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How to root G930A with Oreo

I've never rooted my Galaxy S7 before, but looking at doing it now. I have the AT&T SM-G930A model. My phone just installed OTA Oreo. In my searching and reading here I have found several threads that discuss the rooting process for older versions, but not Oreo yet (on my model).
I realize that Oreo is newly released, so this process may not be available yet, but I was hoping to get more information. Can I root my G930A with Oreo installed?
I'm also hoping to get a more streamlined explanation of the rooting process. All the other threads I have read don't seem to really explain the process; they just say, "download this file, flash with odin". As I've not rooted before, I am hoping for a little bit more explanation of what the process is, like what the file to download is and how to flash it with odin.
It also seems to matter quite a bit of what versions of odin and TWRP etc are used. What versions would I want for this process?
Thank you!!

I'm trying to root my AT&T G930A as well with Oreo 8.0. Sadly the bootloader is locked and I can't find any info on processes for rooting.

The method for older versions was to flash an engineering bootloader to allow Odin flashing, it might still work with Oreo but having the wrong bootloader for your android version can have unwanted side effects.

Beanvee7 said:
The method for older versions was to flash an engineering bootloader to allow Odin flashing, it might still work with Oreo but having the wrong bootloader for your android version can have unwanted side effects.
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Click to collapse
Such as what unwanted side effects?

Battery only charges to 80%, app crashes, phone reboots, general instability. The engineering bootloader was for engineers to use for testing and whatnot, so it's not built for daily driver use.

Beanvee7 said:
Battery only charges to 80%, app crashes, phone reboots, general instability. The engineering bootloader was for engineers to use for testing and whatnot, so it's not built for daily driver use.
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Click to collapse
Ok, thank you.

Help with downgrade?

What i have: a brand new carrier unlocked samsung galaxy s7 sm-g930w8 - came with 7.0
What Id love to do: downgrade to 6.0.1 official touchwiz rom but rooted
What im reading: that the security patch is from february of 2018, which means the bootloader is too new, which means downgrading using odin wont work ( https://www.sammobile.com/forum/threads/36282-Does-Region-Matter )
... so what can i do? i bought this phone with the sole intention of downgrading, as ive seen that it is possible for that phone model (s7) in general
i hate the look of the newer OS. They took the touchwiz out of touchwiz which i loved, although mine is a rare opinion. I want the operation and exact feel of 6.0. the menus are simpler, the notifications area isnt completely stripped of features differing from total stock android. i hate having to pull down twice to see everything. I just really want that older look and feel, but all around, not just a theme.
is there anything i can do to either downgrade or fool the bootloader into letting me carry this out? is this a true limitation, or si that info i found false/old? and if I can downgrade, which build version should I use?
ive been looking here for versions
https://samsung-firmware.org/model/SM-G930W8/ but im not sure which region to go with, or if i can technically use any region
sammobile doesnt list that version anymore at all ( https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s7/SM-G930W8/ )
https://mobiletech360.co/samsung-galaxy-s7-sm-g930w8-stock-firmware-rom-android-6-0-1-marshmallow/ there are a number of options here but unsure of the different numbers/builds. or if since its carrier unlocked, i could pick any?
I know most will think im silly for wanting to downgrade or caring that much about appearance, but silliness aside... is this even possible??
a while ago, i purchased an s5 mini, and downgraded that with no issues at all.... but its honestly been so long and i cant for the life of me remember the steps i took or if i needed to care about region codes or other numbers. but it did sucessfully work.... it was really built unwell/cheap, but it did work.... its also slower than my captivate glide which is still my current phone, until/if i can get this s7 working the way i desire.
any help and guidance is appreciated. If it is needed, ill be using it with a Koodo mobile sim.

well it is too new if its from DRAG or so onwards (those with U2/S2 in the file name) so no dice, you're stuck with 7.0 unless you want to upgrade to oreo. (and 7.0 firmwares prior to DRAG cant be downgraded to either, not that theres much point doing that)
btw this is the wrong forum to post this in

teddytsen said:
well it is too new if its from DRAG or so onwards (those with U2/S2 in the file name) so no dice, you're stuck with 7.0 unless you want to upgrade to oreo. (and 7.0 firmwares prior to DRAG cant be downgraded to either, not that theres much point doing that)
btw this is the wrong forum to post this in
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But this is the forum about s7? I'm wanting to modify an s7?
Which part of the file name are you referring to? Which file?
I would have thought all s7's are made at the same time, and so released with the same overall software, but it all seems so complex now. I've seen s7's running 6.0.1 stock so in my mind it seems they should all be able to...
Not sure what you're referring to with drag either? Does that stand for something?
I'm really hoping this can work somehow, its the last flagship before the edge models which was why I got it, and I love Samsung software up until 7 and 8.
My mom has an s7 as well, not rooted or anything that's too complex for her, but she did the upgrade to 8 and it's still got all the same gross appearance factors that I don't like about version 7. I got excited when her phone wanted to upgrade, maybe they had fixed some of the grossness. But, nope. Wish they had included an option even for stock based or touchwiz based appearance and menus.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Pawprints1986 said:
But this is the forum about s7? I'm wanting to modify an s7?
Which part of the file name are you referring to? Which file?
I would have thought all s7's are made at the same time, and so released with the same overall software, but it all seems so complex now. I've seen s7's running 6.0.1 stock so in my mind it seems they should all be able to...
Not sure what you're referring to with drag either? Does that stand for something?
I'm really hoping this can work somehow, its the last flagship before the edge models which was why I got it, and I love Samsung software up until 7 and 8.
My mom has an s7 as well, not rooted or anything that's too complex for her, but she did the upgrade to 8 and it's still got all the same gross appearance factors that I don't like about version 7. I got excited when her phone wanted to upgrade, maybe they had fixed some of the grossness. But, nope. Wish they had included an option even for stock based or touchwiz based appearance and menus.
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Click to collapse
go into about phone and tell me the last 6 characters of your build number
(i was referring to the PDA file in a stock firmware zip)
(Also i meant this should be in Q&A section)

Hello,
I can understand you and also understand what you want but Samsung installed a downgrade lock in their bootloader in early 2018,
if you installed this version you can't go back to an older version, I think that was in February.
You can go back from a 6.2018 version to a 4.2018 version for example but not to a 1.2018 version!
If you have a version of for example 12.2017, you can also go back to a version of 2016, so you can also go back to Android 6.01,
if not you only have the last versions of Android 7 or update to Oreo.
I hope I could help.

teddytsen said:
go into about phone and tell me the last 6 characters of your build number
(i was referring to the PDA file in a stock firmware zip)
(Also i meant this should be in Q&A section)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the last of the build number and the last of the baseband version are the same. But i did take a screenshot of it when i was thinking rooting and changing would be no big thing. figured that would be easier. i purposely havent even hooked it up to wifi yet or anything, said no to anything non essential when i was setting it up... on the chance it was starting up in version 6, and i didnt want it upgrading on its own.
also why would they block downgrading? It seems if anything blocking upgrading would be the way to go, to stop people from updating their devices before official software is ready, not just samsung but any manufacturer. in my head it seems silly to even need to root anymore... someone always figures it out, and cell phone manufacturers must know it. it would be nice if it were included, sort of like developer options, where its hidden, but if you know what to look for its there, and if youre not that advanced youll never find it.
if the bootloader is in fact locked and that is the main prevention, has anyone ever successfully unlocked it before?
ETA: Ive done a bit more looking around and there is alot around about frp and making you sign in to a google account in order to reset.... i have *not* needed and havent signed into a google account on that device at all... does that mean a downgrade is still possible though odin? Or, are these 2 things in fact unrelated...
eta #2: Did a bit more searching around, and it seems to be that in order to root your device, in the process it must unlock the bootloader? If that is still the case, would i be able to then flash the marshmallow stock ROM? Thats what i was looking to do all along, sorry maybe i should have been more clear about my planned method initially. Its a bit more nerve wracking as it seems rooting itself has gotten a little more difficult with that dm verity thing... but I definitely want root no matter which version im running. Ive had root on all my devices and theres no way im going back to a locked down OS (cant remove microsoft stuff for example), i need to be able to declutter beyond what factory allows lol.

Pawprints1986 said:
the last of the build number and the last of the baseband version are the same. But i did take a screenshot of it when i was thinking rooting and changing would be no big thing. figured that would be easier. i purposely havent even hooked it up to wifi yet or anything, said no to anything non essential when i was setting it up... on the chance it was starting up in version 6, and i didnt want it upgrading on its own.
also why would they block downgrading? It seems if anything blocking upgrading would be the way to go, to stop people from updating their devices before official software is ready, not just samsung but any manufacturer. in my head it seems silly to even need to root anymore... someone always figures it out, and cell phone manufacturers must know it. it would be nice if it were included, sort of like developer options, where its hidden, but if you know what to look for its there, and if youre not that advanced youll never find it.
if the bootloader is in fact locked and that is the main prevention, has anyone ever successfully unlocked it before?
ETA: Ive done a bit more looking around and there is alot around about frp and making you sign in to a google account in order to reset.... i have *not* needed and havent signed into a google account on that device at all... does that mean a downgrade is still possible though odin? Or, are these 2 things in fact unrelated...
eta #2: Did a bit more searching around, and it seems to be that in order to root your device, in the process it must unlock the bootloader? If that is still the case, would i be able to then flash the marshmallow stock ROM? Thats what i was looking to do all along, sorry maybe i should have been more clear about my planned method initially. Its a bit more nerve wracking as it seems rooting itself has gotten a little more difficult with that dm verity thing... but I definitely want root no matter which version im running. Ive had root on all my devices and theres no way im going back to a locked down OS (cant remove microsoft stuff for example), i need to be able to declutter beyond what factory allows lol.
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Click to collapse
TL;DR
your bootloader is currently on version 3, and you cant downgrade to marshmallow
see that "U3BRB2"? that "U3" means your bootloader is on version 3. i assume the marshmallow firmwares use bootloaders pre-version 3 so you cant downgrade to firmwares using bootloaders with version 1 or 2. (this is how it works for F/FD models and im pretty sure samsung made it like that too for the W8 models)
eta 1) unrelated
eta 2) F/FD/W8/S/K/L variants (basically all the exynos models) have unlocked bootloaders. only SD variants have locked bootloaders so it's just your misconception

So, it's literally impossible? Has nobody ever figured out a way to downgrade or mod the bootloader itself? It seems to me the rom makers wouldn't stand for this at all and would figure out a way around it...
I can see an old bootloader can't run new software, but it seems much easier for newer bootloader to run older software, isn't it? You can buy a windows 7 pc and install Windows xp on it much easier than you could buy a windows XP PC and install Windows 7 on it... It's just boggling my mind a little
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Pawprints1986 said:
So, it's literally impossible? Has nobody ever figured out a way to downgrade or mod the bootloader itself? It seems to me the rom makers wouldn't stand for this at all and would figure out a way around it...
I can see an old bootloader can't run new software, but it seems much easier for newer bootloader to run older software, isn't it? You can buy a windows 7 pc and install Windows xp on it much easier than you could buy a windows XP PC and install Windows 7 on it... It's just boggling my mind a little
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
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Click to collapse
Off course you can downgrade to Marshmallow. To unlock the bootloader, enable OEM unlocking in devlopper options. After flash TWRP 3.1.0 for Herolte and wipe everything from the recovery. Install any 6.0 roms on XDA for G930F then flash Magisk 17.1 to root and you're done. You can't FRP if OEM unlocking in devlopper is enabled.

AoEKiller said:
Off course you can downgrade to Marshmallow. To unlock the bootloader, enable OEM unlocking in devlopper options. After flash TWRP 3.1.0 for Herolte and wipe everything from the recovery. Install any 6.0 roms on XDA for G930F then flash Magisk 17.1 to root and you're done. You can't FRP if OEM unlocking in devlopper is enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll trip knox (which breaks features like secure folder, private mode, shealth and Sbrowser private mode) and lose the comfort of OTA updates if you do this tho. Not to mention that you can encounter signal reception problems because your flashed ROM is on marshmallow and your bl/cp is on Oreo or nougat. So I wouldn't advise this method as it may break so many things.

marshmallow rom with nougat bootloader - vibration fix?

As many others have come across, i lost vibration after downgrading to marshmallow from nougat. The solution is said to upgrade back to nougat and then flash all 4 files for marshmallow with odin including bootloader. this is not possible due to sw rev check, even with root access and "phone bootloader update" checked in odin. i dont understand the purpose of an unlocked bootloader, if the phone it self is hardcore locked right up and wont let you change/downgrade the bootloader anyway... i dont do any banking or anything extreme on my phone, im not *that* worried about security and identity theft. frp lock is off already/still. purposely havent even played with screen locks yet until i hopefully get things the way i want
so im wondering now, if theres some sort of a patch or a fix for this issue, since flashing all 4 files is not possible. ive even tried making and md5 for bootloader with out sboot.bin. it still does it. failed instead at param.bin, so i tried another with literally just cm.bin in it. and that also triggered sw rev check.
has anyone figured out a fix for vibration, without saying screw it and staying on nougat or oreo? is there something i can rename to make sw rev check think its a version 3 bootloader when its actually a version 2?
I was thinking this method of using BL from nougat and AP from marshmallow was the same as making my own combination firmware. which does mostly work.... mostly.
i even thought about trying the superman rom for marshmallow but since it uses samsung official components like bootloader id probably run into the same issue.
anyone have any solutions?? besides custom roms (want that touchwiz look and feel. i know, call me crazy)

KG state prenormal after 7 days no reboots

I have an SM-A530F and had no issues flashing roms and TWRP. I eventually tried Saboor OneUI from and my phone got completely encrypted and would only allow official binaries to be flashed. I flashed Binary 7 (Pie) to my device and tried to flash TWRP but had come across the error and after researching realised I'd have to wait 7 days with the phone continuously booted up. I have waited 7 days with nothing changed. I'm now on my 25th day and still have a prenormal KG state. But in developer options my OEM states that it is already unlocked and I can switch the toggle. I cannot flash TWRP or magisk though.

The same thing happens to me and I used the chimera program and nothing works. 12 euros in the trash.
they have returned my money

almeria53 said:
The same thing happens to me and I used the chimera program and nothing works. 12 euros in the trash
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Click to collapse
I've tried multiple binaries and nothing. Bootloader says its unlocked and even with adb commands I get an unlocked status but the RMM/KG remains prenormal. I'm wondering if anyone can repack TWRP for jackpotlte so the device and Odin THINKS it's an official recovery binary?

Zefpoes23 said:
I've tried multiple binaries and nothing. Bootloader says its unlocked and even with adb commands I get an unlocked status but the RMM/KG remains prenormal. I'm wondering if anyone can repack TWRP for jackpotlte so the device and Odin THINKS it's an official recovery binary?
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Click to collapse
i see you started another thread about this, so take my previous reply in that thread with a grain of salt. I still dont think its the TWRP file thats the culprit. Try reflashing stock firmware and do the 168 hour method again.

almeria53 said:
The same thing happens to me and I used the chimera program and nothing works. 12 euros in the trash.
they have returned my money
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Click to collapse
youdoofus said:
i see you started another thread about this, so take my previous reply in that thread with a grain of salt. I still dont think its the TWRP file thats the culprit. Try reflashing stock firmware and do the 168 hour method again.
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Click to collapse
I know TWRP isn't the culprit. But because of my predicament having waited well over 168 hours without a reboot (oem unlock toggle is available but still shows KG/RMM prenormal) I'm wondering if anyone can change TWRP to make the device think its an official recovery. That way I could flash it with a prenormal state as I can flash stock recovery no problem. If the device thought TWRP was official then that way I could still root and flash zip roms with a locked KG. I hope I'm making sense?

Zefpoes23 said:
I know TWRP isn't the culprit. But because of my predicament having waited well over 168 hours without a reboot (oem unlock toggle is available but still shows KG/RMM prenormal) I'm wondering if anyone can change TWRP to make the device think its an official recovery. That way I could flash it with a prenormal state as I can flash stock recovery no problem. If the device thought TWRP was official then that way I could still root and flash zip roms with a locked KG. I hope I'm making sense?
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Click to collapse
youre not going to get the phone to think that TWRP is official. If that was possible, we would all have root and without so much as unlocking the bootloader for that matter

manifesto- posted on another thread-sorry for the dupe
A bit of history gives a bit more depth/ Just when you thought it was okay to go back in the water. I'm Canadian you can probably tell by my accent. My journey with phones has always been Samsung simply due to availability s6 s7 s8 s8+ most recently the a530w.
In order for you to understand my joy finding the A8 and my horror is that the S8 series. in North America S8 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. g950u is SD g950f is the rest of the world (exnyos) This is probably due to some kind of World Trade Organization antitrust treaty {although qualcom makes great chips} or whatnot I don't care.
i do care about is their bootloader lock policy (g950u and up) so it is impossible to unlock an encrypted Snapdragon bootloader. When I ran into the a530w exnyos, I was like a three-year-old at Christmas now you have to understand I'm not a coder I'm more of a mason I'm familiar with bricks. I'm sure we've all watch the AP file upload and Odin like we watch paint dry. So when I first got the a530w pi version April patch I was able to TWRP install I believe at the time was Pixel project or something else added magisk, xposed you get the idea.
Eventually a file got corrupt (much like @Zefpoes23) and I had to common sense restock it. I think my mistake what is going with the most current pie version (hadn't read this thread yet from @corsicanu) which is binary 7 knowing what I know now I would have probably had the ability to go a binary 4 or so. I haven't done the 7 day challenge simply not to waste my sanity. my bootloader unlock never vanished, it like it's a light switch with no bulb. I've tried to backdated front dated. I refuse to wait 7 days to find out that I'm still at the same place. . The problem is all the fixes are zip files which you need TWRP to flash. I agree, it's not @BlackMesa123 version. it's the prenormal. No I'm certainly not a developer and some of them are mobile gods. My questions maybe Elementary logical. Is it possible to replace a recovery image in a stock AP and Odin flash it? Repack. Also is there any way to combo a stockfirm in order to downgrade from the B7. Alter it somehow so it's thinks it's a 7 but it's actually a 4 of some sort. think we're all about to become in the same boat. we could start a movement lie "#meprenormal2" In Time will tell. As or now "prenormal" is the new "normal" All I can to the devs: help me odin 3 canmodme. your my only hope

i have no idea what youre on about for half of this post, so ill chime in with what i could decipher and know the answer to
jthibault27 said:
Is it possible to replace a recovery image in a stock AP and Odin flash it? Repack. Also is there any way to combo a stockfirm in order to downgrade from the B7. Alter it somehow so it's thinks it's a 7 but it's actually a 4 of some sort.
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Click to collapse
nope, sorry man. you cant go backwards in bootloader revisions. if you have B7, youre stuck with revision 7
jthibault27 said:
I refuse to wait 7 days to find out that I'm still at the same place.
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you wont have much say in this refusal as the 168 hour thing is quite normal. Every A8 owner ive seen come into these forums has had to do the 168 hour thing.

Youdoofus said:
i have no idea what youre on about for half of this post, so ill chime in with what i could decipher and know the answer to
nope, sorry man. you cant go backwards in bootloader revisions. if you have B7, youre stuck with revision 7
you wont have much say in this refusal as the 168 hour thing is quite normal. Every A8 owner ive seen come into these forums has had to do the 168 hour thing.
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Click to collapse
If I'm violating XDA rules please let me know. You are obviously higher up on the rank that I am. Since my post on November 10th my findings on other threads have led me to believe that this is not just an A8 problem but an entire Samsung Fleet. A summer security patch upgraded knox guard to disable any attempts to flash TWRP. If you are lucky enough to get through that stay on it. My bootloader is like a light switch I can on and off it at anytime. 168 hours is a solution for an old problem that I don't have. I'm in permanent prenormal state with the sole ability to only flash official stock firmware and in one direction v7 or higher.. Which is what Samsung wants. i'm on V7, security patch July 1st 2019. I cannot flash anything else through Odin 13.3.1. I'm simply voicing the fact 168 hours fix is to have the ability to unlock the bootloader. I have the bootloader unlocked. My kg is tripped and I believe my fix will come in Time through a modified Odin or combo firmware emerges. i will also recluse myself from posting on this thread and open my own
---------- Post added at 19:35 ---------- Previous post was at 19:20 ----------
Youdoofus said:
i have no idea what youre on about for half of this post, so ill chime in with what i could decipher and know the answer to
nope, sorry man. you cant go backwards in bootloader revisions. if you have B7, youre stuck with revision 7
you wont have much say in this refusal as the 168 hour thing is quite normal. Every A8 owner ive seen come into these forums has had to do the 168 hour thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And to clarify what I meant as to replace the recovery file in the AP stock firmware specifically unpacking the lz4 format using 7-Zip 19 ZS v144, replacing the recovery image with the TWRP Recovery image and repacking it (the AP) and flashing it hoping the phone with think it's official. I've consulted a developer who tried it several times without any luck since he shares the same problem on a50.

jthibault27 said:
If I'm violating XDA rules please let me know. You are obviously higher up on the rank that I am. Since my post on November 10th my findings on other threads have led me to believe that this is not just an A8 problem but an entire Samsung Fleet. A summer security patch upgraded knox guard to disable any attempts to flash TWRP. If you are lucky enough to get through that stay on it. My bootloader is like a light switch I can on and off it at anytime. 168 hours is a solution for an old problem that I don't have. I'm in permanent prenormal state with the sole ability to only flash official stock firmware and in one direction v7 or higher.. Which is what Samsung wants. i'm on V7, security patch July 1st 2019. I cannot flash anything else through Odin 13.3.1. I'm simply voicing the fact 168 hours fix is to have the ability to unlock the bootloader. I have the bootloader unlocked. My kg is tripped and I believe my fix will come in Time through a modified Odin or combo firmware emerges. i will also recluse myself from posting on this thread and open my own
---------- Post added at 19:35 ---------- Previous post was at 19:20 ----------
And to clarify what I meant as to replace the recovery file in the AP stock firmware specifically unpacking the lz4 format using 7-Zip 19 ZS v144, replacing the recovery image with the TWRP Recovery image and repacking it (the AP) and flashing it hoping the phone with think it's official. I've consulted a developer who tried it several times without any luck since he shares the same problem on a50.
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Click to collapse
naw man, youre good. i had an A8 for about a year and now the older kiddo has it and it seems to be working well as i havent heard any complaints as of yet.
I, by no means, am an expert on this device and i admittedly have not kept current on the 168 hour fix no longer being relevant.
There is a fellow who had this forum on point about a year ago, cant recall his alias. Ill tag him if i can find him. Hopefully he has kept current on this device more than I.

@mchlbenner if you have a moment, could you lend a hand?

Youdoofus said:
naw man, youre good. i had an A8 for about a year and now the older kiddo has it and it seems to be working well as i havent heard any complaints as of yet.
I, by no means, am an expert on this device and i admittedly have not kept current on the 168 hour fix no longer being relevant.
There is a fellow who had this forum on point about a year ago, cant recall his alias. Ill tag him if i can find him. Hopefully he has kept current on this device more than I.
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Click to collapse
I started in this thread because I had a8 after researching through a bunch of different search engines I found this link
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/rmm-prenormal-oem-unlock-android-9-0-t3952959
it ended to be a note link. The moderator is convinced that it's all in our heads but people have been flocking to this thread because the title is so specific that it brings in people from different Samsung devices. It's like Field of Dreams, if you can't mod it they will come. Anyway, there are interesting comments. I apologize if my redirect or hyperlink is off. I'm no expert in this web forum platforms.

jthibault27 said:
I started in this thread because I had a8 after researching through a bunch of different search engines I found this link
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/rmm-prenormal-oem-unlock-android-9-0-t3952959
it ended to be a note link. The moderator is convinced that it's all in our heads but people have been flocking to this thread because the title is so specific that it brings in people from different Samsung devices. It's like Field of Dreams, if you can't mod it they will come. Anyway, there are interesting comments. I apologize if my redirect or hyperlink is off. I'm no expert in this web forum platforms.
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Click to collapse
This issue is true I have seen this on other a8 plus.
It part of Samsung security and no mod can fix this.

mchlbenner said:
This issue is true I have seen this on other a8 plus.
It part of Samsung security and no mod can fix this.
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Click to collapse
there you are!! so, the A8 is now not rootable?

Youdoofus said:
there you are!! so, the A8 is now not rootable?
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Click to collapse
It's very rootable provided that you don't do what 99% of the world do before selling it on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's list) is upgrade the latest OTA to impress the buyer. if you have an Oreo built Axxx or Sxxx (basically an Exynos chip) you are golden. not going to get into the whole North American snapdragon-Qualcomm thing. If you have a (guessing) Pre-June 2019 security patch however 9.0 I believe you can flash TWRP (all things being equal) you have a chance. however, if you have (I'm guessing most recent models) 9.0 security patch July 1 2019+ stock (previously tripped KG on a custom ROM-which say got corrupt), you are in the non-mod world. you are stuck with 9.0 official Samsung. you can't flash oreo (until someone develops a matching binary). since through my sammobile travels, I've yet to encounter a baseband/BL Oreo higher than 4. my phone (a8 9.0) is B7

jthibault27 said:
It's very rootable provided that you don't do what 99% of the world do before selling it on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's list) is upgrade the latest OTA to impress the buyer. if you have an Oreo built Axxx or Sxxx (basically an Exynos chip) you are golden. not going to get into the whole North American snapdragon-Qualcomm thing. If you have a (guessing) Pre-June 2019 security patch however 9.0 I believe you can flash TWRP (all things being equal) you have a chance. however, if you have (I'm guessing most recent models) 9.0 security patch July 1 2019+ stock (previously tripped KG on a custom ROM-which say got corrupt), you are in the non-mod world. you are stuck with 9.0 official Samsung. you can't flash oreo (until someone develops a matching binary). since through my sammobile travels, I've yet to encounter a baseband/BL Oreo higher than 4. my phone (a8 9.0) is B7
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Well I'm on gsi ROMs this will never see a Samsung rom ever again.
Also slot of don't follow rooting directions I have been lock out once on Oreo never had a problem with Android 9.

mchlbenner said:
Well I'm on gsi ROMs this will never see a Samsung rom ever again.
Also slot of don't follow rooting directions I have been lock out once on Oreo never had a problem with Android 9.
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so, between what you and the other fella are saying, the newest factory OTA prevents folks from rooting this thing now, correct? That would be a shame, locking down even the F devices? Come on Samsung!!

Youdoofus said:
so, between what you and the other fella are saying, the newest factory OTA prevents folks from rooting this thing now, correct? That would be a shame, locking down even the F devices? Come on Samsung!!
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note: This doesn't necessarily apply to everyone since my situation was that I had a custom ROM corrupt and I restock firmware to V7 on the A8. My original custom install using TWRP had triggered kg Knox. I should have not flashed the latest stock version of 9.0. This was simply just a bridge to a new custom firmware anyway. I did not realize that I was installing a security patch that Samsung would deploy. So the question is if you go and buy the latest a, n, s 9.0 (F) can you still TWRP? Or does it say pre normal as soon as you attempt to TWRP. Rooting is not even in the realm of possibilities if you can't install TWRP. Magisk now has a feature where it modifies the AP system file which you can Odin. I thought it would pass as official. Of course, it didn't. Those dam Samsung MIT grad security engineers probably think they're better than us. LOL. All I can tell you is the toggle for the unlock Bootloader is as effective as the close door button on an elevator, you're not sure if it's connected to anything. This has been an Android War since Jelly Bean.

jthibault27 said:
note: This doesn't necessarily apply to everyone since my situation was that I had a custom ROM corrupt and I restock firmware to V7 on the A8. My original custom install using TWRP had triggered kg Knox. I should have not flashed the latest stock version of 9.0. This was simply just a bridge to a new custom firmware anyway. I did not realize that I was installing a security patch that Samsung would deploy. So the question is if you go and buy the latest a, n, s 9.0 (F) can you still TWRP? Or does it say pre normal as soon as you attempt to TWRP. Rooting is not even in the realm of possibilities if you can't install TWRP. Magisk now has a feature where it modifies the AP system file which you can Odin. I thought it would pass as official. Of course, it didn't. Those dam Samsung MIT grad security engineers probably think they're better than us. LOL. All I can tell you is the toggle for the unlock Bootloader is as effective as the close door button on an elevator, you're not sure if it's connected to anything. This has been an Android War since Jelly Bean.
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yes, from what ive gathered from mchelbenner, the party is over. I trust his input as he is very well versed in the A8. More than I as he has had this forum on lockdown even before i got my A8 to begin with. If he said its no longer possible, thats what i will go with also

Youdoofus said:
yes, from what I've gathered from mchelbenner, the party is over. I trust his input as he is very well versed in the A8. More than I as he has had this forum on lockdown even before I got my A8 to begin with. If he said its no longer possible, thats what i will go with also
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If you ever come across a forum specific to this issue ({completely extrapolating the date by guess} July 1, 2019 9.0) but not necessarily specific to the A8, please share. as it stands now, my findings indicate isolated conversations in different forums on various models, sharing the same problem. We must unite! lol. truth be told, it's challenging searching for such a specific problem relating to a patch on many models.

Is it possible to downgrade from 9.0 to 7.0?

Hi all,
I've given this phone to my parents but with every Android update it keeps getting slower and slower.
I've tried removing as much bloatware as possible, also only basic apps are installed. But the phone is sluggish, lagging and barely usable.
When receiving a call, the screen goes black for a couple of seconds, starts ringing and after other 4-5 seconds it shows the name of the person calling.
Such a shame though, as it used to be a nice compact snappy experience for basic users.
Was thinking to buy another phone, but wanted to ask first if it is possible to downgrade. I've red that downgrading is blocked by Odin due to baseband firmware (is this true?).
Please, if anyone has a solution, let me know.
Also, if it is not possible to downgrade to stock 7.0, is there way to install a custom (nearly stock) Rom based on 7.0 firmware.
Is it possible to Root and TWRP on the latest 9.0?
Thanks in advance
P.S.: I hate this from Samsung, updating phones to make them slower (also no way to disable update notification)... no more Samsung for me I guess!

I tried to install android 7 and 8. It failed. Versions 9.0 (update 09.2020) were successful. Need root.