Hello all!
This is my very first post as I am new to XDA and a total newbie with no experience of flashing but looking forward to learn!
I bought a Samsung Galaxy S21 T-Mobile version, which is now Network Unlocked. I want to flash the official Samsung Unlocked firmware and get rid of carrier bloat, also because my phone is still stuck on Android 11 with the October security patch. As far as I know, Android 12 has been released and also the Dec security patch.
I did some research, it seems like that I need 2 tools, Frija and Odin. I only have a Mac and I'm not sure if these tools are available for Mac.
Can anyone please guide me and direct me to a guide for beginners? I'm really not sure where to start. I also have a couple of questions for the experts here:
1- Will this void warranty?
2- Will I still get over the air updates after flashing to official Samsung Unlocked Firmware? If yes, will the OTA be directly from Samsung or will it still be T-Mobile?
3- Are there any disadvantages of doing this? Such as any conflicts on the T-Mobile network?
My phone's exact model is SM-G991U
Thank you all!
If your OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be as you have little to gain.
Updates tend to break things...
At least wait until the update is proven good.
Unless you do something stupid security is rarely an issue on Androids.
blackhawk said:
If your OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be as you have little to gain.
Updates tend to break things...
At least wait until the update is proven good.
Unless you do something stupid security is rarely an issue on Androids.
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Its the eSim I'm looking for as I really need the dual sim functionality.
The-Game! said:
Its the eSim I'm looking for as I really need the dual sim functionality.
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May not be worth the time and trouble it will cost you. Depends how much you value the current functionality of the phone and how much you're willing to risk losing.
A toasted mobo will set you back a couple Franklins and put you right back where you started.
blackhawk said:
May not be worth the time and trouble it will cost you. Depends how much you value the current functionality of the phone and how much you're willing to risk losing.
A toasted mobo will set you back a couple Franklins and put you right back where you started.
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They already fixed a lot of issues.
The-Game! said:
They already fixed a lot of issues.
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So you got what you wanted the easy way?
blackhawk said:
So you got what you wanted the easy way?
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No. People who updated recently said a lot of issues were fixed. I just wanted a guide dude on flashing since I'm not getting the update. But thanks anyway.
Related
I am currently perfectly fine with my deivce right now. Only thing i want is google voice video chat which is in 2.3.4 update i believe and hdmi mirroring which should be possible now that the bootloader is unlocked.
Anyone know around what date the officak release should be? It should soon right?
No word on official release... people think it's in the next few weeks but it's just speculation given the quality of the builds seen so far.
Personally, I'd say wait. The 2.34 version everyone is flashing right now is more for play than use at the moment. Wait at least until some more complete/stable roms have been built or the various issues people have been having with the leaked version have been fixed.
I agree with mysticdrew. I have decided to wait for a week or two till we get the official update to 2.3.4. I will unlock only once CM is available for atrix.
geekalok said:
I agree with mysticdrew. I have decided to wait for a week or two till we get the official update to 2.3.4. I will unlock only once CM is available for atrix.
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+1. I have no problem waiting a month or more for an official 2.3 update .
In kenneth's unlock guide there's 24 steps to unlock. With the official 2.3.4 you start at step 13, which is where the steps are easier/safer.
I also am waiting on something more stable. But I'm still refreshing the forums every few hours and getting my reading in! Best advise I can give if you are unsure is read read read before you attempt.
I unlocked mine and it was relatively simple to do. The only problem I had was the /data wipe.
gnahc79 said:
+1. I have no problem waiting a month or more for an official 2.3 update .
In kenneth's unlock guide there's 24 steps to unlock. With the official 2.3.4 you start at step 13, which is where the steps are easier/safer.
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Are you for serious? I mean its a developer community, and the gingerbread rom out there is not really a test Rom, its Motorola release leak. I think its worth installing it. And its very simple! And totally safe.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
ceo.mtcl said:
Are you for serious? I mean its a developer community, and the gingerbread rom out there is not really a test Rom, its Motorola release leak. I think its worth installing it. And its very simple! And totally safe.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
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yes I'm serious. The leaked build is not specifically for US AT&T
The leaked build from Hong Kong / Taiwan was probably not built for a device that is exactly like ours. Test phones can have different hardware. Don't expect everything to work, it's super-duper beta and since we've all only been unlocked 24hrs no one really knows how usable it is! Flash at your own risk... (PS you can 'Skip' Motoblur just by hitting 'Menu' during setup. It won't connect anyway...)
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Why mess with all of this when within a month or so we can get a fully supported OTA update? The current formal Atrix build is just fine. Unless you're a dev trying to build ROMs or something, I don't see a huge benefit other than just saying you have the latest and greatest. There's multiple posts in the Atrix section with "I applied 2.3.4 and X does not work properly", not worth it IMO when there is no significant benefit.
ceo.mtcl said:
Are you for serious? I mean its a developer community, and the gingerbread rom out there is not really a test Rom, its Motorola release leak. I think its worth installing it. And its very simple! And totally safe.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
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The unlock is relatively simple yes, but the 2.34 leak isn't issue less for sure - there are resolution issues, home button issues, data speed issues, network issues, lots of small issues people have been having (all probably fixable for sure, but definitely a n00bie would be overwhelmed).
point of having unlocked bootloader is to have custom and 3rd party solutions.
what point is it to wait for the official release when you can still enjoy the hot cake now and switch to official release when it is out?
in that case you do not need the unlocked bootloader in the 1st place.
madnav said:
point of having unlocked bootloader is to have custom and 3rd party solutions.
what point is it to wait for the official release when you can still enjoy the hot cake now and switch to official release when it is out?
in that case you do not need the unlocked bootloader in the 1st place.
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True, access to custom and 3rd party solutions, but that has no bearing on the decision to wait until there's a stable solution unofficial or official. There's a stability threshold everyone has and for some obviously it's met and for others it hasn't.
I'm going to wait for there to be a stable rom, or at least for the official gingerbread release.
MXIIA said:
I'm going to wait for there to be a stable rom, or at least for the official gingerbread release.
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I agree. I see no problem with unlocking now, but since there isn't much to do with it right now I just won't do it. I'm not interested in some buggy Taiwan or whatever build of the GB update...
Maybe I'm missing something, but is there anything else we can do with the unlocked phone RIGHT NOW?
Not to be a **** but the whole point of XDA is to try things before they are meant to be tried and trying things that shouldnt be tried. Im running 2.3.4 and it is completely stable, no freezes or reboots. Only thing that does not work is motoBlur and Fingerprint reader. This build is completely safe if you read the directions and then read them again.
IMO no. You can apply barely tested stuff, shake your fist in anger when multiple core functions break, and then flash back to stock w/ root . If you're a dev, then yes all of this 2.3.4/unlock stuff is like Christmas right now.
Like I said, many people have tried 2.3.4 and its STABLE.
You can also use cwm recovery now without having to plug your AC charger in. For me, that in itself is worth unlocking the bootloader over.
Sent from my Gingerblurred Atrix
- resolution problem
- exchange does not work
- marketplace may not work
- webtop does not work out of the box, need to re-enable with additional steps
- fingerprint reader does not work
- home button does not work
- cardock may not work
- stock ringtones are missing
- motoblur does not work
All this just to get a HKTW 2.3.4 a few weeks in advance??
the point of XDA is NOT for a general user to try out stuff before devs have had a chance to try it out for less than 24 hrs.
neer2005 said:
Like I said, many people have tried 2.3.4 and its STABLE.
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From the HKTW thread:
"WARNING
The leaked build from Hong Kong / Taiwan was probably not built for a device that is exactly like ours. Test phones can have different hardware. Don't expect everything to work, it's super-duper beta and since we've all only been unlocked 24hrs no one really knows how usable it is! Flash at your own risk... (PS you can 'Skip' Motoblur just by hitting 'Menu' during setup. It won't connect anyway...)"
This doesn't assure people it's stable, and if it were perfectly stable, there wouldn't be multiple threads about fixing some of the issues from flashing this. It's a beta, and not even for the US phones. Don't be so naive as to think you know everything about this build, and also don't be so pigheaded as to think you know better than the devs who give us this stuff, and posted the aforementioned warning. Anything which is alpha or beta is not stable, or it would be live and in all our phones right now from Moto/AT&T. If people don't want to flash it, that's up to them!
CaelanT said:
From the HKTW thread:
"WARNING
The leaked build from Hong Kong / Taiwan was probably not built for a device that is exactly like ours. Test phones can have different hardware. Don't expect everything to work, it's super-duper beta and since we've all only been unlocked 24hrs no one really knows how usable it is! Flash at your own risk... (PS you can 'Skip' Motoblur just by hitting 'Menu' during setup. It won't connect anyway...)"
This doesn't assure people it's stable, and if it were perfectly stable, there wouldn't be multiple threads about fixing some of the issues from flashing this. It's a beta, and not even for the US phones. Don't be so naive as to think you know everything about this build, and also don't be so pigheaded as to think you know better than the devs who give us this stuff, and posted the aforementioned warning. Anything which is alpha or beta is not stable, or it would be live and in all our phones right now from Moto/AT&T. If people don't want to flash it, that's up to them!
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+1 cant agree any more with that!
My wife wants to upgrade from her Droid 3 which has a locked bootloader and can't run Cyanogenmod properly. We actually use PagePlus as a carrier, which uses the verizon network but doesn't support 4G LTE, so I had to do a bunch of hacks on my Droid 4 to get data to work at all.
I'll be buying this phone new or used from ebay or craigslist or similar, so I don't need to worry about subsidies or the like. I just want to be able to run Cyanogenmod (or another entirely open-source rom) easily in a supported way so I can be fairly sure it will be kept updated for the forseeable future. I would like to continue running the latest version of cyanogenmod for at least 2 years if possible, so it should be relativly beefy hardware as of now.
The people on #cyanogenmod recommended the GS3, but it does have a locked bootloader, though supposedly with a way to unlock it. They disagreed on whether you could actually unlock it still or not.
Thanks for any help or pointers you can give me!
moparisthebest said:
*snip*
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GS3 is just fine, running CM on it myself. Not too sure where you got the information it was even remotely complicated to run CM on it.
polobunny said:
GS3 is just fine, running CM on it myself. Not too sure where you got the information it was even remotely complicated to run CM on it.
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The question I couldn't find an answer for though, was if it had a locked bootloader. IE, can I run a completely custom kernel on it without KEXEC or similar hacks? What about the GS4?
moparisthebest said:
The question I couldn't find an answer for though, was if it had a locked bootloader. IE, can I run a completely custom kernel on it without KEXEC or similar hacks? What about the GS4?
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Yes you can run a custom kernel, rom, recovery, etc.
My signature says it all.
Don't know about GS4, don't own one, got my GS3 too long ago and the funding isn't sufficient for an upgrade haha
polobunny said:
Yes you can run a custom kernel, rom, recovery, etc.
My signature says it all.
Don't know about GS4, don't own one, got my GS3 too long ago and the funding isn't sufficient for an upgrade haha
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But if I buy a used GS3 from some craigslist/ebay guy and it's updated to the latest OTA update, can I still do all of those things? If not what do I need to check before buying?
moparisthebest said:
But if I buy a used GS3 from some craigslist/ebay guy and it's updated to the latest OTA update, can I still do all of those things? If not what do I need to check before buying?
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Yes, you can do all those things.
GS3 come in various models and to get 4G you need to be on the good frequency, but since your carrier doesn't support it, it doesn't really matter I imagine.
Ideally it would still be a VZW GS3.
Hi all, im just wondering if anyone knows the current status on the development for rooting the 4.3 (MJ7) update, or unlocking the bootloader, if possible. I am going to inherit a gs4 a little over half a year from now and im wondering if i will even be able to even root and put a rom on it like i did for my gs3. Do you think they will ever root & rom the last version they ever release for the phone? The owner always updates it no matter what i say, so would it be okay for him to update to the latest update in the future, or should i push even harder for him not to update?
Thanks
joedajoester said:
Hi all, im just wondering if anyone knows the current status on the development for rooting the 4.3 (MJ7) update, or unlocking the bootloader, if possible. I am going to inherit a gs4 a little over half a year from now and im wondering if i will even be able to even root and put a rom on it like i did for my gs3. Do you think they will ever root & rom the last version they ever release for the phone? The owner always updates it no matter what i say, so would it be okay for him to update to the latest update in the future, or should i push even harder for him not to update?
Thanks
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Maybe it's me. But if I'm dealing with people who do this kind of thing purely for the challenge of it, I don't ask them when they'll be done.
I'm not trying to be a smartass, but this kind of work is dealing with a bunch of unknowns. Like all other phones, eventually it'll likely be figured out. Until then, best you can do is tune into the channels they use to communicate with each other and you can gain an appreciation for both what they're up against and how they're progressing.
Should you continue to update? Each update will usually close the hole exploited to gain root. The process begins all over again. My experience on the two HTC devices I've had is that it takes several months to find the first exploit and several weeks to find new ones after each update.
You're a year and a half out from owning your own S4. Be comforted in the fact that by the time you get it, it'll be a piece of crap compared to the new phones that'll be out then.
Then again, my original Incredible and the Rezound are still quite usable phones today.
joedajoester said:
Hi all, im just wondering if anyone knows the current status on the development for rooting the 4.3 (MJ7) update, or unlocking the bootloader, if possible. I am going to inherit a gs4 a little over half a year from now and im wondering if i will even be able to even root and put a rom on it like i did for my gs3. Do you think they will ever root & rom the last version they ever release for the phone? The owner always updates it no matter what i say, so would it be okay for him to update to the latest update in the future, or should i push even harder for him not to update?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.7739 hours from now
Hit thanks if I helped you out. Doing a little bit of reading goes a long way. Sent via tapatalk.
joedajoester said:
The owner always updates it no matter what i say, so would it be okay for him to update to the latest update in the future, or should i push even harder for him not to update?
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I can't see where it makes any difference. At this point in time I believe it's safe to say the S4 bootloader will never be unlocked. As for finding an exploit such as LOKI, I doubt it.
We do have SafeStrap which is a great achievement but not as good as LOKI as it won't allow ASOP ROMs to run.
Conclusion, learn to love the stock ROM, I believe you're going to have to live with it. You may be able to root which will allow you to remove bloat, let's hope so anyway....
NOTE: I should point out that 2 years from now I believe the manufacturers and carriers will have made ALL phones locked with no way to unlock or flash anything.
Meanwhile, the developers are still working so hope for the best but expect the worst.
Seems like others are now on ver E and we are still on B. Why so long?
xgman said:
Seems like others are now on ver E and we are still on B. Why so long?
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Idk, I've been questioning the same thing
Verizon is horrible at releasing updates. But I'm unsure if I should be happy or anoyyed by it since our bootloader is locked
I would like an update to improve or fix things but I would also like to keep everything as is and hopefully get an exploit for what we have now
xgman said:
Seems like others are now on ver E and we are still on B. Why so long?
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My guess, and everyone's reply is a guess....Verizon is waiting on L to be released. No point in them spending millions getting us 4.4.4 or w/e lil patches there are out there. Verizon is the slowest carrier out there to give updates, so hopefully you have patience.
I don't really care about official updates. I just want the bootloader to get unlocked. If that happens, the devs will keep us up to date, better than Verizon does.
droidkevlar said:
My guess, and everyone's reply is a guess....Verizon is waiting on L to be released. No point in them spending millions getting us 4.4.4 or w/e lil patches there are out there. Verizon is the slowest carrier out there to give updates, so hopefully you have patience.
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I seem to remember a patch or two on the V G2 when it first came out. Sometimes these bug patches do more than the big updates which usually lead to their own issues...
What does E offer that you're so anxious to get?
My G3 works great, all the features I expect work.
Is there something you're missing that E will solve, or is this just a symptom of crack flashing?
Not hurting for an update currently, everything is fast and stable.
Only update I'm waiting for is Android L (5.0 / Lollipop) which id expect us to receive that update from Verizon by February at the earliest... sadly... Android L will bring a lot to the table and improve the overall experience, any other update is just small bugs or security fixes.
bunchies said:
Idk, I've been questioning the same thing
Verizon is horrible at releasing updates. But I'm unsure if I should be happy or anoyyed by it since our bootloader is locked
I would like an update to improve or fix things but I would also like to keep everything as is and hopefully get an exploit for what we have now
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I see no need for an update.
August 28th.
Of 2015. Lol
I am hoping they come out with updates for the cellular radio and bluetooth. Neither work nearly as good as the SGS4 that I switched from.
s.whiplash said:
I am hoping they come out with updates for the cellular radio and bluetooth. Neither work nearly as good as the SGS4 that I switched from.
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Which is something that wouldn't be high on my list of priorities, since the VZW G3 gets better radio signal than did my G2 and Galaxy Nexus before it. I can comfortably leave my phone on data and not be concerned the battery will be dead by the time I leave work. The metal superstructure around the building plays hell with 3G/4G switching.
giri0n said:
Which is something that wouldn't be high on my list of priorities, since the VZW G3 gets better radio signal than did my G2 and Galaxy Nexus before it. I can comfortably leave my phone on data and not be concerned the battery will be dead by the time I leave work. The metal superstructure around the building plays hell with 3G/4G switching.
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I have the 3G/4G switching issues quite often with mine. I gave my wife my SGS4 and it is rock solid at the same locations.
I have a LG Tone headset that was solid on the SGS4, but it cuts in and out on the G3 when it is in my pants pocket.
I had a SGS3 a few years ago and got it when it first came out. It had similar issues. The cell reception became a lot more solid with the first radio update and the bluetooth improved an update or two later.
I'm having issues with heat/screen dim when using bluetooth/nav (GPS)/screen on in the car (late afternoon sun).
From reading it looks like it's improved in the later firmwares.
lexluthor said:
August 28th.
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I would avoid updates if you want your bootloader unlocked. They are working on unlocking B, and if you take an update you may inadvertently prevent yourself from taking advantage of the hard work thats going into the current unlock method. Wait for an unlock, there are many who believe its defiantly going to happen.
samg77 said:
I would avoid updates if you want your bootloader unlocked. They are working on unlocking B, and if you take an update you may inadvertently prevent yourself from taking advantage of the hard work thats going into the current unlock method. Wait for an unlock, there are many who believe its defiantly going to happen.
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The TOTs though, we got backup options if anyone catches an OTA
bunchies said:
The TOTs though, we got backup options if anyone catches an OTA
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Whats a TOT?
samg77 said:
Whats a TOT?
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Basically flash back to stock
Its a firmware zip, we should be able to downgrade if an OTA gets any of us
xgman said:
Seems like others are now on ver E and we are still on B. Why so long?
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My phone did an Android update about an hour ago. 4.4.2, software version still VS98510B
Hey! Asking for advice. I am curious and interested to install Lineage OS based Android 11 (Custom ROM) but wanted to ask around if anyone has already tried it and how is it or could anyone tell beforehand is it even worth the time and effort? Other suggestions about the device? (Not *buy a newer one* please). Been using it for long time overall and it is in great shape, battery is excellent still. It is great device and I would love to use it until end yet somehow afraid of having outdated Android and falling behind for app updates because of it. Also read on the internet so not 100% sure but got information that Samsung officially will stop sending updates to Note 8 this year October...
reinis.vasiluns said:
Hey! Asking for advice. I am curious and interested to install Lineage OS based Android 11 (Custom ROM) but wanted to ask around if anyone has already tried it and how is it or could anyone tell beforehand is it even worth the time and effort? Other suggestions about the device? (Not *buy a newer one* please). Been using it for long time overall and it is in great shape, battery is excellent still. It is great device and I would love to use it until end yet somehow afraid of having outdated Android and falling behind for app updates because of it. Also read on the internet so not 100% sure but got information that Samsung officially will stop sending updates to Note 8 this year October...
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have you ever rooted before?
Youdoofus said:
have you ever rooted before?
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Yes i have but long time ago.
reinis.vasiluns said:
Yes i have but long time ago.
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gotcha. well, theres pros and cons if youre not willing to spend the time reading threads and installing the magisk mods needed to hide root (which is the biggest issue IMO these days). Other than that, its just like it was back in the day but the ROMs are more stable from what ive read. I havent rooted my last 2 sammys but might start doing so again. Longer battery life, more customization stuff. Just need to hide root for some apps to work