Samsung S4 downgrade Android ver 5.0.1 to 4.4.4 - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

My wife and I both have Samsung SGH-i337 S4 unlocked (not rooted) AT&T phones running 5.0.1 with KNOX ver 2.3, baseband ver i337ucugok2. We would both like to abandon 5.0.1 and go back to 4.4.4. A cell phone repair shop I frequent advised me that these phones cannot be downgraded to 4.4.4 because of the KNOX security. I've examined many threads on this site and others and cannot find precise discussion about the presence of KNOX and if or how it may thwart our desires to downgrade. Nor can I find precise discussion as to whether rooting the phones first is necessary.
Can I, in fact, downgrade the OS on these particular phones?
If so, do I need to root the phones first?
Is rooting required in order to prevent an OTA upgrade back to 5?
Or does KNOX knock me out of the box entirely?
Responses or pointers to the appropriate threads would be most appreciated.

same question ,
cant downgrade?
i dont know if its help:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...d-free-sim-unlock-mk2-nb1-nc1-t2852979/page11

Related

[Q] Upgrade my galaxy s2 can lock my phone ?

Hello, my question is very basic, but I have no experience with android updates. I have a Galaxy S2 model GT-I9100P (NFC), unlocked because I've used it with other companies, I'm not root, the phone has ICS version 4.0.3. My firmware does not support upgrade via Kies. My questions: if I update the firmware to Jelly Beam or others (Odin?), my phone can be locked (SIM-Locked)?, My phone is factory unlocked?
no, it will remain unlocked.
WARNING!!! successfully locked my factory unlocked phone after upgrading it to 4.1.2
mcp.ipod said:
Hello, my question is very basic, but I have no experience with android updates. I have a Galaxy S2 model GT-I9100P (NFC), unlocked because I've used it with other companies, I'm not root, the phone has ICS version 4.0.3. My firmware does not support upgrade via Kies. My questions: if I update the firmware to Jelly Beam or others (Odin?), my phone can be locked (SIM-Locked)?, My phone is factory unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I upgraded my phone with the official jellybean firmware released for Spain and my factory unlocked phone is now Sim locked!!!
So im not sure if you should continue with it. And i haven't been able to find any help with about the "Sim network unlock pin" either. The only info i've read is about apps that I'll have to buy that will unlock the phone provided it's rooted!!
Someone with good experience can explain this?
Help please !!!
mcp.ipod said:
Help please !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't panic, upgrading to Official (or even Leaked) JB 4.1.2 leads your phone to lock again
There was an app here named GalaxSim unlock that solved the problem for me (and many people), it was free but I think the author removed it because it is available on the playstore now and can unlock your phone for around 2$
Look for it in the playstore, you can download a free version that checks your device and tells you if it is unlockable, if yes, you have an in-app option that will unlock your device for the above price
Take a look and I hope this helps
PS: It needs a rooted phone, so you'll have to flash an appropriate kernel (If you are on JB, try Phil's Kernel, it is available here on xda)
EDIT:
I was wrong, you can download it from this thread (On the first post)

[Q] Samsung Galaxy Mega knox warranty?

I tried to flash the new Samsung rom for Mega 6.3(russian). I didn't read about knox before and now I have 0x1. So.... I think I lost my warranty... Is there any chanse to wipe knox warranty flag? If it's not will I be able to update my phone to new official Samsung roms? Everithing is working fine on my phone(after I flashed back my official rom).
Thanks for answers!
P.S:sorry for my bad English.
Short answers fot two questions:
1. NO
2. YES
Ad.1 Tripping KNOX warranty flag is permanent and irreversible (at least for now), but should not occur only from upgrading to newest official firmware version. I suspect you were trying to root your new KK.
Ad.2 Tripped flag it's only sign for service so there was attempt to install unofficial software. It not circimference with updating unit in future. Bear in mind so after upgrading to firmware with knox and new bootloader there is no way back - you can't downgrade your phone to versions with old type bootloader..
trurl3 said:
Short answers fot two questions:
1. NO
2. YES
Ad.1 Tripping KNOX warranty flag is permanent and irreversible (at least for now), but should not occur only from upgrading to newest official firmware version. I suspect you were trying to root your new KK.
Ad.2 Tripped flag it's only sign for service so there was attempt to install unofficial software. It not circimference with updating unit in future. Bear in mind so after upgrading to firmware with knox and new bootloader there is no way back - you can't downgrade your phone to versions with old type bootloader..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!

[Q] bootloader questions.........4.3 v 4.4.....

I'm on stock JB and wondering if I should upgrade to kitkat.
I have a tripped knox so will have to odin to upgrade.
is there any advantage in having a KK BL over a JB BL?
I'm reading that android and samsung are getting too security minded,knox and bootloaders etc
I know you cannot downgrade once you've KK'd and there's something about a locked bootloader?
although I'm sure the clever peeps in xda have already found a way to unlock it.
all roms seem to be KK now and JB's are hard to find which also points to a reason to go KK
will I have a locked BL once I've updated to KK with odin?

[Q] Easy way sim unlock cm 11, andr 4.42

Anyone able to point me to some service that can easily unlock a Tmobile galaxy s3 rooted and running the latest cyanogenmod rom. I bought it rooted so I am not set up to unroot and roll back the rom which is what everyone on ebay seems to require in order to do the SIM unlock. As I have grown geriatric I have gotten lazy and buy my phones rooted rather than doing it myself.
I9300? Galaxsimunlock available on play store is the easiest way. Requires root so no problem there.

Upgrading to lollipop from 4.4.2 with mdk loader

I am currently on 4.4.2 with a MDK bootloader. Originally I wanted to upgrade to Lollipop to use Magisk, but was informed that MDK is a fully unlocked bootloader so it wouldn't work.
That being said I would still like to upgrade to Lollipop. Without using the OTA method what is my best option? I have seen a few threads talking about different options, but most of them either don't mention MDK loader.
That being said maybe at this point in the phones life I just do the OTA update and loose the good bootloader. While having root is nice, I could probably live without it.

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