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Hi guys, I am looking for a concrete way to tell. I called us cellular they said "I am %110 sure it is not a us cellular phone" and the current patch on the phone is us99820a.
Is there a guaranteed way? Something I can see and then be guaranteed it's the unlocked version?
And no it does not have the B&H logo.
pirate1122 said:
Hi guys, I am looking for a concrete way to tell. I called us cellular they said "I am %110 sure it is not a us cellular phone" and the current patch on the phone is us99820a.
Is there a guaranteed way? Something I can see and then be guaranteed it's the unlocked version?
And no it does not have the B&H logo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why you are asking. All US998 are SIM card unlocked/carrier unlocked. Even those Frankenstein converted from Sprint LS998 and being sold on eBay as "US998". As well as those US998 sold by U.S. Cellular. All US998/US998U are carrier unlocked (from release date in 2017) and can be bootloader unlocked and rooted (since May 2018).
The only difference is the official "open market" US998 V30 (64GB) phones (like those sold by B&H Photo) have their IMEI numbers and DEVICE-ID registered on the LG bootloader unlock website, which make them eligible for now irrelevant LG official bootloader unlock code.
HOWEVER, even "open market " 128GB US998U V30+ are NOT eligible for official bootloader unlock -- only the 64GB V30 US998 -- and LG won't explain why. So, there's NO difference in any of the 128GB US998U V30+ for U.S. Cellular, B&H Photo or some other North American variant "Frankenstein" converted to "US998" V30+.
GUESS WHAT? NONE of that matters anymore. We have bootloader unlock and root for ALL V30/V30+/V30S thanks to XDA, and don't need LG's permission.
pirate1122 said:
And no it does not have the B&H logo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No phones sold by B&H Photo in New York have a "B&H" logo on the phone. Why would they? I bought three US998/US998U from B&H Photo. B&H Photo is a company in New York city that sells electronics. They are one of the "open market" LG authorized 3rd party retailers, along with Best Buy and Amazon.
You are obviously confusing B&H Photo with B&O? B&O is a global sound design/manufacturing company that has partnered with LG on several occasions. But no North America LG phones will have B&O logos because OTHER companies have rights to that logo in U.S. and Canada.
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ChazzMatt said:
Not sure why you are asking. All US998 are carrier unlocked. Even those Frankenstein converted from LS998 and being sold on eBay as US998. As well as those sold by U.S. Cellular. All US998/US998U are carrier unlocked and can be bootloader unlocked and rooted.
The only difference is the B&H Photo US998 V30 (64GB) phones IMEI numbers and DEVICE_ID are registered on the LG bootloader unlock website, which make them eligible for LG official bootloader unlock code.
HOWEVER, the B&H US998U V30+ are NOT eligible for official bootloader unlock (and LG won't explain why). So, there's NO difference in any of the US998U V30+ for U.S. Cellular, B&H Photo or some other North American variant "Frankenstein" converted to "US998" V30+.
GUESS WHAT? NONE of that matters anymore. We have bootloader unlock and root for ALL V30/V30+/V30S thanks to XDA, and don't need LG's permission.
I don't even know what that means. No B&H Photo phones have a B&H logo. I bought three.
You are confusing B&H Photo with B&O.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I wasn't aware there was a method now to unlock the us cellular version.
But I am selling it and several buyers have asked, so that is why I'd like to know for a fact.
pirate1122 said:
Thank you. I wasn't aware there was a method now to unlock the us cellular version.
But I am selling it and several buyers have asked, so that is why I'd like to know for a fact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they are asking, they are asking out of ignorance and you need to educate them. It doesn't matter what kind of US998 it is, it can be bootloader unlocked and rooted and it's already carrier unlocked.
All US998 are SIM card unlocked/carrier unlocked. You will see some eBay sellers saying U.S. Cellular US998 are locked to U.S. Cellular but that is not correct. That is generic language that may apply to OTHER U.S. Cellular phones, not the V30/V30+.
If have a US998 V30+ you bought off eBay from a dealer like yywireless, it probably previously was a Sprint LS998 V30+ and was Frankenstein converted to US998 V30+. Doesn't matter. Tell them it's a SIM card unlocked US998 that can be easily bootloader unlocked and rooted. Point them to this thread below:
(WTF...!) LG V30/V30+/V30S Bootloader Unlock & Root Method (With Clear Instructions)https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76584629&postcount=193https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76584629&postcount=193https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76584629&postcount=193
ChazzMatt said:
Not sure why you are asking. All US998 are carrier unlocked. Even those Frankenstein converted from LS998 and being sold on eBay as US998. As well as those sold by U.S. Cellular. All US998/US998U are carrier unlocked and can be bootloader unlocked and rooted.
The only difference is the B&H Photo US998 V30 (64GB) phones IMEI numbers and DEVICE_ID are registered on the LG bootloader unlock website, which make them eligible for LG official bootloader unlock code.
HOWEVER, the B&H US998U V30+ are NOT eligible for official bootloader unlock (and LG won't explain why). So, there's NO difference in any of the US998U V30+ for U.S. Cellular, B&H Photo or some other North American variant "Frankenstein" converted to "US998" V30+.
GUESS WHAT? NONE of that matters anymore. We have bootloader unlock and root for ALL V30/V30+/V30S thanks to XDA, and don't need LG's permission.
You are very confused. No phones sold by B&H Photo have a "B&H" logo on the phone. Why would they? I bought three. B&H Photo is a company in New York city that sells electronics. They are one of the "open market" LG authorized 3rd party retailers, along with Best Buy and Amazon.
You are obviously confusing B&H Photo with B&O. B&O is a global sound design/manufacturing company that has partnered with LG on several occasions. But no North America LG phones will have B&O logos because OTHER companies have rights to that logo in U.S. and Canada.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ChazzMatt said:
If they are asking, they are asking out of ignorance and you need to educate them. It doesn't matter what kind of US998 it is, it can be bootloader unlocked and rooted and it's already carrier unlocked.
All US998 are SIM card unlocked/carrier unlocked. You will see some eBay sellers saying U.S. Cellular US998 are locked to U.S. Cellular but that is not correct. That is generic language that may apply to OTHER U.S. Cellular phones, not the V30/V30+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I messaged all of them with this new info, one responded and mentioned the us cellular version gets security updates sooner. Do you know if that's true?
pirate1122 said:
I messaged all of them with this new info, one responded and mentioned the us cellular version gets security updates sooner. Do you know if that's true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pirate1122 said:
the current patch on the phone is us99820a.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All security updates are posted here in XDA as soon as they are released. He can easily manually install them when he wishes instead of the partial image OTA being forced on him.
20E is the latest update for US998, released in September. You can update to that very easily if you wish. Just use "upgrade" in LGUP app. All data is saved, all apps saved. Takes 5 minutes.
The only thing is you NEED Oreo 20A or 20B to bootloader unlock, THEN you can update to the newest. Unless you or the buyer doesn't wish to unlock bootloader and root.
When you are selling the phone, STRESS THAT IT'S ON Oreo FIRMWARE THAT CAN BE EASILY ROOTED. 20A is a SELLING advantage! If you update to newest firmware, they will have to downgrade anyway (temporarily) to unlock bootloader.
[US998][STOCK][OREO]LG V30 US998 US99820e_02_0910.kdz
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/development/us998-lg-v30-us998-us99820a040330-kdz-t3786337
ChazzMatt said:
All security updates are posted here in XDA as soon as they are released. He can easily manually install them when he wishes instead of the partial image OTA being forced on him.
20E is the latest update for US998, released in September. You can update to that very easily if you wish. The only thing is you NEED Oreo 20A or 20B to bootloader unlock, THEN you can update to the newest. Unless you or the buyer doesn't wish to unlock bootloader and root.
When you are selling the phone, ADD THAT IT'S ON Oreo FIRMWARE THAT CAN BE EASILY ROOTED. If you update to newest firmware, they will have to downgrade anyway (temporarily) to unlock bootloader.
[US998][STOCK][OREO]LG V30 US998 US99820e_02_0910.kdz
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/development/us998-lg-v30-us998-us99820a040330-kdz-t3786337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much. If I can bother you one more time, Is there a way to tell if Frankenstein has been used and how to tell the bootloader is unlocked. I asked before I bought the phone and the seller said no to both. (I bought it two months ago).
pirate1122 said:
Thank you so much. If I can bother you one more time, Is there a way to tell if Frankenstein has been used and how to tell the bootloader is unlocked. I asked before I bought the phone and the seller said no to both. (I bought it two months ago).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the bootloader is unlocked 99% of the time, when turning on/rebooting the phone you will see a VERY annoying -- even scary -- bootloader unlock warning. It's just a "picture" LG throws in your face.
For the US998, there is an obscure way to hide that, but most people don't bother or don't know how. I don't bother. If you do not see this message, your bootloader is probably not unlocked.
Yes, there's an ADB/fastboot command you can run that will also tell you for sure: fastboot getvar all
This is how @TxanMoe PROVED his WTF bootloader unlock method worked for LG V30 Oreo.
But if the seller says it wasn't unlocked, then it's probably not unlocked especially if you don't see that warning message when you turn on the phone...
How to tell if it's been Frankensteined to US998? The IMEI will correlate to another North American variant's (LS998/VS996/AS998/H931/H933) database of numbers -- but that's beyond my knowledge as to what those numbers would be.
There are IMEI online database search engines that claim to tell you that:
https://imei24.com/imei_check/LG/
Like that one above and there are others.
When me and my friends/relatives stick in our AT&T SIM cards, the phones work with fast LTE so I don't care. My wife is currently using an LS998 V30+ I converted to US998 V30+, on AT&T. Her bootloader is unlocked but she's not rooted. I may do that at some point in the future when I have more time.
ChazzMatt said:
If the bootloader is unlocked 99% of the time, when turning on/rebooting the phone you will see a VERY annoying -- even scary -- bootloader unlock warning. It's just a "picture" LG throws in your face.
For the US998, there is an obscure way to hide that, but most people don't bother or don't know how. I don't bother. If you do not see this message, your bootloader is probably not unlocked.
Yes, there's an ADB/fastboot command you can run that will also tell you for sure: fastboot getvar all
This is how @TxanMoe PROVED his WTF bootloader unlock method worked for LG V30 Oreo.
But if the seller says it wasn't unlocked, then it's probably not unlocked especially if you don't see that warning message when you turn on the phone...
How to tell if it's been Frankensteined to US998? The IMEI will correlate to another North American variant's (LS998/VS996/AS998/H931/H933) database of numbers -- but that's beyond my knowledge as to what those numbers would be.
There are IMEI online database search engines that claim to tell you that:
https://imei24.com/imei_check/LG/
Like that one above and there are others.
When me and my friends/relatives stick in our AT&T SIM cards, the phones work with fast LTE so I don't care. My wife is currently using an LS998 V30+ I converted to US998 V30+, on AT&T. Her bootloader is unlocked but she's not rooted. I may do that at some point in the future when I have more time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for all the info. The only reason I thought the bootloader might be unlocked is when I start the phone into fastboot mode, it says:
Check if bootloader is unlocked
Fastboot getvar unlocked
pirate1122 said:
Thank you for all the info. The only reason I thought the bootloader might be unlocked is when I start the phone into fastboot mode, it says:
Check if bootloader is unlocked
Fastboot getvar unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm... So, what does it say when you run fastboot getvar all?
ChazzMatt said:
Hmmmm... So, what does it say when you run fastboot getvar all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do I plug in my phone, open cmd, and just type fastboot getvar all?
Or do I need to plug it in, shift+right click adb folder, start adb, and then do it?
pirate1122 said:
Thank you for all the info. The only reason I thought the bootloader might be unlocked is when I start the phone into fastboot mode, it says:
Check if bootloader is unlocked
Fastboot getvar unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pirate1122 said:
Do I plug in my phone, open cmd, and just type fastboot getvar all?
Or do I need to plug it in, shift+right click adb folder, start adb, and then do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it the same you you have done previously to start the phone in fastboot mode.
I assume you must have turned on Developer Options in the past, turned on USB debugging, allowed authorization for your PC. You said you were in fastboot mode before... You're now just typing a command that will give you information about the phone.
See screenshot on previous page for @TxanMoe.
If you want to make sure that your phone is connected:
adb devices
Which will simply list android device connected to computer (devices with usb debugging turned ON). This isn’t really necessary as it’s a part of the commands used later on, but sometimes it’s a useful way to make sure all things are GO.
First we need to reboot phone into bootloader mode
This you can either do manually, or with ADB and Fastboot installed on computer. You have a simple way HERE how, or use the more complex android sdk way. Simply use a ADB command for it.
adb reboot bootloader
This will force the phone to reboot into bootloader, if everything works like it’s supposed to, you will see windows load the fastboot driver.
Now you enter the fastboot main command with the command getvar (get variable) and “all” as parament for that
fastboot getvar all
Which will get you a list of various variables on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ChazzMatt said:
Do it the same you you have done previously to start the phone in fastboot mode.
I assume you must have turned on Developer Options in the past, turned on USB debugging, allowed authorization for your PC. You said you were in fastboot mode before... You're now just typing a command that will give you information about the phone.
See screenshot on previous page for @TxanMoe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you a million times over. I have confirmed it is indeed locked "(bootloader) unlocked:no". I appreciate all your help and patience with me today
ChazzMatt said:
How to tell if it's been Frankensteined to US998? The IMEI will correlate to another North American variant's (LS998/VS996/AS998/H931/H933) database of numbers -- but that's beyond my knowledge as to what those numbers would be.
There are IMEI online database search engines that claim to tell you that:
https://imei24.com/imei_check/LG/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to that page I confirmed a slight suspicion I had about the phone I bought as a US998U - it was originally an LS998U. The reason I was suspicious is Verizon's website won't accept the IMEI to do an official swap from my Droid Turbo - I just put the SIM from the Turbo into the V30 and it's mostly working. The other time I had that problem I was doing an IMEI swap to move a Nexus 6 from Sprint to Verizon.
I say my V30 is mostly working because I've been having signal issues with it recently - I didn't seem to have as much trouble when I first got it. I'm looking at nuking it and reinstalling US998 firmware from scratch to eliminate that a possible cause.
EDIT - when there was the Magisk bootloop problem, I did some things to fix it before I knew it was the source of the trouble. I was doing some other firmware experiments that I thought caused it, and may have made things flaky.
hitokage004 said:
Thanks to that page I confirmed a slight suspicion I had about the phone I bought as a US998U - it was originally an LS998U. The reason I was suspicious is Verizon's website won't accept the IMEI to do an official swap from my Droid Turbo - I just put the SIM from the Turbo into the V30 and it's mostly working. The other time I had that problem I was doing an IMEI swap to move a Nexus 6 from Sprint to Verizon.
I say my V30 is mostly working because I've been having signal issues with it recently - I didn't seem to have as much trouble when I first got it. I'm looking at nuking it and reinstalling US998 firmware from scratch to eliminate that a possible cause.
EDIT - when there was the Magisk bootloop problem, I did some things to fix it before I knew it was the source of the trouble. I was doing some other firmware experiments that I thought caused it, and may have made things flaky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, reinstall US998 firmware but also be sure to flash Verizon modems if you want to test signal differences. Some people like the US998 modem on Verizon, while others like the Verizon modem on Verizon.
For Verizon, for most/all of these Frankensteined phones, you will need an already-activated Verizon SIM card. They don't understand that the IMEI does NOT equal the current version of phone. It's no longer a Sprint phone (or whatever), it's now a carrier unlocked US998 -- no matter what the IMEI says.
Someone else had some similar problem with AT&T, trying to bring over a Frankensteined phone to officially "register" it. No, just stick in an already activated AT&T SIM card! Maybe they didn't have one. AT&T accepted my true US998U V30+ to register it, but for my wife (she's used both true US998 and Frankenstein LS998 V30+ converted to US998U), I didn't even bother going to AT&T store. I just stuck in her Moto Quark SIM card card.
When I moved my mother over from Tracfone LG "feature phone" to my AT&T account this last summer, luckily I had a spare "true" US998 V30 to register her. I didn't have an already-activated AT&T SIM card for her phone. They just scanned the bar code on the box and it was good to go.
The Verizon modems were what I was fooling with the same day Magisk 17.0 was released - this is why I didn't realize that was the actual cause. I don't know if I corrupted something or not trying to fix the bootloop before knowing the cause was updating Magisk without uninstalling, so I'm going to start clean with full wipe and fresh flash of US998 20e firmware and Verizon modem.
As I said the SIM I'm using is was already in use with Verizon from my Turbo and the phone works - I've been using it for about six weeks. The IMEI swap on Verizon's side is because of insurance coverage - since I have to deal with a rep (since the website won't accept it) it has very low priority.
ChazzMatt said:
Sure, reinstall US998 firmware but also be sure to flash Verizon modems if you want to test signal differences. Some people like the US998 modem on Verizon, while others like the Verizon modem on Verizon.
For Verizon, for most/all of these Frankensteined phones, you will need an already-activated Verizon SIM card. They don't understand that the IMEI does NOT equal the current version of phone. It's no longer a Sprint phone (or whatever), it's now a carrier unlocked US998 -- no matter what the IMEI says.
Someone else had some similar problem with AT&T, trying to bring over a Frankensteined phone to officially "register" it. No, just stick in an already activated AT&T SIM card! Maybe they didn't have one. AT&T accepted my true US998U V30+ to register it, but for my wife (she's used both true US998 and Frankenstein LS998 V30+ converted to US998U), I didn't even bother going to AT&T store. I just stuck in her Moto Quark SIM card card.
When I moved my mother over from Tracfone LG "feature phone" to my AT&T account this last summer, luckily I had a spare "true" US998 V30 to register her. I didn't have an already-activated AT&T SIM card for her phone. They just scanned the bar code on the box and it was good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi bro, thanks for your usefull info.
But to make it more clear to myself, so US998 V30+ is basically already unlocked right?
No need any Factory Unlock like t-mobile version to use other carrier, even I'm doing flash/update or even softbrick bootlop which ended to flash stock rom and it will not locked.
Mean is I can use it to my country (Indonesia) which have band support LTE 900(8) this band doesnt exist in US988, but the other one 3(1800) can be used on Telkomsel carrier.
Why I'm buying this over H930DS officially distributed in Indonesia?
Because US998 can be unlocked and use any custom rom here, which is really important things for me to have rooted and banking apps run well (magisk)..
Defforest said:
Hi bro, thanks for your usefull info.
But to make it more clear to myself, so US998 V30+ is basically already unlocked right?
No need any Factory Unlock like t-mobile version to use other carrier, even I'm doing flash/update or even softbrick bootlop which ended to flash stock rom and it will not locked.
Mean is I can use it to my country (Indonesia) which have band support LTE 900(8) this band doesnt exist in US988, but the other one 3(1800) can be used on Telkomsel carrier.
Why I'm buying this over H930DS officially distributed in Indonesia?
Because US998 can be unlocked and use any custom rom here, which is really important things for me to have rooted and banking apps run well (magisk)..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, all US998 are carrier unlocked.
But anny H930DS in the world any be bootloader unlocked and rooted and use custom ROM. Because any V30/V30+/V30S in the world can be bootloader unlocked and rooted.
Lots from India, Pakistan, Indonesia (which are all same EAS region) have done so. All the H930DS have fastboot flash commands. You just need to temporarily downgrade to pre-July 2018 Oreo firmware if you have newer than that. Unlock bootloader with WTF bootloader unlock exploit, install TWRP and root.
(WTF...!) LG V30/V30+/V30S Bootloader Unlock & Root Method (With Clear Instructions)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76584629&postcount=193
I'm not telling you not to buy US998, but as you pointed out it does not have LTE band 8.
http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-US998-Unlocked-v30
US998
CDMA: 800 MHz CDMA
2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
3G UMTS (HSPA):850/900/1900/2100 MHz
4G LTE Bands: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12(17)/13/20/25/66
ChazzMatt said:
Yes, all US998 are carrier unlocked.
But anny H930DS in the world any be bootloader unlocked and rooted and use custom ROM. Because any V30/V30+/V30S in the world can be bootloader unlocked and rooted.
Lots from India, Pakistan, Indonesia (which are all same EAS region) have done so. All the H930DS have fastboot flash commands. You just need to temporarily downgrade to pre-July 2018 Oreo firmware if you have newer than that. Unlock bootloader with WTF bootloader unlock exploit, install TWRP and root.
(WTF...!) LG V30/V30+/V30S Bootloader Unlock & Root Method (With Clear Instructions)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76584629&postcount=193
I'm not telling you not to buy US998, but as you pointed out it does not have LTE band 8.
http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-US998-Unlocked-v30
US998
CDMA: 800 MHz CDMA
2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
3G UMTS (HSPA):850/900/1900/2100 MHz
4G LTE Bands: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12(17)/13/20/25/66
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it doesn't have LTE Band 8, but the other one which LTE Band 3 (1800) have it. So, will it work with only 1 band cover it? And does it have affect to signal strength while only 1 working band?
In fact it only have 1 band that works, beside H930DS which cover both of them Band 3 and 8.
The H930DS price here almost twice with US998 version distributed by black market here, so this price comparison really matter to me. I like this phone because it has nice design and of course Quad DAC feature.
And oh, most of the time I live with wifi connection in my house/office.
Really need your best opinion, thanks Matt
Defforest said:
I know it doesn't have LTE Band 8, but the other one which LTE Band 3 (1800) have it. So, will it work with only 1 band cover it? And does it have affect to signal strength while only 1 working band?
In fact it only have 1 band that works, beside H930DS which cover both of them Band 3 and 8.
The H930DS price here almost twice with US998 version distributed by black market here, so this price comparison really matter to me. I like this phone because it has nice design and of course Quad DAC feature.
And oh, most of the time I live with wifi connection in my house/office.
Really need your best opinion, thanks Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
H930(Europe V30) has these bands and is carrier unlocked. If you find one that is not for some reason, you would just flash the H930 Open EU KDZ:
If you have"H930" (either actual or converted), you will either have these bands:
2G GSM: 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G (HSPA): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/8/12/17/20/28/38
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would give you LTE band 3 and LTE band 8. How are the prices on those?
But if you have to go with US998 for price, then that's what you have to do.
I have an unlocked LGV30 us998 that i would like to install the verizon VS99620j on it. is it possible? Will the verizon features like Visual Voicemail, Video calling, and wifi calling work?
charulo316 said:
I have an unlocked LGV30 us998 that i would like to install the verizon VS99620j on it. is it possible? Will the verizon features like Visual Voicemail, Video calling, and wifi calling work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES, when you Frankenstein any North America phone to another, it becomes that phone.
Many Verizon customers on here are using former LS998 or US998 converted to VS996 with those full features.
However, you'll probably need an already-activated Verizon SIM card. Many US998 sold on eBay are converted LS998, and Verizon won't activate former Sprint phones even if they are now US998. Where did you get your US998?
Thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention that the unlocked V30 is activated on Verizon already. I just want to add the other features and update the os.
charulo316 said:
Thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention that the unlocked V30 is activated on Verizon already. I just want to add the other features and update the os.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
When you say unlocked, you mean carrier unlocked or you've bootloader unlocked/installed TWRP/rooted?
You can get to VS996 firmware either way, but the method depends on what you have -- either flashing KDZ with Dev Patched LGUP or TWRP-flashable zips via TWRP.
It's carrier unlocked, not bootloader unlocked.
charulo316 said:
It's carrier unlocked, not bootloader unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, then Dev Patched LGUP, flashing the latest VS996 KDZ in the VS996 KDZ thread. Use REFURBISH or Partition DL mode.
Thanks for the reply, one more question, after doing the kdz in vs996, will this also allow me to get OTA's from Verizon?
charulo316 said:
Thanks for the reply, one more question, after doing the kdz in vs996, will this also allow me to get OTA's from Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not. Don't know for sure.
But very easy to use LGUP "upgrade" mode every couple of months when a new KDZ is released. Takes 5 minutes. You don't want "upgrade" mode to convert to VS996, but after that you can use it to get updates. Keeps your data -- it's like a manual OTA.
New VS996 KDZ is posted here in this forum and other sites every time it's released, which is about every couple of months.
VS99630c (30c) onto US998 with LGUP?
Does everything in this thread also apply to using Dev Patched LGUP to flash the VS99630c (30c) KDZ onto a carrier unlocked US998?
Thanks!
EFG5 said:
Does everything in this thread also apply to using Dev Patched LGUP to flash the VS99630c (30c) KDZ onto a carrier unlocked US998?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
To be safe, you should really flash Nougat VS996 KDZ via Partition DL mode or Refurbish mode, Master Reset, then flash Pie VS996 30C to that phone.
However since it's a VS996 and you're coming from US998, you can get by with skipping the Nougat step. But I hate telling people that, because it's only VS996/US998 which have that loophole.
All other North American variants have to go through Nougat first to cross flash -- unless they're already bootloader unlocked and rooted, in which case they can just flash the appropriate TWRP flashable zip version of that KDZ.
I will be unlocking my phone in about a month and moving to TMobile.
I'm just curious, has anyone moved their v30 plus from sprint to tmo and it work fine? (After unlocking it off course)
I do know there is one band that will not work, 600 or something like that, and I'm ok with that, as long as the rest will work ok.
easyrider77 said:
I will be unlocking my phone in about a month and moving to TMobile.
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Are you talking about carrier unlock or also bootloader unlock/root?
easyrider77 said:
I'm just curious, has anyone moved their v30 plus from sprint to tmo and it work fine? (After unlocking it off course)
I do know there is one band that will not work, 600 or something like that, and I'm ok with that, as long as the rest will work ok.
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Yes, many use on U.S. T-Mobile. Because the easiest way to carrier unlock LS998 is to flash US998 firmware. Convert LS998 V30+ to US99 V30+.
See the Frankenstein instructions.
At the end of the process you will have carrier unlocked US998 with these bands:
US998
CDMA: 800 MHz CDMA
2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
3G UMTS (HSPA):850/900/1900/2100 MHz
4G LTE Bands: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12(17)/13/20/25/66
LTE band 71 is the only U.S. T-Mobile LTE band the US998 not any other V30 have except the T-Mobile H932.
ChazzMatt said:
Are you talking about carrier unlock or also bootloader unlock/root?
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Just carrier unlock.
Not wanting to root although I have rooted multiple other phones before, so I am comfortable with doing so if and when I decide to.
So that brings me to a couple other questions. I have looked over the Frankenstein thread on how to flash from ls998 to us998 and even have the files for lgup downloaded, but I was curious about a few things.
1: say if I flash and get on TMobile fine and everything works then for whatever reason I want to go back to sprint, will the us998 work on sprint or will I have to flash back to ls998 for it to work?
2: if it's needed to flash back to ls998, the only way I am reading on forums is to unlock the bootloader and root, unless there is another way without rooting that I missed? If there is a rootless way could anyone direct me to that, I'd appreciate it greatly.
Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way anti-root, it's just not for me with this phone, so I'm trying to do all this without rooting (if possible)
easyrider77 said:
Just carrier unlock.
Not wanting to root although I have rooted multiple other phones before, so I am comfortable with doing so if and when I decide to.
So that brings me to a couple other questions. I have looked over the Frankenstein thread on how to flash from ls998 to us998 and even have the files for lgup downloaded, but I was curious about a few things.
1: say if I flash and get on TMobile fine and everything works then for whatever reason I want to go back to sprint, will the us998 work on sprint or will I have to flash back to ls998 for it to work?
2: if it's needed to flash back to ls998, the only way I am reading on forums is to unlock the bootloader and root, unless there is another way without rooting that I missed? If there is a rootless way could anyone direct me to that, I'd appreciate it greatly.
Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way anti-root, it's just not for me with this phone, so I'm trying to do all this without rooting (if possible)
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Both Sprint and AT&T do not release public KDZ (firmware images). For LS998, to carrier unlock it and get most compatibility with other North American carriers the method is to convert it (Frankenstein) to a native carrier unlocked firmware -- like Open Market US998 or even Canada H931. US998 is more popular because it also has fastboot flash commands.
While it's not entirely a one-way street, it's a lot harder to go back -- because Sprint doesn't release public KDZ images. Our talented devs have created their own TWRP flashable zips (basically ROMs) to flash back to Sprint firmware via TWRP. One dev even created a TWRP flashable zip for warranty return purposes that would flash back stock recovery, erasing TWRP custom recovery.
To use those, yes you have to be bootloader unlocked and have TWRP custom recovery.
While you can use US998 on Sprint, there are two caveats which may apply to you. Three Sprint LTE bands are missing on US998 and in the past Sprint wouldn't activate a US998 phone, even though IMEI shows it was a former LS998. However, someone recently said they were able to activate a NATIVE US998 phone on Sprint, so maybe their policies have changed? Still, in the past, the method for Sprint customers was to activate Sprint service while still on LS998 firmware, then temporarily convert to US998 for bootloader unlock and root, then flash back to Sprint firmware (to get those three LTE bands back) using TWRP flashable zip -- while keeping TWRP and root. If you wanted to go back to Sprint, you would probably have to bootloader unlock, install TWRP and flash one of those dev crafted Sprint stock ROMs.
I hope I haven't confused you. There is no need for you to bootloader unlock and root just to convert to US998 to go to T-mobile. "Frankenstein" existed long before our WTF bootloader unlock and root method, to carrier unlock the Sprint LS998 and AT&T H931. Merely convert to US998 and you are carrier unlocked, have bands compatible with most other carriers, and have access to publicly released KDZ.
The LS998 was the main reason Frankenstein was created. It's a V30+ and is available very inexpensively and can be carrier unlocked very easily. Most people using it are NOT Sprint customers. Like me, they bought to convert to US998. I wrote the Frankenstein instructions and the screenshot images are from my own LS998 I bought off eBay.
ChazzMatt said:
Both Sprint and AT&T do not release public KDZ (firmware images). For LS998, to carrier unlock it and get most compatibility with other North American carriers the method is to convert it (Frankenstein) to a native carrier unlocked firmware -- like Open Market US998 or even Canada H931. US998 is more popular because it also has fastboot flash commands.
While it's not entirely a one-way street, it's a lot harder to go back -- because Sprint doesn't release public KDZ images. Our talented devs have created their own TWRP flashable zips (basically ROMs) to flash back to Sprint firmware via TWRP. One dev even created a TWRP flashable zip for warranty return purposes that would flash back stock recovery, erasing TWRP custom recovery.
To use those, yes you have to be bootloader unlocked and have TWRP custom recovery.
While you can use US998 on Sprint, there are two caveats which may apply to you. Three Sprint LTE bands are missing on US998 and in the past Sprint wouldn't activate a US998 phone, even though IMEI shows it was a former LS998. However, someone recently said they were able to activate a NATIVE US998 phone on Sprint, so maybe their policies have changed? Still, in the past, the method for Sprint customers was to activate Sprint service while still on LS998 firmware, then temporarily convert to US998 for bootloader unlock and root, then flash back to Sprint firmware (to get those three LTE bands back) using TWRP flashable zip -- while keeping TWRP and root. If you wanted to go back to Sprint, you would probably have to bootloader unlock, install TWRP and flash one of those dev crafted Sprint stock ROMs.
I hope I haven't confused you. There is no need for you to bootloader unlock and root just to convert to US998 to go to T-mobile. "Frankenstein" existed long before our WTF bootloader unlock and root method, to carrier unlock the Sprint LS998 and AT&T H931. Merely convert to US998 and you are carrier unlocked, have bands compatible with most other carriers, and have access to publicly released KDZ.
The LS998 was the main reason Frankenstein was created. It's a V30+ and is available very inexpensively and can be carrier unlocked very easily. Most people using it are NOT Sprint customers. Like me, they bought to convert to US998. I wrote the Frankenstein instructions and the screenshot images are from my own LS998 I bought off eBay.
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Awesome, thanks for the info, and no it didn't confuse me at all, I completely understand all of it.
On a side note I might add, that sprint and vz both detect the bootloader unlocked and will not currectly register with thier networks as long as the bootloader is unlocked.
I know this from experience, because I had a g5s plus that was rooted and worked fine on tmo, cricket, simple mobile, yet would not currectly setup and work right on sprint or on vz.
I tried flashing a stock rom and still did not work. Only when I locked the bl again did it then work fine on both networks. I got data but no calls or texts.
Since I had a very very very bad time locking the bl on that phone, and no one had a solution, it took me upwards of near 3 months to find a way to lock the bl.
Once I got the stock rom and locked the bl it works just fine with no issues at all.
I did find out from a friend that the way to have root on those networks is register it in the network THEN root it, although I was too lazy to do that so I just left it un-rooted.
That given, I just was wondering if there a simple way to relock the bootloader in case this may happen again in the future? Perhaps via fastboot commands??
As a side note, fastboot command did not work on my g5s plus sadly. It said it worked but when I rebooted nothing happened and bootloader was still unlocked. Not sure exactly why but as you can imagine it made me a bit gun shy on rooting. I've rooted a dozen or more phones in my span of phones, from the s2 and up, and the g5s plus is and was the only phone I had issues with and had a horrible time locking the bootloader.
easyrider77 said:
That given, I just was wondering if there a simple way to relock the bootloader in case this may happen again in the future? Perhaps via fastboot commands??
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Yes, bootloader is easily re-locked on US998 firmware.
Very good. Thanks so very much for all the info.
Hopefully it will just unlock via sprint and work on TMobile and I won't have to mess with anything but either way I'm ready.
Just FYI, thank you for your hard work and efforts on the tutorial on converting to us998. I greatly appreciate you and the devs and others that make it easier for us.
So I've read some on the Frankenstein thread, and I decide to go that route I'll follow that thread.
I have not switched carriers as of yet so I am on sprint still.
I know if I am going to say tmo it's recommend to kdz flash the us988.
As I understand it, you can go to us988 fine without issues (normally) but to go back to sprint you need to reflash to ls988 and to do that, root is needed, which also requires bl unlock.
I tried a moto g5s plus with an unlocked bl on both sprint and vz, but in both cases I got data to work but no voice at all. After some research and trial and errors, I found out it was because the bl was unlocked, because I was flashed to stock rom. Once I locked the bl, everything worked fine. Some how sprint network detects the bl bring unlocked or the bl being unlocked makes it so the system doesn't work right with the phone, not sure. I also found out you can be root and use an unlocked bl once you are on the network, but not before.
So, that brings me to my question.
In order to use ls988, again you need root and unlocked bl, so that being the case, how would I go about using the ls988 without the bl being unlocked? Because with the bl unlocked, as stated above, calls won't work.
Is it possible to use the us988 abd bl locked, then get registered on the network, then flash the ls988?
Sorry for any confusion, I sometimes have a hard time explaining in words what's in my head.
easyrider77 said:
So I've read some on the Frankenstein thread, and I decide to go that route I'll follow that thread.
I have not switched carriers as of yet so I am on sprint still.
I know if I am going to say tmo it's recommend to kdz flash the us988.
As I understand it, you can go to us988 fine without issues (normally) but to go back to sprint you need to reflash to ls988 and to do that, root is needed, which also requires bl unlock.
I tried a moto g5s plus with an unlocked bl on both sprint and vz, but in both cases I got data to work but no voice at all. After some research and trial and errors, I found out it was because the bl was unlocked, because I was flashed to stock rom. Once I locked the bl, everything worked fine. Some how sprint network detects the bl bring unlocked or the bl being unlocked makes it so the system doesn't work right with the phone, not sure. I also found out you can be root and use an unlocked bl once you are on the network, but not before.
So, that brings me to my question.
In order to use ls988, again you need root and unlocked bl, so that being the case, how would I go about using the ls988 without the bl being unlocked? Because with the bl unlocked, as stated above, calls won't work.
Is it possible to use the us988 abd bl locked, then get registered on the network, then flash the ls988?
Sorry for any confusion, I sometimes have a hard time explaining in words what's in my head.
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Yes, it's best to activate the phone on Sprint FIRST before you temporarily convert to US998, then flash back to Sprint. So that part of your question is valid.
But the rest is a little silly considering we've been rooting this phone for over 2 years now.
Of course calls/data work with a Unlocked Bootloader on all variants.
Everyone who unlocked a boot loader on the LS998 have calls and data working just fine on Sprint. And Verizon and AT&T and T-Mobile and every other carrier and the world.
Lots of Sprint people who have temporarily converted to US998, unlocked bootoader, then flash back to Sprint firmware -- keeping TWRP and root. One of our main DEVs is a Sprint customer. So your worries are totally baseless.
Why do you think we have TWRP flashable zips Sprint firmware to flash back to, if the phone couldn't be used?
By the way this is an LG not a Motorola. It's also not a Sony, which is another common question -- do to boot loader unlock issues with Sonys.
However, if you're thinking about moving to T-Mobile, then stay on US998 and go to T-Mobile. Why mess with Sprint?
Us998 on T-Mobile has VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, etc. Us998 has more compatible T-Mobile bands than LS998 firmware.
I've rooted almost a dozen different phones from back to the s2 days, but the moto phone threw me. I've never once had an issue with bl unlocked and being able to switch to another carrier until the moto phone, so I wasn't sure if that was a network thing or a phone thing.
With the moto it was obviously a phone thing.
Why switch to sprint instead of just staying on tmo? I guess simply put, it gives choices. Like everything in life, it's good to have choices and even if you never choose to use said choice, the fact that it's there is good, because it doesn't limit things to just a small selection. This is why we have multiple phones, and cell services to choose from, it gives a variety of things to choose from, to suit each person's needs.
I've seen people who live in a specific area and can only get one carrier because nothing else works in that area so they have to change carriers.
As for being baseless I am confused how it is baseless from a question. I never said anything about lg not working with our without the bl locked or unlocked, I simply referred to the Motorola phone and was curious if the lg phone would have the same issue I had with the moto phone.
If for some reason there is an implied statement that I am lying about the moto phone not working with the bl unlocked before it was registered on the network and the only thing I did was lock the bl, I am willing to hear why exactly it would not receive or make calls on both vz and sprint, both the exact same issue, until I locked the bl.
Nowhere in my thread did I say the lg would not work with an unlocked bl, twrp or anything else..... I was simply asking a question based on the experience I had with the moto phone (not lg or any other phone) so I am confused how that is baseless, considering I was baseing it off of the phone that did give me issues which was the moto phone, and not the lg phone.
easyrider77 said:
So I've read some on the Frankenstein thread, and I decide to go that route I'll follow that thread.
I have not switched carriers as of yet so I am on sprint still.
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easyrider77 said:
Why switch to sprint instead of just staying on tmo? I guess simply put, it gives choices.
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Can you make up your mind what carrier you're on right now?
easyrider77 said:
I've rooted almost a dozen different phones from back to the s2 days, but the moto phone threw me. I've never once had an issue with bl unlocked and being able to switch to another carrier until the moto phone, so I wasn't sure if that was a network thing or a phone thing.
With the moto it was obviously a phone thing.
As for being baseless I am confused how it is baseless from a question. I never said anything about lg not working with our without the bl locked or unlocked, I simply referred to the Motorola phone and was curious if the lg phone would have the same issue I had with the moto phone.
Nowhere in my thread did I say the lg would not work with an unlocked bl, twrp or anything else..... I was simply asking a question based on the experience I had with the moto phone (not lg or any other phone) so I am confused how that is baseless, considering I was baseing it off of the phone that did give me issues which was the moto phone, and not the lg phone.
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We've been bootloader unlocking and rooting these V30 phones for two years and using across all carriers. That's why I said your assumptions were baseless. This forum would not be as active as it is if we have any of the problems you were asking about. Bootloader Unlock and Root only improves V30 phones. For instance you will never have the LG DTS Surround Sound stereo framework enabled unless you bootloader unlock and root the phone. Yes, in latter Oreo LG gave use DTS libs, but then didn't enable them. But you can root and enable DTS 3D Surround stereo.
Have you even read the WTF Bootloader Unlock instructions yet? ALL the way through? Read in web browser, not an app. App seems to truncate entire sections. Section 9 talks about flashing back to your own carrier firmware -- like Sprint.
Most everybody who buys an LS998 are NOT Sprint customers and convert them to something better -- like US998 V30+ to use on AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, etc. or create a VS996 V30+ to use on Verizon (make sure you have an already activated Verizon SIM card). And most also Bootloader Unlock and Root their LS998 and use on other carriers. I bought a few LS998 I either converted myself or were already converted to US998. Some of these converted LS998-to-US998 I bought are being used on AT&T. My sister and brother-in-law use their converted LS998-to-US998 on Verizon.
I wrote the Frankenstein instructions and the screenshots in those instructions are from my LS998 being converted to US998.
I also wrote the WTF INSTRUCTIONS on bootloader unlock, TWRP Installation and Root. Both threads have current, up to date procedures.
Any North American variant -- EXCEPT for T-mobile H932 -- has to be on US998 firmware (at least TEMPORARILY) to bootloader unlock and root, because of the North American variants only US998 has the requisite fastboot flash commands. After bootloader unlock, TWRP installation and root, users can choose to stay on US998 firmware or use DEV-created TWRP flashable zips to flash back to their carrier firmware. Sprint users choose to flash back Sprint firmware because there are 3 LTE bands Sprint uses (for now) which US998 modems do not have. I use AT&T, but I choose to remain on Open Market US998 firmware instead of flashing back to AT&T firmware.
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Please don't bother mentioning other brands of phones in this forum. They have nothing to do with LG phones. Now, if you said you had a certain problem with Bootloader Unlock of a previous LG phone, then that would be valid concern.
You're acting like this is something people haven't done a thousand times already with V30. Even people in other countries are buying North American V30 variants and using them on their own carriers -- AFTER Bootloader Unlock and Root.
Even your thread title is somewhat confusing. Says going from US998 to LS998, don't you mean the reverse? You have LS998. You would be going from LS998 to US998 (at least temporarily).
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But to reiterate -- for Sprint customers only -- yes you should activate the native LS998 on Sprint first BEFORE doing anything else to the phone. AFTER activation on Sprint, then TEMPORARILY convert to US998 for Bootloader Unlock, TWRP and root. Follow the Frankenstein and WTF Instructions.
Then flash back Sprint firmware via TWRP flashable zip to get back Sprint LTE bands.
JohnFawkes is one of our main DEVs. He created the Sprint TWRP flashable zip. He's a Sprint customer himself.
If you fail to follow that simple guideline, yes there is also a full firmware Sprint stock zip -- which wipes out TWRP custom recovery, replacing with stock recovery. You can flash that to go back to "original" Sprint firmware. It's use for warranty exchanges, but can also be use to your phone activated on Sprint if you failed to do it prior to unlocking bootloader. After flashing this special zip, your bootloader is STILL unlocked but the phone can be activated on Sprint. THEN even though your Bootloader is unlocked, after Sprint activation you have to TEMPORARILY CONVERT back to US998 yet again (for fastboot flash commands) to reinstall TWRP... So you're wasting a lot of time and effort doing all that, when you can just activate the LS998 FIRST on Sprint before bootloader unlock and root.
HOWEVER if you are on Sprint already with your LS998 -- as your OTHER thread seems to indicate -- then your LS998 phone is already activated on Sprint. So, I'm not sure why you're asking about all that.
I had previously changed my Sprint V30+ to the stock US998 Pie ROM and I am not rooted. I just received a notice from Cricket Wireless that my phone would no longer be allowed on their network after they shut off their 3G network in 2022. There is a list that shows the H931 (AT&T variant) will still work when this change happens so I am wondering if there is a ROM that I could flash that would change my phone to an H931?
Yes, the AT&T H931 TWRP-flashable zip. But you need unlocked bootloader and TWRP installed for that.
BUT if AT&T will only accept native H931 IMEI and not just firmware, you are out of luck. You probably got the notice because they can see your LS998 (Sprint) IMEI. My wife and my mother have native Open Market US998 on AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone) and they have recieved no such notice. Because AT&T knows they have the Open Market US998, not just US998 firmware flashed.
But you can try... You have a year to figure it out. AT&T's deadline is February 2022.
* LG V30 AT&T H931 TWRP-flashable ROM
* WTF Bootloader Unlock, TWRP Install and Root (all V30 except T-mobile H932)