Hello Community!!
I have owned many androids over the years, and have recently got an S6, hoping to dive back into the game of rooting, modding and messing around until my phones works the way i want it to. There are MANY things that really Piss me off about my T-MObile variant of the S6, including the horrible battery life, bloatware, and lack of personality. I Really would love to root my device, but KNOX. OMG what is this?! If i Root, no Samsung pay? What other downsides are there to rooting? But recently, my phone installed "ANdroid Pay" SO I am thinking, I should just root, forget Samsung pay and just use Google pay or whatever they call it.
As you guys can tell from my sig, I have been very inactive on these forums. I am hoping someone can give me some advice here---
Thanks So much
EMilio
beforedenied said:
Hello Community!!
I have owned many androids over the years, and have recently got an S6, hoping to dive back into the game of rooting, modding and messing around until my phones works the way i want it to. There are MANY things that really Piss me off about my T-MObile variant of the S6, including the horrible battery life, bloatware, and lack of personality. I Really would love to root my device, but KNOX. OMG what is this?! If i Root, no Samsung pay? What other downsides are there to rooting? But recently, my phone installed "ANdroid Pay" SO I am thinking, I should just root, forget Samsung pay and just use Google pay or whatever they call it.
As you guys can tell from my sig, I have been very inactive on these forums. I am hoping someone can give me some advice here---
Thanks So much
EMilio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are pros and cons to root.
The first pro is limitless customizations and personalizations.
The first con is OTA updates get disabled.
Another pro is you are able to dramatically improve battery and overall performance using various apps.
Another con is your warranty will be void, assuming you tripped KNOX.
If you trip KNOX, Samsung Pay no longer works; if you have root (even without touching KNOX) Android Pay does not work.
I obtained root just to prove to myself it could be done.
Since then there have been dramatic improvements with speed and battery life.
Package Disabler Pro can freeze a lot of the bloatware without root: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro&hl=en
Hi,
It's a highly personal decision. I myself for the first time am holding on rooting - I was the one who made the most famous Xoom rooting tool and also S4 Linux Root Script, so that tells a lot. The thing is, meanwhile my device is satisfying my needs, and I'm really curious about Samsung Pay, as it has a way wider support than Android Pay and other systems.
The best thing about rooting in my opinion was the endless system customization - specially after Xposed was released. The way better data management I had, better system control and some exclusive apps that require root or works better with root. If you are really pissed about Samsung TouchWiz apps and system "features", rooting would be a nice idea. Just keep in mind that after rooting Knox will be tripped and there's no turning back with Knox. Depending on your country, Knox trip also means warranty void, because once rooted you can unroot and make it looks like nothing happened.
Just adding what was already said, but Android Pay doesn't work with root.
All the best,
~Lord
Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
XxLordxX said:
Hi,
It's a highly personal decision. I myself for the first time am holding on rooting - I was the one who made the most famous Xoom rooting tool and also S4 Linux Root Script, so that tells a lot. The thing is, meanwhile my device is satisfying my needs, and I'm really curious about Samsung Pay, as it has a way wider support than Android Pay and other systems.
The best thing about rooting in my opinion was the endless system customization - specially after Xposed was released. The way better data management I had, better system control and some exclusive apps that require root or works better with root. If you are really pissed about Samsung TouchWiz apps and system "features", rooting would be a nice idea. Just keep in mind that after rooting Knox will be tripped and there's no turning back with Knox. Depending on your country, Knox trip also means warranty void, because once rooted you can unroot and make it looks like nothing happened.
Just adding what was already said, but Android Pay doesn't work with root.
All the best,
~Lord
Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting doesn't allways mean tripped knox. I have my G920F rooted and knox intact. This can be done even after updrade to 5.1.1 stok firmware.
An android phone for me is worthless without root permissions. I need it for:
adaway adds
iptables (firewall)
better battery life (debloat)
titanium backup
JuanRamiro said:
Rooting doesn't allways mean tripped knox. I have my G920F rooted and knox intact. This can be done even after updrade to 5.1.1 stok firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was only aware of root that can be applied before upgrade to 5.1.1.
Can you advise how you applied root after 5.1.1? Thanks.
Iceman_jkh said:
I was only aware of root that can be applied before upgrade to 5.1.1.
Can you advise how you applied root after 5.1.1? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just install de 5.0.2 engineering bootloader via ODIN. Then instal TRWP via ODIN.
After this two steps you can flash whatever you want via TRWP.
Edit: with the 5.0.2 bootloader you will loose fingerprint scanner, the rest works great, at least with the custom rom I am using.
JuanRamiro said:
Just install de 5.0.2 engineering bootloader via ODIN. Then instal TRWP via ODIN.
After this two steps you can flash whatever you want via TRWP.
Edit: with the 5.0.2 bootloader you will loose fingerprint scanner, the rest works great, at least with the custom rom I am using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep in mind this engineering bootloader does not work with all variants. For example there is no Eng Bootloader for the Canadian phones.
Thank you both. I have the international SM-G920F (technically it's the dual Sim version, SM-G920FD, (from United Arab Emirates)).
So, to confirm, would the eng boot loader still work on my device variant, and allow root without tripping KNOX?
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Iceman_jkh said:
Thank you both. I have the international SM-G920F (technically it's the dual Sim version, SM-G920FD, (from United Arab Emirates)).
So, to confirm, would the eng boot loader still work on my device variant, and allow root without tripping KNOX?
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the single sim version of the G920F, so I don't know if it will work with the dual sim.
I don't think that it will strip you knox...
... and I think that if your phone doesn't work with this bootloader, you can just flash the correct one and make it work again.
But these are just guesses... you decide if you want to take the risk.
Good luck.
JuanRamiro said:
I have the single sim version of the G920F, so I don't know if it will work with the dual sim.
I don't think that it will strip you knox...
... and I think that if your phone doesn't work with this bootloader, you can just flash the correct one and make it work again.
But these are just guesses... you decide if you want to take the risk.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I did some additional research, thanks to your advice about eng boot loader, and seems like it will work ☺
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
JuanRamiro said:
I have the single sim version of the G920F, so I don't know if it will work with the dual sim.
I don't think that it will strip you knox...
... and I think that if your phone doesn't work with this bootloader, you can just flash the correct one and make it work again.
But these are just guesses... you decide if you want to take the risk.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I wouldn't risk that "you can just flash the correct one and make it work again". If you know how a bootloader work, if it gets broken there is no way to get to Download Mode and flash a new firmware/bootloader.
For information sake, a bootloader is a piece of software that is the first thing loaded when you boot your device, it comes before anything, be it kernel, be it recovery or anything else, that means, if you have a broken bootloader, the moment you try to boot your device up, it will try loading BL and it will fail, so it will shut down back again. I've had a broken BL once before on S4, the only way to recover was a direct flash of software in system chip using a tool called JTAG.
So, all I can say to users who still didn't get it: beware with this. It seems that many people are getting successful results, but it's an extremely risk procedure, make sure you read every single instruction and follow it, the possibility of a hard brick is high.
Even still, it's a great find, thanks for sharing with me, I didn't know of this until early today .
All the best,
~Lord
I wonder whether Samsung pay will work again after reflash stock rom after root? Is it like knox, once rooted you will never have it no mater what you do including going back to pure stock?
XxLordxX said:
Depending on your country, Knox trip also means warranty void, because once rooted you can unroot and make it looks like nothing happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you mean, once rooted we can unroot and install the stock firmware and hence tripped Knox will be restored as well?
Or the unrooting will only help to restore the stock but the knox will continue to remain tripped. I would like to know this as I am considering purchasing S6. The last samsung phone I owned was S2 and used that for 3 full years with out any problems.
Thanks.
coolmalayalee said:
Did you mean, once rooted we can unroot and install the stock firmware and hence tripped Knox will be restored as well?
Or the unrooting will only help to restore the stock but the knox will continue to remain tripped. I would like to know this as I am considering purchasing S6. The last samsung phone I owned was S2 and used that for 3 full years with out any problems.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once Knox is tripped its tripped but, yes you can flash original firmware and as long as you factory reset it, it will be unrooted and ready for official updates.
jetbruceli said:
Once Knox is tripped its tripped but, yes you can flash original firmware and as long as you factory reset it, it will be unrooted and ready for official updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. But can you be a bit more specific of if the unrooting, flashing stock, and factory resting will finally untrip the tripped Knox as well? My question in the event I need to take this back to a service center to claim warranty for whatever reason, is there any way for them to know that I have voided warranty if I unroot, flash back the stock and factory reset?
coolmalayalee said:
Thanks. But can you be a bit more specific of if the unrooting, flashing stock, and factory resting will finally untrip the tripped Knox as well? My question in the event I need to take this back to a service center to claim warranty for whatever reason, is there any way for them to know that I have voided warranty if I unroot, flash back the stock and factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once tripped there is no going back. Voided warranty depends on laws of your country and your retailers policy.
coolmalayalee said:
Thanks. But can you be a bit more specific of if the unrooting, flashing stock, and factory resting will finally untrip the tripped Knox as well? My question in the event I need to take this back to a service center to claim warranty for whatever reason, is there any way for them to know that I have voided warranty if I unroot, flash back the stock and factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YOU CAN NOT UNTRIP KNOX, you can reflash your firmware from Sammobile, http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SM-G920F/
use odin and then after you flash, go into recovery or use system settings and conduct a factory reset. It will say Official in the status but, since they will reflash your rom anyways, they will see the knox trip.
It depends on where you purschased your device whether or not they will warranty it with Knox tripped.
Honestly, anyone who roots should understand this information before hand. You should always know how to return to stock unroot.
Jameslwoodward said:
I wonder whether Samsung pay will work again after reflash stock rom after root? Is it like knox, once rooted you will never have it no mater what you do including going back to pure stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After rooting my 5.1.1 without tripping Knox, with the 5.0.2 engineering bootloader (as as described a few posts ago) I have flashed a stok rom with odin and then everything went back as it was before the rooting procedure.
1. I was on stok oficial rom with oficial bootloader.
2. I lost root.
3. Knox was still intact: 0.
4. Fingerprint scanner and MyKnox worked again.
So: after upgrade to 5.1.1, rooting with the 5.0.2 engineering bootloader seems to be safe and also easy to bo back to stock... at least for my model (G920F)
Quick story: bought used phone on craigslist with good esn, brought it home, (DID NOT do my research about samsung account lock beforehand)...did a factory reset, previous owner does not have samsung account information to give me., and won't take back the phone. I've been messing with it for 2 days and about ready to sell it on ebay or buy a used motherboard....
After the initial factory reset it booted to setup normally, after a few failed attempts at the samsung account lock username and password, it rebooted. Now the phone is stuck in a boot loop, it reboots after about 30 seconds, after just enough time to select a language in setup
I can get to download mode but it shows "reactivation lock: on" First tried clear cache partition, and a few times factory reset.
This was as a result of just a factory reset not flashing any firmware or anything.
This is phone model g920v (VZW) running 5.1.1 OG5
LMY47X.G20VVRU3OG5
I can boot to download mode and android system recovery just fine, and the phone will not reboot, but no matter how many times I have tried factory reset, reboot, wipe cache partition, etc, no change, still reboots after 30 seconds of setup.
I tried flashing G920VVRU3BOG5_G920VVZW3BOG5_G920VVRU3BOG5_HOME.tar.md5 with odin 3.10 (not successful with odin 3.09), odin 3.10 was successful, but no change, still stuck in boot loop. checked md5, tried again with same file downloaded from a different source...
Also tried messing around in sidesync, VZW software upgrade assistant, and even kies with no real luck. I am not concerned with root, but hesitant to flash anything other than the OG5 version that is on there now. Just want to get to the point where I can try some of the "samsung account bypass" tricks I have read about like here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s6/help/bypass-samsung-reactivation-lock-t3250282
Any details I left out? PLEASE ASK, I will happily clarify. I have searched the forum extensively and consulted google.
ANY INPUT VERY GREATLY APPRECIATED as to what steps I should try next. Thank you
Have you reached out to Samsung? Better yet can't the seller just remove the reactivation lock from his account? That should be the first thing the seller should have done prior to selling it. If he doesn't know his Samsung login info HE need to call them...very irresponsible on his part.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
The seller would need to figure out what his Samsung account is. otherwise it's basically a brick.
I appreciate the responses, however, I am not willing to give up yet. I believe if I can get past the reboot/boot loop issue, I can bypass the samsung account lock, as other people have confirmed on the g920v, in the link I posted above.
the seller told me that it was a phone he bought used, and it had the previous owner's samsung account info attached. The seller will not help me, and I do not have the email address or any way to contact the owner before him. Being craigslist, I do not have any leverage for a return to the seller, etc.
I have not tried contacting samsung.
I am planning to try to flash OG9 version next using odin. Then I will try to flash the newest version, OK7
After that I will try to update with kies. If that doesn't work I will try to take it to best buy samsung experience center and see if they can flash anything...
Are there any bootloaders/ custom recovery that I should consider looking into, anything that I may have missed? for 5.1.1? twrp?
Again, thanks for your help, any advice or links to relevant posts or info would be VERY greatly appreciated. Thank you!
From my understanding (while limited) no amount of flashing will remove the Reactivation lock. It's designed to be just that, a lock, that prevents someone who stole the phone from using it.
KIES does not work on the S6, you have to use SmartSwitch instead.
Samsung can't do anything for you.
Hey guys firstly i want to apologize if i'm on the wrong forum.
I have screwed up and i hope you guys could help.
I have a Samsung S6 that worked perfectly, but i wanted to sell it and buy an S7 and so i have done a "hard" factory reset by pushing Vol up, Home, Power buttons. Turns out i had to do a "soft" factory reset first.
Now when i tried to sell my phone with all parts and documents i have failed!
It turns out that the phone asks for my Samsung ID but obviously i can't remember an ID that i have created more than a year ago that was of no use to me!
I think i still have warranty but that is my last option for something like this, i have not rooted this device it runs on marshmallow.
What can i do to fix it myself?
I haven't tried flashing it with a stock rom simply because i fear that that will trigger KNOX, even though i'm desperate to fix this, i haven't crossed that border of despair.
Guys please help, i'm counting on your replies.
Thank you.
Flashing a stock rom that was made for your phone will NOT trigger knox. You can use samfirm and odin to do it
ankushkatari said:
Flashing a stock rom that was made for your phone will NOT trigger knox. You can use samfirm and odin to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply, do you mean from sammobile? Also i do not remember what version if marshmallow i was running, is there a way for me to figure it out now?
Okay i figured out what version of marshmallow i was running simply because i had put updates on automatic so it must be the last 6.0.1
However i do not know anything about samfirm i have used odin before on my s4 like 3 years ago, and i only used it to root my s4.
Could anyone please help me out?
Btw, if i successfully put a stock firmware on it throigh samfirm and odin, will it remove my email? Or is it omly worth a try?
Are you certain that it will not trigger knox?
Okay i tried flashing the same firmware unto my devicd but it seems that i can't flash anything because Reactivation Lock is enabled.
I didn't enable it (at least i don't remember) mayve the marshmallow update enabled Reactivation Lock?
I'm almost at the point of throwing my phone into a wall, it's getting close.
Did you figure it out. I'm in the same boat with my S6 edge
Suppose I have rooted my phone and my Knox gets tripped then what if I flash the brand new official firmware then will everything be normal?
Once knox is tripped it's gone forever
EugenStanis said:
Once knox is tripped it's gone forever
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if i flash a brand new official firmware?
__ashuuu.02 said:
What if i flash a brand new official firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Knox will be tripped like before, some functions may not work.
__ashuuu.02 said:
Suppose I have rooted my phone and my Knox gets tripped then what if I flash the brand new official firmware then will everything be normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a LSposed module supposedly for knox features, never tried it though.
I haven't tried it yet, either. https://github.com/BlackMesa123/KnoxPatch
No matter what, of course (for the OP), Knox will be permanently tripped, and there's no way to untrip it.
So, the KNOX status is stored in an "efuse" (electronic fuse), once tripped it cannot be reset, the only way to "fix it" is to replace the entire motherboard, not worth the cost.
You can of course put back a native/oficial firmware, most things will work, but anything that is using the KNOX flag will fail.
From what i remember this are a few of the things that will not work anymore :
- samsung health
- samsung payment
- secure folder
- possibly the dual account support (work/personal) won't work, never used it so not sure
If you don't use those then it's not an issue to have the flag.
You can also use an xpose/lsposed module to hide the knox status, but there's no guarantee that it works or that a firmware update won't make that module fail in the future.
Also, i had a banking app (from a romanian bank) that didn't work with tripped knox, but they did give an update that fixed it so as long as the phone was not rooted the bank app worked without issues (this was about 5-6 years ago on a Note 3)
If you really need to use an app that checks the Knox status, the easisest/cheapest would be to get a second hand phone (with the flag still intact) and sell this one, you'll loose some money but it will be cheaper than replacing the entire motherboard
verszipo said:
So, the KNOX status is stored in an "efuse" (electronic fuse), once tripped it cannot be reset, the only way to "fix it" is to replace the entire motherboard, not worth the cost.
You can of course put back a native/oficial firmware, most things will work, but anything that is using the KNOX flag will fail.
From what i remember this are a few of the things that will not work anymore :
- samsung health
- samsung payment
- secure folder
- possibly the dual account support (work/personal) won't work, never used it so not sure
If you don't use those then it's not an issue to have the flag.
You can also use an xpose/lsposed module to hide the knox status, but there's no guarantee that it works or that a firmware update won't make that module fail in the future.
Also, i had a banking app (from a romanian bank) that didn't work with tripped knox, but they did give an update that fixed it so as long as the phone was not rooted the bank app worked without issues (this was about 5-6 years ago on a Note 3)
If you really need to use an app that checks the Knox status, the easisest/cheapest would be to get a second hand phone (with the flag still intact) and sell this one, you'll loose some money but it will be cheaper than replacing the entire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you very much your reply helped me a lot you explained everything very well thank you
How to unlock BL, is there any way, US version