Database Users

[Q] OEM unlock on Note 4?

(my browser spazzed and I lost my last post if it shows up as a double ignore the other one!)
I'm new to Android and finding it confusing so thanks for the help so far!
I have a 910F Note 4 on Lollipop and want to root it to get rid of bloatware and possibly stop ads (if I can convince myself it's ethical) btu I *may* want to custom ROM it later.
So far your help and my reading have taught me this:
-- I can root using chainfire in order to get rid of bloat and block ads
-- If after rooting I later want a custom ROM or Xposed I'll need to get custom recovery in which case I'll be able to add CWM or TWRP later to my rooted phone
Assuming the above are true (if not please tell me!!) my question is this:
What on earth is oem unlock/bootloader unlock? In my reading I've come across people talking about this and it wiping the phone. I can't find an easy answer online. If I root +/- do CWM/TWRP will that automatically do OEM unlock or are they different things? Is bootloader unlock a different thing too? I'm confused! Will I need to root AND custom recovery AND oem unlock AND unlock bootloader?
Thanks in advance!!!

Some devices come with a locked bootloader, where you may be able to root the device via an exploit, but you can't change lower level software (ie kernel and/or recovery)... unless there is an unlock method for the bootloader.
The devices that do have a locked bootloader can be locked by the manufacturer, or by the carrier. That's the difference between the two. Either way the bootloader is still locked, only difference is who called for the locking.
For example, note 4 on tmobile does not have a locked bootloader, however, note 4 on at&t does. That decision was made by at&t, not Samsung. As far as I know, the at&t variant does not have a method for unlocking the bootloader yet so there's not much development for the device.
Compare to nexus devices, where Google automatically has the manufacturer lock the bootloader, but it being a development device, it's the easiest bootloader to unlock. It's literally a one line command in adb. HTC devices are locked but you can get an HTC dev code to unlock it from HTC.
I hope that makes sense. The best way to determine if your device has a locked bootloader is to visit the development forum or the general/Q&A forums for your device. If you have a locked bootloader and there is an unlock method, you only have to do it once (until you update or relock your bootloader). Some locked devices never get an unlock method. It designed to maintain the security and integrity of the device, but it also prevents user tampering.

Thank you for your thorough reply absinthesummer, very helpful.
However I'm still a little confused. My reading suggests to me that T-Mobile (910T) is *rootable* and the AT&T version (910S?) is not *rootable* but I'm in the UK and don't use these providers I use EE. And so I have the international variant of the Note 4 which is the 910F. I don't see a subforum or help for the UK EE version of the note 4 but as it's the 910F I assume that's the one I need to search for and not worry that EE will have put their own lock onto the 910F??
Now, because this happens to coincide with what you are saying has a locked bootloader or not, am I to assume that whether or not something is rootable is the same as whether or not it has an unlockable bootloader? i.e. is something only rootable or not because its bootloader is unlockable or not? If so therefore am I correct to assume that as the 910F which I have is rootable that it is also bootloadunlockable? And furthermore am I correct to assume that the very process of rooting itself unlocks the bootloader? Or perhaps in the case of the 910F it doesn't need to be so is even easier than Nexus devices? i.e. I just simply root and that in itself mean bootloader is already unlocked (and I am assuming that oem unlock is the same thing?)
I'm getting myself in a muddle I think!

Hehe it's totally cool, and yes your carrier could put a lock on it but that's incredibly rare in Europe due to frequent traveling between countries and the need to change Sims and carriers often... or at least that's what I've been told. The US carriers who lock their bootloaders are typically GSM carriers who do not expect you to need to root/carrier unlock/whatever. It's a control thing imo.
Anyway, your note 4 does not have a locked bootloader. If you check the development forum for your device you will see plenty of roms and guides and directions for rooting. That's usually a good indication that a device is unlocked (and those anticipating the release of new devices tend to get lock information prior to release, so they know which device they intend to buy).
Anyway, since you don't have a locked bootloader I wouldn't worry about it... that reminds me of a device I had for about a week, the LG L9. It had an oem bootloader lock but the international variant did not. We could root it & use a specially designed recovery with the bootloader locked but we couldn't flash a custom kernel (with a custom rom). They figured out that we could flash the international firmware and unlock that way, but it would make our display backwards (mirrored) and while that could be fixed, we would never be able to revert the boot screen. Now that's way too much trouble to go through just to unlock a bootloader and I did end up returning it and getting an s3 instead.
Bootloader locks are no fun, but they are not often placed on international devices for various reasons, so really I wouldn't worry about it too much.
If you get a device like a Google nexus, or an HTC that has a known locked bootloader, the bootloader and unlock method will be specifically mentioned in the routing guide. I hope that helps.
One more thing: rootability and locked bootloaders are not mutually exclusive, sometimes you can root devices with locked bootloaders and sometimes people will come up with ways around them (ie note 3 has safe strap recovery that runs parallel to stock recovery) to be able to use custom roms. However, if no exploit is found and there is no workaround, development will stall until one or both of those things is found. You may be able to root a device with a locked BL, but you may not be able to flash custom roms/kernels without a workaround. What I meant though is if you see a popular device with very little development, that's probably due to a locked bootloader and not having found a way around it yet. Most guides will explicitly mention the BL though if it's something you need to do

Yet another thoroughly helpful and detailed reply. Thank you very much indeed. You're a star!

All things root and Bootloader?

Hi Friends,
Hope you're all having a great new year. So last time I was lurking the S7E forums, we had a leaked Engineering Bootloader that was used to acquire root on all US Snapdragon models, albeit, with a lot performance issues and etc.
I came here to glance as well as all other variant forums for the SD model and now we have Root for every model, with even ROMs being baked like the Echo ROM for Verizon, Sprint, AT&T models, usually the toughest to achieve these things on. I'm trying to read through the forums, but I fear I'm missing the details, that will help me pull the trigger for getting the device or not.
Can one of you very experienced, knowledgeable, and kind members educate me on the latest?
1. Do we have unlocked Bootloader and Root for all US carrier S7Es? How is it done? I use people using Flashfire. So no TWRP?
2. Does this process still trip Knox and render Samsung Pay to never be used again on the device?
3. If I bought the Verizon variant, for example, can I root, unlock Bootloader, and etc, and then return to stock, to return to the store in case I don't like the phone?
4. Xposed Framework working for all models?
Much appreciate your responses, any and all of them in advance! Thanks!

1. No public unlocked Bootloader on any US variant. Flashfire works but no custom recovery
2. Right now with eng Kernel and custom(ish) roms like Echo don't trip Knox since it is still the U firmware of the s7
3. You can root and jump to roms like echo or other stockish roms and return to normal and return to store but no unlocked bootloader
4. Far as I know Xposed works on most if not all (I have mine on and Att variant running Echo) It is installed/Flashed via Flashfire and is a custom version.
Since we still need the leaked Eng Kernel we still have massive performance and battery lose. There are guides to alleviate these issues but its still not as good as stock. Even roms like echo require it for root. So remember that before you jump in

1. Do we have unlocked Bootloader and Root for all US carrier S7Es? How is it done? I use people using Flashfire. So no TWRP?
There is no bootloader unlock for the US carrier variants of the device as of yet, senior forums members are guessing there probably won't be, either. What is being done successfully is rooting via an engineering kernel. Visit the carrier-specific sub-forum for your S7E model to ensure you're using the appropriate method and files when flashing. Flashfire is being used after the fact, for things like xposed. There is no custom recovery option for any of the US models that I'm aware of.​2. Does this process still trip Knox and render Samsung Pay to never be used again on the device?
None of the outlined processes will trip Knox, as they don't modify or replace the bootloader. Samsung Pay should still work fine when rooted, as far as I've read.​3. If I bought the Verizon variant, for example, can I root, unlock Bootloader, and etc, and then return to stock, to return to the store in case I don't like the phone?
The Verizon variant has some of the better documentation and support for root, but AT&T and T-Mo carrier models can also be rooted. I'm currently running the firmware for the T-Mo variant on my AT&T model and loving it. I'm not rooted, as the engineering kernel is absolute crap in terms of performance/battery life balance, but it is a fluid stock experience w/out bloatware.​4. Xposed Framework working for all models?
As far as I know, yes.​

Unlock bootloader for S7 Edge?

So I really really want to learn more about how the bootloader works, how its locked, how others in the past have been unlocked and so on. The reason I want to know more is because the only way to install twrp from what I've heard is you need to unlock the bootloader. Can someone point me to the right direction? I want to know what coding language it uses too etc.!

Cannot root or unlock bootloader

I just bought Xperia X Compact in Japan, phone's carrier is NTT Docomo. (model SO-02J)
I tried *#*#7378423 , but it shows "bootloader unlock allow : NO"
then I tried ADB , but I cannot use commands like "su" , "root" . It shows : /system/bin/sh: su: not found :crying:
What can I do now to root this phone?
Or maybe I should buy a new phone that is global-version,simfree ?
I need help !

I think you cannot root without unlocking bootloader...
Maybe Kingroot...but I'm not sure...

Rikanotank1 said:
I just bought Xperia X Compact in Japan, phone's carrier is NTT Docomo. (model SO-02J)
I tried *#*#7378423 , but it shows "bootloader unlock allow : NO"
then I tried ADB , but I cannot use commands like "su" , "root" . It shows : /system/bin/sh: su: not found :crying:
What can I do now to root this phone?
Or maybe I should buy a new phone that is global-version,simfree ?
I need help !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can not do anything if the bootloader is not allowed to unlock.
No bootloader unlock, no root, custom recovery (twrp), roms, etc.
What does the OEM Unlock switch in developer options say? if there is one? greyd out maybe with some explanation below?
A possible solution is to look for the F5321 model of this phone (sim free international) as I can see in xperifirm that only 1 provider (NTT DoCoMo) is tied to the SO-02J and they are also well behind with updates.

Theoretically you can use exploits in the system to gain root, but for this you need a vulnerable stock firmware. You can flash an older firmware even with locked bootloader, as long as it is stock. But I would strongly advise against permanently downgrading to a vulnerable firmware, you might not be the only one to exploit it . On that firmware, you could install root software that does not touch the kernel, but the use is limited for customizations and also realize that the whole community here revolves around unlocked phones, so all guides etc. expect that.
Hope you still enjoy your phone or find somebody else who does Not everybody cares about root and custom ROMs, I suggest you resell. If you get another model, as suggested, buy a F5321. Even branded ones, bootloader is unlockable and you remove the branding with flashing another (stock or custom) ROM.

ypnos42 said:
Theoretically you can use exploits in the system to gain root, but for this you need a vulnerable stock firmware. You can flash an older firmware even with locked bootloader, as long as it is stock. But I would strongly advise against permanently downgrading to a vulnerable firmware, you might not be the only one to exploit it . On that firmware, you could install root software that does not touch the kernel, but the use is limited for customizations and also realize that the whole community here revolves around unlocked phones, so all guides etc. expect that.
Hope you still enjoy your phone or find somebody else who does Not everybody cares about root and custom ROMs, I suggest you resell. If you get another model, as suggested, buy a F5321. Even branded ones, bootloader is unlockable and you remove the branding with flashing another (stock or custom) ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much !

Rikanotank1 said:
Thanks very much !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you succeed?

Is any work being done to unlock of the American Snapdragon (SM-G955U) Variant?

Is any work being done to try to unlock the bootloader of the SM-G955U model? Just got the phone so I'm out of the loop and was wondering what the hold up is. Bought a simple mobile version and put my T-Mbile sim in it. Works great so it is definitely carrier unlocked, but the bootloader is locked which means I cannot install a custom recovery. Not very happy with Touchwiz...

abel408 said:
Is any work being done to try to unlock the bootloader of the SM-G955U model? Just got the phone so I'm out of the loop and was wondering what the hold up is. Bought a simple mobile version and put my T-Mbile sim in it. Works great so it is definitely carrier unlocked, but the bootloader is locked which means I cannot install a custom recovery. Not very happy with Touchwiz...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I no one's doing anything on that side of stuff, you can still get root and there is a custom rom out there by a user named Partcyborg, do not expect to see any aosp/lineageos roms out, there isn't events fully working one for the exynos version