Database Develop

[Q] Bootloader and Rooting - which one does what?

Hello,
I just got my new Xperia Z having used my ancient Iphone 1G for the last 4 years and I have no experience with Android and anything related to it what so ever. I've spent the last 2 days tirelessly working my way through various forums, guides, wikis to get an idea what I'm dealing with here and where to start, but there's an important decision that I could really use your thoughts and tips on.
After reading up on it, I decided I want to root my phone and this seems to be somehow connected to unlocking the bootloader and this is where I'm worried. I read the guide on how to unlock the bootloader and the warning about losing DRM Keys and the consequences of this scared me away from it. Now I'm left wondering, and this is my actual question here:
What is the difference between unlocking the bootloader and rooting my phone and simply rooting without unlocking the bootloader?
And in case the things I want to do are only available with an unlocked bootloader: how damaging is it to lose DRM keys and therefore the bravia engine and gracenote? What made you decided for or against unlocking the bootloader?
Thanks!

Hi,
maybe I can help you.
Bootloader is like the BIOS of a PC. It checks everything at start up.
Locked Bootloader only allows to run the Stock FW and in this case the DRM-Keys are working (everything is checked and safe)
Unlock the Bootloader means you were able to install an modified / other FW and then you loose the DRM-Keys (the manufacturer hasn´t checked the FW and it is in the eyes of an manufacturer "not safe". You will also loose your warranty.
If you unlock the bootloader Root is always possible as I know.
In this case the system is not from the manufacturer and unofficial modification could be done to the system. Normally all modified Systems have Root access. So you were able to do things that the manufacturer has normally not allowed. Modify system files or something like that. Also it could be possible to copy for example a downloaded and payed movie to another device. This is why you were not able to download a movie on the Play Store if you have root. On a locked bootloader the FW (system) does not give you the possibility to copy the movie to an other device and everything is "safe" (from the view of companies). No illegal copies are possible. (DRM-Keys)
Since some days Root is also possible on a locked bootloader.
The bootloader is checking the status (locked) .. then checking the FW (stock) ... DRM-Keys still valid.
But due to the root access you were also able to modify system files and apps can recognize that you have root access. So you can still use the bravia engine for example (DRM-Keys are ok). But the Google Play Store will still recognize that you have root and will not let you download movies.
This is my experience with Root ... If something is not correct, please correct me

UserX10 said:
Hi,
maybe I can help you.
Bootloader is like the BIOS of a PC. It checks everything at start up.
Locked Bootloader only allows to run the Stock FW and in this case the DRM-Keys are working (everything is checked and safe)
Unlock the Bootloader means you were able to install an modified / other FW and then you loose the DRM-Keys (the manufacturer hasn´t checked the FW and it is in the eyes of an manufacturer "not safe". You will also loose your warranty.
If you unlock the bootloader Root is always possible as I know.
In this case the system is not from the manufacturer and unofficial modification could be done to the system. Normally all modified Systems have Root access. So you were able to do things that the manufacturer has normally not allowed. Modify system files or something like that. Also it could be possible to copy for example a downloaded and payed movie to another device. This is why you were not able to download a movie on the Play Store if you have root. On a locked bootloader the FW (system) does not give you the possibility to copy the movie to an other device and everything is "safe" (from the view of companies). No illegal copies are possible. (DRM-Keys)
Since some days Root is also possible on a locked bootloader.
The bootloader is checking the status (locked) .. then checking the FW (stock) ... DRM-Keys still valid.
But due to the root access you were also able to modify system files and apps can recognize that you have root access. So you can still use the bravia engine for example (DRM-Keys are ok). But the Google Play Store will still recognize that you have root and will not let you download movies.
This is my experience with Root ... If something is not correct, please correct me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi and thanks a lot for your reply, helped me understand the difference of both better!
If I only root but do not unlock my bootloader will I be able to do anything other than using custom firmware (ROMs)? Will I be able to install Apps that require root or install custom modification like the ones offered on this forum that need to be "flashed in recovery" if I only root not unlock my bootloader?
Also, still looking for some pros and cons (my second question in the original post).
Appreciate all your help!

root will give you access to recovery (in time - still in development) and you can install apps that require root access
custom mods - yes you can install them via recovery and some can be installed with root access and without recovery
if u unlock bootloader you will lose bravia engine not sure bout gracenote as i dont use it
you can check this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2154310 too see what have people wrote bout
rooting with unlocked bootloader

The main thing pointing me towards unlocking bootloader (I'm already rooted on locked bootloader) is being able to install kernels and major roms.
For example, you could flash Doomlords kernel and over clock the processor a bit, but you could also reduce power and save battery
The major roms I speak of are the ones that are kinda cross device: CyanogenMod and Paranoid Android to name 2. CM is based on pure android, no Sony changes so we can't flash that on locked bootloaders as it requires changing kernel. PA is same.
As for the downsides. I'm not too bothered about DRM keys. I use Spotify for music so don't think I need gracenote. Never watched a movie on my phone. BE2 isn't my cup of tea... Over saturates everything.
I'm going to look into DRM keys more tomorrow, but if someone can correct anything I've written then please do
Not being able to restore via Sony tools... Isn't that bad as you're going to be using flash tool a lot so you'll be used to that. Just keep a generic stick firmware .ftf around in case something goes horrendously wrong (usually recovery backup is enough I think).
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Nice thread, I had this question too
It's my first android and I guess I should unlock the bootloader and then root, this way I won't have to wipe my data later when I decide to try cyanogenmod or something else?
Also what happens if sony release 4.2? Will I lose my bootloader unlock and root?

Al Gore said:
Nice thread, I had this question too
It's my first android and I guess I should unlock the bootloader and then root, this way I won't have to wipe my data later when I decide to try cyanogenmod or something else?
Also what happens if sony release 4.2? Will I lose my bootloader unlock and root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say root without unlock for now.
When you want to try cyanogenmod or others. Just backup everything using titanium backup and then u can restore after unlocking.
Rooting with a locked bootloader means sony are not aware your bootloader is unlocked
Sent from my C6603 using xda premium

Thanks for all your replies, helped me out a ton!
I think Im gonna root without unlocking bootloader for now to get my feet wet and get a grasp of it's capabilities and limits. Can always restore the phone if I screw up and can always unlock bootloader later if I need it.

Al Gore said:
Nice thread, I had this question too
It's my first android and I guess I should unlock the bootloader and then root, this way I won't have to wipe my data later when I decide to try cyanogenmod or something else?
Also what happens if sony release 4.2? Will I lose my bootloader unlock and root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you unlock Bootloader, you shouldn't update from Sony. Since you've (hypothetically) already unlocked, you already have 4.2 avaliable from FXP and if you really want the Sony Update maybe you could flash it via flash tool. Bootloader unlock will never be lost (until someone can create an explicit relock file, but customs roms won't relock it). Root maybe lost if you flash a rom without it but you should be able to get it back easy.
With locked bootloader, we have to wait for Sony to bring 4.2 as we can't access the kernel, but we retain the ability to use the official updates. If we're rooted and we update, we are no longer rooted and we may be unable to use the same exploit.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Unroot/bootloader advice

Hi guys, need some clarification please
Have had my M7 for a few weeks now. I unlocked the bootloader and 'perm rooted' using the toolkit. It still has the stock rom on it.
I am trying to remove the root but I have read conflicting information.
1. I have managed to relock the bootloader (shows RELOCKED and TAMPERED) so does this mean I cannot put a stock ROM back on to unroot it? Do I need to unlock it, put on stock ROM and then relock it?
2. I looked at Mike1986's stock ROM but it has issues with installing paid apps. So, is there any other ROM I can use to return to stock?

I think that's why people don't like unlocking because you can't get rid relocked

I don't mind the fact that it says 'relocked' (have unlocked it again) but want to remove root if possible

bob 6600 said:
I don't mind the fact that it says 'relocked' (have unlocked it again) but want to remove root if possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have superuser on your phone in the settings it will say unroot after that uninstall superuser all done

I guess it's an issue of warranty. If it says 'Relocked', is it still void? I didn't know this to be an issue until I saw it, guess I was spoiled with the Gnex lines.

jaythenut said:
You will have superuser on your phone in the settings it will say unroot after that uninstall superuser all done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that - pressed unroot, it closed and removed the app but it is still rooted

You sure you will still be unlocked get a root checker app and see

I am also facing the same problem. Tried the uninstall on supersu but after rebooting the phone, supersu is still there.

jaythenut said:
You sure you will still be unlocked get a root checker app and see
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, Tibackup and LP still have root access and SuperSU is back on reboot

[Q] If you can unlock the AT&T S6 then will you be able to root

After reading all the threads about rooting the new S6 (technically the inability to root) and all the talk about unlocking, I am not quite clear on if there is a round-about way to get root. Can I: unlock my phone, put in another carriers SIM (like T-Mobile) and with that SIM in root the phone? Is it possible to roll back the operating system back to one that does have a vulnerability to allow root.
What makes AT&T version unable to root when it runs the same operating system as T-Mobile (I am assuming they run the same operating system). Why is it so definitive that there won't be a root for this phone?
I am have read articles, but I want to hear a dumbed-down, to the point explanation from people who understand how this works.
Thanks!

On the att model the bootloader is locked down tight whereas on tmo it can be unlocked. That is the issue. The things you mentioned won't work unfortunately.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A

fitzumwell said:
After reading all the threads about rooting the new S6 (technically the inability to root) and all the talk about unlocking, I am not quite clear on if there is a round-about way to get root. Can I: unlock my phone, put in another carriers SIM (like T-Mobile) and with that SIM in root the phone? Is it possible to roll back the operating system back to one that does have a vulnerability to allow root.
What makes AT&T version unable to root when it runs the same operating system as T-Mobile (I am assuming they run the same operating system). Why is it so definitive that there won't be a root for this phone?
I am have read articles, but I want to hear a dumbed-down, to the point explanation from people who understand how this works.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're asking a few different questions so i will try to answer them as best I can.
1st things 1st. All versions of the GS6 can be rooted. However, the AT&T and Verizon versions have locked bootloaders which mean that as of right now, there is no way to flash a custom recovery making it impossible flash roms. Having a rooted phone with a locked bootloader is fine as you can still install apps that require root it really just means no custom recovery and no custom roms.
The other thing about using a different sim card is called SIM UNLOCKING or carrier unlocking. This is something that the original carrier should do for you for free once you've paid the device off and do not owe anything on it. Also, most carriers like T-Mobile will not unlock it for you until you've used the phone on their network for at least 40 days (dont quote me on that, its 40 give or take 5 days)
So, to be clear its not rooting that allows you to use a foreign sim its SIM unlocking and this can be done for free by the carrier once you pay the phone off.
All versions of the GS6 can be rooted its just some even after you root will not be able install custom roms.
Hope this helps.
Also, if you are on at&t but dont wanna be stuck with a locked bootloader you may wanna consider buying a factory unlocked phone. They cost a little bit more but they are already unlocked so using T-Mobile or AT&T on most unlocked models is easy as changing the sim card. AND since they have unlocked bootloaders all you have to do is root it and you are free to install whatever custom rom you want.
Good luck!

jimmiekain said:
You're asking a few different questions so i will try to answer them as best I can.
1st things 1st. All versions of the GS6 can be rooted. However, the AT&T and Verizon versions have locked bootloaders which mean that as of right now, there is no way to flash a custom recovery making it impossible flash roms. Having a rooted phone with a locked bootloader is fine as you can still install apps that require root it really just means no custom recovery and no custom roms.
The other thing about using a different sim card is called SIM UNLOCKING or carrier unlocking. This is something that the original carrier should do for you for free once you've paid the device off and do not owe anything on it. Also, most carriers like T-Mobile will not unlock it for you until you've used the phone on their network for at least 40 days (dont quote me on that, its 40 give or take 5 days)
So, to be clear its not rooting that allows you to use a foreign sim its SIM unlocking and this can be done for free by the carrier once you pay the phone off.
All versions of the GS6 can be rooted its just some even after you root will not be able install custom roms.
Hope this helps.
Also, if you are on at&t but dont wanna be stuck with a locked bootloader you may wanna consider buying a factory unlocked phone. They cost a little bit more but they are already unlocked so using T-Mobile or AT&T on most unlocked models is easy as changing the sim card. AND since they have unlocked bootloaders all you have to do is root it and you are free to install whatever custom rom you want.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for clarifying that for me but that leaves me with more questions. So you are saying I can still root my ATT phone? I need root access for giving root privileges to other apps and not to flash custom roms. I want to be able to remove bloatware and tweak the performance of the phone. Is that a different kind of root? I rooted my GS4 with an app I put on the phone and not with Odin. Is that what I need to do again if I am not planning on modding my rom?

fitzumwell said:
Thank you so much for clarifying that for me but that leaves me with more questions. So you are saying I can still root my ATT phone? I need root access for giving root privileges to other apps and not to flash custom roms. I want to be able to remove bloatware and tweak the performance of the phone. Is that a different kind of root? I rooted my GS4 with an app I put on the phone and not with Odin. Is that what I need to do again if I am not planning on modding my rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you are saying I can still root my ATT phone? YES BUT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL A CUSTOM RECOVERY BECAUSE THE BOOTLOADER IS LOCKED. WITHOUT A CUSTOM RECOVERY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL ROMS.
I need root access for giving root privileges to other apps and not to flash custom roms. YES AND NO, YOU NEED ROOT TO GIVE ROOT PRIVS TO OTHER APPS BUT ITS NOT ROOT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO INSTALL CUSTOM ROMS, ITS BOTH ROOT AND A CUSTOM BOOTLOADER.
I want to be able to remove bloatware and tweak the performance of the phone. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH ROOT. NO CUSTOM ROM REQUIRED.
Is that a different kind of root? THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND OF ROOT, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ROOT BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND. EITHER YOU ARE ROOTED OR YOU ARE NOT.
I rooted my GS4 with an app I put on the phone and not with Odin. Is that what I need to do again if I am not planning on modding my rom? YOU CAN USE ODIN, YOU MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO DO IT USING THE APP METHOD BUT I DONT KNOW FOR SURE.
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO RESPOND, I'VE BEEN SHOPPING AROUND FOR AN UNLOCKED GS6 MYSELF.
Hope this helps.

Can you link me to a root method that doesn't trip Knox? I have the att S6

xXQuintonXx said:
Can you link me to a root method that doesn't trip Knox? I have the att S6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We don't have one yet.

SilkyJohnson said:
We don't have one yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to remove Knox so we can root?

Your a Big Help
jimmiekain said:
So you are saying I can still root my ATT phone? YES BUT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL A CUSTOM RECOVERY BECAUSE THE BOOTLOADER IS LOCKED. WITHOUT A CUSTOM RECOVERY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL ROMS.
I need root access for giving root privileges to other apps and not to flash custom roms. YES AND NO, YOU NEED ROOT TO GIVE ROOT PRIVS TO OTHER APPS BUT ITS NOT ROOT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO INSTALL CUSTOM ROMS, ITS BOTH ROOT AND A CUSTOM BOOTLOADER.
I want to be able to remove bloatware and tweak the performance of the phone. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH ROOT. NO CUSTOM ROM REQUIRED.
Is that a different kind of root? THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND OF ROOT, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ROOT BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND. EITHER YOU ARE ROOTED OR YOU ARE NOT.
I rooted my GS4 with an app I put on the phone and not with Odin. Is that what I need to do again if I am not planning on modding my rom? YOU CAN USE ODIN, YOU MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO DO IT USING THE APP METHOD BUT I DONT KNOW FOR SURE.
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO RESPOND, I'VE BEEN SHOPPING AROUND FOR AN UNLOCKED GS6 MYSELF.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for explaining all that for me. I guess there aren't many people out there that want root without the expectation to flash their ROM. I will keep researching till I find a way to get root where I don't need to flash the ROM with it.

fitzumwell said:
Thank you so much for explaining all that for me. I guess there aren't many people out there that want root without the expectation to flash their ROM. I will keep researching till I find a way to get root where I don't need to flash the ROM with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root without flashing a rom.

jimmiekain said:
You can root without flashing a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can that be done? Everyone says there is no point so noone is coding it? Am I missing something?

Now that you AT&T & Verizon users have root (Ping-pong Root)
You can't flash other custom recovery/Kernels/Roms becauce the bootloder are still locked, right?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/general/root-pingpongroot-s6-root-tool-t3103016
What about what happend in S5 lile safestrap?
Can anyone do it in S6/S6E?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2794087

[Q] No OEM Unlock, Rooting, and stock ROM

I know that there are a lot of the missing OEM Unlock posts, but this isn't about how to force it to appear.
What I would like to know is that if I want to stay on the stock ROM, but I don't have the OEM unlocked option, would I be able to factory reset to clear out encryption and then root with Magisk?
The guide says that I need to have OEM unlocked to be able to root, so I'm curious what would happen if I tried to root with the OEM still being locked? Would I soft brick it?
This is quite different from the other phones I've used and it's extremely frustrating that Samsung decided to pull this kind of bs on everyone and so far, there's no solution to it.
Thanks

If the OEM switch is not visible and switched on, then you cannot flash any non-official binaries, which means you can't flash TWRP or Magisk, which at this point means you can't get root. That's why everything boils down to the OEM switch being enabled. Please contact Samsung expressing your dissatisfaction about this OEM issue. All of us should, until they react to remedy this.

If we can get to fastboot, why can't we boot TWRP, install Supersu/magisk and dm-verity thus gaining root.
This wouldn't replace the stock recovery.
I believe this was how the Axon 7 was rooted prior to bootloader unlock being presented/found.
I do this on one of my phones (not Samsung) as I only want root access and still be able to get OTA updates.
Would booting TWRP instead of flashing it trip Knox and would root be gained or would you find the boot partition or other system files be altered and you get the error that seems to popping up on these devices?
Just throwing this out there as food for thought.

ultramag69 said:
If we can get to fastboot, why can't we boot TWRP, install Supersu/magisk and dm-verity thus gaining root.
This wouldn't replace the stock recovery.
I believe this was how the Axon 7 was rooted prior to bootloader unlock being presented/found.
I do this on one of my phones (not Samsung) as I only want root access and still be able to get OTA updates.
Would booting TWRP instead of flashing it trip Knox and would root be gained or would you find the boot partition or other system files be altered and you get the error that seems to popping up on these devices?
Just throwing this out there as food for thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having an unlocked bootloader is what would allow us to use fastboot to boot or flash an image. Just because we can access fastboot, doesn't mean we can get it to write to partitions, even temporarily. I haven't messed with a Samsung phone for years, so I could be wrong. This has been my experience with google bootloader in general.

fragtion said:
If the OEM switch is not visible and switched on, then you cannot flash any non-official binaries, which means you can't flash TWRP or Magisk, which at this point means you can't get root. That's why everything boils down to the OEM switch being enabled. Please contact Samsung expressing your dissatisfaction about this OEM issue. All of us should, until they react to remedy this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I did read from other threads, if you don't see the option in the Developer Option Settings, then you shouldn't need to enable it

77Eric77 said:
From what I did read from other threads, if you don't see the option in the Developer Option Settings, then you shouldn't need to enable it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was reading about this as well and what I got from that was in regards to custom roms, the oem unlock option is default to unlock and hidden. but for the stock rom, it's locked by default unless visibly given the option. otherwise when you go into download mode, it'll show FRP Lock: On.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

di11igaf said:
Having an unlocked bootloader is what would allow us to use fastboot to boot or flash an image. Just because we can access fastboot, doesn't mean we can get it to write to partitions, even temporarily. I haven't messed with a Samsung phone for years, so I could be wrong. This has been my experience with google bootloader in general.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, but if I want to just root and nothing else, would I still need to have the bootloader unlocked? I'm used to rooting stuff but the technicalities and mechanics of the process escapes mr.
my hope is to atleast root the stock rom and factory reset including wiping the internal sd to start fresh. but if I factory reset on a stock rom, the internal storage would still be encrypted right?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

mputtr said:
Ah, but if I want to just root and nothing else, would I still need to have the bootloader unlocked? I'm used to rooting stuff but the technicalities and mechanics of the process escapes mr.
my hope is to atleast root the stock rom and factory reset including wiping the internal sd to start fresh. but if I factory reset on a stock rom, the internal storage would still be encrypted right?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I want to know if we can boot TWRP. It boots TWRP but leaves the stock recovery.
However, I'm not sure if the boot image is altered when flashing root. I know Magisk seems to alter the boot image but not sure if SuperSU does.
Would this trigger KNOX?
If it does trip KNOX, it's not worth booting into TWRP, might as well just bite the bullet and install but only if bootloader is unlocked 1st... Too expensive to just brick it for an experiment...

ultramag69 said:
This is why I want to know if we can boot TWRP. It boots TWRP but leaves the stock recovery.
However, I'm not sure if the boot image is altered when flashing root. I know Magisk seems to alter the boot image but not sure if SuperSU does.
Would this trigger KNOX?
If it does trip KNOX, it's not worth booting into TWRP, might as well just bite the bullet and install but only if bootloader is unlocked 1st... Too expensive to just brick it for an experiment...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally I don't care about knox. I just want to be able to root and restore my apps so I can transfer my stuff from my s7 to the note 8 and freeze all the bloatware like touchwiz and stuff.
from what I gleaned from reading the threads is magisk makes a copy of the boot image as a backup.
but again I just want root and I can wait for a longer term solution in how to fix this moronic 7 day jail bs.
but I think knox will get tripped the moment you root
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

mputtr said:
I was reading about this as well and what I got from that was in regards to custom roms, the oem unlock option is default to unlock and hidden. but for the stock rom, it's locked by default unless visibly given the option. otherwise when you go into download mode, it'll show FRP Lock: On.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have OEM option as well (FRP lock was ON), I just followed me2151 guide but I was getting the partition error, so in first part I also added BL and after that everything went smoothly.
KNOX wasn't tripped, it's rooted as of this moment and tomorrow I will be installing custom rom.
PS: And yes it was an experiment but I was willing to take the risk because after reading half a day about no OEM option in developer options everyone was saying if it's not there you don't need it, I wasn't 100% sure but I was 98% sure I'm not going to brick it. btw I'm using Telus N950W note8 (locked)

I think you might want to be careful on that. I'm not sure who "everyone" is but the others like Dr.Ketan did not even recommend rooting without unlocking the option first and it seems to me that the general gist of the other thread (the 150+ page thread) was that you need it explicitly unlocked.
The ones who talked about not seeing the option means you probably don't need it are talking about custom roms (like renovate) that purposefully hid the option since it's already defaulted to unlocked on that rom.
I haven't used any custom roms yet, but that seems to be what I'm reading.

77Eric77 said:
I didn't have OEM option as well (FRP lock was ON), I just followed me2151 guide but I was getting the partition error, so in first part I also added BL and after that everything went smoothly.
KNOX wasn't tripped, it's rooted as of this moment and tomorrow I will be installing custom rom.
PS: And yes it was an experiment but I was willing to take the risk because after reading half a day about no OEM option in developer options everyone was saying if it's not there you don't need it, I wasn't 100% sure but I was 98% sure I'm not going to brick it. btw I'm using Telus N950W note8 (locked)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just following up. Were you able to root and flash a custom rom with OEM Unlocked checked after all?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

mputtr said:
just following up. Were you able to root and flash a custom rom with OEM Unlocked checked after all?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to root it but the boot loader is still locked. It's faster without the bloatware and what not. KNOX is disabled. There is still no twrp and custom rom for Snapdragon to the best of my knowledge. It did change the model of the phone from N950W to N950U1.

finally got the OEM Unlock option and rooted + stock recovery... i had to restart my phone to bring my android ID back to the one I always used.. and got locked out...
so 7 more days for me. And all I wanted to do was to have Titanium backup up and running so i can transfer my phone over....
i am hating what samsung has done

Question Updates about Realme 8 pro modding options

Hi all, i don't follow modding world from a while so i don't know what happened more or less into the last 3 years, so now that i need to root the device i wanted to do some questions.
I bought a realme 8 pro at the dayone and now i have the last update installed (so realme UI 4.0). I wanted to do the root but i don't know how much realme support it, if the bootloader is locked or not, ecc. ecc.
I saw in this phone thread that there is a method (the guide is written in May, 14 so it seems very recent) about unlocking bootloader (so i guess is locked?) using deeptest, i tried to read but i didn't really understand what kind of thing is that. So i wanted to ask, what is deeptest? if it is locked, if i successfuly unlock this bootloader what happens to AIO updates? (I guess there will be no updates such as other devices?). If the AIO updates stop to work, Is there a way to manually download and install updates? Can i root this device using magisk for example? I have seen there is something, but there are these things i can't understand.
Thanks in advance for replies and sorry for my bad english.

Hi, yup, the bootloader is locked.
Deeptesting is an app by realme used to request an unlock code. You can try this one https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/unlock-bootloader-help.4425415/post-86777721
Try submitting your application, if it tells you "Your model doesn't support deeptesting" you'll have to follow my guide.
Either way, after a bit of waiting, inside Deeptesting → query approve result → start Deeptesting.
Doing this allows your phone to boot into fastboot. Where you can unlock your phone using
Code:
fastboot flashing unlock
Unlocking the bootloader will wipe your data.

Hi, thanks for the reply! So there is a method to unlock the bootloader. But if i do it, i can't update anymore my device via OTA, right? How could i do that thing. In addiction, is not possible to obtain root permission without bootloader unlock? Because i need root to save whatsapp messages 'cause the application is stupid and can't do a backup by itself.
In addiction... I downloaded deeptesting and my phone does not support it. Yeah

You can get OTAs if, and only if, you didn't modify the firmware. Unlocking itself doesn't break OTAs, but rooting/custom kernels/vbmetas etc. will.
You can't get root without unlocking. As per Whatsapp, I think you can use ADB to back up data without root.

Thanks again. As i know ADB is disabled for whatsapp from a while. Ok then, thanks anyway for all informations. I guess after the bootloader unlock i can install magisk to obtain root acces.