I purchased the Galaxy s7 Unlocked USA (SM-g930u with AT&T). I quickly found out that the bootloader is locked down and you cannot do very much with it. I did root it, but didn't like it much. My girlfriend has a Galaxy s7 (SM-g930p with Virgin Mobile). She said she would swap me phones so i would be able to customize the device. Does anybody know if this is possible? I've read a couple of posts about swapping firmware, not sure if that is a route, since my bootloader is locked. I bought my sm-g930u 5 days ago from best buy so I can still return it if there is no way to swap phones, or numbers or anything.
What exactly are you trying to accomplish? All USA models have a locked bootloader, so even with the 930P you're still on a locked bootloader with just root access like your 930U.
You can use Odin to flash stock US firmwares from different providers, but nothing custom.
Beanvee7 said:
What exactly are you trying to accomplish? All USA models have a locked bootloader, so even with the 930P you're still on a locked bootloader with just root access like your 930U.
You can use Odin to flash stock US firmwares from different providers, but nothing custom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, so there are no USA Galaxy s7's that you can add custom recoveries and roms to? I thought I read on a forum that there were custom roms and recoveries for certain s7's.
Rickyloc said:
Wait, so there are no USA Galaxy s7's that you can add custom recoveries and roms to? I thought I read on a forum that there were custom roms and recoveries for certain s7's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, all US models are Snapdragon 820 SoC's with locked bootloaders, because only Qualcomm has the modem tech for US telephony networks.
There is the international model which has a thriving ROM and recovery development community, because they use Samsung's exynos CPU with an unlocked bootloader and not the Snapdragon.
There is also a Hong Kong snapdragon variant which they have gotten TWRP onto, but afaik no custom ROM support.
You can use the international model in America, but your ability to get mobile data may be spotty depending on what bands your provider offers and if exynos has them.
For reference here's the R&D thread for trying to unlock the US variants: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/how-to/discussion-unlock-bootloader-rd-t3582800
And here's the development forum for US variants (no ROMS, just root): https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...nels-recoveries--other-development-snapdragon
Rickyloc said:
Wait, so there are no USA Galaxy s7's that you can add custom recoveries and roms to? I thought I read on a forum that there were custom roms and recoveries for certain s7's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, all US snapdragon S7s are bootloader locked, there is root but that's about it, no custom ROMs / Recovery, you need international S7 for that (G930F etc) with Exynos CPU
Rickyloc said:
Wait, so there are no USA Galaxy s7's that you can add custom recoveries and roms to? I thought I read on a forum that there were custom roms and recoveries for certain s7's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or a Canadian 930W8 .....also Exynos
Related
Hey guys,
I am thinking to buy a Galaxy S6 At&t unlocked version from the local shop so there's no chance to go to the BestBuy to update the phone because they don't operate in my country and the same thing goes to Samsung, Samsung has a sales offices in my country, not the help centers. I want to know If I buy that phone, I can get the latest nougat update from At&t or If I flash the latest At&t ROM from the SamMobile, does this affect my unlocked phone? Like after flashing I can still use any carrier network?
Hope you got it what I'm trying to say.
Edit: is Smart Switch will help me to update to the latest firmware?
im 90% sure you can use any sim if its already unlocked on any other carriers firmware but i know some of the U.S variants are locked down to carrier specific
suburbadroid said:
im 90% sure you can use any sim if its already unlocked on any other carriers firmware but i know some of the U.S variants are locked down to carrier specific
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My friend owns the same phone and He can use any network sim but that was not the question. I want to know about the update, If I manually flash the firmware will it break the unlocked functionality as the model firmware are only specific for the network.
no it wont break it
suburbadroid said:
no it wont break it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks
Hello,
What is the difference, other than carrier bloatware, in a carrier-unlocked Galaxy S7 (G930[A,T,V...etc]) vs a factory unlocked S7 (G930U)? I am planning to buy a T-mobile S7 at full price and then get it unlocked by T-mobile customer rep because it is cheaper for me to do that than buy a factory unlocked version.
The following questions are what I have thought to ask so far:
Installing custom ROMs -- can I install custom ROMs for the G930U on the carrier-unlocked version?
Unlocking bootloader -- Can I unlock the bootloader for the carrier-unlocked version?
Factory Image -- If I just want to get rid of T-mobile bloatware but keep Samsung's factory image/ROM, can I install the factory image of the G930U on the carrier-unlocked version?
What other limitations are there, if any, between the 2 unlocked versions?
Thank you for all your feedback and time.
-James
You can't go custom or any other fun things with any US model S7 (Snapdragon)
You need the International S7 (G930F)
Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about getting the international but I heard it has poor reception with US carriers
jimmyStoo said:
Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about getting the international but I heard it has poor reception with US carriers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't help you with that one I'm afraid, hopefully people in the US using International S7s can reply
Maybe make a new thread titled:
"Anyone in the US using G930F?"
jimmyStoo said:
Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about getting the international but I heard it has poor reception with US carriers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a factory unlocked s7 and I'm using it on T-Mobile. I am having some issues though. I am not getting LTE in places where I had LTE with my S4. I also get 3G a lot when I am supposed to have LTE and no data goes through on 3G for some reason. Not sure if it is an issue with the model I have or if it is a common issue. The factory unlocked one has the bands for T-Mo USA though.
Also there is a thread about this in the tmobile specific galaxy s7 subforum https://forum.xda-developers.com/tmobile-galaxy-s7/help/using-sm-g930f-t-mobile-t3335753
I am looking to purchase this particular model for a couple of reasons. Please tell me if I am correct in my assumptions.
1. The phone is rootable?
I like the phone because it's supports both CDMA and GSM allowing me to travel anywhere in the world and be able to use most of the large local carriers.
It doesn't have any bloatware that can't be removed once rooted and I can customize it with custom roms and bootloaders that support SM-G955UZKAXAA.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
SDnewb said:
I am looking to purchase this particular model for a couple of reasons. Please tell me if I am correct in my assumptions.
1. The phone is rootable?
I like the phone because it's supports both CDMA and GSM allowing me to travel anywhere in the world and be able to use most of the large local carriers.
It doesn't have any bloatware that can't be removed once rooted and I can customize it with custom roms and bootloaders that support SM-G955UZKAXAA.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A quick search, or even just a scroll down the page would answer your question.
SDnewb said:
I am looking to purchase this particular model for a couple of reasons. Please tell me if I am correct in my assumptions.
1. The phone is rootable?
I like the phone because it's supports both CDMA and GSM allowing me to travel anywhere in the world and be able to use most of the large local carriers.
It doesn't have any bloatware that can't be removed once rooted and I can customize it with custom roms and bootloaders that support SM-G955UZKAXAA.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the exact model and it is NOT rootable because it has snapdragon processor.
TheBoozer said:
I have the exact model and it is NOT rootable because it has snapdragon processor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Snapdragon is rooted now.
me2151 said:
Snapdragon is rooted now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for correcting me, I was not aware of this development but just now found elliwigy post and thread. I will start reading!
Hello,
I live in France and I just bought from USA this phone : T-mobile - Galaxy S7 - SM-G930T- Android 6.0.1 - Baseband G930TUVU4APK1, to use with my european sim card.
Sorry many questions, I'm lost completely, between all the forums and different answers.
It seems even if I buy an unlock code it will not work, with T-mobile the only way to unlock is from the T-mobile device unlock app?
Do you think I can root it or flash a rom to remove all the T-mobile things and maybe I could unlock with a code?
If yes I can only install the roms of Sm-g930T I can find on sammobile website? (looks like only Tmobile firemware) or others for galaxy s7
Or what could I do to unlock my phone?
I'm looking on the forums and I tried to root it but didn't work with CFroot.
It seems more complicated with my usa version because from what I understand the bootloader is locked
Thanks a lot
jeanhemarre said:
Hello,
I live in France and I just bought from USA this phone : T-mobile - Galaxy S7 - SM-G930T- Android 6.0.1 - Baseband G930TUVU4APK1, to use with my european sim card.
Sorry many questions, I'm lost completely, between all the forums and different answers.
It seems even if I buy an unlock code it will not work, with T-mobile the only way to unlock is from the T-mobile device unlock app?
Do you think I can root it or flash a rom to remove all the T-mobile things and maybe I could unlock with a code?
If yes I can only install the roms of Sm-g930T I can find on sammobile website? (looks like only Tmobile firemware) or others for galaxy s7
Or what could I do to unlock my phone?
I'm looking on the forums and I tried to root it but didn't work with CFroot.
It seems more complicated with my usa version because from what I understand the bootloader is locked
Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install G930U firmware from sammobile it will still lock the SIM. I have done this with my G930T phone. T-Mobile got the patent of their SIM locking technology which they introduce in Qualcomm phone S7, S7E, S8 & S8+. It is completely different method from other carriers' locking method. Till now there is not unlocking method other than server unlock which cost you $150.
I was afraid about the server unlock, so expensive..
I was hoping if I put a firmware with nothing about Tmobile, and then maybe it will ask for a normal unlock code like on other phones and that is like 20or30$.
Thanks for your reply
What ROMs are good? Anything to watch out for when purchasing, like different carriers (Canada) that maybe don't have an unlockable bootloader or something silly like that I can avoid. Thanks all. I'd do more research but I need a phone early tomorrow morning.
Get the International Exynos S7 if you're after unlocked bootloader & custom ROMs
G930F / G930W8
All US models are BL locked (Snapdragon)
Bell, Telus, and Rogers carry the same model of the s7.
audit13 said:
Bell, Telus, and Rogers carry the same model of the s7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2 questions.
1. can you unlock the BL on the g930w8?
2. Can you then flash AOSP, custom roms just like you can on G930f?
I ask because my g930f got stolen and looking for a replacement.
Thanks.
munchy_cool said:
2 questions.
1. can you unlock the BL on the g930w8?
2. Can you then flash AOSP, custom roms just like you can on G930f?
I ask because my g930f got stolen and looking for a replacement.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the sm-g930w8 from Telus but haven't started using it yet. I won't be running non-Samsung firmware until the warranty ends.
From what I have seen on XDA, the bootloader should be unlockable since other XDA members are using TWRP on the phone. Here's the link to TWRP which doesn't distinguish between the 930f and 930w8: https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxys7.html
Another helpful link: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/development/recovery-official-twrp-herolte-t3333770