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AT&T Developer Program has sent me a new HTC Aria (HTC Intruder).
I've never had a SmartPhone. Imagine that. But I am a web developer with reasonable skills in that context and want to start deploying to mobile devices.
The device has no SIM and doesn't really do anything. So I have to learn if it is possible to get a SIM, have it configured somehow so I can use the phone --only-- at WiFi spots so I do not have to buy a voice and data plan --or-- hopefully other developers can recommend strategy and tactics to help me get this phone operable so I can at least install my own HTML5 apps and test viewing them and such.
izitso?
canitbe?
You don't need a sim card to use Voip, wifi or apps...
You dont need a SIM card to use wifi, apps, or things like that. Why you say that what message the smartphones gives to you ?
I also dont think u need any wifi to use developer mode on the phone for apps...if you hit setting and hit apps you will see development
csgallagher said:
AT&T Developer Program has sent me a new HTC Aria (HTC Intruder).
I've never had a SmartPhone. Imagine that. But I am a web developer with reasonable skills in that context and want to start deploying to mobile devices.
The device has no SIM and doesn't really do anything. So I have to learn if it is possible to get a SIM, have it configured somehow so I can use the phone --only-- at WiFi spots so I do not have to buy a voice and data plan --or-- hopefully other developers can recommend strategy and tactics to help me get this phone operable so I can at least install my own HTML5 apps and test viewing them and such.
izitso?
canitbe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you root the device, you can (backup first!) delete the contents of the /efs folder. This will scrub the IMEI of your device, and it will revert to an unbranded "generic" IMEI instead. Once you have done this, you can simply use an AT&T GoPhone SIM card on it without issue.
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
If you root the device, you can (backup first!) delete the contents of the /efs folder. This will scrub the IMEI of your device, and it will revert to an unbranded "generic" IMEI instead. Once you have done this, you can simply use an AT&T GoPhone SIM card on it without issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. That's what I think I'll look into then because I can currently cope with GoPhone terms.
dragondgold said:
You dont need a SIM card to use wifi, apps, or things like that. Why you say that what message the smartphones gives to you ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carrier splash screen loads then displays "No SIM card in Phone" with red ! warning icon and asks Please inseart a SIM card but I now get into settings tonight (wierd).
I think I have to try WiFi in a coffee shop or try some "official" WiFi hotspot for ATT to determine if the carrier imposes using their WiFi and only their WiFi.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
csgallagher said:
Carrier splash screen loads then displays "No SIM card in Phone" with red ! warning icon and asks Please inseart a SIM card but I now get into settings tonight (wierd).
I think I have to try WiFi in a coffee shop or try some "official" WiFi hotspot for ATT to determine if the carrier imposes using their WiFi and only their WiFi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? Wi-fi is wi-fi. The carriers do not make you use "their" wi-fi. You want to develop, but you are having problems with the very very basics here.
lowandbehold said:
What? Wi-fi is wi-fi. The carriers do not make you use "their" wi-fi. You want to develop, but you are having problems with the very very basics here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I know I said that right out I am a noob "in this context." I have no idea how the carriers have or have not modified Android to maintain control of the devices they load their branded modifications on.
Hence if a phone is "locked" I presumed a carrier could cripple the use before a SIM card representing a customer account was installed and configured to operate the phone further.
I also know what rooting does but not the effects of any changes to UI afterwards. Again, its been my presumption that part of operating the device is added by a carrier using some kind of mobile development framework that may or may not be available after rooting.
Rooting doesn't change the framework. Its actually quite a simple concept: you add a superuser binary to the system ROM which the user has permission to execute. In order to control access to the binary, people generally install the superuser application off the market AFTER initially rooting their phone.
The trick is finding a way to write the new superuser binary to a read only file system.
Alright, so, last weekend I got a new Samsung Galaxy J7 with Android 6.0.1. The first thing I did was rooting it. It was all going fine until I accidentally unticked the "OEM Unlock" option on Developer Mode, so when I rebooted it, it had an FRP Lock.
I used a Latin American firmware to be able to boot it again. At boot, there was this "entel" logo, and this seemed to have changed my IMEI because my phone always said Network Unavailable. I didn't check the IMEI prior to rooting it, but I noticed the printed one and the one shown on the phone weren't the same... but this isn't the real problem.
Originally, the phone was unlocked (no specific carrier/operator holding it), and I somehow "fixed" the Network Unavailable thing by erasing the efs folder on root... well, it was a longer process than just deleting it, I backed up the folder and copied some files (some might know what I'm talking about). After that, the IMEI was the same than the printed one, but, my phone is now network SIM locked!
I have to input a code to unlock it. I did some googling and apparently only the carrier can give it to you, so I tried 3 different carrier SIM cards to see if any of them were the carrier's, but none of them worked as accepted,and I don't know what carrier could it be... I'm even worried it may be a Latin American one (from Chile or Argentina maybe since that's where the firmware used was from) and I won't be able to get it.
I know there are websites to get a code, but I don't want to pay so much and risk getting scammed.
I tried to see if "entel" was a carrier to unlock it, but it didn't help.
Also, when I try to choose a network on Mobile Networks settings, the only available one is AT&T (which I don't use/have a SIM of), but when I accessed their website to unlock, it said my IMEI wasn't registered as theirs apparently.
Then, I also tried using Samsung's Smart Switch application on PC with the Device Initialization option, but when I try to use the firmware from that I get a SW REV. Check Fail.
I might be wrong, but I feel that since messing with the system files/root was what changed it, maybe I can fix it the same way with no unlock code or carrier help.
So, does anyone have advice, or know some other way to reset it? Or do I really have to go get it fixed/unlocked somewhere?
frostx said:
Alright, so, last weekend I got a new Samsung Galaxy J7 with Android 6.0.1. The first thing I did was rooting it. It was all going fine until I accidentally unticked the "OEM Unlock" option on Developer Mode, so when I rebooted it, it had an FRP Lock.
I used a Latin American firmware to be able to boot it again. At boot, there was this "entel" logo, and this seemed to have changed my IMEI because my phone always said Network Unavailable. I didn't check the IMEI prior to rooting it, but I noticed the printed one and the one shown on the phone weren't the same... but this isn't the real problem.
Originally, the phone was unlocked (no specific carrier/operator holding it), and I somehow "fixed" the Network Unavailable thing by erasing the efs folder on root... well, it was a longer process than just deleting it, I backed up the folder and copied some files (some might know what I'm talking about). After that, the IMEI was the same than the printed one, but, my phone is now network SIM locked!
I have to input a code to unlock it. I did some googling and apparently only the carrier can give it to you, so I tried 3 different carrier SIM cards to see if any of them were the carrier's, but none of them worked as accepted,and I don't know what carrier could it be... I'm even worried it may be a Latin American one (from Chile or Argentina maybe since that's where the firmware used was from) and I won't be able to get it.
I know there are websites to get a code, but I don't want to pay so much and risk getting scammed.
I tried to see if "entel" was a carrier to unlock it, but it didn't help.
Also, when I try to choose a network on Mobile Networks settings, the only available one is AT&T (which I don't use/have a SIM of), but when I accessed their website to unlock, it said my IMEI wasn't registered as theirs apparently.
Then, I also tried using Samsung's Smart Switch application on PC with the Device Initialization option, but when I try to use the firmware from that I get a SW REV. Check Fail.
I might be wrong, but I feel that since messing with the system files/root was what changed it, maybe I can fix it the same way with no unlock code or carrier help.
So, does anyone have advice, or know some other way to reset it? Or do I really have to go get it fixed/unlocked somewhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get anywhere with this? I am trying to switch carriers from t mobile to boost on the Sm-j700f and I need to unlock it
or is it equally secure to use the same sim card but a new different number.
On the same carrier
kjarak said:
or is it equally secure to use the same sim card but a new different number. On the same carrier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In general...
Carriers tie the Phone Number with the SIM card Number and the SIM Card Number is tied to a devices IMEI (aka Serial Number).
So if you have a phone number for a device, and then change the SIM Card, the device will not be able to use that phone number on a different SIM.
The only way to tie the phone number to a different SIM is for the carrier to port the phone number over to the new SIM.
This cannot be modified or bypassed on the device because their all tied in to the carriers system for the towers.
I hope that I had explained this okay via text...
Good Luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I DO NOT provide support via PM unless asked/requested by myself. PLEASE keep it in the threads where everyone can share.
Thank you. I was trying to figure out the following scenario.
Let's say I suspect some kind of remote tampering or location tracking without physical access to my phone.
Which one is more secure:
1. Change the phone number with the same carrier
2. Change the phone number and ask for a new sim card on the same carrier.
This is a European carrier.
kjarak said:
Thank you. I was trying to figure out the following scenario.
Let's say I suspect some kind of remote tampering or location tracking without physical access to my phone.
Which one is more secure:
1. Change the phone number with the same carrier
2. Change the phone number and ask for a new sim card on the same carrier.
This is a European carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's one thing that you need to know: tracking your device is also possible when the IMEI number is known(and the IMEI can be changed also) so even when you switch the sim card and the device has location services or internet access it's quite easy to locate your device once it's been setup.
Actually one of these people has all the info from the phone box (IMEI, etc)
Are there other ways to track. Is it easy for anyone to track me with an app, etc. Is it equally easy to track an older non-smart phone.
I saw several time, errors with I think triangle with exclamation mark (I can't remember the exact words) that I have no access to network. This would stay briefly and then be removed. What are the implications of this.
If someone has my number, is it fairly easy for them to get the IMEI.
If they have the IMEI, does this allow them to track location or also get access to my data.
How can I protect myself.
strongst said:
There's one thing that you need to know: tracking your device is also possible when the IMEI number is known(and the IMEI can be changed also) so even when you switch the sim card and the device has location services or internet access it's quite easy to locate your device once it's been setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would these 2 situations be explained.
I am putting the regular (not smart) phone in the pocket. It turns on. It appears I called my own number. It's possible that I pressed dial but I felt I wasn't pressing any keys. It's an old phone with a square large button below the screen. The call log on the phone does show that a call was made to the same phone (calling my own number). would this be visible on the phone if it was done remotely (or would that even be possible: remotely causing a phone to call itself)
I am told by an older guy that someone called from my number and gave a different name than mine (I am asked if I use a different name). The phone was in my possession at all times and it's a smart phone.
I was testing google find my device. I am getting "can't reach device" with location ON on phone. Why would this happen?
On the other hand, I can "play a sound"
kjarak said:
I was testing google find my device. I am getting "can't reach device" with location ON on phone. Why would this happen?
On the other hand, I can "play a sound"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, yeah seems like your device is high jacked by someone. There was a case like yours some month ago here on xda(don't remember the thread right now). You should wipe your device completely(within twrp format every partition.
Then install a aosp based rom.
Maybe this wipes the remote access too, but sadly I'm not sure cause the other guy did it he same but after this it was like before.
Which part makes you think it's hijacked?
not being able to find the device.? or something else (someone calling with the same number in the above post)
It did find the device after I moved it a little bit. It wasn't finding it when it was still.
Then it was not finding the device after I turned off location.
Is that how it works if someone is searching by using IMEI with an app. ie. if I turn off location then device cannot be located.
Which AOSP ROM?
In that case, if remote access wasn't wiped, what was the reason?
If someone has the IMEI, can they hijack repeatedly?
strongst said:
Hi, yeah seems like your device is high jacked by someone. There was a case like yours some month ago here on xda(don't remember the thread right now). You should wipe your device completely(within twrp format every partition.
Then install a aosp based rom.
Maybe this wipes the remote access too, but sadly I'm not sure cause the other guy did it he same but after this it was like before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kjarak said:
Which part makes you think it's hijacked?
not being able to find the device.? or something else (someone calling with the same number in the above post)
It did find the device after I moved it a little bit. It wasn't finding it when it was still.
Then it was not finding the device after I turned off location.
Is that how it works if someone is searching by using IMEI with an app. ie. if I turn off location then device cannot be located.
Which AOSP ROM?
In that case, if remote access wasn't wiped, what was the reason?
If someone has the IMEI, can they hijack repeatedly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This makes me think someone hijacked your phone https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...-change-sim-card-change-t3746592/post75146000
I don't know what device you have(you didn't wrote it) but try any non stock rom hence aosp based like LineageOS or ressurection remix for example and wipe your device before completely.
I don't know the root cause of this problem, I just remember me what was happening on the other member last year and maybe you are in the same situation.
If not, maybe there's help for you
It's an LG G3.
The link you posted leads to a ROM. Is it the correct link?
strongst said:
This makes me think someone hijacked your phone https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...-change-sim-card-change-t3746592/post75146000
I don't know what device you have(you didn't wrote it) but try any non stock rom hence aosp based like LineageOS or ressurection remix for example and wipe your device before completely.
I don't know the root cause of this problem, I just remember me what was happening on the other member last year and maybe you are in the same situation.
If not, maybe there's help for you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I put the SIM card which was briefly in the phone into a new phone, would that allow someone to continue to track me or should I get a new number and sim
kjarak said:
It's an LG G3.
The link you posted leads to a ROM. Is it the correct link?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, wrong link
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...-change-sim-card-change-t3746592/post75546070
kjarak said:
If I put the SIM card which was briefly in the phone into a new phone, would that allow someone to continue to track me or should I get a new number and sim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should try. It's also possible to track you again if he has a duplicate sim(yeah, that's possible). But I don't think so.
That's a link to this thread in which we are posting.
strongst said:
Sorry, wrong link
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ge...-change-sim-card-change-t3746592/post75546070
You should try. It's also possible to track you again if he has a duplicate sim(yeah, that's possible). But I don't think so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kjarak said:
That's a link to this thread in which we are posting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly: your story let me think your phone/sim is hijacked.
I thought you found the thread you were talking about here of someone from a few months ago.
strongst said:
Hi, yeah seems like your device is high jacked by someone. There was a case like yours some month ago here on xda(don't remember the thread right now). You should wipe your device completely(within twrp format every partition.
Then install a aosp based rom.
Maybe this wipes the remote access too, but sadly I'm not sure cause the other guy did it he same but after this it was like before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kjarak said:
I thought you found the thread you were talking about here of someone from a few months ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was no solution sadly :crying:
If a phone is hijacked, does that mean the attacker has access to all data, camera, mic, calls, etc. Can make calls from the number, etc. or just track location.
Would this be visible to the phone company?
Is there a solution.
kjarak said:
If a phone is hijacked, does that mean the attacker has access to all data, camera, mic, calls, etc. Can make calls from the number, etc. or just track location.
Would this be visible to the phone company?
Is there a solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Trojans its all possible.
Did you already do what I wrote? Format the phone completely and install a aosp based rom? You didn't wrote what rom you're running and which apps... Maybe you have a app that's faulty
kjarak said:
If a phone is hijacked, does that mean the attacker has access to all data, camera, mic, calls, etc. Can make calls from the number, etc. or just track location.
Would this be visible to the phone company?
Is there a solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Further to previous comments By strongest
Yes, if hijacked (trojan installed ) then it's likely they can access anything they want, though it depends on Trojan installed.
As you got a phone call from someone who gave a different name your phone may have been cloned (possibly after malware infection or if someone has hadphysical access to it & copied imie etc). This is good in that your phone bill will show activity of the other phone & you can get help from your phone company. Your Google acc may show something too....
have you done the basics? Installed good anti virus, checked if rooted, checked if app showing in device administrators etc. Even if it comes back negative a port may have been opened & Trojan self deleted. Then you need to either try a firewall or check network traffic to identify unknown connections so probably easiest to just reflash full stock ROM or custom ( best as LineageOS will give you security updates every month ) ( make sure you backup your pic, files, contacts etc first )
They can only track your imei if they have access to the network infrastructure (as far as I know) assuming you have removed any Trojans, tracker, spy app etc and have clean install a ROM,
If you had a Trojan you should assume they have ALL your passwords, including your WiFi (maybe router admin too!) Change them all (use a password manager)
Last month, I decided that I wanted to try rooting my Samsung galaxy s21 + 5g (model name SM-g996u), and I got as far as unlocking the network before I hit a snag. In all of the tutorials I have looked at concerning how to root my device, they all keep saying that I need to OEM Unlock my phone under the developer settings. However, as the title of this post would indicate, that setting is not present in the development settings. I have just about lost my damn mind trying to find and enable this setting via online tutorials, and I keep coming across the same suggestions: configure date/time setting so that it is not automatically set, manually set the date back a couple of months, go to dev settings and disable auto-update system setting, disable 'Download updates automatically' setting in software update (this is the only step I was not able to follow because that setting appears to have been removed from more updated version), and restart the device. I even tried removing my sim card, resetting my phone, and retrying the previously outlined steps. Nothing has worked. Is there anyone out there that can help me with this? Any info would be great.
Is device leased from a carrier, e.g Verizon? AFAIK by default this phone has OEM Unlock option in Android's Developer Options.
[Android][UNSAMLOCK] Bootloader Unlock for Samsung US/Canada Devices
This thread is @svetius approved Important notice: Do not update to April 2023 security update (XXXXXXXXXXWCX) or later. Examples: G998USQS6EWCA, N986USQU4HWD1. Samsung has patched the bootloader unlock again on those updates. NOTE: The OneUI...
forum.xda-developers.com
whiggs2 said:
Last month, I decided that I wanted to try rooting my Samsung galaxy s21 + 5g (model name SM-g996u), and I got as far as unlocking the network before I hit a snag. In all of the tutorials I have looked at concerning how to root my device, they all keep saying that I need to OEM Unlock my phone under the developer settings. However, as the title of this post would indicate, that setting is not present in the development settings. I have just about lost my damn mind trying to find and enable this setting via online tutorials, and I keep coming across the same suggestions: configure date/time setting so that it is not automatically set, manually set the date back a couple of months, go to dev settings and disable auto-update system setting, disable 'Download updates automatically' setting in software update (this is the only step I was not able to follow because that setting appears to have been removed from more updated version), and restart the device. I even tried removing my sim card, resetting my phone, and retrying the previously outlined steps. Nothing has worked. Is there anyone out there that can help me with this? Any info would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This device(all of the US models) doesn't have the OEM unlock option. As far as I know, these devices have to be unlocked via a paid service from a 3rd party.
jwoegerbauer said:
Is device leased from a carrier, e.g Verizon? AFAIK by default this phone has OEM Unlock option in Android's Developer Options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Device has been paid off. It is also network unlocked as well. The device was originally leased from Tmobile. I am aware that the setting is supposed to be in developer settings. I am telling you, it is not showing up for me.
whiggs2 said:
Device has been paid off. It is also network unlocked as well. The device was originally leased from Tmobile. I am aware that the setting is supposed to be in developer settings. I am telling you, it is not showing up for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May I'm wrong but the fact that the client have covered the contract, doesn't mean that the carrier do that, if a special petition was not presented to them, then, they don't care about. If the device came with a firmware that came with that feature disabled, so it, also, ends its "normal" life with the same featured included (or not) in the firmware by default.
But you could make advantage from the network unlocked condition, switching to a different firmware it would be possible, and, the option may appear.
SubwayChamp said:
May I'm wrong but the fact that the client have covered the contract, doesn't mean that the carrier do that, if a special petition was not presented to them, then, they don't care about. If the device came with a firmware that came with that feature disabled, so it, also, ends its "normal" life with the same featured included (or not) in the firmware by default.
But you could make advantage from the network unlocked condition, switching to a different firmware it would be possible, and, the option may appear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen that suggestion mentioned before online, though I have not really found any good tutorials on how to go about doing that. Any suggestions?
Droidriven said:
This device(all of the US models) doesn't have the OEM unlock option. As far as I know, these devices have to be unlocked via a paid service from a 3rd party.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This - The 'U' devices do not have OEM unlock by default.
whiggs2 said:
I have seen that suggestion mentioned before online, though I have not really found any good tutorials on how to go about doing that. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may be just a kind of starting point, to have in mind, but that need more research though, I did it in my GN8 but with your device, things may be different.
There are some things you have to check, in the download screen, KG has to be completed, not prenormal or checking, also search for the CSCs that are compatible for your device, this is one of the tutorial, kind of, that I followed https://www.getdroidtips.com/guide-...ocked-firmware-galaxy-note-8-sm-n950u-n950u1/
Xiaomi Qin F21 Pro with US Bands
LTE Bands 2, 4, 12, 13, 17, 66, 71 as provided by the US Qin F30 Kosher.
Things you need:
Windows PC (as far as I know this only works on Windows)
Qin F21 Pro with unlocked bootloader and TWRP installed.
See: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tools-mod-scripts-mlgmxyysds-qin-f21-pro-unlock-tool.4368277/
(This can be a headache, there are probably better ways to do this.)
See: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...om-firmware-root-playstore-certified.4405615/
You only have to follow this tutorial up to the point of installing the boot_2.img in TWRP you do not have to root if you don't want to. I do believe most of us with F21's probably have already done this entire tutorial though.
SP Flash Tool: See tutorial above, it comes with it.
ADB (and please know how to use it): https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/
The files I provide with this link Which are: F30 files (from my purchased F30), my edited scatter file to show new partitions, SN Write tool with provided Database files.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/3fba0dugos3lkdv/F30_US_LTE_Bands_Package.zip/file
I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOUR PHONE DOESN'T BOOT, SOFT/HARD BRICKED! THIS TUTORIAL IS TO DO AT YOUR OWN RISK!
GUIDE:
1. Write down your F21's Original IMEI, Wifi Mac Address, and Bluetooth Address.
Go into your phone settings and scroll all the way down to "About Phone".
Here you will find your IMEI, Device Wi-Fi MAC address, and Bluetooth address.
WRITE THESE DOWN!!!!!!!! YOU NEED THESE LATER!!!!!!! I even included a txt file for you to do it in!
We want to write these down because we will need them for the SNwriter tool later.
2. Turn off your phone and boot into TWRP, you can do this by holding the heart/owl key (top left) and the * (star, bottom left) key, you will see the Douqin Logo. Keep holding until TWRP boots.
3. Plug the F21 into computer and TWRP will allow ADB connections. We are going to use ADB to pull/backup your modem and identifier files in case you mess up =)
DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. WE WILL BE OVERWRITING THESE FILES - THEY CONTAIN THE IDENTIFIERS THAT YOU WROTE DOWN ABOVE.
Even though we will no longer be using these files, they are original to your phone, and I think its incredibly important to have a back up. I even included an empty folder for you to put them in!
Use the following ADB commands:
adb pull /dev/block/by-name/nvdata
adb pull /dev/block/by-name/nvram
adb pull /dev/block/by-name/nvcfg
Now find those files and put them some where safe!!!
(You can also use TWRP and copy the files, and put the on a USB stick or maybe some where else on the phone)
4. Turn off the phone again, you can do this from TWRP by going to Reboot and chosing Power Off.
5. Open SPFlash Tool and load the scatter file provided from my files "MT6761_Android_scatter - edited.txt". This will add the NVData, NVRam, NVcfg partitions to flashable partitions.
5a. Uncheck all the boxes we don't need and only check off nvcfg, nvdata, nvram, and md1img_a. These are the ONLY partitions we are flashing. (They should already be selected! BUT SO WILL THE PRELOADER, UNCHECK PRELOADER, I had to include it in the folder for the flashing to work, but we do NOT need to flash it!)
5b. Click the "location" portion of each row and find the corresponding file from the files I provided. (This should already be done!)
5c. When you got everything set up, click the Green Arrow Download button. With your phone turned off, hold the BACK button (top right) and plug it in. It will flash these files to your phone. KEEP YOUR PHONE OFF FOR NOW.
6. Open SNwrite tool on your computer, make sure ComPort says USBVCOM, and Target Type says Smart Phone.
6a. Open the System Config button and make sure ONLY IMEI, BT Address, and Wifi Address are checked off in the "Write Option" (top left) section.
6b. In the DataBase File section (at the bottom) and make sure "Load AP DB from DUT and Load Modem DB from DUT are checked.
6c. Click on the MD1_DB button and select the "MDDB_InfoCustomAppSrcP_MT6761_S00_MOLY_LR12A_R3_MP_V88_3_1_ulwctg_n.EDB" file located in the AP DB Base\\MT6761 folder (within SNwrite folder).
6d. Click on the AP_DB button and seelect the "APDB_MT6761_S01__W1947" file located in the AP DB Base\MT6761 folder (within SNwrite folder).
6e. Click Save and go back to the main window, click on "Start" and a new window will pop up. Remember how I told you to WRITE DOWN all of these from your F21? This is where we need it.
IMEI_1 = your original IMEI.
BT Addr = Your Bluetooth Address (no colons!)
Wifi Addr = Your Wifi MAC Address (no colons!)
6f. Before you click OK be sure to have your phone at the ready. You will need to, just like with SP Flash Tool, hold the back button as you plug it in! Click OK and plug in your phone with the back button held. Wait for the bar to progress and the green PASS signal to light up.
6g. When its done, your original identifiers will be flashed to your phone! Another window may pop up making you think you have to flash again, just close it as long as you saw that Green PASS signal you are good.
7. TURN ON YOUR PHONE AND ENJOY US LTE BANDS!!!!!! 2, 4, 12, 13, 17, 66, 71
These cover most of T-mobile and Verizon users!
Go back into your phone settings as in Step 1 and make sure your original IMEI, Wifi Mac Address and Bluetooth Address are there.
To confirm the bands, use the phone dialer and type:
*#*#3646633#*#*
This will take you into engineering mode (use at your own risk, don't mess with anything!) and click on Band Mode. Scroll thru the bands and you can confirm which ones are active. As far as which ones are currently being used, I am unsure of how to do that just yet. Will update when I know (was told there are apps that might be able to do this).
-----------------------------
Things to note:
AGAIN: BE SURE TO BACK UP YOUR FILES and write down your IMEI, Wifi MAC ADDRESS and BLUETOOTH ADDRESS! I cannot state this enough.
If you do not do the SNwrite tool (section 6 of the steps) you will have DUMMY made-up identifiers, and technically those will work for a while.. but you don't want to have the same ones as others, so please do section 6.
I cannot help you with unlocking your bootloader, that part can be easier and the tool I linked was not fun. There are apparently much easier ways, please look into them.
If you can unlock your bootloader, and install TWRP you can do the rest of these steps easy!
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If you would like to buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/storymode
I'd like to thank:
Jbazt_katuforzs (XDA forums) for the Unofficial Qin F21 Pro firmware tutorial.
Sense_101 (XDA forums) who I couldn't have done this without, they helped me with learning ADB commands and knowing which files I would need to get this done.
mosheys (XDA) who told me about SNwrite tool.. which I knew about, but couldn't work before, and gave me the motivation to try again, really made this all come together.
jbriones95 (Reddit) who got me into Dumbphones and introduced me, through his videos, to the F21 Pro. The perfect phone for me!
eitokai (Reddit) who worked on tinkering with the F30 and made me believe I could do it too, and make progress - and everyone they thanked helped too!
Quick shout outs to Highpowers23 (Reddit), and 154FAviator (Reddit).
Lots of other random tutorials online where other people were trying to do similar things with their phones!!
-edits-
4/25/23: Fixed an issue where SPFlash tool was giving an Invalid Preloader error on Step 5a. I had to add the preloader file to the supplied download, but we do NOT need to flash the preloader. Edited step 5a to reflect change. Thanks to XDA user mosheys for pointing it out =)
amazing. looking forward to trying this out later tonight.
It worked! Amazing. Thank you for putting the time in to write this up.
Wow, and I always thought that network bands are hardware that can't be added...
How's that possible?
Hi
I have been using this flashed US Bands thing on my phone, and I notice there's few places that my phone just gets thrown off service, I can be in middle of a call and the call ends, etc
Also I miss a lot of calls due to it getting thrown off service in certain areas. (not talking here in basements etc, just random on street)
Anybody else experience such issues?
DEV845 said:
Hi
I have been using this flashed US Bands thing on my phone, and I notice there's few places that my phone just gets thrown off service, I can be in middle of a call and the call ends, etc
Also I miss a lot of calls due to it getting thrown off service in certain areas. (not talking here in basements etc, just random on street)
Anybody else experience such issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry I haven't had any issues at all except for one time when I ran out of data unknowingly. What phone provider are you with? You might have to manually add their APNs to your settings.
shulemf said:
Wow, and I always thought that network bands are hardware that can't be added...
How's that possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what they'd like you to believe! It can be mostly true, but since the F21 has a US clone, the F30, I was able to make it work via their files. Next thing I really want to try is adding more bands if possible. But it involves hex editing perhaps which I'm no good at.
CatStoleTheCrown said:
That's what they'd like you to believe! It can be mostly true, but since the F21 has a US clone, the F30, I was able to make it work via their files. Next thing I really want to try is adding more bands if possible. But it involves hex editing perhaps which I'm no good at.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you figure this out . Love my f21 so much since I used your guide
Can someone post a step by step video on how to do this
Will this work on f22 pro also?
Hi there! Thanks so much for the guide and the files
I followed all your instructions with my brand new F21 pro unlocked that I got from aliexpress, 64/4 version. when the phone arrived, it was already unlocked and had TWRP installed. So I went to follow your tutorial from that point. I specifically bought this phone to use on Verizon for a family member that does not use smart phones so this would be big upgrade for them, since most of the options for Verizon basic phones are bad choices.
Anyway, I consider myself fairly intelligent and computer savvy, I followed your instructions exactly and got no errors both times. first, I got the green checkmark after downloading the files then I did the imei writing I got the green PASS with 0 errors
so I go to turn the phone on, the system now appears "kosher." the Chinese play store is gone, etc. the system is telling me there is a software update which I ignore... when I plug the SIM card into the phone, I am not getting any cellular reception, however the phone does see that sim belongs with Verizon. my phone number shows up in the about section, as well as the original imei and Mac and bluetooth address. so it appears my writing to the phone was successful, but for some reason the bands are not active. I can do wifi calling with Verizon but not over cellular.
I really dont think I did anything wrong but I do have a question was the sp flash tool supposed to only say "download" in the drop down box from the first step?? was it supposed to be install and format??? I left it on download because I wasn't instructed to change anything and went about my business but I am just trying to figure out what went wrong.
again, I want to reiterate, the Verizon employee said they did not see the imei I provided to them with my current sim already in the phone, so why could they not see the f21 pro with original imei and lte bands after your guide? was he lying because they do not want me to use this phone? he asked me if the phone was Samsung and I just said yeah, he was foreign and I didn't feel like explaining.
really trying to figure out what went wrong here. it's frustrating that you can get it to work but I can't. I successfully copied the imei, Mac and Bluetooth address so I dont think that is it. when I go to look at the bands in the developer menu, I do not see the bands you mention with a check box next them. does that mean they are not active??
I really dont want to have to return this phone or sell it because it was a gift and it is actually quite nice for the money. so I put the SIM card back in the old basic phone (sonim xp5) and naturally, it is working as it should... this is a LTE sim and both phones use LTE, so I do not see what the problem is
is there something that must be changed manually in the cellular settings after sim insertion such as LTE/ CDMA only or something like that? again I am on Verizon and I have decent coverage where I am trying this.
thanks
it worked ! Thanks for sharing this guide !
TweakBox Tutuapp​
moogpunk said:
Hi there! Thanks so much for the guide and the files
I followed all your instructions with my brand new F21 pro unlocked that I got from aliexpress, 64/4 version. when the phone arrived, it was already unlocked and had TWRP installed. So I went to follow your tutorial from that point. I specifically bought this phone to use on Verizon for a family member that does not use smart phones so this would be big upgrade for them, since most of the options for Verizon basic phones are bad choices.
Anyway, I consider myself fairly intelligent and computer savvy, I followed your instructions exactly and got no errors both times. first, I got the green checkmark after downloading the files then I did the imei writing I got the green PASS with 0 errors
so I go to turn the phone on, the system now appears "kosher." the Chinese play store is gone, etc. the system is telling me there is a software update which I ignore... when I plug the SIM card into the phone, I am not getting any cellular reception, however the phone does see that sim belongs with Verizon. my phone number shows up in the about section, as well as the original imei and Mac and bluetooth address. so it appears my writing to the phone was successful, but for some reason the bands are not active. I can do wifi calling with Verizon but not over cellular.
I really dont think I did anything wrong but I do have a question was the sp flash tool supposed to only say "download" in the drop down box from the first step?? was it supposed to be install and format??? I left it on download because I wasn't instructed to change anything and went about my business but I am just trying to figure out what went wrong.
again, I want to reiterate, the Verizon employee said they did not see the imei I provided to them with my current sim already in the phone, so why could they not see the f21 pro with original imei and lte bands after your guide? was he lying because they do not want me to use this phone? he asked me if the phone was Samsung and I just said yeah, he was foreign and I didn't feel like explaining.
really trying to figure out what went wrong here. it's frustrating that you can get it to work but I can't. I successfully copied the imei, Mac and Bluetooth address so I dont think that is it. when I go to look at the bands in the developer menu, I do not see the bands you mention with a check box next them. does that mean they are not active??
I really dont want to have to return this phone or sell it because it was a gift and it is actually quite nice for the money. so I put the SIM card back in the old basic phone (sonim xp5) and naturally, it is working as it should... this is a LTE sim and both phones use LTE, so I do not see what the problem is
is there something that must be changed manually in the cellular settings after sim insertion such as LTE/ CDMA only or something like that? again I am on Verizon and I have decent coverage where I am trying this.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there,
The fact that the bands aren't checked off in engineering mode indeed means that the bands aren't active (I did it and the bands showed up) you should of course redo the setup carefully in case you might have missed a step.
About Sp flash tool all you have to press is the green download arrow at the top of the window. And remember to make sure to deselect the preloader partition.
And not sure if I understood you correctly but you mentioned that after you finished the process you got the full kosher version on the phone, that shouldn't be the case because we are only copying the necessary partitions from the f30 for the service to work(I might have misunderstood you on that last one).
Potential_Threat said:
Hey there,
The fact that the bands aren't checked off in engineering mode indeed means that the bands aren't active (I did it and the bands showed up) you should of course redo the setup carefully in case you might have missed a step.
About Sp flash tool all you have to press is the green download arrow at the top of the window. And remember to make sure to deselect the preloader partition.
And not sure if I understood you correctly but you mentioned that after you finished the process you got the full kosher version on the phone, that shouldn't be the case because we are only copying the necessary partitions from the f30 for the service to work(I might have misunderstood you on that last one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had prepared the phone for the user I bought it for thinking I did al the steps right. when I realized the phone wasnt working, I re did the tutorial. it wiped all the apps and work I had previously done on the phone such as adding the play store, certification, etc and various apps. it was ready to go... so when I did the tutorial again, starting at the step where you load the F30 files, the phone appeared "kosher" when I flashed it and was once again app less... that is what I meant. it looked like I had started over.
was there anything about the bootloader or the unlocking process that may have not been done properly by the seller of the phone? Again, the phone arrived to me already unlocked and with TWRP installed so I skipped all those steps thinking I wouldn't need to do them.
what did I do wrong if I erased all the apps and the kosher version got installed and wiped the stuff I had already done when I tried to redo the process ?? I'm literally just following the instructions on a brand new phone.
the only thing I could think that I did wrong was skip the unlocking process but I only did that because I assumed the phone was already unlocked. I would assume it's unlocked if TWRP was already installed.... am I wrong ?
moogpunk said:
the only thing I could think that I did wrong was skip the unlocking process but I only did that because I assumed the phone was already unlocked. I would assume it's unlocked if TWRP was already installed.... am I wrong ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean you bought the version with the Google play store ("unlocked") and that's why you bypassed the other stuff?
moogpunk said:
I had prepared the phone for the user I bought it for thinking I did al the steps right. when I realized the phone wasnt working, I re did the tutorial. it wiped all the apps and work I had previously done on the phone such as adding the play store, certification, etc and various apps. it was ready to go... so when I did the tutorial again, starting at the step where you load the F30 files, the phone appeared "kosher" when I flashed it and was once again app less... that is what I meant. it looked like I had started over.
was there anything about the bootloader or the unlocking process that may have not been done properly by the seller of the phone? Again, the phone arrived to me already unlocked and with TWRP installed so I skipped all those steps thinking I wouldn't need to do them.
what did I do wrong if I erased all the apps and the kosher version got installed and wiped the stuff I had already done when I tried to redo the process ?? I'm literally just following the instructions on a brand new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And now with the kosher version, are you following the steps to fully unlock it first?
nemoslumbers said:
And now with the kosher version, are you following the steps to fully unlock it first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I admit I skipped the unlocking part because I bought the "google unlocked world" version from aliexpress, and so I assumed it was done. and in the developer menu it said the phones boot loader was already unlocked... and the phone had TWRP already, so I assumed in order for TWRP to be there, it was unlocked already.
so I guess you are telling me that I shouldn't have skipped it because it wasn't truly unlocked then? okay, I will try it again.
I do not have the kosher version, I was referring to my f21pro phone after flashing with scatter f30 file.
also I just realized that when I was trying to unlock I was holding the wrong two "top buttons" I thought it was the owl button and the back button, not the camera button and the back button
moogpunk said:
yes. I skipped the unlocking part because I bought the "google unlocked world" version from aliexpress, and so I assumed it was done. and in the developer menu it said the phones boot loader was already unlocked... and the phone had TWRP already, so I assumed in order for TWRP to be there, it was unlocked already.
so I guess you are telling me that I shouldn't have skipped it because it wasn't truly unlocked then? okay, I will try it again.
I do not have the kosher version, I was referring to my f21pro phone after flashing with scatter f30 file.
also I just realized that when I was trying to unlock I was holding the wrong two "top buttons" I thought it was the owl button and the back button, not the camera button and the back button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe give the two top buttons a try before trying the full unlock route? Only a suggestion! I also got the google unlocked world version and was going to try putting all of this on here this weekend. Hoping we don't actually have to go through the full unlock process and maybe it was just the wrong button combo!
nemoslumbers said:
Maybe give the two top buttons a try before trying the full unlock route? Only a suggestion! I also got the google unlocked world version and was going to try putting all of this on here this weekend. Hoping we don't actually have to go through the full unlock process and maybe it was just the wrong button combo!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read some conflicting reports about which buttons it's supposed to be. The actual readme says it's the top two buttons (Owl+back) and someone else, an administrator here actually, posted a photo circling the #+back button.... and someone liked that post assuming it was true
also, someone else said you can only get into TWRP by holding the Star and Owl button when the phone turns on then you have to immediately press the up and back button to boot into TWRP... which isn't entirely true... all you have to do is hold Star+Owl button to boot into TWRP...
I will admit I am new to the world of modding phones but not modding electronics which is why I felt confident enough to take on this project. I have modified many iPods with rockbox in my day and done physical modifications. I find this fun but it's teetering on extremely frustrating.
I am going to have to do the entire unlock process from the very beginning because I don't have any other choice, otherwise I am left with a phone I cannot use on Verizon. it will be waste of ~140usd. not the fault of the aliexpress seller, just poorly written instructions and dumb windows compatibility issues.
I cannot get the phone unlocked because I cannot get my computer to recognize the phone via usb. no amount of button combinations are letting my windows computer see the phone so I cannot unlock it.