I'm coming from the HTC environment and the Note 4 will be my first Samsung phone. I have a few concerns regarding root. Assuming the Note 4 can be rooted, using the Note 3 and the S5 as a precident, how does one maintain updates? With HTC, if you had root, you could flash a new ROM for software updates (newer android versions, bug fixes, carrier updates). However, to update firmware, like updated radios, you needed S-Off.
Please help explain. With the Note 4, what will we need in order to do the following, and what is the likelyhood each of the following will be possible:
1) Obtain Root to run apps requiring root (Titanium, adblocker, WIFI tether...)
2) Install custom recovery
3) Flash custom ROMs
4) maintain a phone with updated and current Firmware and Radios.
Otherwise, what do people do who root there phone on day 1? Do they go 1-2 years with the phone without updating firmware?
Thank you
you can update samsung software with no issues. Assuming they'll keep it like the Note 2, there under the settings>update, there are different tabs, and one is Samsung.
Modems and other such updates, you'll just need to wait a day or two for someone to upload the newer OTA with root. Sometimes, some of the root tools, like SuperUser, will have OTA survivor mode, but they're not guaranteed to worked.
End of the day, it's not anything you're not already use to
Thanks for the response. So if the bootloader is NOT able to be unlocked, what will we be missing out on then? If the bootloader IS locked and there is no way around it, we can still root, flash ROMS, and update radios/firmware?
we can only go by the past to predict the future, but in US ATT Note 3 had locked bootloader, T-mobile loader was unlocked, so it was up to the carrier, but I believe both had way to root. One problem with Samsung was Knox software, which once triggered by root or loading custom firmware couldn't be reset back to zero. Based on that flag some people claimed to be refused warranty repairs, others didn't, so who knows. One thing is that Samsung "donated" knox to Google L Android, so it may be on all Android phones in the future, but again who knows how Google will implement it. It may take a time for developers to find their way around new phone, so if you have concerns, wait a little until all is clear, for now we can only guess. My Note 3 is rooted, "official" with Knox flag 0, but I had to wait for proper methods to be developed and every time I update I need to re root (and make some other changes) again. There could be developer model also with everything open, who knows.
Thanks for the response.
I just need to clarify what can be done on a rooted Samsung device vs what can be done with a rooted AND unlocked Samsung device.
Am I correct:
Rooted Only:
-superuser
-can run root required apps (Titanium, Wifi Tether)
-can flash custom ROM but must be stock based only, and must be on stock kernel
-can NOT install CM or TWRP custom recovery
-can update firmware and radios but must OTA and then re-root
you cant flash a rom with stock recovery
if no bootloader unlock, and no custom recovery, then no rom flashing..
flyhighx said:
.... Rooted Only:
.. -can flash custom ROM but must be stock based only, and must be on stock kernel .../QUOTE]
As stated above, this not correct. You'll able to flash the stock firm via Odin. In fact, you'll be able to get the tar file from Samsung if you wanted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't used it in awhile, but I believe you still need a custom recovery to use Mobile Odin, don't you?
i want root mostly for four reasons:
Disable logging
Multi window enable more apps
Make one hand mode background black
because its mine and i can...
But I also need it rooted without tripping knox (for work purposes..)
Just wondering if there was a copy of the latest firmware or last version firmware floating around. My daughters phone is still on Oct1 security patch and I do not have an AT&T sim card to spam the update server with.
edit? That being said, is it possible to flash the j120aZ firmware vs the j120aU firmware that AT&T Provides?
root but thanks AT&T
I was able to root with firmware version J120AUCS3AQE1 but because mine is an AT&T phone the bootloader is "locked and signed" meaning it's never going to unlock........? I have the latest version of firmware that came out in may 2017 and it will be available to you as soon as I can post an outside web address............ Every Recovery image that I flashed caused everything to fail and a big triangle that said AT&T detected software on your device that is not allowed on our device so I guess this one is never really your own........ but you can Root with Kingroot and supersume pro to get rid of bloatware and such but other than that no custom stuff on this one.
If Kingroot keeps freezing just restart phone and keep trying it took me a long while to obtain root.
I just got my K20 Plus from Metro a couple days ago. So far I'm loving this phone.. I have already unlocked the bootloader, installed TWRP and Supersu, and rooted. I feel so free with this device as i haven't had an unlocked rooted device since my Galaxy Nexus years ago.
Anyway, I'm currently running Android 7.0, but it keeps bugging me to update, which I'm presuming is for 7.1. Can i safely install the update? Or will i lose my root if i do? I thought about installing Magisk, but I'm not really sure that i need to, plus i don't really want to reset again if it's not necessary.
Also, i got my wife the same phone and was in the process of rooting hers too, but she was getting anxious and wanted to start using it. So i got as far unlocking it and flashing TWRP, but that was it. Hers is also asking for an update. If i install the update on her phone, will it prevent me from finishing the root process later?
I have the same ph but T-Mobile variant.
I used this link to get the latest OTA update using .kdz file. But I had to re-root and start fresh but not such a big deal to do. As long as I back up my sms on the sdcard, I did not care.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/lg-k20-plus-how-to-flash-original-rom-t3632850
x_orange90_x said:
I just got my K20 Plus from Metro a couple days ago. So far I'm loving this phone.. I have already unlocked the bootloader, installed TWRP and Supersu, and rooted. I feel so free with this device as i haven't had an unlocked rooted device since my Galaxy Nexus years ago.
Anyway, I'm currently running Android 7.0, but it keeps bugging me to update, which I'm presuming is for 7.1. Can i safely install the update? Or will i lose my root if i do? I thought about installing Magisk, but I'm not really sure that i need to, plus i don't really want to reset again if it's not necessary.
Also, i got my wife the same phone and was in the process of rooting hers too, but she was getting anxious and wanted to start using it. So i got as far unlocking it and flashing TWRP, but that was it. Hers is also asking for an update. If i install the update on her phone, will it prevent me from finishing the root process later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try flashfire.
I just bought what was meant to be a new factory unlocked HTC 10 online but it's actually half-rooted phone that was Sprint branded. As in Malwarebytes and Android Pay claim it's rooted but Root Checker says it's not rooted properly.
I'm also unable to open any free apps that require rooting (i.e., Titanium back up, Super SU), and checking for the latest Android software on my phone has a never-ending busy signal. Thus, I'm unable to wait for update to Oreo when it's released in a few months to unroot the noob way? I'm currently running Nougat.
I'd prefer the phone to be unrooted but I guess my concern is that if I revert the phone back I may not able to use the phone as it may be locked to Sprint? (I'm an Australian user). Is there anyway I can check this with the phone the way it is at the moment? If I just leave the phone not rooted correctly what issues will I run into while using the phone for next few years? What convenience apps (besides Android Pay) won't work?
Note: I'm also not keen on returning the phone as it's too much hassle and don't have a decent back up phone.
Hello!
I've never used a phone that is specific to one carrier. All my phones have been unlocked.
My girlfriend has a Verizon Samsung S7 edge and I've convinced her to ditch Verizon and go with StraightTalk with a Verizon compatible SIM. I hadn't considered software updates since I typically update my phone directly from the manufacturer or by flashing a custom ROM.
is it still possible to install an OTA update to her phone since she no longer has an account with Verizon? Or do i have to unlock her bootloader, download the latest update, and use Odin to manually install it?
Her phone is not rooted and it will be a battle to convince her to let me do it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Probably the easiest for you is to install on the phone and on PC the Samsung SmartSwitch: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/
Inside that app, while the phone is connected via USB to the PC, if there are any updates for the phone, they will show up and you can install them.
BTW, if you want to change the firmware to "U" version, Odin flashes the official files without root, phone remains in original untouched state.
Personally I have flashed "U" firmware over my "V" S7 Edge, just to gain access to hotspot, using this thread to make the switch (I was on Nougat then). I am using Total Wireless (same SIM as StraightTalk, both owned by Tracfone) and, since then, I got the updates for Oreo and the following security update.