Hello community, recently I did the procedure to get the lollipop version in my S4 active i537 keeping root, but after many searches I can't find how to upgrade to marshmallow or nougat version and I wondering why.
I think it have to be because at this moment doesn't exist any way to intall a custom recovery as TWRP or CWM, if this is true, why nobody found the way to unlock the bootloader yet? in order to manage the custom recovery.
And why is so difficult to unlock it?
Which are the differences between this s4 version with the others? And how can I help to unlock the bootloader, thanks in advance.
I'm going to try to answer your questions one at a time:
m44nu33l said:
Hello community, recently I did the procedure to get the lollipop version in my S4 active i537 keeping root, but after many searches I can't find how to upgrade to marshmallow or nougat version and I wondering why.
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Click to collapse
There is not and never will be marshmallow or nougat for the i537. This is because it is outside the "2-year" update cycle of Samsung/AT&T. If you look at other phones from Samsung and AT&T, there are very rarely updates to phones 2 years after the initial release of the phone. There's not really a good reason for this other than Samsung and AT&T want you to buy a new phone to get the latest updates. In the past you would need to get a new phone in order to have new hardware that is able to run the latest version of Android. But we're now at a point that nearly any phone released in the last 2-3 years can run nougat with minor lag. Manufacturers and carriers are holding on to the 2-year upgrade cycle and forcing you to buy new phones in order to get updates.
m44nu33l said:
I think it have to be because at this moment doesn't exist any way to intall a custom recovery as TWRP or CWM, if this is true, why nobody found the way to unlock the bootloader yet? in order to manage the custom recovery.
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Click to collapse
The i537 has a locked bootloader while the i9295 does not have a locked bootloader. Nobody has figured out how to unlock the bootloader on any variant of the S4.
m44nu33l said:
And why is so difficult to unlock it?
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Click to collapse
It's a very long read, but this thread explains exactly why it is so hard to unlock the bootloader. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2500826)
m44nu33l said:
Which are the differences between this s4 version with the others?
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Click to collapse
As I stated above the only difference between the two versions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active (i537 vs i9295) is that the i537 has a locked bootloader and the i9295 does not. The i537 was sold exclusively through AT&T (US), Telcel (Mexico), and Claro (Uruguay), while the i9295 was sold internationally. Neither device will get official versions of marshmallow or nougat, but since the i9295 has an unlocked bootloader you can flash marshmallow and soon nougat custom ROMs. Other than the bootloader, the i537 and i9295 have identical hardware.
m44nu33l said:
And how can I help to unlock the bootloader, thanks in advance.
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Click to collapse
Honestly, unless you have a deep understanding of kernels, Linux, and cryptology, I'm not sure there's much help you can provide. The link I provided above explains all the effort that has been put into unlocking the bootloader. If you truly want to help I would read through that thread and see if there's anything meaningful you can provide.
Finally, if you don't ever want to have this problem again, always do your research and but a phone that has an unlockable bootloader. I purchased the i537 when it first came out only to find that the bootloader was locked and because of that I will never buy another phone with a locked bootloader again. Good luck.
Devo7v said:
I'm going to try to answer your questions one at a time:
There is not and never will be marshmallow or nougat for the i537. This is because it is outside the "2-year" update cycle of Samsung/AT&T. If you look at other phones from Samsung and AT&T, there are very rarely updates to phones 2 years after the initial release of the phone. There's not really a good reason for this other than Samsung and AT&T want you to buy a new phone to get the latest updates. In the past you would need to get a new phone in order to have new hardware that is able to run the latest version of Android. But we're now at a point that nearly any phone released in the last 2-3 years can run nougat with minor lag. Manufacturers and carriers are holding on to the 2-year upgrade cycle and forcing you to buy new phones in order to get updates.
The i537 has a locked bootloader while the i9295 does not have a locked bootloader. Nobody has figured out how to unlock the bootloader on any variant of the S4.
It's a very long read, but this thread explains exactly why it is so hard to unlock the bootloader. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2500826)
As I stated above the only difference between the two versions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active (i537 vs i9295) is that the i537 has a locked bootloader and the i9295 does not. The i537 was sold exclusively through AT&T (US), Telcel (Mexico), and Claro (Uruguay), while the i9295 was sold internationally. Neither device will get official versions of marshmallow or nougat, but since the i9295 has an unlocked bootloader you can flash marshmallow and soon nougat custom ROMs. Other than the bootloader, the i537 and i9295 have identical hardware.
Honestly, unless you have a deep understanding of kernels, Linux, and cryptology, I'm not sure there's much help you can provide. The link I provided above explains all the effort that has been put into unlocking the bootloader. If you truly want to help I would read through that thread and see if there's anything meaningful you can provide.
Finally, if you don't ever want to have this problem again, always do your research and but a phone that has an unlockable bootloader. I purchased the i537 when it first came out only to find that the bootloader was locked and because of that I will never buy another phone with a locked bootloader again. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the explanation, what I will do is change my S4 for the international version in order to get the nougat custom rom.
m44nu33l said:
Thanks for the explanation, what I will do is change my S4 for the international version in order to get the nougat custom rom.
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Click to collapse
well my questions has really been answered , i guess we are never going to get an update , best option is to get a new phone
Related
I've read a ton of posts on this topic and I understand the general consensus is that the bootloader is locked, but has any developer confirmed this? I asked Chainfire about a cf auto-root and he just assumed the bootloader was locked. People assumed this about the tmobile variant as well and apparently tmobile didn't lock the bootloader as people are rooting as we speak. I just wondered if it was even possible to check without the firmware being released.
johnnyutah22 said:
I've read a ton of posts on this topic and I understand the general consensus is that the bootloader is locked, but has any developer confirmed this? I asked Chainfire about a cf auto-root and he just assumed the bootloader was locked. People assumed this about the tmobile variant as well and apparently tmobile didn't lock the bootloader as people are rooting as we speak. I just wondered if it was even possible to check without the firmware being released.
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Click to collapse
I would but I don't know how. I tried to Google it but didn't come up with a whole lot of info.
johnnyutah22 said:
I've read a ton of posts on this topic and I understand the general consensus is that the bootloader is locked, but has any developer confirmed this? I asked Chainfire about a cf auto-root and he just assumed the bootloader was locked. People assumed this about the tmobile variant as well and apparently tmobile didn't lock the bootloader as people are rooting as we speak. I just wondered if it was even possible to check without the firmware being released.
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Click to collapse
Need to try and flash something, but theres nothing out to flash lol.... Also ATT 99.9 percent of the time like Verizon locks their BLs, there were reports that TMO was locking it's as well but it seems the initial batch is unlocked, could change but I would count on the ATT variant being unlocked.
Guys, it's LOCKED. No, I can't confirm it, but why would AT&T say they don't support unlocked bootloaders and then ship the S5 with an unlocked bootloader? I think not.
MattMJB0188 said:
Guys, it's LOCKED. No, I can't confirm it, but why would AT&T say they don't support unlocked bootloaders and then ship the S5 with an unlocked bootloader? I think not.
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Pretty much this, which means no root, till a new exploit is found...but how many actual ATT devs are there that planned on getting the S5
djkinetic said:
Pretty much this, which means no root, till a new exploit is found...but how many actual ATT devs are there that planned on getting the S5
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Click to collapse
Probably not a lot. When the S4 had its bootloader patched last year development went down the drain, and fast. Everyone kept saying that the developers will unlock it, and they NEVER DID.
I am not trying to dis-respect any developers on here, but I do not like safestrap. Its no where as good as CWM-Recovery. I also loved flashing AOSP roms.
MattMJB0188 said:
Guys, it's LOCKED. No, I can't confirm it, but why would AT&T say they don't support unlocked bootloaders and then ship the S5 with an unlocked bootloader? I think not.
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Click to collapse
What you say makes perfect sense, I'm just saying that it would be nice to have it confirmed. With all of the back and forth between tmobile and their "Uncarrier" promotions and att's counter marketing, maybe att changed their minds to help their image, who knows, it's just a wishful dream I guess. Hopefully when sammobile makes the firmware available, someone can get Chainfire the recovery partition and he will create a cf auto-root for us to try.
johnnyutah22 said:
What you say makes perfect sense, I'm just saying that it would be nice to have it confirmed. With all of the back and forth between tmobile and their "Uncarrier" promotions and att's counter marketing, maybe att changed their minds to help their image, who knows, it's just a wishful dream I guess. Hopefully when sammobile makes the firmware available, someone can get Chainfire the recovery partition and he will create a cf auto-root for us to try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the problem though, if the BL is locked, cf root will most likely either not flash or not boot according to Chainfire, and if either of these happens not only are u without root, but also the knox warranty flag is tripped and your warranty is voided...unfortunately someone has to be willing to take one for the community to confirm all this.
djkinetic said:
Here's the problem though, if the BL is locked, cf root will most likely either not flash or not boot according to Chainfire, and if either of these happens not only are u without root, but also the knox warranty flag is tripped and your warranty is voided...unfortunately someone has to be willing to take one for the community to confirm all this.
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Click to collapse
Isn't that always the case with an unknown new device? I don't think xda would exist if people weren't willing to take some risks.
Looks like Chainfire is in irc looking for some att testers for auto-root. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2696537&page=23
My M7 was rooted and unlocked before I even put the sim card in. What's the problem with rooting the S6 for AT&T, especially when other carriers are already rooted?
I expected to click the forum and already see custom roms, at least de-odexed ones. Then I find out that the Note 4 STILL isn't rooted after months. There's even a change.org petition to at&t begging for an unlock.
I've 14 days to return the phone, and I think I will if I'm not able to root it by then. No point in having a great phone if it's crippled by bloatware and poorly designed software. What are the odds of seeing a rooted/unlocked S6 running custom roms anytime soon?
robenwzrdhat said:
My M7 was rooted and unlocked before I even put the sim card in. What's the problem with rooting the S6 for AT&T, especially when other carriers are already rooted?
I expected to click the forum and already see custom roms, at least de-odexed ones. Then I find out that the Note 4 STILL isn't rooted after months. There's even a change.org petition to at&t begging for an unlock.
I've 14 days to return the phone, and I think I will if I'm not able to root it by then. No point in having a great phone if it's crippled by bloatware and poorly designed software. What are the odds of seeing a rooted/unlocked S6 running custom roms anytime soon?
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Click to collapse
I doubt there will ever be root or a custom recovery on the AT&T version. Note 4 only got root and that's if you didn't do the latest update. Search around and you will see what I mean. This is the reason I buy T-Mobile and carrier unlock it for AT&T so I can have root and custom recovery. AT&T = Goodbye to Root & Recovery.
chrispyutec said:
I doubt there will ever be root or a custom recovery on the AT&T version. Note 4 only got root and that's if you didn't do the latest update. Search around and you will see what I mean. This is the reason I buy T-Mobile and carrier unlock it for AT&T so I can have root and custom recovery. AT&T = Goodbye to Root & Recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you got it? Was the unlock/activation process fairly painless?
Doubt anyone is going to try rooting att variant
Sent from my XT1095 using XDA Free mobile app
So I just got my note 3 n900A att model about 2 months ago. last month the lollipop update pushed to my phone and I was happy but then I started working on rooting. I successfully downgraded my phone to 4.4.4 then to 4.4.2 by following guids on here and on another webiste that instructed me to use odin and then I rooted. Right now I am on Biggons rom and it is beautiful. I have been using safestrap to flash custom roms for this n900A.
I am however interested in trying to obtain a custom kernal and the bootloader being locked is frustrating. To my peasant understanding there isnt a option as of yet to get around the bootloader. please correct me here if I am wrong.
Are any developers working on this? Is it even possible to work on this? Am I just completed F'ed unless I went out and got a different variant of this phone with an unlocked bootloader?
lastly! Im curious if it is possible to turn my phone into a developer edition? that might be just a repeat version of my previous question. excuse my ignorance. I am new to this phone and boot locks n the what not.
vejj2fresh said:
So I just got my note 3 n900A att model about 2 months ago. last month the lollipop update pushed to my phone and I was happy but then I started working on rooting. I successfully downgraded my phone to 4.4.4 then to 4.4.2 by following guids on here and on another webiste that instructed me to use odin and then I rooted. Right now I am on Biggons rom and it is beautiful. I have been using safestrap to flash custom roms for this n900A.
I am however interested in trying to obtain a custom kernal and the bootloader being locked is frustrating. To my peasant understanding there isnt a option as of yet to get around the bootloader. please correct me here if I am wrong.
Are any developers working on this? Is it even possible to work on this? Am I just completed F'ed unless I went out and got a different variant of this phone with an unlocked bootloader?
lastly! Im curious if it is possible to turn my phone into a developer edition? that might be just a repeat version of my previous question. excuse my ignorance. I am new to this phone and boot locks n the what not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope.
Correct
Not known
No
KennyG123 said:
Nope.
Correct
Not known
No
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was bootloader unlock ever achieved?
Can I install TWRP for the AT&T version with Nougat? I have heard that if I try it will brick. I'd really like to install a new ROM so I can get rid of all the crapware that comes with the phone.
Micah_Droid said:
Can I install TWRP for the AT&T version with Nougat? I have heard that if I try it will brick. I'd really like to install a new ROM so I can get rid of all the crapware that comes with the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 920A At&t cant be rooted as of yet and no twrp because the bootloader is locked...
Bootloader
I recently talked to at&t about getting my bootloader unlocked and a supervisor told me the only way to do so without bricking would be to being it in to an at&t store and they will unlock the bootloader.. anybody else have this told to them?
They're most likely taking about a Sim unlock not bootloader. Also there is a method for rooting it but you have to be on a specific bootloader and you can only use it on lolipop.
asislife20 said:
They're most likely taking about a Sim unlock not bootloader. Also there is a method for rooting it but you have to be on a specific bootloader and you can only use it on lolipop.
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Click to collapse
Ya, I know about that root method. Unfortunately, my phone decided to update itself a few weeks ago and now its on BL 5. So that's pretty much a no go.
In relation to bringing in the store for a BL unlock, I did specifically ask and made sure the tech I was speaking with knew the difference between BL and sim unlock. In fact, i made it very known that my radio was already unlocked, I done that weeks before i talked to her.
Sorry to just drop a question, but I can't find the answer. Can the snapdragon S10 SM-G973u1 bootloader be unlocked? If not is there another way to root it?
Thank you
Chris
HelloChris333333, just when you post on a forum the courtesy of saying hello. Yes you can root just with the firmware of your model S10 SM-G973U1 US model so not compatible with EU firmware.
meric57 said:
HelloChris333333, just when you post on a forum the courtesy of saying hello. Yes you can root just with the firmware of your model S10 SM-G973U1 US model so not compatible with EU firmware.
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Click to collapse
I'm not sure that's true, but I would love to find out I'm wrong.
In my research, the SD phones cannot be unlocked unless you are on (and remain on) an older BL version. The last unlockable BL version was 4, as I recall... if you're running updated firmware you are likely on BL 6. Even on 4, the process was not free and once you did it you could not update to a newer version of FW without losing the unlock.
For this reason, I gave up on getting root/BLunlock on my phone... and honestly, I have not missed it. This is also why I have not seen much development of FW for the SD phones anywhere.
Again, if I'm wrong, I'd love to learn how it's done!
Hello meric57
Can you share a link to the firmware I need? I just bought this phone and there is no OEM unlock option, it is a US phone. If I cannot root it I will have to sell it and get another phone.
Thanks
Chris
I guess another question would be where can I get a S10 with the Exynos chip?
Thanks
Chris
Using ADB I keep getting "waiting for device" and then I find I need to unlock the bootloader. This crap is an endless circle.
U4 can be unlocked before , I can unlock it , Special engineering documents need to be made
I'm V6 nothing available. I bought a G973F instead. G973u1 going on ebay.
Exactly, there is really no root/unlock for snapdragon phones unless you're on a very old BL (and you have to stay there so you can't update). IMO, that's not "can be unlocked" even with "special" steps, particularly since most phones today will have newer BLs (even a year ago, I couldn't find a BL4 phone)... but, yes, it's technically true to say it can be unlocked, but only in very limited cases.
@Chris33333 For this reason, I get that you may want to go to the Exynos instead... I'm curious, if you're in the US, how does that work with carriers? Does it? I've found most US carriers refuse to activate phones that don't match their list of "compatible" IMEIs... I imagine an F-series phone won't be on that list.
I'm in the US using Straight Talk with T-mobile. I've had a Galaxy S5 rooted for years. With straight talk I can use AT&T, T-mobile, or Verizon. But this international phone does not do Verizon.
And StraightTalk will activate the F-series phone without complaint or issues? If so, that's great to hear... because I know VZ and ATT typically won't...
I haven't put the SIM in it yet. Still trying to delete all the crap off the phone.
Lol
Hello Chris33333, https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-s10/firmware/SM-G973U1/XAA/