Database Info

Flashing 930U on my T-Mobile S7?

I just heard when the August security patch released on the 930U today two very interesting things. I wanted to see if they were true:
1. All Galaxy S7s released in North America are actually the exact same hardware model, but because of different firmwares not every LTE band or software feature is activated. For example, a Verizon S7 that is listed to supposedly only have CDMA and Bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 13 (which is pathetically lame by the way) can be flashed to the 930A software and work perfectly on AT&T.
2. I can flash the 930U software on to my 930T phone and turn my T-Mobile phone into a 930U. I'm still making payments on it and I'm not sure if this would unlock it or not, I don't care, I plan on paying it off and unlocking it through T-Mobile anyway. I'll get White Pages back which T-Mobile took away for their stupid paid service, and I can download the August security patch and from now on get my updates directly from Samsung.
So is this possible for me to do? I'm new at this whole thing. Also, if I did flash my phone into a 930U, will that affect me unlocking it through T-Mobile later on when it's paid off? Thanks for the help.

Akira Takamedo said:
I just heard when the August security patch released on the 930U today two very interesting things. I wanted to see if they were true:
1. All Galaxy S7s released in North America are actually the exact same hardware model, but because of different firmwares not every LTE band or software feature is activated. For example, a Verizon S7 that is listed to supposedly only have CDMA and Bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 13 (which is pathetically lame by the way) can be flashed to the 930A software and work perfectly on AT&T.
2. I can flash the 930U software on to my 930T phone and turn my T-Mobile phone into a 930U. I'm still making payments on it and I'm not sure if this would unlock it or not, I don't care, I plan on paying it off and unlocking it through T-Mobile anyway. I'll get White Pages back which T-Mobile took away for their stupid paid service, and I can download the August security patch and from now on get my updates directly from Samsung.
So is this possible for me to do? I'm new at this whole thing. Also, if I did flash my phone into a 930U, will that affect me unlocking it through T-Mobile later on when it's paid off? Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the bootloader is higher than currently on the SM-G930T then it should allow to a flawless flash.

aromerblz said:
If the bootloader is higher than currently on the SM-G930T then it should allow to a flawless flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I just found out yesterday about how the T-Mobile S7 is currently the only version that has a different level bootloader than everyone else. The day had come when Verizon users can now do more with their phones than T-Mobile users, what a shame.
Could a pending upgrade be in store for the 930U firmware so it's possible to do again?

Akira Takamedo said:
Yes, I just found out yesterday about how the T-Mobile S7 is currently the only version that has a different level bootloader than everyone else. The day had come when Verizon users can now do more with their phones than T-Mobile users, what a shame.
Could a pending upgrade be in store for the 930U firmware so it's possible to do again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably maybe. I would say to hold on on updated the TMO S7 in hopes that the SM-G930U gets a bootloader higher that what currently TMO has and allow you to flash. Since it's unlocked then updates maybe 5% faster.

aromerblz said:
Probably maybe. I would say to hold on on updated the TMO S7 in hopes that the SM-G930U gets a bootloader higher that what currently TMO has and allow you to flash. Since it's unlocked then updates maybe 5% faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I wish I hadn't found out that I could do this only yesterday. I'm still fairly new with the whole concept of flashing software, I know what it is but that's really about it. Hopefully I'll be able to flash the unlocked firmware on here and get those missing features back.

Akira Takamedo said:
Thank you, I wish I hadn't found out that I could do this only yesterday. I'm still fairly new with the whole concept of flashing software, I know what it is but that's really about it. Hopefully I'll be able to flash the unlocked firmware on here and get those missing features back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool.. hope they release one soon.

How to get cricket updates with ATT phone?

Hey Guys,
I have a Samsung S6 ATT phone which i unlocked then took over to Cricket. I have not gotten any updates since then and the system update via Settings says i am up to date but i see updates on the ATT website.
I know they are different networks and Cricket is awful about the monthly updates. Is it possible to patch the phone with the monthly updates from ATT using ODIN or is ODIN only used for full ROM flashes? Some of the updates are only 20 MB each but they do have security stuff and i like to stay current.
Any thoughts or advice on how to proceed?

shane.kelly55 said:
Hey Guys,
I have a Samsung S6 ATT phone which i unlocked then took over to Cricket. I have not gotten any updates since then and the system update via Settings says i am up to date but i see updates on the ATT website.
I know they are different networks and Cricket is awful about the monthly updates. Is it possible to patch the phone with the monthly updates from ATT using ODIN or is ODIN only used for full ROM flashes? Some of the updates are only 20 MB each but they do have security stuff and i like to stay current.
Any thoughts or advice on how to proceed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin only allows full firmware updates and no ota updates for little things. The only thing I can advise to try is to flash an AT&T firmware via odin and see if updates kick in, I'm not too familiar with the American variants as I have a global one where things are admittedly much simpler.

shane.kelly55 said:
Hey Guys,
I have a Samsung S6 ATT phone which i unlocked then took over to Cricket. I have not gotten any updates since then and the system update via Settings says i am up to date but i see updates on the ATT website.
I know they are different networks and Cricket is awful about the monthly updates. Is it possible to patch the phone with the monthly updates from ATT using ODIN or is ODIN only used for full ROM flashes? Some of the updates are only 20 MB each but they do have security stuff and i like to stay current.
Any thoughts or advice on how to proceed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have an unlocked S6 on Cricket, and though I don't have an answer to your question really I did want to mention that I took the phone to a Best Buy with a Samsung Experience Shop and they upgraded it from 5.1.1 to 6 for me. I plan to do the same when Nougat gets released. As best I can tell they can't do monthly security patches for you, only major releases, but it still is better than nothing. Plus, in theory the FCC will eventually start forcing AT&T to update branded phones that are not active on its network, or at least so I read a while back when I was investigating this issue. Take that with a grain of salt.

Software Updates

Hi all, I know this is a question which is hard to answer but I have a SIM free unlocked S8 and a EE locked S8 (I originally ordered on EE but changed my mind but didn't cancel as I didn't expect to receive SIM free version until at least 28th).
Anyway I have been comparing software and the I've noticed the following:
EE baseband version ends in AQDD
SIM free ends in AQC9
Android security patch level on EE is 1st April
and on SIM free is 1st March.
My understanding was that Samsung normally release updates quicker than network providers, which leads me to ask when I am expected to get the latest updates.
Thanks all

wizzywig27 said:
Hi all, I know this is a question which is hard to answer but I have a SIM free unlocked S8 and a EE locked S8 (I originally ordered on EE but changed my mind but didn't cancel as I didn't expect to receive SIM free version until at least 28th).
Anyway I have been comparing software and the I've noticed the following:
EE baseband version ends in AQDD
SIM free ends in AQC9
Android security patch level on EE is 1st April
and on SIM free is 1st March.
My understanding was that Samsung normally release updates quicker than network providers, which leads me to ask when I am expected to get the latest updates.
Thanks all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought networks were slower too but I went with EE official firmware cause it enabled voLte, not enabled on sim free.
See no battery difference so I'll stick with whoever updates more frequently

lawtq said:
I thought networks were shower too but I went with EE official firmware cause it enabled voLte, not enabled on sim free.
See no battery difference so I'll stick with whoever updates more frequently
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't the EE version come with whatever bloatware EE bundles with their phones? Thats the main reason I am avoiding any of the carrier updates, I am assuming they contain the carrier bloat, which the sim free/samsung updates would not.
Likewise I thought the samsung updates would be out long before the carrier ones, since the carriers would need to do all their testing etc first, but I am also on sim free and yet to see any updates while everyone with a carrier locked phone seems to have had the updates days ago!

Finally got the software update today. Same version as the EE one but cinderably larger

lawtq said:
I thought networks were shower too but I went with EE official firmware cause it enabled voLte, not enabled on sim free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have sim free in Australia and it supports VoLTE and WiFi Calling. It could be the regional thing.

ewokuk said:
Wouldn't the EE version come with whatever bloatware EE bundles with their phones? Thats the main reason I am avoiding any of the carrier updates, I am assuming they contain the carrier bloat, which the sim free/samsung updates would not.
Likewise I thought the samsung updates would be out long before the carrier ones, since the carriers would need to do all their testing etc first, but I am also on sim free and yet to see any updates while everyone with a carrier locked phone seems to have had the updates days ago!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got an EE locked S8 (CSC: EVR) and pretty much the only thing it seems to come with is the My EE app.
I'm only keeping the EE firmware because of VoLTE. If they offered that on BTU, then i'd flash BTU firmware instead

Tmobile and global variant receive different updates?

Why is it that tmobile and the global variants have different oxygen OS software numbers and receiving updates at different intervals. I've been seeing the news of 9.5.4 being released with tons of improvements specofocally to the camera module, then I realized I'm on 9.5.5, and am wondering did I get those updates already, what is the deal here?

Spewed said:
Why is it that tmobile and the global variants have different oxygen OS software numbers and receiving updates at different intervals. I've been seeing the news of 9.5.4 being released with tons of improvements specofocally to the camera module, then I realized I'm on 9.5.5, and am wondering did I get those updates already, what is the deal here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also on 9.5.5, I got my phone on Thursday and when I woke up Friday morning I saw my phone had rebooted and it said the update was successfully installed.
So from what I've read 9.5.5 is for the T-Mobile version and 9.5.4 is global but the release notes indicate we have the updates. What's weird is there is no update info on TMobile website and I thought all updates have to go through them.

Just got this today

chrisrj28 said:
I am also on 9.5.5, I got my phone on Thursday and when I woke up Friday morning I saw my phone had rebooted and it said the update was successfully installed.
So from what I've read 9.5.5 is for the T-Mobile version and 9.5.4 is global but the release notes indicate we have the updates. What's weird is there is no update info on TMobile website and I thought all updates have to go through them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So we allegedly are getting the updates first then?

Spewed said:
So we allegedly are getting the updates first then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the new T-Mobile 9.5.6 that just came out (like today) is basically 9.4.5 for the international version.

Spewed said:
So we allegedly are getting the updates first then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears that way.
And I just updated to 9.5.6 but that was just the April security update

Spewed said:
Why is it that tmobile and the global variants have different oxygen OS software numbers and receiving updates at different intervals. I've been seeing the news of 9.5.4 being released with tons of improvements specofocally to the camera module, then I realized I'm on 9.5.5, and am wondering did I get those updates already, what is the deal here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same update just for a different variant. It is a T-Mobile branded phone meaning the way it is, it only works on T-Mobile, the Global variant is unlocked and will work on almost any carrier except Sprint. This is common on any Android phone where there is a branded and global version.

Also the EU version has a separate release for GDPR updates. This makes for overlapping software version numbers that are NOT compatible or the same. If you flash anything make sure to match both the version number and phone model for your existing phone unless you are flashing the entire package and know what you are doing.

Unlocked phones get the updated first. Global/India are 9.5.4 and EU is 9.5.5 because of some new regulations. They are the exact same change logs but have to be labeled separately. T-Mobile is behind the unlocked phones as T-Mobile has to get the update and then customize it for their carrier crap. T-Mobile phones just got the April security patch but nothing the unlocked phones just got so you'll be waiting a week or 2 of longer even to get those improvements probably
That's why I'll never by another carrier phone... Unlocked forever more with me.

There's a major plus going with a carrier phone. Insurance. With TMO if this decides to break or start glitching out, i can walk into the store and walk out with a new one. If I have to wait 2-3 weeks for updates, big deal. As far as the "carrier crap" is concerned, I think they have said multiple times that they need to test Band 600 and make sure the software is flowing with the network. TMO doesn't really have any bloatware.

Unlocked for the win! Cheers

DOTC said:
There's a major plus going with a carrier phone. Insurance. With TMO if this decides to break or start glitching out, i can walk into the store and walk out with a new one. If I have to wait 2-3 weeks for updates, big deal. As far as the "carrier crap" is concerned, I think they have said multiple times that they need to test Band 600 and make sure the software is flowing with the network. TMO doesn't really have any bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't take weeks to just test a band frequency. And yes T-Mobile still has bloat just not as much. All the T-Mobile apps they put on the phones.

Eric214 said:
It doesn't take weeks to just test a band frequency. And yes T-Mobile still has bloat just not as much. All the T-Mobile apps they put on the phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tmobile still changes unnecessary things. For example unlocked model in status bar shows LTE for signal while T-Mobile shows 4Glte, thats just one example as I have both devices.

dkotoric said:
tmobile still changes unnecessary things. For example unlocked model in status bar shows LTE for signal while T-Mobile shows 4Glte, thats just one example as I have both devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It comes with two apps installed..and both can be removed. The signal bar has always been changed for some reason. Each carrier has their own signal terms.. no idea why. Its been that way for ages now.

dkotoric said:
tmobile still changes unnecessary things. For example unlocked model in status bar shows LTE for signal while T-Mobile shows 4Glte, thats just one example as I have both devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware. That's my point. T-Mobile changed more then just the invite in the status bar. All carriers do. That why it will be a couple weeks at least before the tap and camera improvements make it to the T-Mobile phones. It's just the way it is buying a carrier phone.

Question Flashing unlocked firmware over carrier firmware?

Like the title says, is this possible and can it be done without wiping user data? Thanks.

Probably not worth the trouble. Always assume you will lose the data and back it up redundantly.
I thought there be a night and day difference when I got the unlocked N10+ N975U1 vs the AT&T variant N975U. There wasn't. The unlocked version actually had some bloatware not on the AT&T variant
Easiest and safest thing to do is package blocked the carrier bloatware. Verizon does some screwy modes to their devices so getting rid of that be nice. AT&T does not, that surprised me. Some users might like some of the AT&T apps.

It was successful, thank goodness. See my follow up here https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/f721u1-firmware-now-available.4484639/

Notice much difference?

Yeah the main stuff are:
1. Rcs with jibe server works now. Before it used att server so it wouldn't connect properly with other users
2. System updates come directly from Samsung instead of att

NguyenHuu said:
Yeah the main stuff are:
1. Rcs with jibe server works now. Before it used att server so it wouldn't connect properly with other users
2. System updates come directly from Samsung instead of att
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't use either.
Updates is one of the first things I disabled on my N10+'s. One's on Pie, the other 10, I prefer Pie though. Once Google started rolling out scoped storage I bailed.
&
AT&T/Samsung have a nasty habit of screwing up older devices with firmware upgrades. Just had a pair of Buds+ screwed up like that a few months back, now they need the firmware rolled back*. S4+, same deal a few years back, but bootloader was updated too, no rollback.
If an OS is running fast, stable and fulfilling its mission... I let it be.
*I have 2 new pairs of Buds+, they sound identical and like my original pair use to, grrrrr.
Went with them because Samsung's newest release lack the features I want. Rather annoying.
The Buds+ have a 11 hr run time, light, don't fall out and sound good.

Sorry I should've posted my question here, instead of creating a new thread.
I recently purchased a flip 3 and am on a payment plan, tmobile won't unlock my phone unless I pay it off in full. Is it possible to flash the default software of the unlocked model so I can get updates from Samsung and still have my sim work? I'm not switching carriers, do I need the tmobile version of firmware for data/phone to work if the phone isn't unlocked?

boxface said:
Sorry I should've posted my question here, instead of creating a new thread.
I recently purchased a flip 3 and am on a payment plan, tmobile won't unlock my phone unless I pay it off in full. Is it possible to flash the default software of the unlocked model so I can get updates from Samsung and still have my sim work? I'm not switching carriers, do I need the tmobile version of firmware for data/phone to work if the phone isn't unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone service will still work perfectly fine on U1 firmware, but you may lose lose some carrier-specific features like wifi calling etc. But.... the U1 models don't always necessarily get faster updates than the carrier models. For example, with the most recent update, the carrier model got it 2 weeks before the unlocked model. So if that's your only reason for wanting to change firmware, I'd advise against it.
Notify Update
- U model update history
Notify Update
- U1 model update history

iBowToAndroid said:
Phone service will still work perfectly fine on U1 firmware, but you may lose lose some carrier-specific features like wifi calling etc. But.... the U1 models don't always necessarily get faster updates than the carrier models. For example, with the most recent update, the carrier model got it 2 weeks before the unlocked model. So if that's your only reason for wanting to change firmware, I'd advise against it.
Notify Update
- U model update history
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I'm concerned about is tmobile eventually stopping the updates way sooner than Samsung. The carriers don't usually update a phone as long as the vendor so to avoid that I would rather not use T-Mobiles version. Thanks for the reply, it was very helpful.
iBowToAndroid said:
Notify Update
- U1 model update history
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

boxface said:
What I'm concerned about is tmobile eventually stopping the updates way sooner than Samsung. The carriers don't usually update a phone as long as the vendor so to avoid that I would rather not use T-Mobiles version. Thanks for the reply, it was very helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Incorrect. Every single model's lifespan for updates has always been the exact same, whether U or U1

I downloaded the unlocked firmware via Frija for SM-F711U1 / XAA and flashed it onto my At&t unit using patched Odin. Lost my data since the install didn't work without flashing CSC but booted up and working just fine now. No At&t bootscreen or bloat