the first to receive Oreo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the great info!

If we wait for oreo and it has bootloader 5 then it will be great assuming we do not update the sprint oreo first potentially changing the bootloader version number again. Would be great but I guess now we will just wait and see

oponewbie said:
Right now there is no way to downgrade to install the U version software. Sprint upgraded to the version 5 bootloader and is the only carrier in the US to do so, so you can't install any other carrier software on your S7 or S7 Edge right now once you have Sprint software installed on it. I have a SM-G930U I took to sprint this past July under the 1 year free service before taxes promotion. Fully unlocked version I purchased online, after having trouble installing a Sprint sim, I had to go in to the store to get the phone to activate.
Once activated Sprint sim locked my unlocked phone(found this out 2 months later when I tried to put another sim in it.) At this point it was still running the SM-G930U Unlocked firmware. I escalated a sim unlock request in September, 2 months pasted and they still didn't unlock my phone. I ended up having to go back in to a Sprint Store to facilitate the unlock, and during that process the Sprint store, flashed my phone to 5BQJ3, that being said, after they did that to unlock my phone they were unable to put the Unlocked firmware back on the phone in the store, I have failed to put the unlocked firmware back on my phone since also, I have escalated this to Samsung, as my phone is under warranty and Samsung say there is nothing they can do. So Sprint sim locked my unlocked phone, and during the process of getting my sim unlocked phone back unlocked, they hijacked my phones software and put all the sprint bloatware and malware on my S7 SM-G930U unlocked phone, and it can't be removed currently as Sprint is the only carrier using bootloader 5 in the US.
I ended up filling out a complaint with the FCC about this last week, and waiting for Sprint to respond as the FCC filed the complaint with Sprint on December 22, 2017. and they have 30 days to respond. But I have tried everything I can think of to get the phone back to the U version software without any resolve. As far as I am concerned Sprint owes me a replacement Samsung Galaxy S7 Unlocked phone or newer model, and right now the only "Unlocked" variant Samsung phone Sprint even stocks is the new S8 Active SM-G892U phone which is the same phone for Sprint as it is for T-Mobile; but we shall see what happens I am not holding my breath with Sprint and will probably just have to take them to small claims court for the replacement cost of my phone as it is cheaper than submitting a formal grievance with the FCC is the informal one doesn't solve the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did we ever get an update on this?

SM-T827R (US Cellular) flashed with T827V (Verizon Oreo) - Working no issues

I purchased a US Cellular branded Tab S3 to use on AT&T when I found out they sell them unlocked. I also recently wanted Oreo on it and after some digging found US Cellular still hasn't released an update but there was one from Turkey and one from VzW. I tried to find a concrete yes/no if I can flash other variants of the T827 models firmware without luck so figured I'd roll the dice on it myself. This weekend I tracked down the VzW Oreo firmware and used Odin to install it on my US Cell Tab. The first round I had a couple of errors and for a second thought I had a new paper weight, but kept calm and ran through the process again and it worked!
Just a note:
At first boot it will say the SIM is invalid and to put in a VzW SIM, but you can click ok and keep going. Once done setting up on wifi you can then go into settings and add the AT&T APN and connect over cell.

Could you post where you got the VZW image? I'd like to try this. I can't believe USC hasn't updated their tabs yet. I'm tired of asking when the update will arrive!

alfredtv said:
I purchased a US Cellular branded Tab S3 to use on AT&T when I found out they sell them unlocked. I also recently wanted Oreo on it and after some digging found US Cellular still hasn't released an update but there was one from Turkey and one from VzW. I tried to find a concrete yes/no if I can flash other variants of the T827 models firmware without luck so figured I'd roll the dice on it myself. This weekend I tracked down the VzW Oreo firmware and used Odin to install it on my US Cell Tab. The first round I had a couple of errors and for a second thought I had a new paper weight, but kept calm and ran through the process again and it worked!
Just a note:
At first boot it will say the SIM is invalid and to put in a VzW SIM, but you can click ok and keep going. Once done setting up on wifi you can then go into settings and add the AT&T APN and connect over cell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure that was a good idea. If indeed you did manage to flash the VZW bootloader then the tablet is now likely bootloader locked with no way of returning to its original state.

ashyx said:
Not sure that was a good idea. If indeed you did manage to flash the VZW bootloader then the tablet is now likely bootloader locked with no way of returning to its original state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was this verified to be the case? Also would the verizon combination file work on the uscelluar tablet? I picked up a cheap SM-T827R4 that is FRP locked. I am waiting to hear back from the original owner if they would be willing to bypass the verification for me.

Writermike said:
Was this verified to be the case? Also would the verizon combination file work on the uscelluar tablet? I picked up a cheap SM-T827R4 that is FRP locked. I am waiting to hear back from the original owner if they would be willing to bypass the verification for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to flash the combo file for the SM-T827V (Verizon version of the Tab S3) to bypass the FRP lock. I used the one on gsm-firmware.com After which I was able to reflash the uscelluar firmware from sammobile. I don't know if this is exactly the same as the OP's method, but hope it helps someone else out in the future.

Writermike said:
I was able to flash the combo file for the SM-T827V (Verizon version of the Tab S3) to bypass the FRP lock. I used the one on gsm-firmware.com After which I was able to reflash the uscelluar firmware from sammobile. I don't know if this is exactly the same as the OP's method, but hope it helps someone else out in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the late reply on this. I downloaded the image files from sammobile and installed them with odin. I've been up and running on Oreo (VzW branded) since my post and have had no issues or reasons to flash to anything else. I have tried to run an update but it says it can't register, which i assume is because it's hitting the VzW servers w an ATT SIM from a USC device!
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

alfredtv said:
I have tried to run an update but it says it can't register, which i assume is because it's hitting the VzW servers w an ATT SIM from a USC device!
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need to put a Verizon SIM in it once (and so far only once) to check for updates. The SIM doesn’t even need to be provisioned. Then you can check for updates with your normal SIM.
I’ve had a VZW Tab S3 for over a year that I have been using with AT&T. I updated to Oreo without any issues with my AT&T SIM installed.

Wanted to first say thanks for the tip -- and echo that The T827R4 does in accept the Verizon Oreo firmware via the latest version of Odin, though with a build just a few releases behind it threw an error and would not flash.
I guess if we can't have root we may as well have Oreo.

Samemobile has the January security update Oreo
alfredtv said:
I purchased a US Cellular branded Tab S3 to use on AT&T when I found out they sell them unlocked. I also recently wanted Oreo on it and after some digging found US Cellular still hasn't released an update but there was one from Turkey and one from VzW. I tried to find a concrete yes/no if I can flash other variants of the T827 models firmware without luck so figured I'd roll the dice on it myself. This weekend I tracked down the VzW Oreo firmware and used Odin to install it on my US Cell Tab. The first round I had a couple of errors and for a second thought I had a new paper weight, but kept calm and ran through the process again and it worked!
Just a note:
At first boot it will say the SIM is invalid and to put in a VzW SIM, but you can click ok and keep going. Once done setting up on wifi you can then go into settings and add the AT&T APN and connect over cell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just updated to Oreo for SM-T827R4 to January security patch 8.0.0 firmware from Sammobile and it working great.

my370z said:
I just updated to Oreo for SM-T827R4 to January security patch 8.0.0 firmware from Sammobile and it working great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right about Verizon firmware running really smooth. Much better than the US Cellular firmware. After flashed VZ firmware, the model changed to SM-T827V.

in case anyone has the us cellular model, you really don't need to flash the verizon firmware because the us cellular model has a more updated firmware than the verizon model.
the model is actually SM-T827R4, oreo with apr 2019 security and OTA update works too.
though no pie update yet (same as verizon)

So these can't be flashed to the stock 820 pie rom?

picachux said:
So these can't be flashed to the stock 820 pie rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good news, the official pie is available now, OTA downloading now
Verizon model still stuck at oreo

supaet said:
good news, the official pie is available now, OTA downloading now
Verizon model still stuck at oreo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the heads up will check when I get home.
Sent from my SM-T827R4 using Tapatalk

AT&T S10+ hasn't received any updates!

Hey everyone. So back in March my wife and I both got new S10+s. I noticed recently that my wife's phone hasn't recieved any updates at all since she got the phone! Shes still on ASD3 firmware, March Security patch, etc. I don't think she's even gotten the fingerprint sensor fix update because her sensor is a pain to use compared to my phone. My phone has been updating regularly.
I tried calling AT&T customer support and they were pretty much useless. Any recommendations? Should i just look up the updates on XDA and flash the phone to the newest patch myself with Odin or something?

That's very odd given the phone forces updates by itself. Make sure your wifi connection is good. Try going to settings and manually clicking on software update. If that doesn't work just download the firmware from XDA here and flash it with that special version of ODIN. Due note that by flashing thru ODIN it will erase everything I think like a factory data reset does.

Is your wife using an AT&T SIM? It's probably a dumb question but AT&T doesn't update phones with their firmware if a non AT&T SIM is being used. It has to be actual AT&T - - they won't update if the SIM from an AT&T MVNO like Cricket is installed either.
If your wife has AT&T but different service plan as an experiment you could put your SIM in her phone and see if any updates show up.

Your AT&T S10+ should be on G975USQS2ASl6 latest firmware with Sept. Security. Do not know why it does not Auto update as mine does on Wifi.

My wifes tmobile one has the same issue, stuck on June patch. I'll be odin flashing it this weekend.