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Dear all,
I am new on Android, the Nexus 5 is my first android device. I freshly come from a 5 years old iPhone 3G.
2 Weeks ago I unlocked the bootloader of my device and rooted it following the tutorials provided by the XDA community without any problem.
Today, I saw that the OTA to upgrade from the Android version 4.4 to the version 4.4.2 was available directly from the device.
Since I did not want this update to be a problem with my rooted device, I downloaded the following apps: BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices and OTA RootKeeper (I do realize using RootKeeper was stupid since anyway the last update was released on July 25, 3 months before KitKat...). But anyway, this is what I did. I used those apps to Lock my Bootloader and unRoot my phone, thinking that this will reduce the chances of potential conflict with the OTA update.
Afterward, I downloaded and tried to instal the OTA directly from the Nexus 5. It ends up that I got stuck on the recovery menu. It was then impossible to get back on android and I did not know what to do.
This is where I did something totally crazy. Usually I spend time reading tutorials and finding information before doing anything that I do not fully understand. But at this stage I simply thought that the update could not properly instal due to the root. So I went on Advanced Wipe, I ticked all the options (data, system, Cash, Dalvik... all of them), and wiped the device.
As a result, my Nexus 5 has currently a Locked Bootloader and no OS installed. This means that I cannot activate the developer menu (no OS) to tick the option USB debugging. Thus, I cannot unlock my bootloader and in consequence I cannot instal the factory image and get back to stock.
Please, If you can give me some advice, explain me how can I unlock the bootloader in these conditions. Let me know... I really don't know what to do now.
PS: sorry my english is not perfect but I do hope you clearly understand my problem.
Yoyo-san said:
Dear all,
I am new on Android, the Nexus 5 is my first android device. I freshly come from a 5 years old iPhone 3G.
2 Weeks ago I unlocked the bootloader of my device and rooted it following the tutorials provided by the XDA community without any problem.
Today, I saw that the OTA to upgrade from the Android version 4.4 to the version 4.4.2 was available directly from the device.
Since I did not want this update to be a problem with my rooted device, I downloaded the following apps: BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices and OTA RootKeeper (I do realize using RootKeeper was stupid since anyway the last update was released on July 25, 3 months before KitKat...). But anyway, this is what I did. I used those apps to Lock my Bootloader and unRoot my phone, thinking that this will reduce the chances of potential conflict with the OTA update.
Afterward, I downloaded and tried to instal the OTA directly from the Nexus 5. It ends up that I got stuck on the recovery menu. It was then impossible to get back on android and I did not know what to do.
This is where I did something totally crazy. Usually I spend time reading tutorials and finding information before doing anything that I do not fully understand. But at this stage I simply thought that the update could not properly instal due to the root. So I went on Advanced Wipe, I ticked all the options (data, system, Cash, Dalvik... all of them), and wiped the device.
As a result, my Nexus 5 has currently a Locked Bootloader and no OS installed. This means that I cannot activate the developer menu (no OS) to tick the option USB debugging. Thus, I cannot unlock my bootloader and in consequence I cannot instal the factory image and get back to stock.
Please, If you can give me some advice, explain me how can I unlock the bootloader in these conditions. Let me know... I really don't know what to do now.
PS: sorry my english is not perfect but I do hope you clearly understand my problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got it all wrong. You do not need USB debugging to unlock bootloader. to unlock bootloader you must use FASTBOOT commands, which means you MUST be in the bootloader itself. USB debugging ONLY works in android.
rootSU said:
You've got it all wrong. You do not need USB debugging to unlock bootloader. to unlock bootloader you must use FASTBOOT commands, which means you MUST be in the bootloader itself. USB debugging ONLY works in android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear RootSU,
So this means that I am not stuck at all and that I am simply limited by my current knowledge about android?
If this is the case, then "alleluia"! I will document myself to be able to fix this thing.
Yoyo-san said:
So this means that I am not stuck at all and that I am simply limited by my current knowledge about android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much
You should be able to unlock the bootloader as you did before.
Boot phone to fastboot mode, download fastboot and adb kit to you computer... it can be found here on forums easy, and in comand line to unlock bootloader you need type "fastboot oem unlock".
More complete guide you can find here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2507905 =)
rootSU said:
Pretty much
You should be able to unlock the bootloader as you did before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's ok now!
As you said, I could unlock the Bootloader the same way I did before. Then I install the factory image 4.4.2, which I rooted directly.
Thanks a lot RootSu, you've shown me my mistakes and put me on the way to fix my problem.
Thanks also for your concern Biggreen. =)
Problem solved!
rootSU said:
You've got it all wrong. You do not need USB debugging to unlock bootloader. to unlock bootloader you must use FASTBOOT commands, which means you MUST be in the bootloader itself. USB debugging ONLY works in android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear RootSU,
One more question, could you explain me why I got stuck into the recovery menu when I first tried to update via the OTA? Will I get the same kind of problem when I'll update with the v4.4.3 in the future?
Thanks
Yoyo-san said:
Dear RootSU,
One more question, could you explain me why I got stuck into the recovery menu when I first tried to update via the OTA? Will I get the same kind of problem when I'll update with the v4.4.3 in the future?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure on the extact reason. OTA itself will not install with a custom recovery. You have to download the OTA and boot to recovery then manually flash.
There is a good "OTA Helpdesk" sticky thread in general you should read as theres lots of advice there
hi there...i've got the same problem... i wiped everythink and now i'm not able to switch on my phone....i just want to get out of this somehow...i'm very much new to this and i just want to get my stock android back that's it...somebody please help....
Do you see the battery icon when you connect the phone to a charger? Does the LED turn red when you connect the phone to a charger? Maybe leave the phone connected for a couple of hours and then try to power on?
Hi everyone.
I'm thinking in buying a phone from CAT (CAT S42) and I'm not sure if I can unlock its bootloader. But I've seen on another forum that the CAT S31 has root available for it through Magisk, and I didn't see anyone mentioning having unlocked the bootloader. S42 has a MediaTek chipset and S31 has a Qualcomm chipset, if that helps.
So my question is: is unlocking bootloader MANDATORY to root a device? Can I just run a custom recovery, root the phone with that, and then the recovery gets overwritten on system boot? Or can I root through USB debugging without even needing custom recovery?
The CAT S31 I mentioned was rooted with Magisk, and as I said, I didn't see anyone talking about unlocked bootloader. But I also read Magisk changes the boot partition and the bootloader checks if it was modified. So I'm a bit confused with this too. It's also written that MiracleBox was used and I'm not sure that's the reason that I'm getting confused or not (I had never heard of this tool until now).
A set of software for obtaining ROOT privileges.
Driver_Qualcom_m.7z (9.27 MB) [link]
Enter HS QDSLoad 9008 mode from Vol + and Vol- off state and connect without releasing to USB
MiracleBox [link]
The Boot image is processed on the phone by the Magisk manager, then uploaded to the phone using Miracle again from the computer.
MagiskManager-v7.3.2.apk (2.71 MB) [link]
Just in case,
Backup firmware without / Data partition
Attached files
XposedInstaller_3.1.5-Magisk.apk (2.96 MB) [link]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How may they have done that?
I'm sorry, I don't understand a lot of the root requirements part, since I was lucky and my 1st phone had the bootloader unlocked alreaedy for some reason and the second was as easy as writting a single command. But about this phone there's almost nothing and I'd like to know the general about this. If it's really necessary to have the bootloader unlocked, for example. And if it's not, then what methods can I use with it still locked?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Hello DADi590,
Unfortunately I can't answer all of your questions about S42. I have one of them and I am also looking for and confused with root procedures. But I can tell you that unlock boot loader was just a matter of get developer options on (tapping version # 10 times), and inside you can toogle lock/unlock bootloader...
How to root it safely is what I do not know yet.
good luck!
@DADi590
Rooting the Android OS of a device in practice is nothing more than adding the su cmdlet known from Linux OS to the Android OS. To root Android OS in no case requires device's bootloader must get unlocked to do so.
FYI: The bootloader of an Android device is comparable to the BIOS of a Windows computer.
Actually, after some time I decided to leave CAT alone and buy a Blackview one. If I'd break the phone, at least it wouldn't be as expensive as the CAT S42 (I bought a BV9500 - not Pro or Plus, the normal one).
Since then (with help of adventures with a tablet of mine) I've learned some more things. One of them I was suspecting and was now confirmed (thank you @jwoegerbauer) which is to root the device, just a binary file is needed to be on the correct place: su. I didn't know it was on other Linux OSes though. Interesting!
So the idea is that just a recovery must be installed to root a device. That's it and nothing else, I believe. To install the recovery is the part where one might need to unlock the bootloader - or not, if the chipset manufacturer left a tool to write partitions directly, like MediaTek or Rockchip. On these 2 it's possible to write partitions directly with a locked bootloader (this means the bootloader on my 1st phone was and still is probably locked - like my BV9500 one is, and I flashed various partitions on it already, one of them, a TWRP recovery).
This explanation is for anyone else like me who would have this question. Bootloader is just to flash partitions and I think run modified ROMs too, but not too sure about that (I never use custom ROMs). [Btw, if I said something wrong, I'm happy to be corrected!]
armandrix said:
Hello DADi590,
Unfortunately I can't answer all of your questions about S42. I have one of them and I am also looking for and confused with root procedures. But I can tell you that unlock boot loader was just a matter of get developer options on (tapping version # 10 times), and inside you can toogle lock/unlock bootloader...
How to root it safely is what I do not know yet.
good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I asked this because I prefer that it's not required to unlock a bootloader to do stuff. If you screw the phone somehow with the bootloader locked and there's no tool to flash partitions on it and you must be on fastboot with an unlocked bootloader or whatever, you just bricked the phone. And I'd prefer that not to happen. That's why I chose to buy phones that don't need me to unlock the bootloader to do anything on them. That might mean I can't ever brick them (at least I never bricked my 1st phone with the various things I did on it which I later found out not being recommended at all XD).
I've unlocked the bootloader on my Cat S42. Can be done.
Hi guys I have a OP 7 pro bricked (boot loop), I try everything to un bricked, that is why I ask for any help. I use msm tool and install several zips but when the tool finish it still have the same problem, I can access to the fastboot mode but my bootloader is locked, so I cannot try the fastboot method cause my pc won't recognize when I connect my phone in this mode (I think that's because I need to have enable usb debugging).
I've got bad news, if your bootloader is locked and MSM tool fails you will most likely have to send it in as it will no longer be easily fixable, I unfortunately had this same issue on my OnePlus 8 and learnt the hard way.
You said that you "cannot try the fastboot method" because your PC won't recognize your phone... did you install Oneplus fastboot drivers correctly? You should be able to access your phone in fastboot, even with bootloader locked.
Try with another PC too. Just my 2 cents, sorry if this doesn't help you...
lauchiebeans said:
I've got bad news, if your bootloader is locked and MSM tool fails you will most likely have to send it in as it will no longer be easily fixable, I unfortunately had this same issue on my OnePlus 8 and learnt the hard way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launchiebeans thanks for take your time to answer, where did you send it, did you repair yours
jonsat said:
You said that you "cannot try the fastboot method" because your PC won't recognize your phone... did you install Oneplus fastboot drivers correctly? You should be able to access your phone in fastboot, even with bootloader locked.
Try with another PC too. Just my 2 cents, sorry if this doesn't help you...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First thank you for your time.
I though that too, but i didn't do it , maybe is because I read that in order to use this method (fastboot), oem unlock and usb debugging have to be enable on my OP 7 PRO
Ps: today I'll try again whit another pc, maybe it works, I think the Qualcomm drivers, adb drivers and OP drivers are a nightmare, who knows how many I've been downloaded those in order to make everything right
Sorry for my English I'm from Costa Rica
Sounds like he is stuck o. The older firmware that don't recognize oem unlock command. Not doing the developer preview upgrade then Ota out to regular firmware. Kinda sounds like what I started out on this t mobile one
TheMadScientist said:
Sounds like he is stuck o. The older firmware that don't recognize oem unlock command. Not doing the developer preview upgrade then Ota out to regular firmware. Kinda sounds like what I started out on this t mobile one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi MadScientist do you hav the same prob? Didi you solved?. Like I said I think the fastboot method to unbrick doesn't work for me because we need to have oem unlock and usb debugging enable on the OP. I will use another pc to discard
Ps: don't know what you mean with "older firmware"
Since I don't remember what version of firmware I have I try the older 9.5.3 to 10... On oxigen. Even i read that someone resolve his problem installing the Chinese version (hidrogenOs) I don't remember the exact name
cirmendoza said:
Hi MadScientist do you hav the same prob? Didi you solved?. Like I said I think the fastboot method to unbrick doesn't work for me because we need to have oem unlock and usb debugging enable on the OP. I will use another pc to discard
Ps: don't know what you mean with "older firmware"
Since I don't remember what version of firmware I have I try the older 9.5.3 to 10... On oxigen. Even i read that someone resolve his problem installing the Chinese version (hidrogenOs) I don't remember the exact name
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nm I read your post wrong. I thought you just couldn't get oem unlock enabled
cirmendoza said:
Launchiebeans thanks for take your time to answer, where did you send it, did you repair yours
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I Ended up sending it to OnePlus and the repair was free as it was a software issue.
DO NOT LOCK THE BOOTLOADER WHILE ROOTED!
When locking the bootloader while rooted, the boot image will fail verification and the system will fail to boot. You cannot flash a stock boot image with a locked bootloader.
Locking the bootloader will not fix most issues. It will allow you to use apps that check for an unlocked bootloader without the need for any additional modification. That is the ONLY benefit.
If you still want to lock your bootloader, make sure you can say yes to each of the following:
1. Have you restored the stock boot.img / vendor_boot.img and the phone functions normally?
Spoiler: Restore Stock Boot
Boot / DTBO Images [Root / Stock] - 5 / Pro / Ultimate (NOT S)
These images are NOT built from source. These are the stock images from the firmware provided by Asus that are extracted with payload dumper and uploaded without modification. 18.0840.2202.231 18.0840.2201.226 18.0840.2112.211...
forum.xda-developers.com
Follow the instructions in the thread above.
Use only the boot and vendor_boot images.
Do NOT flash any images that end with "-magisk.img"
2. Have you made a backup of everything you do not want to lose when wiping the phone?
Spoiler: Make a Backup
The sdcard is part of the internal storage and is cleared by a factory reset
Copy everything you want to keep to a computer or USB-C storage device
Apps and settings can be backed up by enabling the Google Backup option
Open Settings
Select Google
Select Backup
Select Back up now
Wait for the backup to complete
3. Have you flashed raw firmware and made sure the phone and updates function normally?
Spoiler: Flash Raw Firmware
RAW Firmware Collection and Guide
All fastboot / adb commands require using the side USB-C port https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html#download Make sure you have fastboot installed Add platform tools to PATH (post 2) Make a backup of anything...
forum.xda-developers.com
Follow the instructions in the thread above.
If you perform a wipe, you may skip step 4.
4. Have you performed a factory reset and made sure the phone functions normally?
Spoiler: Factory Reset
Open Settings
Select System
Select Reset options
Select Erase all data (factory reset)
Follow the instructions
Once you have verified all of the above requirements, you are now ready to lock the bootloader.
Spoiler: Lock Bootloader
From the bootloader (volume up + power):
Code:
fastboot oem asus-csc_lk
Reserved for QA information
I don't want to spread false information here, but here is a question post I created recently with two replies showing me contacting the help center (two different agents) confirming that I can use the app more than once to unlock the device's bootloader: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...nlock-relock-for-asus-rog-phone-5-5s.4367047/ . @Andrologic also confirms the case there for global (EU) version. I have a feeling that for the Tencent version it is because the sellers lock it on a wrong official ROM, or wrong ROM in general, e.g. global ROM, and therefore it confuses the unlock app. I am surprised the device did not even get hard bricked from locking on not the original ROM. By the way, I have contacted the help center of the US store, but I have a feeling it should work on the global (EU) version as well.
falhumai96 said:
I don't want to spread false information here, but here is a question post I created recently with two replies showing me contacting the help center (two different agents) confirming that I can use the app more than once to unlock the device's bootloader: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...nlock-relock-for-asus-rog-phone-5-5s.4367047/ . @Andrologic also confirms the case there for global (EU) version. I have a feeling that for the Tencent version it is because the sellers lock it on a wrong official ROM, or wrong ROM in general, e.g. global ROM, and therefore it confuses the unlock app. I am surprised the device did not even get hard bricked from locking on not the original ROM. By the way, I have contacted the help center of the US store, but I have a feeling it should work on the global (EU) version as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on new information, it does seem possible to repair the issues caused by converting.
That said, this guide is still quite relevant. After all, most of the issues people were having were caused by unlocking the bootloader, converting, rooting, and locking the bootloader. The warning for possibility of not being able to unlock have been removed, but the info about restoring to stock before locking has been left.
I send mine in for a motherboard repair I was rooted and everything I unrooted installed stock firmware and locked the bootloader again once I got the phone back I unlocked the bootloader once again and I am rooted again
chairman011 said:
I send mine in for a motherboard repair I was rooted and everything I unrooted installed stock firmware and locked the bootloader again once I got the phone back I unlocked the bootloader once again and I am rooted again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@chairman011 what variant of the phone it is (e.g. CN or WW or US, ...etc.)? Also, when they returned it to you and you were able to unlock it again, was it on the original firmware (or any version in its lineage (i.e. not a ROM that's not original))?
If by using ASUS unlock utility one was able to oneself unlock the boot-loader once, then is it safe to say that (after relocking it) it'd be possible to unlock it again?
nexusnerdgeek said:
If by using ASUS unlock utility one was able to oneself unlock the boot-loader once, then is it safe to say that (after relocking it) it'd be possible to unlock it again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people have reported that you can't unlock the bootloader again after relocking, using the official "Unlock Device App", but I suspect it is an OS mismatch. This issue has only been observed on Tencent (CN) version with global ROM. Have anyone been able to unlock->relock->unlock on the same version of the phone, but not relocking while on the global ROM (i.e. relocking while on stock CN ROM)?
I am surprised the phone did not hard brick. Usually, and this is a general case in almost all Android phones with bootloader unlock capability, when you relock on a different ROM your phone hard bricks. Always restore to original ROM before relocking. Can people with Tencent (CN) phones with global ROM and locked bootloader flash the original CN ROM without unlocking the bootloader? If so, can you test the "Unlock Device App" to see if it works while on the CN (official) ROM? I gotta a feeling it might work in that situation.
falhumai96 said:
Some people have reported that you can't unlock the bootloader again after relocking, using the official "Unlock Device App", but I suspect it is an OS mismatch. This issue has only been observed on Tencent (CN) version with global ROM. Have anyone been able to unlock->relock->unlock on the same version of the phone, but not relocking while on the global ROM (i.e. relocking while on stock CN ROM)?
I am surprised the phone did not hard brick. Usually, and this is a general case in almost all Android phones with bootloader unlock capability, when you relock on a different ROM your phone hard bricks. Always restore to original ROM before relocking. Can people with Tencent (CN) phones with global ROM and locked bootloader flash the original CN ROM without unlocking the bootloader? If so, can you test the "Unlock Device App" to see if it works while on the CN (official) ROM? I gotta a feeling it might work in that situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's an identification mismatch. It's similar to when you throw your SIM card in a different phone and your carrier lists you as having a different phone. Based on the information that has been discovered, it would appear that CN to WW conversions were wiping out the stuff that makes your device your device.
twistedumbrella said:
It's an identification mismatch. It's similar to when you throw your SIM card in a different phone and your carrier lists you as having a different phone. Based on the information that has been discovered, it would appear that CN to WW conversions were wiping out the stuff that makes your device your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, basically the bootloader unlock for tencent devices will always locked unless asus uodate their unlock app or has their been another way around it yet?
The unlock app should unlock the bootloader at least once. Unlocking it a second time has mixed results.
Hi there, can you guys help me? I'm one of those unlucky ones who got my phone corrupted and won't boot anymore due to the boot loader. is there a way to fix this?? I've got an ROG phone 5s 16/512 on android12.
Hope you guys can help me! I know you guys have amazing brain cells than me when it comes to these things lol
Oh! and my rog is not the china version thanks
0v3rkill said:
Hi there, can you guys help me? I'm one of those unlucky ones who got my phone corrupted and won't boot anymore due to the boot loader. is there a way to fix this?? I've got an ROG phone 5s 16/512 on android12.
Hope you guys can help me! I know you guys have amazing brain cells than me when it comes to these things lol
Oh! and my rog is not the china version thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TYou should be able to RAW flash yourself out of it if a factory reset doesn't work. This does happen when re-locking the WW.
Andrologic said:
TYou should be able to RAW flash yourself out of it if a factory reset doesn't work. This does happen when re-locking the WW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there mate, thanks heaps for taking time.on my post. how do i do that? can you send me a link of the step by step guide? again thanks
0v3rkill said:
Hi there mate, thanks heaps for taking time.on my post. how do i do that? can you send me a link of the step by step guide? again thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Below post from the help guide (credits to the contributors) has links to RAW firmware packages. You just need any one of the WW packages. Download it and with your device in bootloader mode, run one of the .bat flash scripts that you'll find in the RAW package. The version doesn't matter, you can simply update to the latest firmware once you're back up.
RAW Firmware Collection and Guide
All fastboot / adb commands require using the side USB-C port https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html#download Make sure you have fastboot installed Add platform tools to PATH (post 2) Make a backup of anything...
forum.xda-developers.com
Andrologic said:
Below post from the help guide (credits to the contributors) has links to RAW firmware packages. You just need any one of the WW packages. Download it and with your device in bootloader mode, run one of the .bat flash scripts that you'll find in the RAW package. The version doesn't matter, you can simply update to the latest firmware once you're back up.
RAW Firmware Collection and Guide
All fastboot / adb commands require using the side USB-C port https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html#download Make sure you have fastboot installed Add platform tools to PATH (post 2) Make a backup of anything...
forum.xda-developers.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there, I did follow and did the raw setup it did got me through the boot loop. However, its stuck on the system start up updating screen and stays in 0%.
Darn i thought im already dead! i didn't even know how i fixed it hahahaha! but its working now successfully downgraded to android 11 because its the only firmware i found and managed to make it work again combination of alot of research in google and here xda. working 100% imei two of them, finger print and sn are all intact. thanks guys
For these few reasons I have to give up root & lock the boot-loader: 1. Financial apps stop working from time to time causing much grief; 2. I've used root functionality precisely for nothing for a year I've had it; 3. It was getting all too complicated to keep up with it all.
(The original intention for unlocking/rooting was to get some sort of unofficial VoLTE and VoWiFi for the mobile operator of my choice; however, it didn't help. Then a newer firmware implemented VoLTE and VoWiFi! So my impatience, admittedly couldn't be known at that point in time, backfired.)
I've nothing to preserve on the phone, due to having a Moto G 5G backup phone. I only had it working with adb & fastboot in my Linux laptop (up to date Fedora 36). I had no working Windows laptop then. But I do now. However, adb on Windows says the device is "unauthorised" (as expected); fastboot in it doesn't list the device. So I might be limited to my Linux laptop only. The phone was previously working on the last A11 WW firmware fine.
I've tried to follow the steps from the original post of this thread. First one worked with vendor_boot, dtbo & boot images (used only 18.0840.2202.231 versions of them). Second N/A. With third step, flash_raw_and_wipe_data.sh fails by core dumping.
Right now, the phone boots to fastbootd & not further. Any help is much appreciated.
(I think I'm inching towards fully bricking this phone. I'm not there yet, but getting closer . It'd be nice to get it working again without root & with locked boot loader. Any help is much appreciated.)
This is where I'm at while executing step 3 of the initial guide in this post:
When powered on, in the usual boot loader unlocked warning page, it prompts for power key to be pressed to continue.
(Here if power switch is not pressed within 30 odd seconds, phone powers down automatically.)
Once power key is pressed, it lands in boot loader. Selecting Start, it goes back to boot loader. I think this is called a boot loop.
While in boot loader, selecting "Recovery mode", it progresses to "Android Recovery". Here selecting "Enter fastboot" appears to take it furthest in the booting process of landing at "Android Fastboot".
(The version info showed in Fastboot -- 18.0840.2202.231-0 -- matches with the last A11 update I downloaded from Asus website & had it installed late March this year.)
I don't think it can boot any further at the state that it's in now.
I think this is where it needs a raw firmware to be flashed. This step keeps core-dumping in my Linux laptop when trying to use WW_ZS673KS_18.0840.2106.83_M3.13.24.40-ASUS_1.1.92_Phone-user.raw file that was linked in the original post. This version appears to be quite old. Could the version mismatch between what the phone was running recently (18.0840.2202.231) and the raw file (18.0840.2106.83) cause the core-dump issue? IOW, would somebody have a link for 18.0840.2202.231 raw file please?
I couldn't use my work Windows laptop due to an issue I cannot overcome (installation of driver needed for the phone is somehow blocked in it). So, soon I'll try it from a personal Windows laptop of my neighbor. Let's see if it can progress any further with the help of Windows platform.
In the meantime, I can appreciate to be informed about any tips and tricks such as if this is something that the phone cannot be recovered from. Or even somebody highly skilled would like to help me to achieve a fully functional phone (with bootloader locked please) for a fair compensation. Please let me know. Thanks for any guidance.
nexusnerdgeek said:
This is where I'm at while executing step 3 of the initial guide in this post:
When powered on, in the usual boot loader unlocked warning page, it prompts for power key to be pressed to continue.
(Here if power switch is not pressed within 30 odd seconds, phone powers down automatically.)
Once power key is pressed, it lands in boot loader. Selecting Start, it goes back to boot loader. I think this is called a boot loop.
While in boot loader, selecting "Recovery mode", it progresses to "Android Recovery". Here selecting "Enter fastboot" appears to take it furthest in the booting process of landing at "Android Fastboot".
(The version info showed in Fastboot -- 18.0840.2202.231-0 -- matches with the last A11 update I downloaded from Asus website & had it installed late March this year.)
I don't think it can boot any further at the state that it's in now.
I think this is where it needs a raw firmware to be flashed. This step keeps core-dumping in my Linux laptop when trying to use WW_ZS673KS_18.0840.2106.83_M3.13.24.40-ASUS_1.1.92_Phone-user.raw file that was linked in the original post. This version appears to be quite old. Could the version mismatch between what the phone was running recently (18.0840.2202.231) and the raw file (18.0840.2106.83) cause the core-dump issue? IOW, would somebody have a link for 18.0840.2202.231 raw file please?
I couldn't use my work Windows laptop due to an issue I cannot overcome (installation of driver needed for the phone is somehow blocked in it). So, soon I'll try it from a personal Windows laptop of my neighbor. Let's see if it can progress any further with the help of Windows platform.
In the meantime, I can appreciate to be informed about any tips and tricks such as if this is something that the phone cannot be recovered from. Or even somebody highly skilled would like to help me to achieve a fully functional phone (with bootloader locked please) for a fair compensation. Please let me know. Thanks for any guidance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirm that you can send fastboot commands to the device. It's a prerequisite for flashing the original boot img back or doing a RAW flash if boot looped. That's the very first step you need sorted and confirmed. Sounds like you may not be in the right Fastboot mode. The RAW version doesn't matter too much as long as it's in line with your device version, you just need it to get back up and can upgrade normally to other versions.
Hi guys,
Man oh man this phone...
So basically I'm trying to unlock my bootloader without waiting the 7 days, since I simply don't trust this phone to give me the OEM Unlock option after 7 days...
Before I decided to unlock my bootloader I had been using this phone for about 2 months like normal, sure I uninstalled a ton of bloatware and system apps that I didn't need which MIGHT have been the reason it didn't show the OEM Unlock after months, but the battery life was amazing.
But recently I've been considering rooting my phone, and before I started factory resetting and trying many different things to show the OEM Unlock option, keep in mind I've bee using this phone normally for a couple months, I checked the developer options and not a surprise, OEM Unlock wasn't there.
So ever since, I've tried sooo many things to show the OEM Unlock:
( I reflashed the stock firmware with Odin in between all these methods I've tried )
Also before I list everything I've tried heres the full specs of this phone and the drivers I've installed on my Windows 10
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G (SM-A326U)
T-Mobile, MTK, Network locked, No SIM, NOT Snapdragon
Drivers I've installed on my PC: Google USB Driver, ADB Interface, Samsung Android USB Driver, MTK Driver, USBDk and a few more can't remember the names...
1. Changing date, checking for an update and changing the date back, tried restarting the phone in between, tried turning wifi on and off in between.
2. Combination firmware, got unauthorized error on the download mode screen talking about the pit file.
3. Tried running:
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot devices (It successfully recognized my phone)
fastboot oem unlock: Unknown command
Didn't even run the command...
4. Since its a MTK CPU I had hope for mtkclient https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient
It just kept asking to connect my phone, tried connecting with recovery mode, download mode and fastboot mode, none of them were recognized
The reason I need a quick way to unlock the bootloader, is cause I will be doing stuff with this phone that might result in me having to reflash the firmware which I can't risk it relocking and have to wait 7 days each time something goes wrong.
I heard that T-Mobile phones bootloader's are impossible to unlock, someone please tell me that is not true...
So basically,
Is there any way to unlock the bootloader? If not why and if yeah, what have I been doing wrong and how?
Thanks guys
7 days what? Tmo A326U doesnt have the option to unlock the bootloader, you need to pay the people here that provide the service. They are the only ones that seemingly know how to get it unlocked, and I can vouch for it.
Seriously... So there's no way to unlock for free, or by waiting...?
Not a bootloader unlock. Its not just Tmo that are locking these down tighter.
You can unlock it for free if you can figure out whatever they do ;-)
Nah idc about a network unlock since I don't have service for this phone, I just wanna know if its possible to unlock the bootloader... I've tried everything
Who is talking about a network unlock?
TimmyP said:
Who is talking about a network unlock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said not a "bootloader unlock" so I was assuming you're talking about network unlock... Sorry, but should I just give up, there's seemingly NO WAYY to unlock the bootloader of a T-Sh*t phone.
Oh just misunderstanding my bad. I meant you cant wait for a bootloader unlock, but you can wait and maybe they would carrier unlock it later... but thats not what you want anyways.
TimmyP said:
Oh just misunderstanding my bad. I meant you cant wait for a bootloader unlock, but you can wait and maybe they would carrier unlock it later... but thats not what you want anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kinda sad, I think I'm gonna just give up, but thanks for the information... Hopefully something happens in the future that allows it to be unlocked soon... Thanks man
I doubt they'll bring it back. OEM unlock that is. My phone is over 7 days old and I did the factory reset by holding the volume down and power buttons and then the volume up and power button and did the full factory reset. OEM unlock is still gone. Yes I got the developer options turned on. I rooted a couple of Nexus 6p's which of course are obsolete now since they were 3G and there is no backward capability. At least I got them used, replaced the batteries myself and can use them as WiFi phones with Talkatone through my WiFi. Read some blurbs about Kingo root working but I'd like to see that someone has pulled it off with the A32. Am under a 2 year obligation but I bought a second one to experiment on. I did that before I found out there was no OEM unlock. Well, if I break one, I'll have a backup. Except the phone is tied to the SIMM and I'd have to bring the backup in to have it reprogrammed.
TimmyP said:
Who is talking about a network unlock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any good service to network unlock SM-A236U or U1. Flashed XAA t no avail the Carrier_ID stays at DSH...
iabhua said:
Any good service to network unlock SM-A236U or U1. Flashed XAA t no avail the Carrier_ID stays at DSH...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am working on unlock for it but I need root or a device on low security update. I am almost close to an solution if your device security patch is low please let me know
TimmyP said:
7 days what? Tmo A326U doesnt have the option to unlock the bootloader, you need to pay the people here that provide the service. They are the only ones that seemingly know how to get it unlocked, and I can vouch for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any device with an unlock bootloader or unlock? I am trying to get a ram dimp for days nobody have an device.
andioshelp said:
I am working on unlock for it but I need root or a device on low security update. I am almost close to an solution if your device security patch is low please let me know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have two SM-A236U’s but unfortunately one has binary 6 FW and the other binary 7.
1.fuxk_ said:
Hi guys,
Man oh man this phone...
So basically I'm trying to unlock my bootloader without waiting the 7 days, since I simply don't trust this phone to give me the OEM Unlock option after 7 days...
Before I decided to unlock my bootloader I had been using this phone for about 2 months like normal, sure I uninstalled a ton of bloatware and system apps that I didn't need which MIGHT have been the reason it didn't show the OEM Unlock after months, but the battery life was amazing.
But recently I've been considering rooting my phone, and before I started factory resetting and trying many different things to show the OEM Unlock option, keep in mind I've bee using this phone normally for a couple months, I checked the developer options and not a surprise, OEM Unlock wasn't there.
So ever since, I've tried sooo many things to show the OEM Unlock:
( I reflashed the stock firmware with Odin in between all these methods I've tried )
Also before I list everything I've tried heres the full specs of this phone and the drivers I've installed on my Windows 10
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G (SM-A326U)
T-Mobile, MTK, Network locked, No SIM, NOT Snapdragon
Drivers I've installed on my PC: Google USB Driver, ADB Interface, Samsung Android USB Driver, MTK Driver, USBDk and a few more can't remember the names...
1. Changing date, checking for an update and changing the date back, tried restarting the phone in between, tried turning wifi on and off in between.
2. Combination firmware, got unauthorized error on the download mode screen talking about the pit file.
3. Tried running:
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot devices (It successfully recognized my phone)
fastboot oem unlock: Unknown command
Didn't even run the command...
4. Since its a MTK CPU I had hope for mtkclient https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient
It just kept asking to connect my phone, tried connecting with recovery mode, download mode and fastboot mode, none of them were recognized
The reason I need a quick way to unlock the bootloader, is cause I will be doing stuff with this phone that might result in me having to reflash the firmware which I can't risk it relocking and have to wait 7 days each time something goes wrong.
I heard that T-Mobile phones bootloader's are impossible to unlock, someone please tell me that is not true...
So basically,
Is there any way to unlock the bootloader? If not why and if yeah, what have I been doing wrong and how?
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was a similar procedure to unlock bootloader on a samsung mtk (A125U) same carrier as yours (T-Mobile TMB and the same applies to MetroPCS TMB) basicaly, you had to flash BL files from the A125W (canadian version) then unlocking bootloader using testpoint (bootrom mode) then using any paid or free app (in my case i use a paid one because i run a repair shop). even if you unlock bootloader using paid tools, it gets locked again when it turns on. (i tested it without flashing BL files)
sadly, i dont have a A326U lying arround to test said procedure.
1.fuxk_ said:
Hi guys,
Man oh man this phone...
So basically I'm trying to unlock my bootloader without waiting the 7 days, since I simply don't trust this phone to give me the OEM Unlock option after 7 days...
Before I decided to unlock my bootloader I had been using this phone for about 2 months like normal, sure I uninstalled a ton of bloatware and system apps that I didn't need which MIGHT have been the reason it didn't show the OEM Unlock after months, but the battery life was amazing.
But recently I've been considering rooting my phone, and before I started factory resetting and trying many different things to show the OEM Unlock option, keep in mind I've bee using this phone normally for a couple months, I checked the developer options and not a surprise, OEM Unlock wasn't there.
So ever since, I've tried sooo many things to show the OEM Unlock:
( I reflashed the stock firmware with Odin in between all these methods I've tried )
Also before I list everything I've tried heres the full specs of this phone and the drivers I've installed on my Windows 10
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G (SM-A326U)
T-Mobile, MTK, Network locked, No SIM, NOT Snapdragon
Drivers I've installed on my PC: Google USB Driver, ADB Interface, Samsung Android USB Driver, MTK Driver, USBDk and a few more can't remember the names...
1. Changing date, checking for an update and changing the date back, tried restarting the phone in between, tried turning wifi on and off in between.
2. Combination firmware, got unauthorized error on the download mode screen talking about the pit file.
3. Tried running:
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot devices (It successfully recognized my phone)
fastboot oem unlock: Unknown command
Didn't even run the command...
4. Since its a MTK CPU I had hope for mtkclient https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient
It just kept asking to connect my phone, tried connecting with recovery mode, download mode and fastboot mode, none of them were recognized
The reason I need a quick way to unlock the bootloader, is cause I will be doing stuff with this phone that might result in me having to reflash the firmware which I can't risk it relocking and have to wait 7 days each time something goes wrong.
I heard that T-Mobile phones bootloader's are impossible to unlock, someone please tell me that is not true...
So basically,
Is there any way to unlock the bootloader? If not why and if yeah, what have I been doing wrong and how?
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you tried, instead of fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flashing unlock
DjoFight said:
Did you tried, instead of fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flashing unlock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case people need the procedures for those processes, I wrote this up recently to help others do it easier than it was for me to figure out.
How to un-freeze an unresponsive Samsung Galaxy A32 5G with reboot, reset, factory reset, odin mode, download mode, android recovery mode & debug mode
Has any one made any progress regarding the missing oem unlock? I know what parameters to add to our kernel v1 to v3 during building to enable oem unlock and add access to fastbootd. Because of project treble our options have changed.
Sources:
Moving Fastboot to Userspace | Android Open Source Project
source.android.com
Locking/Unlocking the Bootloader | Android Open Source Project
source.android.com
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Locking/Unlocking the Bootloaderbookmark_border
On this page
Unlocking the bootloader
Locking the bootloader
Setting lock/unlock properties
Protecting critical sections
By default, most Android devices ship with a locked bootloader, meaning that users can't flash the bootloader or device partitions. If needed, you (and device users with Developer options enabled) can unlock the bootloader to flash new images.
Unlocking the bootloaderTo unlock the bootloader and enable partitions to be reflashed, run the fastboot flashing unlock command on the device. After setting, the unlock mode persists across reboots.
Devices should deny the fastboot flashing unlock command unless the get_unlock_ability is set to 1. If set to 0, the user needs to boot to the home screen, open the Settings > System > Developer options menu and enable the OEM unlocking option (which sets the get_unlock_ability to 1). After setting, this mode persists across reboots and factory data resets.
When the fastboot flashing unlock command is sent, the device should prompt users to warn them that they might encounter problems with unofficial images. After the user acknowledges the warning, the device should perform a factory data reset to prevent unauthorized data access. The bootloader should reset the device even if it can't reformat it properly. Only after a reset can the persistent flag be set so that the device can be reflashed.
All RAM not already overwritten should be reset during the fastboot flashing unlock process. This measure prevents attacks that read leftover RAM contents from the previous boot. Similarly, unlocked devices should clear RAM at every boot (unless this creates an unacceptable delay), but should leave the region used for the kernel's ramoops.
Locking the bootloaderTo lock the bootloader and reset the device, run the fastboot flashing lock command on the device. Devices intended for retail should be shipped in the locked state (with get_unlock_ability returning 0) to ensure that attackers can't compromise the device by installing a new system or boot image.
Setting lock/unlock propertiesThe ro.oem_unlock_supported property should be set at build time based on whether the device supports flashing unlock.
If the device supports flashing unlock, set ro.oem_unlock_supported to 1.
If the device doesn't support flashing unlock, set ro.oem_unlock_supported to 0.
If the device supports flashing unlock, then the bootloader should indicate the lock status by setting the kernel command line variable androidboot.flash.locked to 1 if locked or to 0 if unlocked. This variable must be set in bootconfig instead of in the kernel command line in Android 12.
For devices that support dm-verity, use ro.boot.verifiedbootstate to set the value of ro.boot.flash.locked to 0; this unlocks the bootloader if the verified boot state is orange.
I have the A32 5G (64Gb Int. Stg.) & it's the Tracfone Only version or SM-S326DL. After recently receiving word that Android 13 was awaiting us, I quickly allowed my device to receive this very kool OTA operating system update. I mention this, because a week earlier I received an email from my prepaid wireless provider instructing me in detail how to manually unlock my A32 5G handset. So, to be clear, Tracfone notified me in their email how to unlock my device, but whan
this happens to often, to write this off as an app-mishap xda...why?!
(pls. explain this to me, what is really going on)?
evnStevn said:
I have the A32 5G (64Gb Int. Stg.) & it's the Tracfone Only version or SM-S326DL. After recently receiving word that Android 13 was awaiting us, I quickly allowed my device to receive this very kool OTA operating system update. I mention this, because a week earlier I received an email from my prepaid wireless provider instructing me in detail how to manually unlock my A32 5G handset. So, to be clear, Tracfone notified me in their email how to unlock my device, but whan
this happens to often, to write this off as an app-mishap xda...why?!
(pls. explain this to me, what is really going on)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering too. Could you please pm me what you were trying to post?