Database Users

Flashing international Firmware

Hello everyone,
yesterday, a family member gifted me an s7 from the USA (SM-G930P). He bought the phone off SPRINT as a SPRINT unlocked version, and, of course, because I live in Europe and want to use the phone with a European SIM card I have the "hands free activation" mark that is sitting on the top left edge of the display. I also noticed some changes, for example the "mobile data" toggle is nowhere to be found and also I don't have the options to choose the network mode (2G/3G/4G). I love the phone and I also would like to keep using it, I only need some answers from you guys.
My first question is, if the phone will actually let me use 4G network with my European SIM card, or will I be limited to 3G?
My second question is, If I can flash an international firmware for another carrier and another country on the phone, and if so, will I have the advantages of that firmware, like the Mobile Data Toggle??
Thank you very much for your answers.

If you install the 'Network' app you might be able to change the network type.
In general you should be able to use an unlocked P variant with a foreign SIM but you may have to activate with a Sprint SIM first.
You can't flash the international version since it's Exynos and the P version is Qualcomm CPU.
I am not sure if this model has Samsung region lock which is another thing to consider.
If I was you I would try to flash the U firmware (US unlocked) as it has the most support for international 4G bands among the Qualcomm US models. It also doesn't have all of the Sprint bloatware on it.

myphone12345 said:
If you install the 'Network' app you might be able to change the network type.
In general you should be able to use an unlocked P variant with a foreign SIM but you may have to activate with a Sprint SIM first.
You can't flash the international version since it's Exynos and the P version is Qualcomm CPU.
I am not sure if this model has Samsung region lock which is another thing to consider.
If I was you I would try to flash the U firmware (US unlocked) as it has the most support for international 4G bands among the Qualcomm US models. It also doesn't have all of the Sprint bloatware on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I am currently using the European Sim from my carrier and I have no problems with it. I managed to get rid of the Bloatware by using Package Disabler Pro, but it still sits there somewhere on my phone. So far, the phone is working very well and other than the bloat sitting on my memory and the lack of LTE, I have no complaints.
Can you tell me if someone has tried to flash the U firmware on a P model with success?

KingFoltest said:
Thank you for your reply. I am currently using the European Sim from my carrier and I have no problems with it. I managed to get rid of the Bloatware by using Package Disabler Pro, but it still sits there somewhere on my phone. So far, the phone is working very well and other than the bloat sitting on my memory and the lack of LTE, I have no complaints.
Can you tell me if someone has tried to flash the U firmware on a P model with success?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone was 930p now it's using 930U it runs significantly better on the 930U variant

vegoja said:
My phone was 930p now it's using 930U it runs significantly better on the 930U variant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you tell me how you did it, or link me a guide??

I had bought an unlocked Sprint galaxy S7 (930P) off ebay which died on me. Got it repaired from the service center and they sent me a locked device instead. The phone is currently on Software Version - G930PVPS4BQC1 and the hardware revision is Rev 0.6. I'll be using the phone in India and have a few questions.
1. I need to get this SIM unlocked from a service online. Does anyone know of a reliable place to do so?
2. If I flash the U Rom on it after unlocking it, will I lose the unlock? (I don't mind downgrading from Nougat to Marshmallow)
3. Should I unlock first then flash the ROM or flash the ROM first and then try to get it unlocked?
4. Will flashing the ROM directly unlock the phone itself?
Please advise.

...
you could try gsm zambia to unlock your phone it works i tried it myself a few days ago, also after my phone got unlocked i flash the U firmware/rom and the unlocked remained. so you should unlock your device first then flash the U firmware :good:
PS. if you one nougat better to downgrade if you can do marshmallow so when you wont have any issues flashing to U firmware. :cool
2kool2btrue said:
I had bought an unlocked Sprint galaxy S7 (930P) off ebay which died on me. Got it repaired from the service center and they sent me a locked device instead. The phone is currently on Software Version - G930PVPS4BQC1 and the hardware revision is Rev 0.6. I'll be using the phone in India and have a few questions.
1. I need to get this SIM unlocked from a service online. Does anyone know of a reliable place to do so?
2. If I flash the U Rom on it after unlocking it, will I lose the unlock? (I don't mind downgrading from Nougat to Marshmallow)
3. Should I unlock first then flash the ROM or flash the ROM first and then try to get it unlocked?
4. Will flashing the ROM directly unlock the phone itself?
Please advise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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?

Newbie question. Installing Oreo on S8

I'm completely new to the Android OS and have a question.
I purchased a used Galaxy S8 SM-950U (Unlocked with AT&T branding on load) with Android Version 7.0.
How would I go about updating it to Android Version 8.0 in terms of getting the correct files? I probably can't use, for example, the Verizon Oreo version for this phone which looks to be AT&T branded, so would I go on AT&T's website to get the correct files or how does that usually work?

pitrofilta said:
I'm completely new to the Android OS and have a question.
I purchased a used Galaxy S8 SM-950U (Unlocked with AT&T branding on load) with Android Version 7.0.
How would I go about updating it to Android Version 8.0 in terms of getting the correct files? I probably can't use, for example, the Verizon Oreo version for this phone which looks to be AT&T branded, so would I go on AT&T's website to get the correct files or how does that usually work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its unlocked you can use any US firmware you want yes it will just have that carriers apps I dont know the exacts but its not to bad
keep in mind if you are looking to root you have to stay on 7.0 revision 2 bootloader or less any thing 3 or higher which is 8.0 we cannot root

TheMadScientist said:
If its unlocked you can use any US firmware you want yes it will just have that carriers apps I dont know the exacts but its not to bad
keep in mind if you are looking to root you have to stay on 7.0 revision 2 bootloader or less any thing 3 or higher which is 8.0 we cannot root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer. So it sounds like I could even go with a non carrier branded version straight from Samsung without bloatware (if there is such a thing?)
Good point on the root. As far as I have read the bootloader is different from the OS, so would it be possible to root it with a 7.0 bootloader and install a newer OS (8.0 or 9.0). Or do these always go hand in hand?

pitrofilta said:
Thank you for your answer. So it sounds like I could even go with a non carrier branded version straight from Samsung without bloatware (if there is such a thing?)
Good point on the root. As far as I have read the bootloader is different from the OS, so would it be possible to root it with a 7.0 bootloader and install a newer OS (8.0 or 9.0). Or do these always go hand in hand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hand in hand kinda
7.0 bootloaders dont work for 8.0
you can i think use comsy odin and install the 950u1 bootloader 2 firmware which is unbranded to maintain it

TheMadScientist said:
hand in hand kinda
7.0 bootloaders dont work for 8.0
you can i think use comsy odin and install the 950u1 bootloader 2 firmware which is unbranded to maintain it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great info, thanks!

SM-G975U (T-Mobile Galaxy S10+) Rooting, etc

It's been so long since I last rooted my phones, maybe 6 or 7 years now... I don't even know where to start. Is TWRP still the go-to method for rooting these Android devices?
I couldn't find anything specifically for the T-Mobile variants, dunno if that's been done yet.
Thanks,
Nick

Your bootloader is locked and cannot be unlocked. No root or TWRP available.

StoneyJSG said:
Your bootloader is locked and cannot be unlocked. No root or TWRP available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks

No problem!

Is this device always going to have a locked bootloader? Flashing an unlocked firmware wouldn't change anything? Im new to samsung and have been out of the rom game a long time.

PunkUnity said:
Is this device always going to have a locked bootloader? Flashing an unlocked firmware wouldn't change anything? Im new to samsung and have been out of the rom game a long time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These devices will always be locked down. The last U.S. Samsung phone to get root was the S9, the S10 line are locked up tight. Flashing unlocked firmware just makes your phone carrier free so you can use it with any carrier, it doesn't unlock the bootloader.

What phones are best for modding these days then? Just came from a Pixel 4 XL and it had a locked bootloader plus tons of hardware issues that ended in me getting this phone

I would say a One Plus phone is probably the most versatile as far as modding goes these days. You could also get an exynos S10 variant which can be rooted and custom recovery installed.

OP7T PRO McLaren Edition 5G T-Mobile - get rid of T-Mobile stuff/flash international/other solution

Guys,
I have read the whole forum and my understanding is:
My phone is Model HD1925, purchased in B&H.
- there was no option to flash international / stock non t-mobile firmware in 2021 at least. Is it possible to do now?
- if flash international/non t-mobile firmware/rom is not possible, is it a way or need top get rid off from T-Mobile soft ?
- is it another custom ROM which can be installed?
There are several sites, I have found which provide an instructions to flash international firmware, but this is really opposite to xda forum and makes me suspicious.
The phone will be given to a kid, so I prefer to clean it up from unneeded SW and also keep it up to date due to security reasons.
I'm not living in USA and not care about 5G.
The phone is SIM unlocked and bootloader unlocked using OnePlus .bin file.
Current version is 11, April 1, 2022 Update.
Really appreciate your help.

Hey, there. I'm sorry to tell you that you can't do that, because the hardware of 1+7tpro International Edition is very different from that of McLaren special edition. Before your release, I have tried to use the 9008 after-sales firmware of Chinese Version (hd1910) to brush into this phone, but unfortunately, this phone can't work, and even entered Qualcomm's crash mode. My suggestion is to use ADB to freeze all programs related to T-Mobile, so, You can enjoy 5g and later OTA updates.

Tsukinoruka! said:
Hey, there. I'm sorry to tell you that you can't do that, because the hardware of 1+7tpro International Edition is very different from that of McLaren special edition. Before your release, I have tried to use the 9008 after-sales firmware of Chinese Version (hd1910) to brush into this phone, but unfortunately, this phone can't work, and even entered Qualcomm's crash mode. My suggestion is to use ADB to freeze all programs related to T-Mobile, so, You can enjoy 5g and later OTA updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have hd 1925 device and wand to install global version from t mobile version... Can i do it plz help me

Hai i have
OP7T PRO McLaren Edition 5G T-Mobile and want to install global version from t mobile version... Kindly help me​

sbw17 said:
Guys,
I have read the whole forum and my understanding is:
My phone is Model HD1925, purchased in B&H.
- there was no option to flash international / stock non t-mobile firmware in 2021 at least. Is it possible to do now?
- if flash international/non t-mobile firmware/rom is not possible, is it a way or need top get rid off from T-Mobile soft ?
- is it another custom ROM which can be installed?
There are several sites, I have found which provide an instructions to flash international firmware, but this is really opposite to xda forum and makes me suspicious.
The phone will be given to a kid, so I prefer to clean it up from unneeded SW and also keep it up to date due to security reasons.
I'm not living in USA and not care about 5G.
The phone is SIM unlocked and bootloader unlocked using OnePlus .bin file.
Current version is 11, April 1, 2022 Update.
Really appreciate your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Where from you got bootloader unlock.bin file???

Manan Bhutta said:
Where from you got bootloader unlock.bin file???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OnePlus

Tell me how

here you go
https://www.oneplus.com/support/answer/detail/op588
OnePlus replies after 7 days.

sbw17 said:
here you go
https://www.oneplus.com/support/answer/detail/op588
OnePlus replies after 7 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If we will try to unlock bootloader without tocken then what will happened???. There will show error or mobile will go stuck or brick???

Manan Bhutta said:
If we will try to unlock bootloader without tocken then what will happened???. There will show error or mobile will go stuck or brick???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And also guid me that if we will unlock bootloader, then after this can we relock it or not???