Which LG V20 should I buy? Help! - LG V20 Questions & Answers

I am looking for an LG V20 that I can unlock the bootloader and root the device. Which variant do you guys recommend? I am currently on ATT and would like to know if the ATT version can be unlocked and rooted. If not which one can I use for ATT and unlock it?

borijess said:
I am looking for an LG V20 that I can unlock the bootloader and root the device. Which variant do you guys recommend? I am currently on ATT and would like to know if the ATT version can be unlocked and rooted. If not which one can I use for ATT and unlock it?
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I think all the variants are currently on versions that have patched Dirty CoW. Up until recently, on T-Mobile, you could at least downgrade with a KDZ, but the latest version has anti-rollback.
I think the US996 might be your best bet. You won't have WiFi calling, but it at least has an official unlock, even if it can't be undone.

Related

Unbranding h910 AT&T

Hi.
I am expecting delivery of an LG V20 h910 from eBay in the coming days, but don't have an AT&T SIM (EU user).
Is there a way to flash an unlocked, stock version of the software (eg US996) so I can update the phone to the latest version?
I heard non-AT&T SIM users don't get updates thru AT&T, so wondering how I can get the latest software for it.
I would prefer not to root the phone, but would do if necessary (and if I can then get a fully functional, up-to-date software version).
Thanks in advance.
AWT86 said:
Hi.
I am expecting delivery of an LG V20 h910 from eBay in the coming days, but don't have an AT&T SIM (EU user).
Is there a way to flash an unlocked, stock version of the software (eg US996) so I can update the phone to the latest version?
I heard non-AT&T SIM users don't get updates thru AT&T, so wondering how I can get the latest software for it.
I would prefer not to root the phone, but would do if necessary (and if I can then get a fully functional, up-to-date software version).
Thanks in advance.
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Click to collapse
First off, if its not sim unlocked phone, it will forever stay sim locked unless you get the network unlock for it. EVEN if you flash any of the other brand roms. Also, AT&T doesn't have the full stock kdz to revert to, there are work arounds to return to stock. This phone has trouble with the screen ghosting/retention, as well as bonkers HDR camera performance, also not to forget, GPS inaccuracy upto 50 meters. I'd suggest look away from LG unless you're going for LG v30 which doesn't carry any of these issues.
If you have already bought, paid and "expecting" shipment anytime soon, you should make sure that its network unlocked H910. (make backup of your partitions before flashing any other brand rom because you will need modem, modemst1, modemst2 and misc partitions in-case you lose the signals). Then you can easily flash it with H915 rom which is the best among debloated stock roms. Flash H910 v10m firmware over it, then flash the modem/modemst1/modemst2/misc files from fastboot to get network signal. From there on forward, you may keep H915 rom with H910 v10m base, or you can even move on to lineage roms. I'd suggest stay rooted with manual color calibration for no-ghosting measures.
AWT86 said:
Hi.
I am expecting delivery of an LG V20 h910 from eBay in the coming days, but don't have an AT&T SIM (EU user).
Is there a way to flash an unlocked, stock version of the software (eg US996) so I can update the phone to the latest version?
I heard non-AT&T SIM users don't get updates thru AT&T, so wondering how I can get the latest software for it.
I would prefer not to root the phone, but would do if necessary (and if I can then get a fully functional, up-to-date software version).
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't flash another variant rom until you unlock the bootloader and root. As far as functionality with the 996 will depend on the bands your carrier supports
Sent from my LG-H910 using XDA Labs
I received my used AT&T V20 yesterday also bought from eBay. I'm on O2 and it works fine. Just be sure your phone is network unlocked. Only thing is the bloatware.
So much misinformation in this thread, but I will just address the original question....
Yes, you can flash the US996 KDZ without rooting .. just flash like you would any other KDZ. You lose some AT&T specific features while running US996, but if you are overseas, I don't think that will bother you.
As far as I know, that will SIM unlock the phone if it is locked. If it doesn't, then the engineering bootloader that you use to root will SIM unlock the phone as well as bootloader unlock it.
So, first try the US996 KDZ, if that doesn't SIM unlock, you will have to root.
-- Brian
CaseyS said:
I received my used AT&T V20 yesterday also bought from eBay. I'm on O2 and it works fine. Just be sure your phone is network unlocked. Only thing is the bloatware.
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Did you get any system updates?
runningnak3d said:
So much misinformation in this thread, but I will just address the original question....
Yes, you can flash the US996 KDZ without rooting .. just flash like you would any other KDZ. You lose some AT&T specific features while running US996, but if you are overseas, I don't think that will bother you.
As far as I know, that will SIM unlock the phone if it is locked. If it doesn't, then the engineering bootloader that you use to root will SIM unlock the phone as well as bootloader unlock it.
So, first try the US996 KDZ, if that doesn't SIM unlock, you will have to root.
-- Brian
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The phone should come pre-unlocked for all networks. I'm mainly concerned about system updates. US996 sounds good, as I can't use AT&T here (AT&T doesn't exist in my country). Would I be able to update the firmware in any way once US996 KDZ is installed? Thanks in advance.
AWT86 said:
Did you get any system updates?
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No system updates. Had the latest update with the latest security patch, but I downgraded because I want to root it. Still 7.0, but with a earlier patch level.

What is the easiest V20 model to root?

I'm planning on buying another LG V20, but I want to get the model that's easiest to root. I will be using it with AT&T prepaid/go-phone network
TH3.H4WK said:
I'm planning on buying another LG V20, but I want to get the model that's easiest to root. I will be using it with AT&T prepaid/go-phone network
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The easiest one would be the US unlocked us996, which is bootloader unlockable from LG directly.
But, be aware that all us996 are not directly bootloader unlockable. There are different variants, and I don't know how to tell them apart.

US996 UCL roms

I just rooted my us996 us cellular variant and was wondering what all ROMs support this variant. I know most people will say I should just buy an unlocked version but I got this phone for really good deal and don't want to get rid of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
rafe83 said:
I just rooted my us996 us cellular variant and was wondering what all ROMs support this variant. I know most people will say I should just buy an unlocked version but I got this phone for really good deal and don't want to get rid of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Lineage, 16.0 unofficial. us996-ds version
I seen that. Thanks. I'm going to try that one here shortly.
rafe83 said:
I just rooted my us996 us cellular variant and was wondering what all ROMs support this variant. I know most people will say I should just buy an unlocked version but I got this phone for really good deal and don't want to get rid of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi,
How did you root your US Cellular US996? My h918 died from water damage that happened before I owned it, and now I'm stuck with an unrooted US996 for US Cellular, but I haven't found how to root it and unlock the bootloader.
Thanks,
Rob
frohro said:
Hi,
How did you root your US Cellular US996? My h918 died from water damage that happened before I owned it, and now I'm stuck with an unrooted US996 for US Cellular, but I haven't found how to root it and unlock the bootloader.
Thanks,
Rob
Click to expand...
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LG official bootloader unlock guide:
LG Developer
The official developer resources for LG products and platforms.
developer.lge.com
Click How to Unlock the Bootloader for instructions.
All the US996 variants were recently silently added to the list of devices that can be unlocked:
V20 LG Official Unlock..
So, I happened to get my hands on a pair of V20's. Both were us996 models. One was the USA and the other was UCL (US Cellular). In the past, the UCL was not able to be unlocked on LG's website. I was able to unlock the USA model just fine...
forum.xda-developers.com
After that install the TWRP from here:
[Recovery][Unofficial]TWRP 3.3.1-1 : 2019-10-25
Inspired by Backcheck building for the VS995, I've decided to build the latest TWRP for the US996 and now most other V20 variants as well. I'm an amateur, but so far in my own use it seems to be working fine (flashes Open Gapps, Lineage, and...
forum.xda-developers.com
and flash Magisk to root:
Releases ยท topjohnwu/Magisk
The Magic Mask for Android. Contribute to topjohnwu/Magisk development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com

Rooting att unlocked h871?

I've got an at&t lg G6. Today I got it unlocked through at&t, I'm wondering if it's able to be rooted now or if there's something else to prevent root?
Arkeris said:
I've got an at&t lg G6. Today I got it unlocked through at&t, I'm wondering if it's able to be rooted now or if there's something else to prevent root?
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Yeah, there is the locked bootloader that our hardworking developer friends are facing difficulties unlocking. so right now you cannot root. I even tried converting my AT&T LG G6 (H871) to H873 and LGUS997 but still couldn't get it rooted. But who knows? there could be a way out there.
Regards.

Wich LG v20 is better for root and custom rom?

Hi, want to buy a used LG v20 but i want to make sure it will be able to root it and custum it....
for now i buy a lgv20 only 50$ on ebay but it's locked and with US cellular... so i cant do nothing with it.... so i think i should buy another one... but wich one... this is the question...
i would like to have the root function, the FM function activated... the multi user activated... for now nothing of that is possible with the lgv 20 US cellular
thx
Someone posted on this forum recently that you CAN get OFFICIAL bootloader unlock from LG on US Cellular. Try it!
I have the same question. Is there a preferred model for the V20? I was thinking of getting an unlocked US996 model, primarily for audio/video use with no sim. I would, however, like it to work with AT&T as a backup to my iPhone. I know it uses the same nano-sim format. Of course I would like to root, etc as safely as possible. I haven't bought it yet, so advise is very welcome and appreciated.
I understand the US996 can get official bootloader unlock directly from LG.
rlw6534 said:
I have the same question. Is there a preferred model for the V20? I was thinking of getting an unlocked US996 model, primarily for audio/video use with no sim. I would, however, like it to work with AT&T as a backup to my iPhone. I know it uses the same nano-sim format. Of course I would like to root, etc as safely as possible. I haven't bought it yet, so advise is very welcome and appreciated.
I understand the US996 can get official bootloader unlock directly from LG.
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The unlocked US996 is by far the easiest to root and will work on AT&T, but you won't get VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling if those matter to you. Only the AT&T-branded H910 will have those working.
C D said:
The unlocked US996 is by far the easiest to root and will work on AT&T, but you won't get VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling if those matter to you. Only the AT&T-branded H910 will have those working.
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Thank you for responding!!!
Rooting is more important for me as I don't plan on using it as my primary phone anyway. Sound like US996 is the way to go if you like to play with custom ROMs, etc.

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