Samsung: worst ever for a power user! - Samsung Galaxy S9 Guides, News, & Discussion

Today I got up real pissed with Samsung for being so restrictive around ROM flashing, rooting, flashing custom firmware or even stock firmware, so wanted to create this post to help anybody considering to get a Samsung phone to stay away from it.
This post is not intended to recommend any specific brand or model of android phone, but to recommend the exact opposite, which brand and model NOT TO EVEN THINK of purchasing.
This post relates to Samsung Galaxy S9 G9600 model which is Snapdragon architecture, but since Samsung is coming up with a bunch of "security features" I tend to think this may be the case for other models as well. I browsed all around XDA and other sources for guides on how to root and install custom roms, and it turns out Samsung manages to have limitations for EVERY step of the way.
Getting a few facts straight
Reference post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga.../rom-lineageos-17-1-s9-s9-snapdragon-t4093301
Ok, so there is a solid thread about a custom firmware and looks like several users got hands on it, but they might have been able to get passed though all Samsung security crap before it came out or before it got so tightened up. I'll list below every limitation I found:
OEM Unlock
There is a step where we need to tick OEM Unlock from the phone developer settings, it turns out Samsung has put a 7-day timer for this option to even appear listed to enable. If you do factory reset of the phone, the 7-day timer restarts. There are a few posts around on how to get passed this timer, but to me they were all crap, none of them worked. STRIKE ONE!
Bootloader unlock
After 7-days, we get the OEM Unlock option to appear, at this point you may think: Hurray!! .... WRONG! Now next step is to unlock the bootloader using an utility called CROM Services... And as you may have already guessed, did not work! I'm able to install the apk, but on launch it complains about wrong android version. (Tried with Android 8 and 10) STRIKE TWO!
There are some posts and guides claiming to be able to unlock bootloader by using fastboot utility, I can't reach to understand how, since fastboot commands rely on the bootloader to be previously unlocked (?). I least that is my understanding, correct me if wrong. Needless to say fastboot did not work for me. ADB lists my device but fastboot doesn't. There are a few troubleshoot guides around to try selecting proper USB driver from windows device manager, tried all that, tried a couple of ADB installations, fastboot didn't work.
Knox and RMM state
After some lookup in the web, Samsung incorporates some security features trying to prevent device theft and such things. For us power users this is in reality just a whole load of crap preventing us to get all the juice out of our phones.
Reference: https://www.goandroid.co.in/unlock-bootloader-of-galaxy-s9-plus-snapdragon/84688/
TWRP Recovery
Next step would be to flash a custom recovery such as TWRP with Odin or adb/fastboot, but since we are not able to unlock the bootloader in previous step, this is not doable at all. STRIKE THREE! OUT!
Fastboot utility doesn't recognize the device in download mode, so we can't send any commands to the phone.
Odin complains it is only able to flash signed stock roms, so since TWRP is not, we cannot flash it.
Rooting
Needless to say that if we don't have TWRP, we cannot flash the corresponding packages to root. Although this step may not be needed to install custom firmware, rooting has not been possible.
Stock ROM Flashing
Ok, so let's stay out of custom firmware - let's play around with stock firmwares. At this point, since flashing stock firmwares is kind of allowed by Samsung I was able to try out a couple from android 8 to 10 with Odin
Stock ROM Source: https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-s9/firmware/#SM-G9600
But watch out! Once you get to install a specific build version, you cannot go back or downgrade to ROMS with previous Android build version. So now that I got Android 10 cannot go back to 8 or 9, this is probably because locked bootloader and unable to unlock. Here, Odin complains with FAIL! (AUTH) message.
STRIKE FOUR! EVEN OUTTER!
SIM Unlock
Ok, let's stay out of Samsung S9 G9600 model, let's crash it to the wall and throw it away to the garbage! Ok no, let's have it carrier unlocked and sell. Unlockbase is a well known and trusted sim unlock provider, I purchased a license to unlock by USB cable, but... GUESS WHAT! G9600 is not supported for unlocking operator network with this software... what a surprise!! I was able to apply for a refund and got my money back, so no worries here.
Note that flashing carrier free ROM does not unlock sim to use with any network operator.
I'll be trying to unlocking by code soon, as this is based on IMEI number, I may think this is independent to the phone model and edition, so I hope I have more luck with this option.
Conclusion
G9600 is a really crappy phone to mess around with. I may have ran low on luck with this specific Samsung Galaxy model since I got it as a gift, which is the latinamerican crappy edition. I wonder if other S9 editions and other Samsung models run with better luck than mine on this scenery... But as a lesson to myself, I will stay away of any Samsung smartphone in the foreseeable future.

OEM Unlock
The 7-day lock prevents stolen phones from being factory reset, leaving the thief with a phone permanently protected by your account. While a minor inconvenience, it's actually effective and not the worst compared to other manufacturers.
Bootloader Unlock
After OEM Unlocking, flashing TWRP through ODIN is effectively unlocking the bootloader. This is possible on both exynos and snap.
Knox and RMM
While this is an inconvenience, from Samsung's point of view, it's worth it. It makes the phone look more secure in the eyes of potential customers. If you really wish for NFC payments, I'm still able to use GPay with Magisk on a custom ROM.
TWRP Recovery
TWRP is flashed through ODIN, not fastboot. Look up an actual guide before complaining.
Root
Yes you can
Stock ROM Flashing
The one thing I could agree on with you is Samsung disabling OTA updates when OEM unlocking. I don't see the point really, but you're free to flash whatever you want through ODIN. Downgrading shouldn't be an issue. Not sure what's up with that.
Before buying a phone, how about you do some research before crying on forums. As a power user coming from the Oneplus One, I don't regret going for Samsung in the least.

Thanks for your reply, I had dropped all hope after several attempts over last few weeks. Found this option and I was able to get past my blocking issue with TWRP and moved on.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...er-development/g9650zhu6dta7-android-t4051751

I have G960F and have to admit I totally disagree with your original post. I've been using custom ROMs on nearly every phone I ever had and don't think S9 (G960F) is bad in terms of unlocking. Just did an OEM unlock, waited a week, flashed TWRP through Odin, booted straight to TWRP and immediately flashed a custom ROM from it (because a boot to the stock ROM would replace TWRP back with the stock recovery IIRC). In the end I got sick of all the problems with Magisk and non-working google pay that I went back to the stock ROM - making S9 the first phone I use with a stock ROM even though it can be flashed. I think it's a great phone for power users.
And as far as SIM unlock goes - Samsung is not to blame, the carrier the phone was made for (and purchased from) is. Phones that Samsung itself sells are unlocked. I wonder why there's still some countries where SIM locking remains legal.

This thread is a prime example of how people end up with bricked devices. So much misinformation in one page LOL

I had the 9650 and most of what I'm doing here is user error. This was one of the best devices I've ever owned. I mention of fast boot and such you obviously just do not know samsung devices. You can't blame samsung on your own ignorance

Related

How to keep OP3 protected from any kind of theif flashing the device

I had kept my bootloader unlocked for flashing new ROMs but unfortunately i lost it on train and now i can understand that the theif can easily flash a new rom and so i can never retrive my device as far as i understood that i have to keep my bootloader locked but this means that i have to unlock and relock my bootloader each time i want to flash a new rom so this is very problematic for losing internal data too every time.
Also i don't have a job else i would have brought a new OP3T. I hope that in future OP can introduce some hardwire based tracking for lost devices , what do you people suggest?
samwidd said:
I had kept my bootloader unlocked for flashing new ROMs but unfortunately i lost it on train and now i can understand that the theif can easily flash a new rom and so i can never retrive my device as far as i understood that i have to keep my bootloader locked but this means that i have to unlock and relock my bootloader each time i want to flash a new rom so this is very problematic for losing internal data too every time.
Also i don't have a job else i would have brought a new OP3T. I hope that in future OP can introduce some hardwire based tracking for lost devices , what do you people suggest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suggest that if the thief is able to flash a new ROM, he will be perfectly able to open the bootloader. So I recommend that you do not worry about having the bootloader open.
As for the tracking system, I think Google has already developed certain functions aimed at this use. When I have time I will investigate about this topic and update this post.
Please, be awere.
idcampo95 said:
I suggest that if the thief is able to flash a new ROM, he will be perfectly able to open the bootloader. So I recommend that you do not worry about having the bootloader open.
As for the tracking system, I think Google has already developed certain functions aimed at this use. When I have time I will investigate about this topic and update this post.
Please, be awere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Google device manager. Thats the tracking tool you searching for. ?
not a big deal to reset FRP. Samsung and LG FRP takes only few minutes to be removed with z3x box. i think even stock rom have some bugs to bypass FRP. Best way is not to loose your phone.
It won't help you now, but take a screenshot of your imei, then back it up to your photos. If your phone is lost or stolen report it and depending on what country you live in, it will be black listed. Then it won't work on any carrier, no matter which rom is flashed.
Bjarne73 said:
Try Google device manager. Thats the tracking tool you searching for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since I had kept my bootloader unlocked I believe that can easily flash a new rom so Android device manager won't be useful at all
Jowhee said:
It won't help you now, but take a screenshot of your imei, then back it up to your photos. If your phone is lost or stolen report it and depending on what country you live in, it will be black listed. Then it won't work on any carrier, no matter which rom is flashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I know that I have already submitted FIR in police with the IMEI number but I believe these days they remove all the parts and sell the parts differently so very less chance in recovery
acmerw said:
not a big deal to reset FRP. Samsung and LG FRP takes only few minutes to be removed with z3x box. i think even stock rom have some bugs to bypass FRP. Best way is not to loose your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I know but if there is very strong FRP in apple iPhone devices i hope it comes to Android too

Mixed Results when ROOTING

Hi Gents,
ok so we all know by now that waiting 7 days unlocks the OEM option for the N8 950F, i want to root, my concern is that i have been reading and see that results are mixed, i have seen that flashing a custom FW has soft bricked some phones and you will have to flash back to official FW and wait yet again for 7 days for OEM to show up in dev options....
what i want to know is whats the sure fire way to get it to work (ROOTand CFW) because i dont wanna end up losing the OEM option and then have to restore OFW?
please let me know your thoughts and what you did to have a successful first time flash, my note model is N950F/DS.
mafioso345 said:
Hi Gents,
ok so we all know by now that waiting 7 days unlocks the OEM option for the N8 950F, i want to root, my concern is that i have been reading and see that results are mixed, i have seen that flashing a custom FW has soft bricked some phones and you will have to flash back to official FW and wait yet again for 7 days for OEM to show up in dev options....
what i want to know is whats the sure fire way to get it to work (ROOTand CFW) because i dont wanna end up losing the OEM option and then have to restore OFW?
please let me know your thoughts and what you did to have a successful first time flash, my note model is N950F/DS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't gain anything anymore from rooting that you used to. The phones are already lightning fast.
- R. Kruse Ludington:
Galaxy Note 8<-5<-3<-S3<-Nexus; Droid X; HTC HD2<-Touch Pro 2<-Tilt<-8525; O2 XDA II<-XDA
mafioso345 said:
Hi Gents,
ok so we all know by now that waiting 7 days unlocks the OEM option for the N8 950F, i want to root, my concern is that i have been reading and see that results are mixed, i have seen that flashing a custom FW has soft bricked some phones and you will have to flash back to official FW and wait yet again for 7 days for OEM to show up in dev options....
what i want to know is whats the sure fire way to get it to work (ROOTand CFW) because i dont wanna end up losing the OEM option and then have to restore OFW?
please let me know your thoughts and what you did to have a successful first time flash, my note model is N950F/DS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's cause no one knows exactly why it disappears yet or has a valid fix for it. So far it seems like people are having luck with krabman's method.
KruseLudsMobile said:
You don't gain anything anymore from rooting that you used to. The phones are already lightning fast.
- R. Kruse Ludington:
Galaxy Note 8<-5<-3<-S3<-Nexus; Droid X; HTC HD2<-Touch Pro 2<-Tilt<-8525; O2 XDA II<-XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the past, people mainly rooted for speed tweaks & themeing but those aren't the only reason for root. Speed tweaks & themeing were never the main reasons why I rooted.
Like many I spent time in jail waiting for my OEM unlock. How I spent that time was trying to work around not having root and it was a miserable failure. When talking about the need for root I think it's best that the conversation first be understood to be subjective. A person that doesn't do anything that requires root will feel that it is unnecessary, those that do will consider it vital as a means to get where they're going.
There are many, many, people who said "you don't need to do that" in regards to getting root on these devices who went down in flames. No timer on OEM unlock and not a big deal, you try again until you get it right. We get one try and getting it wrong means you have reset your timer and you're waiting a week. Wait that week and you get one try, failure means another week. A person can repeat that cycle as many times as they want, I'd suggest going all in the first time because no one knows exactly which steps are not needed yet although we have ruled a few out. One thing that is apparent is once you have the first rom install in the rest can be done following normal rom installation procedure so long as they're clean flashes. I haven't tried any dirty flashes but for the same rom I'm thinking it will work, of course when the time comes I might be proven wrong. I'm hoping someone else will get there first and I can take advantage of their experience.
That being said in general the process begins by flashing TWRP in odin. You must leave odin and go directly to TWRP, failure to stop the boot at recovery means a certain binaries error and a week wait. Once you are in recovery you must stay there until you have finished installing a rom that has been de-knoxed. Pay attention to holding the buttons on the phone while you start the TWRP flash as described in the TWRP thread. If you untick reboot in odin then the only way out is to hold volume down/ power which will tell the phone to reboot into system. You must then quickly switch to volume up/bix/power during a small window in order to get the phone to go to recovery. If you miss it nothing can stop the phone from continuing to boot and you have just got a week wait before your next try. If you don't untick restart you can try the same thing when odin automatically reboots the phone after the flash. If you miss it you will get the binaries error and be waiting a week. People have missed it both ways. There is a reason that the TWRP instructions specifically state to prepare odin, hold the vol up/bix/power buttons and continue holding them while you press the button in odin and keep right on holding those buttons all the way through until the phone boots into TWRP. This makes it a sure thing, the other way you may or may not succeed. Lastly we've proven you don't need to remove your SIMs on subsequent rom installs but it remains a question with the first install as there are conflicting reports. If it were me I'd pull them and not put them back until I was fully up and running on the other side. You will need to pull at least Sim 2 in order to put in the micro SD with your rom, verity, and root firmware for use in TWRP no matter what. Feeling frisky and you want to leave Sim 1 in then please report your results in the OEM unlock thread.
So... To install a rom you will begin by following the TWRP instructions to the letter including the format all the way through the process until the end. Some will say you don't need to flash the no-verity, ordinarily I'd agree with them as it is flashed as a part of both the SU and magisk flash but in this case we know that following those instructions in exacting detail works as a first step but not doing so has been a failure for many. Because few have followed the same steps plus or minus a detail from the known working method we don't know exactly which things are unneeded so if it's me I would just follow the known working method. As always those wanting to advance our knowledge by trying something else should report their results in the OEM unlock thread. When you reach the end of the TWRP installation instructions you will remain in recovery and flash your rom and then factory reset. Then flash either magisk or SU again depending on which rom and which root method you're using. Once root has been reflashed you can go ahead and boot to system. Finish the setup before you put the sims back in the phone.
There is a longer throw the kitchen sink method in the OEM unlock thread for those that wish to search, that is what I would do if I wanted absolutely no risk as it seems to work without fail. I've done what I describe here a good ten or more times now as I was the first reported rom install here using the first method and I've been flashing away since then and dropping some of those original steps as I went. I'm thinking it should work for others too but I cant prove it until someone does it. It may be you need the kitchen sink for the first flash, I simply cant say because I would have to go stock to try and I'm not harboring much of a hankering to do that. This being XDA and we being adults please understand that I'm sharing the information based on actual practice on my own phone but there is no guarantee. You make your choices and what happens, happens.

Warranty void 0x1 FFRP lock info and options!

I've ran into this problem twice now either using .img to .tar tool that isn't set up properly with an incompatable version of stock rom or a corrupt dump of a stock rom or even using a proper stock rom. Or if you just so happen to accidently turn off O..E.M unlock... and your phone died or you restarted it.... Download mode spits out some red code usually or fails or even can complete but not in any case I've ever seen and boot sucessfully.... usually if you try to many times with odin you'll end up with a blue screen that comes up stating something went wrong during update process and to use Samsung's smart switch program on a pc. Only problem is at this point you've already tripped Knox and your warranty is now void so downloading smart switch and typing in your serial and one I will only give you another error stating that your phone is not comparable with smart switch due to Knox being tripped at 0x1......
At that point there are a couple options claim insurance if you have it, $200 or if you don't have insurance. Samsung will give you a spill about how your 1yr warranty is over and even if it isn't when they get your phone they will see your Knox status of 0x1 and tell you sorry your warranty is void due to end user tampering. So they offer a reflash for a cool $80 without warranty and that will reset your phone back to O.E.M specs with a Knox of 0x0 fix it for a mere $80. Smartswitch won't reflash firmware do to Knox being tripped. Sorry. You are more than welcome to try....*
COLOR="red"]NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER TURN OFF O.E.M. UNLOCK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IF YOU HAVE ROOTED YOUR PHONE, OR PUT A CUSTOM KERNEL OR FLASH A CUSTOM RECOVERY OR YOUR FAIL TO BOOT.[/COLOR]If you turned off O.E.M unlocking. Basically O.E.M unlocking is telling your phone it's okay that Knox is tripped. O.E.M unlock allows the skipping verified samsung signature checks on the first rom based bootloade rduring the boot sequence alowing it to bypass into the secondary bootloader and kernel.*
O.E.M. stands for "Original Equipment Manafacturer" i.e. being Samsung in this case so when you have not done anything to your phone when it comes brand new out of the package. Developer mode is hidden and unacessable for a reason.... O.E.M unlock means that in download mode you can flash unofficial code, i.e. C.W.M., TWRP, Other unsigned code from various developers. With no hassle due to Samsung being so kind to us developers and allowing us the option to manually unlock our bootloaders.*
Usually what happens specifically is Samsung has a secure bootloader which uses digital certificates to ensure that the software loaded before the operating system is trusted to boot the linux kernel shell we all know and love as android OS when you load a custom bootloader such as anything not signed by Samsung it fails to pass the signature checks and that's exactly what turning off O.E.M unlock did.*
But with us all being blessed with the option to manually unlock our Bootloaders through O.E.M unlock now so many options are open to us so as but not limited to.: Roms, MODS, Hacks, Busybox, Root, Xposed, Various Root Applications, Magisk, Kingoroot, GeoHots stuff, HashCodes stuff, even have the oppourtunity to create and test various of our own creations.*
Once upon a time Bootloaders were locked, meaning, No Roms, No kernels, etc, etc... Very, Very difficult to even root phone's. The reason I go into all of that is Because with great power comes great responsibility. Always back up your eds partition, and always always if you root and like to run custom rom Roms and all the development for this scene that only continues to grow and evolve Make sure you do one thing if nothing else and that is to read, read, read and know your phone inside and out. I am a developer and I work with software as much as I do hardware. I can afford to make mistakes as these aren't my daily drivers. I suggest if you like to unlock the full potential of your devices then please heed my warning about reading and knowing all the dos and dont's for what your devices is capable of and what will turn it into a very expensive paper weight. I'm not being a **** I'm trying to help. Because you have now tripped your Knox counter meaning it is permanently stuck in the state of your phone now having a void warranty and there is no going back.*
Once you turn O.E.M mode off you lock your bootloader and if you've already tripped Knox you can't flash a stock bootloader or Rom because your phone's hardware is preventing anything unauthorized from making it past the kernel checks..... clear some things up for You? I don't care the people say they have work around forCOLOR="red"]"custom binary frp lock"[/COLOR]because I have yet to see a phone recover. P.S. word to the wise that is one error you never, and I mean never want to see on your boot screen...
I came back from it once with a zeroed out serial number and a null one I. Once and that's a whole nother ball of wax. Claim warranty, play stupid if still covered if not Sammy will know so just shell out the $80 send it to them. They will reflash it and that's the end of that.

RMM Unlock by Odin Flashing Pre-Oreo Rom - SM A600A

I ended up with the A6 when my HTC One M9 battery did the thing it does and destroyed my phone. The total destruction is not solely the phone's fault... I tend to drop things and bump into stuff... so... Anyway, I did very little to no research on the phone before "purchasing" it as my once absolute obsession with flashing and rooting and all the fun tinkering had since gone the way of the "Buffalo" (although, i feel like the are still around) around the time phones kind of became as good as they really needed to get. There was very little under the hood tinkering that seemed interesting anymore. Except... the whole LineageOS wth MicroG-thing. Super-excited!!!
Anyway, if you happen to be unlucky like me before you can root, the're's this whole RMM Unlock blahblahsad thing to deal with. I waited the 168 hours , following all the instructions to a T, only to find that my developer options were exactly as they had been. OEM no where to be found. I'm impatient... this is a character flaw. so, I get the whole get over it and try it again. And if there are no other options, I will, of course. But I was just looking at a similar issue just concerning a Galaxy S8+ [GUIDE] How to skip RMM STATE: PRENORMAL and install TWRP
So, like the post instructs, would it be possible on the lovley A6 to downgrade to a pre-Oreo Rom flashed via Odin in order to RMM Unlock the thing and carry on with the RMM State Bypass Mesa and No Verify Opt Encrypt. Or am I getting something completely wrong here?
I guess maybe one is never really over flashing rom and rooting devices. but i dig it!
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks XDA gang.
So what I understand is that you want... root on Pie... right?
You should check this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-j/how-to/remove-rmm-prenormal-j4-j6-a6-t3921288
Thanks, I'll check it out!
Oem unlock
That link to oem unlock thru waiting the 7 days full /change time and date / etc does not work on the a600a droid 8.0 ....I have one and keep trying to oem unlock with no success ...followed link per word

How To Guide FYI: NE2217 T-mobile (Carrier locked, BL locked) <== Dont Flash Any Other Region w/o reading.

!!! This is a HIGH RISK method of performing any form of modification, if you are on a T-Mobile ne2217 !!!
There are unidentified files that your device might have conflict with, and cause a bootloop!
Proceed at your own risk! You have been warned!​
OK, first lemme explain. The NE2217 (10 pro) itself does not have any special restrictions on it, unlike the CPH 2419 (10T) which is an exclusive T-Mobile variant. My guide on region swapping the CPH2419 (10T, link below) is still valid for the NE2217 (US- NA) . But there are conditions required or you will enter an infinite bootloop which becomes un-recoverable, without an edl flash. I do not have the specifics as to exactly which partitions cause this, but basically the bottom line is, IF YOU HAVE NOT UNLOCKED YOUR BOOTLOADER, EVEN IF YOU ARE SIM UNLOCKED, do not attempt to region swap.
There are a couple of partitions that are specially locked, that ONLY become write capable using the fastboot command, "Unlock Critical". Without a Bootloader unlock, the Oxygen Updater/Local Update programs, CANNOT make the needed changes to the Kernel, as well as these other important partitions, which have instructions that implicitly block changing to other regions. I cannot confirm if this exists in other countries with carrier locks, but i do know for a fact that T-Mobile has this enforced on all of the 10 Pro (ne2217) purchased through them.
As mentioned in previous threads that ive replied in, I suspected that the apps Oxygen Updater and Local Update, do not have the permissions capable to make direct changes to the boot.img, or recovery.img directly, primarily because those partitons cannot be altered while the system is currently running. These images can only be altered through Fastboot, or EDL thus the need for an MSM Tool if you cannot unlock your bootloader via conventional methods. So what happens is upon "Pre-boot" those special instructions i spoke of, take authority and put the carrier specific files, into an untouchable state that are locked behind the USERDATA partition, so these applications just copy the updated files to the inactive partition and performs the changes during the next boot, and even a hard wipe factory reset does not have the authority to erase the carrier instructions. The only way they are removed is by Unlocking your Bootloader! When you do that, the Qualcomm Processor has an embedded command, which is required to ERASE the entire Userdata partition, to protect the encrypted files protected by the bootloader lock! You can read about that by googling "Qualcomm Bootloader Unlocking".
Hope that makes sense to the majority of you. So again, the ONLY requirement for you to be able to go from 'ne2217', to any other fw is YOUR BOOTLOADER MUST BE UNLOCKED!
Failure to follow that one requirement will indeed force your device into an unusable, infinite bootloop, which can be resolved only by an EDL flash, which as of right now we do not have the tools that can perform this on CONSUMER level. You will have to RMA, your device, or go thru third party channels, which in itself is very risky, and puts you at risk of viruses/malware/wormholes/zombie-apocalypse because you must give someone full access to your computer remotely, and pray that the person only does what you requested. (NOT IDEAL).
Now if you're on a T-Mobile locked device, you are NOT hopeless... as I am on a T-Mobile locked device, and i am now bootloader unlocked as well! These two conditions are independent of each other, but trust me when i tell you that YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO THRU WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, IN ORDER TO REACH THIS GOAL!
In so I will not publicly disclose how i was able to enter the real Fastboot Mode, so that i could pull the unlock code needed to request the unlock token from T-mobile.
(If you are so inclined to do this that you are willing to forgo ALL precautions and risk the possibility of bricking your device, or you have already landed yourself in an unrecoverable bootloop state, and are willing to try ANYTHING, you can join Bootloopers Anonymous, by clickiing it, and drop a message. This is a brand new telegram channel, and i will try to watch it for your requests. And again i strongly advise that you DO NOT embark on MY adventure, but if Unlocked Bootloader by Any Means Necessary is your ultimate goal, and nothing less is acceptable, i will try to help you achieve it... *** YOUR DEVICE WILL ENTER A COMPLETELY UNUSABLE STATE FOR A MINIMUM OF 7 DAYS!! *** but bear in mind that EVEN IF you have to use my method, you will be still subject to the 7-day waiting period outlined by OnePlus company policy. No one can overcome that, as the unlock token comes thru a separate division of Oppo/Oneplus that only generates the token through an automated request which is pushed after the expiration of 7 full days (1-week) has passed. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!)
The 10-Pro doesn't require the "In-Depth Testing" app to get your BL unlocked. That said, it also does not mean that OPPO has not designed one for this device because indeed they have. That application is individually encoded with device specifications so that only devices and regions EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED by Oppo, can submit a request to unlock. DO NOT TRY sideloading any "In Depth Testing" apk floating around on the internet, as these can be altered to contain malware or worse, and then if your device becomes corrupted by it, Oppo can deny you an RMA on your device, thus charging you for the repair as there are warnings that you must acknowledge to even run the app, and attempting to circumvent the safeguards that this app already has in place is considered a violation of ToS.
If OPPO adds your device/region to the list of allowed devices, you will be able to download this application through OFFICIAL channels, and it will be made known to the public.
Once you are completely knowledgeable that your BL has indeed been fully unlocked, you can proceed to follow the instructions in the link to my guide below. The guide is for the CPH2419 (10T), but the instructions are completely compatible with the 10 Pro entire series, assuming your BL is unlocked. On the 10T this is not a requirement, and i honestly do not understand why this enforcement was put into our 10 Pro model, released almost a year earlier. Probably just an oversight by T-Mobile which might be corrected in future builds.
How to use Oxygen Updater + Local Update apks to switch regions.
EDIT: Local Update downgrade it currently installing
No Go, The update installed and downgraded but it just loads to the welcome screen and crashes and boot loops
supercobaltss said:
EDIT: Local Update downgrade it currently installing
No Go, The update installed and downgraded but it just loads to the welcome screen and crashes and boot loops
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
again, what most ppl are failing to do is follow my guide exactly as i defined. The VERY 1st thing you MUST DO... prior to unlocking the Bootloader... Prior to even downloading ANY rollback packages is, you MUST go and Download ANY of the Android 13 beta updates that are available in Oxygen updater. Turn on advanced mode, and select the whichever model you prefer... Its actually best to choose the region you plan on swapping to, for easier transition with the rollback package. IMHO i would always pick the EU model whenever attempting this, simply because that one usually has more bands available. But the main idea behind this is to make the phone, first BREAK the connection it has with T-Mobile's custom kernel, and modem... which is done just by upgrading to an Android 13 beta, as T-Mobile does not EVER release any beta builds, so by doing an actual OS upgrade, your phone must load the OS kernel, and several other partitions/files which i am sure that T-Mobile has branded in the 2217. Upgrading to a newer OS will without a doubt overwrite the carrier locked files, because the Upgrade comes from a higher authority in the chain of trust. Until TMO releases an update, then this is a requirement so that the rollback package of that region can safely downgrade the files, in their correct partitions. If you download a beta 13 thru oxygen updater, you can local update flash it, without problem. I did it myself to several demo devices at Tmobile stores here in Texas to test the technique, after i bricked mine by using a rollback package first!
Remember the 2217 is a T-Mobile EXCLUSIVE! No other carrier may sell this same model... but ALL of the internals are the exact same, and as im sure we are all well aware of, T-Mobile doesnt have the fastest adaptations when it comes to OS updates.
But there are several key identifiers which point to a custom made BL, Kernel, and Modem: 1. The build for all T-Mobile versions is on a revision that no other model has released... This alone could cause BL because if you flash a build that is older than the one you have currently, several files have anti-downgrade measures built into them. This is why we need the signed rollback packages to downgrade. But even if OPPO signed a rollback, unless they released one with T-Mobiles file specs, then anything you flash can create a conflict with an existing file... BL! But i know of about 13 ppl who have attempted my method, plus i just did another one myself last night for someone who contacted me and offered to compensate me royally if i would meet them since we were local logistically. 2. AFAIK, when installing a different rom to a device, you cannot downgrade the modem version. I know this is apparent with Samsung... as if you try to flash a rom with a lower modem version, it usually bricks, and you have to use odin to flash the newer modem back, in order to boot. Again this is taken care of by installing the NEWEST beta for Android 13, unless you had my situation which is, my phone CAME WITH updated security, and build already installed for October 2022. I havent heard of anyone who has said they even have the option to update theirs past August. So new purchases have to be careful. T-mobile sold mine with a blocked Fastboot, that doesnt respond to the button combo. Which clearly identifies they modified the recovery partition. 3. E-fuses have become a staple in Android devices for the past 5+ years.
Sure we have not heard of anything being in the T-mobile fw... but also who here can say that they have a FULL BUILD of the Tmo fw to examine? No one.... there is a generic 2217 build floating around that claims to be official, yet it is the ONLY build that does not have an OTA formatted file structure. All the 10 Pro OTA have been in payload.bin format, yet this happens to come only as a decrypted OFP, or a compressed OFP. *** OPPO is not directly supporting the 10 Pro 2217 or 10 T 2419 ! As these are proprietary T-Mobile builds. This is why you cannot find either of those models fw in the Oppo repository. So if OPPO doesnt release builds for TMO, then how exactly did an "Official 'OFP' for 2217" get released? *** OFP is an Official OPPO format for all the OPPO model phones. 10 Pro is still branded Oneplus, thus just about any OFP file you find in the wild, is almost 100% guaranteed NOT to be an official released build for our phones. Every package for this and the 10T that they have OFFICIALLY released, has been in Payload.bin format, because they havent released any full images yet! So in theory, who's to say that TMO didnt place an efuse into their specific model? Its only code, and if set, then it could have been burned during the initial release, or a later update, like AMAZON did with updates to the Firestick/FireTV devices, which would ONLY allow newer updates to certain files in THEIR build. That would totally explain a bootloop, because the rollback packages all push you back to 11_A.013 .... that build is from Feb-March 2022. Rolling back would almost guarantee that some files are overwritten with older components, which would cause a brick by e-fuse standards. We had to be lucky enough to catch it early in the FIrestick forum, to stop ppl from installing the update. Everyone who did, had their ability to unlock/load custom fw to their devices blocked, and there is still today no way to circumvent it. Sure new methods to mod became available, but only minimal changes, cuz the e-fuse blocked downgrading to exploitable builds. Since TMO has gone this far to stop us from modifying this phone, you can bet solidly on the fact that they have several safeguards in place to protect their investment.
Now im not trying to discourage anyone or discredit anything anyone has said or experienced regarding this phone, but look at the NUMEROUS unanswered replies to handfuls of problems that only happen to 1 or 2 ppl... they all have the same final result, but its astounding how many different scenarios ppl have found, that no one else has experienced, yet it leads to another bricked device. If this problem was rampant among a significant number of users, and it was triggered by the exact same scenario, then TMO would have to address it with an update... But all we know for sure is that there is some file(s) that is not compatible with any other model except the 2217. Til we have an EXACT culprit identified, all we can do is speculate, which is why I am going to re-label this as HIGH RISK in the OP. It has about a 40-50% chance of causing a bootloop, and about a 10% chance to leave your device unresponsive! There have been several released guides for other devices that have close to the same success rate / risk factor. All i can do is share what I have done, and what i know from personal exp.
Im sorry if anyone lands themselves on the wrong side of that equation, but it is a risk that only you can decide if its worth taking. For me, that answer is and always will be YES because i will not own a device that i do not OWN! For others this may be a touch more out of their league, and if thats true they should steer clear, until I or another user can get hold of an official TMO OTA, to examine the diff files in each.
****** Now all of that being said.... if ANYONE wishes to contribute to finding a solution to this dumpster fire, I am not asking for donations.... What i am asking, is for SOMEONE who might have a T-Mobile 10Pro on the release build, or any build PRIOR to 11_A.13 and is looking to help, we NEED an exact copy of an OTA update that might be sitting in your notifications. All updates download to the /sdcard/ partition of your phone in a folder that is accessible without root permissions. If you accept the download for the update, and DONT begin the install immediately, you can locate and pull that OTA to your computer, then delete the file from your phone, and it will cancel the update on reboot. No loss to you, but EXTREMELY HELPFUL to us, because we will have something from TMO to work with, which may give us a clue as to what we need to remove from the updater script ! *******
and FYI the signatures used to sign some of the OTA we already have, are already deciphered and as such can be used to create new signatures after making some changes to the respective regions package. But to make having these be of any value, we need to know what to take out or change in the manifest, that will prevent alterations of the files causing bootloops. If anyone can help with an upload of a TMO-OTA please share publicly or dm myself or one of the other devs who have expressed interest in this issue.
Thanks
I can probably pull the update from my wifes phone. She never updates anything. I did get my 10 pro to boot to android 13 but everything just says its disabled. This is only the 3rd phone ive done this with so ill warranty another one if i have to lol.
supercobaltss said:
EDIT: Local Update downgrade it currently installing
No Go, The update installed and downgraded but it just loads to the welcome screen and crashes and boot loops
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, this happened to me as well. Setup wizard crashes before I even get very far in it, and I've wiped multiple times trying to complete it somehow.
GuyInDogSuit said:
Yup, this happened to me as well. Setup wizard crashes before I even get very far in it, and I've wiped multiple times trying to complete it somehow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive tried to convert multiple different ways. Upgrading to 13 basically screws you with the disabled apps BS, Downgrading just crashes the device. Either way its broken. I've went through 3 devices now messing around.
So I guess it's time to replace it, then? Crap.
GuyInDogSuit said:
So I guess it's time to replace it, then? Crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start a RMA on OnePlus website, don't go through T-Mobile. They will have you send in phone and then either reflash your phone and send it back or just send you a new phone which is what they did when I had to do it. All that bs about voiding warranty when unlocking bootloader is just that, bs. They fix or replace without any issues but you have to go through OnePlus.
FML.
I've gotten it working for the most part, but what's most concerning is that there's no IMEI. And it doesn't charge or even acknowledge the cable. Fantastic.
jeffsga88 said:
Start a RMA on OnePlus website, don't go through T-Mobile. They will have you send in phone and then either reflash your phone and send it back or just send you a new phone which is what they did when I had to do it. All that bs about voiding warranty when unlocking bootloader is just that, bs. They fix or replace without any issues but you have to go through OnePlus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't even request an RMA as I don't have an IMEI to provide. It's blank in the phone. I think I'm screwed. Or try T-Mobile. Dunno. This sucks.
GuyInDogSuit said:
I can't even request an RMA as I don't have an IMEI to provide. It's blank in the phone. I think I'm screwed. Or try T-Mobile. Dunno. This sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile version has your IMEI sketched into the back cover of your phone. You should be able to use that.
jeffsga88 said:
The T-Mobile version has your IMEI sketched into the back cover of your phone. You should be able to use that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. Uh.... completely forgotten about that.
I just updated to Android 13 on the TMO NE2217, device not unlocked, still financed. And now have the option to unlock the BL.
beatbreakee said:
All updates download to the /sdcard/ partition of your phone in a folder that is accessible without root permissions. If you accept the download for the update, and DONT begin the install immediately, you can locate and pull that OTA to your computer, then delete the file from your phone, and it will cancel the update on reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this still useful, with the NE2217_11_C.26 update? And either way, how can I delete it? I couldn't find anything big in /sdcard. Thanks!
deleted
psm321 said:
Is this still useful, with the NE2217_11_C.26 update? And either way, how can I delete it? I couldn't find anything big in /sdcard. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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THIS Please my phone ignored my saying no and next reboot the damn thing will go off on me ... so frustrating that even when you set the darn thing to OFF on auto update and such it STILL does this BS...
Damn TMobile and their special lock junk UGH ...
anyway ... please can one direct with a screen shot and file manager they used to find this file so I can delete the thing? ... I have tried to find it and struck out ... but having got the notification today and the Oxygen app is showing 'REBOOT' instead of 'resume' when I ignored the update previously has me thinking if I reboot I will see android 13 pop up and in this case means I will lose my whoop as something with it breaks pairing my wearable ... whoop has offered no timetable for a fix

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