Unlocked phone - flashing firmware. Will I lose/keep the unlock code? - Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Questions & Answers

Hi, I have a problem with my note 20 ultra and I would like to know precise info because is very important. I live in Italy, and I buy a note 20 ultra sm-n986u in the USA to get the snapdragon variant, which is much better of the version selled here in Europe. The phone was At&t locked, but the seller give me a code to unlock it to insert my italian sim. All is working well, except the fact that the phone never recieve updates due to the fact that I'm not in the USA. So I need to flash a new firmware with odin. So this is the problem:
1) Should I flash an n986u firmware (with At&t bloatware)? In this case I will lose my unlock code?
2) Can I flash a n986u1 firmware to de-brand the phone from At&t? In this case I will lose my unlock code?
3) If I lose my unlock code, will the same code work again?
I searched in theese forum an answer, but no one can give me a precise information, only hypothesis. I think it is a very difficoult argument, but it's very important to me. Can someone help me? Thanks.

Flash it with U1 firmware and it will do auto update. you won't lose the unlock.

randy_c said:
Flash it with U1 firmware and it will do auto update. you won't lose the unlock.
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Click to collapse
Are you 100% sure about that? I will remove At&t limitations and bloatware and keep my unlock code (no need to reinsert it)?

Lol I have att unlock phone for the last several years and did it all the time

randy_c said:
Lol I have att unlock phone for the last several years and did it all the time
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Click to collapse
So basically unlocked phones are brand phones (att, spring, verizon ecc) in which someone already insert the code? And it stays forever?

FedeAle said:
So basically unlocked phones are brand phones (att, spring, verizon ecc) in which someone already insert the code? And it stays forever?
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Click to collapse
Yes at&t phone

randy_c said:
Yes at&t phone
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Click to collapse
Ok thanks! Then I will flash U1 firmware if I it keep unlocked. Tell me, does in USA companies uses 4g+? My note stays only on "4G LTE", while my old phone used to stay with "4g+" network.

Related

T-Mobile sim-unlocked firmware or any sim-unlocked firmware.

I have a SM-930V(verizon) galaxy s7 and is running Tmobile(930T) firmware. Is there any tmobile sim-unlocked firmware that I can download? Or can I flash the 930U firmware and sim-unlock my phone? What are the implications on doing this? I want to keep samsung pay, wifi calling, and LTEvoice.
You need to get a sim unlock code - there are a few websites you can purchase that from. It is not a firmware change, at least not on the S7.
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't Verizon phones come GSM unlocked or is that only for outside of the country?
Verizon S7 comes unlocked: http://www.androidcentral.com/yes-verizon-galaxy-s7-and-s7-edge-are-sim-unlocked, Just Flash the latest SM-G930U Firmware available. as always at your own risk of course, plenty of guides on how to flash the U firmware to verizon s7 here at XDA.
My T-Mobile S7 came with a device unlock application... Ive never seen it before, so i tested it out by using the temporary unlock and it worked...
KillerClaw321 said:
My T-Mobile S7 came with a device unlock application... Ive never seen it before, so i tested it out by using the temporary unlock and it worked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try doing the Permanent unlock and see if it works
micallan_17 said:
Try doing the Permanent unlock and see if it works
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Click to collapse
It works. A tmobile rep confirmed that it is now unlocked.
If you do not have the apk for some reason... i grabbed it heres the apk:
mines is factory unlocked (SM-G930U) so am good to go , congrats on unlocking it and you can now flash the SM-G930 U firmware on it and get rid of the TMO bloatware.

Is it worth it to Carrier Switch and then flash Unlocked firmware?

I bought an AT&T S8+ from my friend and I unlocked it.
I was wondering if it was worth the hassle to Carrier Switch and then flash Unlocked firmware?
My CSC says ATT/ATT/ATT but I mean it works on T-Mobile and I heard the last 3 are permanent so even if I carrier switch, it'll be TMB/TMB/ATT or something like that.
What does carrier switch even do?
Can I follow this method even though my model number is SM-G955U and not SM-G955U1?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3627255
SomeAsianDude said:
I bought an AT&T S8+ from my friend and I unlocked it.
I was wondering if it was worth the hassle to Carrier Switch and then flash Unlocked firmware?
My CSC says ATT/ATT/ATT but I mean it works on T-Mobile and I heard the last 3 are permanent so even if I carrier switch, it'll be TMB/TMB/ATT or something like that.
What does carrier switch even do?
Can I follow this method even though my model number is SM-G955U and not SM-G955U1?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3627255
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Click to collapse
I buy my S8+ on Sprint and flash unlocked firmware and for me, it's worth, only lost VoLTE but i really don't care about it. gain more user space because unlocked firmware have less bloatware and I think it have more battery life. I didn't make any carrier switch.
Sorry for bad english haha. And yes, doesn't matter, you can flash it safe.

Downgrade bootloader despite efuses so I can switch

I have a Sprint-branded S7. It's unlocked. I want to switch to T-Mobile.
Sprint changed its S7 bootloader to v5 in November 2017. All other carriers, including T-Mobile, are on bootloader v4 or earlier.
The problem: You can't flash to an older-version bootloader. You'll just get an error. The phone has efuses that prevent it.
Are there any workarounds?
Specifically, I want to switch this S7 from Sprint's G930PVPS5BRA1 to T-Mobile's G930TUVS4BRA1 (bootloader version emphasized).
No work arounds I've ever seen, US snapdragon models are all bootloader locked which prevents you doing any major modifications at a firmware level.
You'll either have to wait for a v5 of the firmware you want, or try the carrier unlocked G930U v5 firmware which might work better with T-Mobile.
I believe this is also the same for the unlocked bootloader on Exynos models, but only if you get the newest drag firmware version.
Beanvee7 said:
No work arounds I've ever seen, US snapdragon models are all bootloader locked which prevents you doing any major modifications at a firmware level.
You'll either have to wait for a v5 of the firmware you want, or try the carrier unlocked G930U v5 firmware which might work better with T-Mobile.
I believe this is also the same for the unlocked bootloader on Exynos models, but only if you get the newest drag firmware version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocked is also on bootloader v4: https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s7/SM-G930U/. That is why I suspect this v5 bootloader is a trick by Sprint to frustrate switching.
Booloaders are all locked on US S7s you can not switch Stock ROMs
You could SIM unlock and use a T-Mobile SIM though (paid)
Or sell that phone and buy a tmobile one
*Detection* said:
Booloaders are all locked on US S7s you can not switch Stock ROMs
You could SIM unlock and use a T-Mobile SIM though (paid)
Or sell that phone and buy a tmobile one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone has the domestic unlock by Sprint, so I can switch stock ROMs. I did exactly that last summer when Sprint and T-Mobile's ROMs both had v4 bootloaders.
Because it is unlocked, you are right that I can also put in a T-Mobile SIM while it has the Sprint ROM. However, it will not see all T-Mobile bands until I put T-Mobile firmware on it. I noticed that last summer, and there are other anecdotal reports of this on the internetzors.
novasource said:
This phone has the domestic unlock by Sprint, so I can switch stock ROMs. I did exactly that last summer when Sprint and T-Mobile's ROMs both had v4 bootloaders.
Because it is unlocked, you are right that I can also put in a T-Mobile SIM while it has the Sprint ROM. However, it will not see all T-Mobile bands until I put T-Mobile firmware on it. I noticed that last summer, and there are other anecdotal reports of this on the internetzors.
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Click to collapse
Pretty certain that all bootloaders on the US model S7s are locked meaning you cannot switch stock ROMs, other than Verizon to the G930U, maybe others to that U firmware, but I don't own the snapdragon variant so just going on what I've read here on XDA
All Snapdragon US S7s are bootloader locked, meaning no custom anything
As for certain bootloaders of each stock ROM I don't know
But I do know SIM unlock and bootloader unlock are two completely different things, switching from one carrier ROM to another does not unlock the SIM to that carrier
*Detection* said:
Pretty certain that all bootloaders on the US model S7s are locked...
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Click to collapse
They are locked against unauthorized/custom software, but there is nothing that stops you from putting authorized software on them. As all US variants are hardware-identical, all carrier ROMs are by definition authorized on any.
novasource said:
They are locked against unauthorized/custom software, but there is nothing that stops you from putting authorized software on them. As all US variants are hardware-identical, all carrier ROMs are by definition authorized on any.
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I see, but what would be the point of switching from Sprint to T-Mobile stock ROM?
Surely just different OEM bloat?
*Detection* said:
I see, but what would be the point of switching from Sprint to T-Mobile stock ROM?
Surely just different OEM bloat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the hardware supports all bands, the ROMs do not have all bands enabled. From personal experience last summer, if you have the Sprint ROM on the phone, your phone will not see all T-Mobile bands. There are plenty of anecdotal reports of this on the internet.
novasource said:
While the hardware supports all bands, the ROMs do not have all bands enabled. From personal experience last summer, if you have the Sprint ROM on the phone, your phone will not see all T-Mobile bands. There are plenty of anecdotal reports of this on the internet.
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Click to collapse
I was under the impression that only SIM unlocking would solve that?
So you are saying that by managing to flash from Sprint to T-Mobile, a Sprint S7 is now able to use the T-Mobile network without a SIM unlock ?
*Detection* said:
I was under the impression that only SIM unlocking would solve that?
So you are saying that by managing to flash from Sprint to T-Mobile, a Sprint S7 is now able to use the T-Mobile network without a SIM unlock ?
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SIM unlocking only appears to permit you to put your phone on another network. It does not appear to enable all your phone's bands. To enable another network's bands, you appear to have to switch ROMs. If there's another way of doing that, I'm interested!
novasource said:
SIM unlocking only appears to permit you to put your phone on another network. It does not appear to enable all your phone's bands. To enable another network's bands, you appear to have to switch ROMs. If there's another way of doing that, I'm interested!
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My guess is you would first need to perform the actual SIM unlock, and then move over to the preferred network ROM to have 100% of their bands and abilities
If your phone was originally on Sprint, and you managed to flash to T-Mobile, my guess is that your T-Mobile SIM would still not work until you SIM unlocked
CSC change is what determines which features work and don't, for example on o2 CSC I can get WiFi calling, but with XEU (also UK ROM) I cannot, even though my carrier is o2, basically I bought the phone on XEU but unless I switch manually over to O2 CSC I cannot use that feature
*Detection* said:
My guess is you would first need to perform the actual SIM unlock, and then move over to the preferred network ROM to have 100% of their bands and abilities
If your phone was originally on Sprint, and you managed to flash to T-Mobile, my guess is that your T-Mobile SIM would still not work until you SIM unlocked
CSC change is what determines which features work and don't, for example on o2 CSC I can get WiFi calling, but with XEU (also UK ROM) I cannot, even though my carrier is o2, basically I bought the phone on XEU but unless I switch manually over to O2 CSC I cannot use that feature
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Click to collapse
Yes. Another way of putting this is that SIM unlock and band unlock are different. Sprint can unlock the SIM and let me put other carriers' SIMs in my phone. However, that doesn't unlock all the bands. That is only doable by flashing that carrier's ROM. Due to Sprint's curious choice to upgrade its bootloader, I am locked out of doing that.
I have previously been in a state where my CP was from a different-version SM-G930U ROM, while the rest was from an SM-G930P ROM, and I got repeated "Security notice" warnings from the Samsung software.
HELP
Beanvee7 said:
No work arounds I've ever seen, US snapdragon models are all bootloader locked which prevents you doing any major modifications at a firmware level.
You'll either have to wait for a v5 of the firmware you want, or try the carrier unlocked G930U v5 firmware which might work better with T-Mobile.
I believe this is also the same for the unlocked bootloader on Exynos models, but only if you get the newest drag firmware version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am somewhat experienced in this but not enough to be sure. I have sm-g30U factory unlocked by sam and got oreo update and hate. How may I check my versions or rather where might I find the proper software to downgrade to nougat . I dont understand why people keep saying "930U sprint, or vzw" . When its unlocked its not any carrier only the carrier you happen to use as its a dual sim right ? though today im with vzw i may not be tomorrow. Anyway can i flash backwards , I saw a few videos where it was done on sammobile and if not I would love to get any info in rooting it to help my battery not liking the oreo so i can help at least with bloatware. any help would be appreciated
nocamp said:
I dont understand why people keep saying "930U sprint, or vzw"d
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There's two types of unlock.
* Bootloader unlock, which allows you to modifies the phones boot partition. It's required for custom ROM's and recovery.
* Carrier unlock, which is just whether your phone allows any SIM or only a specific carrier.
The G930U is carrier unlocked, you can use any SIM, but it's still bootloader locked like every other US model S7, which means no boot modifications.
As a result you can't rollback the G930U because of the locked bootloader, and you can root it but only but using an engineering bootloader which comes with many side affects.
Does only the number matter or does also the letter? For example, say Im deciding between U5 and S5, how would the efuse work?
DeeXii said:
Does only the number matter or does also the letter? For example, say Im deciding between U5 and S5, how would the efuse work?
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Yes just the number , cell carriers tend to use the letter S while Samsung unbranded tend to use the letter U. But the number tells you the version boot loader .

Do you need SIM Unlock on the T-Mobile in order to convert to the Intl version?

Or is there a way around the official sim/bootloader unlock process too?
AND/OR can you convert it to int'l and get int'l updates even if you can't unlock the bootloader?
Edit- 3rd poster says you can update to international version without Sim unlock, The link I have provided shows you how to unlock Sim
https://forum.xda-developers.com/on...-unlock-sim-t-mobile-users-heres-how-t3935327
Then International version
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/how-to/how-to-convert-tmobile-op7-to-t3935947
Then bootloader unlock
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79741564&postcount=2
Then root
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79741570&postcount=4
I'm pretty sure that's the order I did it in... Definitely read through the threads I provided for the correct order as I'm on my mobile
Guy below me says you don't need Sim unlock to update to international version but I have not searched that process. I rushed a reply to help out. I was sure you had to have the T-Mobile version Sim unlocked to update to international version...I didn't read your question thouroghly...but again I'm on mobile and have had a few drinks.
Cheers!
No. The second poster is wrong. You can convert while SIM locked, but if you do so, you cannot unlock the bootloader or root the phone. You can, however, update the phone like normal and just get a generally less bloaty experience by converting.
DTop said:
No. The second poster is wrong. You can convert while SIM locked, but if you do so, you cannot unlock the bootloader or root the phone. You can, however, update the phone like normal and just get a generally less bloaty experience by converting.
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Click to collapse
Alright! So while the bootloader is still locked, this gives me int'l updates and eligibility for beta and no carrier apps, yes?
coach0512 said:
Alright! So while the bootloader is still locked, this gives me int'l updates and eligibility for beta and no carrier apps, yes?
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Click to collapse
Correct. If you VPN into Canada (I used the TunnelBear app), you can even get the 9.5.9 update. Once the download starts, turn the VPN off to speed up the download.

Question s22 ultra tmobile flash HELP PLEASE

can anyone help me.
I have a s22u s908u tmobile locked unpaid. is it possible to flash it to global firmware?
will it remove the carrier restrictions?
does anyone has a tutorial for this problem?
thank you guys and more power.
You can Odin flash "unlocked" firmware, U1 as opposed to U firmware that is.
But it has zero affect on the status of your simlock status.
Also you might find if you go to unlock it that you need to go back to the TMobile firmware to access the app they use to sim unlock it.
What exactly are the restrictions you are trying to circumvent?
pcriz said:
You can Odin flash "unlocked" firmware, U1 as opposed to U firmware that is.
But it has zero affect on the status of your simlock status.
Also you might find if you go to unlock it that you need to go back to the TMobile firmware to access the app they use to sim unlock it.
What exactly are the restrictions you are trying to circumvent?
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Click to collapse
I am in the philippines, some one sold me the phone and told me it was unlocked clumsy me didnt check it. cant unlock it via server since it is unpaid and cant return it either. thats why im looking for an alternative way so i can use my simcard here.
Ahh. So yeah. You may want to worry about the simcard situation first and flashing the firmware won't fix that. I know there are paid services out there that will take Paypal and such but I haven't used one in almost ten years so I won't be any help there
pcriz said:
Ahh. So yeah. You may want to worry about the simcard situation first and flashing the firmware won't fix that. I know there are paid services out there that will take Paypal and such but I haven't used one in almost ten years so I won't be any help there
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Click to collapse
thanks bud
But if there is still money owed by the person you bought it from there is a chance it will be black listed. You were basically sold a device that he or she didn't own, correct?
butchieboy said:
But if there is still money owed by the person you bought it from there is a chance it will be black listed. You were basically sold a device that he or she didn't own, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly, im screwed right?
I am in the same boat as u, though was able to get my device (Tmobile) unlocked from 3rd party vendor and using it in India. But am not getting any OTA updates.
What could be the reason and what should be done.
Can i flash an Indian/gobal ROM and get OTA updates. Also will it lock the phone again and/or wipe out the data on the phone.
Any help would be highly appreciated
The moment you put a SIM it will the IMEI flashing won't change this. If you change your IMEI with certain software in the US you can have a visit from the Feds as this is something that terrorist do to spoof IMEIs.

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