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Hi guys,
I need some clarification re: carrier unlocking and how it works. I recently purchased a carrier unlocked G920T, and I was going to start messing with custom roms/kernels and other goodies. My question is: Will the phone revert back to being locked if I do a factory reset or if I unlock the bootloader and flash custom roms?
I'm not a T-Mobile user, so I can't get another unlock code from them.
Thanks!!
The G920T has a carrier unlocked version, which is probably the one you have, not the T-Mobile one. Even if it is, usually a carrier unlocked device will remain unlocked forever unless it was unlocked using a different or hacky method, then there is a possibility that it will relock
Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
Yeahh go ahead, mess with it. when it is carrier unlocked, the software doesn't affect it, unless it is a hacky method like @serio22 said, but there isnt such hacky method for the GS6 so have fun.
If it is a G920T (the T means it's from T-Mobile), then carrier unlocking is not a guaranteed state. I paid T-Mobile the full price to get my GS6 and they "permanently" unlocked it. Then after a OTA software patch all of a sudden it locked itself again and I couldn't use my phone for 2 days while they tried to unlock it. T-Mobile's new device unlocking uses a new system which has the phone "phone home" to their servers to check if you're allowed to use it outside of their network. It happened again when I accepted the Android 5.1.1 OTA. So...beware of T-Mobile's not-very-permanent permanent carrier unlocking.
I am living in india..
My relatives brought me the t model ( i wanted f model instead of i sold in india for quicker updates but got t model...lol )
Anyways,
The moment i inserted my sim, it worked like a charm so its unlocked at the moment.
I dont know how they made payment their or how it was unlocked, but the way used must be legit coz its still stock at the moment without root / recovery etc. .
I read humo saying it can get locked again...
My main question, what are the odds of that happening?
Also since i live in india, i wont be able to contact t mobile via phone/walk in, are there ways i can get it unlocked again?
I dont have the bill too if it matters
i believe they have an app that unlock ur device since that is how i unlocked mine. if not u can try to contact customer service online since u r not in US.
With device unlock app , will i have to pay for unlock my s6 g920t or it'll unlock my device for free.
I have an unlocked s6 tmobile from usa, i heard the flashing stock rom will relock the device.
If the phone will relock then how can i unlock it again?
I'm not sure about flashing a stock ROM relocking the device. Mine re-locked when T-Mobile sent Android security patches. This week I did the Android 6.0 OTA update and it has remained unlocked.
Hey guys! i have a factory unlocked version of s6 tmobile, my question is if i can flash the tmobile MM firmware . My model says "country: cellular south" and the firmware country says us tmobile, so i dont know if i can flash without any problems, (Sorry for my english it sucks) thanks !
polipol15 said:
Hey guys! i have a factory unlocked version of s6 tmobile, my question is if i can flash the tmobile MM firmware . My model says "country: cellular south" and the firmware country says us tmobile, so i dont know if i can flash without any problems, (Sorry for my english it sucks) thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Polio, i have the same phone and i flashed MM without any problems. Check out the q&a section here and theres a recent thread that talks about how to that refers to a reddit post
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA-Developers mobile app
bitbank said:
If it is a G920T (the T means it's from T-Mobile), then carrier unlocking is not a guaranteed state. I paid T-Mobile the full price to get my GS6 and they "permanently" unlocked it. Then after a OTA software patch all of a sudden it locked itself again and I couldn't use my phone for 2 days while they tried to unlock it. T-Mobile's new device unlocking uses a new system which has the phone "phone home" to their servers to check if you're allowed to use it outside of their network. It happened again when I accepted the Android 5.1.1 OTA. So...beware of T-Mobile's not-very-permanent permanent carrier unlocking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you solve this? My phone stopped working flashed newest (G920TUES5DPK1_G920TXAR5DPK1_G920TUES5DPK1_HOME.tar.rar) and i can't go to older version as that gives me ;
Code:
SW REV. CHECK FAIL DEVICE: 5 BINARY: 3
Christiaanjadieja said:
How did you solve this? My phone stopped working flashed newest (G920TUES5DPK1_G920TXAR5DPK1_G920TUES5DPK1_HOME.tar.rar) and i can't go to older version as that gives me ;
Code:
SW REV. CHECK FAIL DEVICE: 5 BINARY: 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't downgrade your bootloader so you'd have to pay to unlock it unfortunately
crixley said:
You can't downgrade your bootloader so you'd have to pay to unlock it unfortunately
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it done remotely!
I have a Galaxy S6 (SM-G920T) from T-Mobile. It was locked. But it has an "Unlock" app installed by default. I used it and phone was instantly unlocked! Fast, easy and free!
I used to live in the US for a year and bought a g920T. Since i had the requirements i Unlocked and came back to my country but because of a problem, I had to install a stock firmware and now the unlock is gone.
So i'm wondering, if someone with a unlocked phone made firmware backup, remove the IMEI, and send it online would it work? I mean, right now it works just fine, so i can backup my IMEI and ID and just restore it if needed.
Please help
danveer said:
I am living in india..
My relatives brought me the t model ( i wanted f model instead of i sold in india for quicker updates but got t model...lol )
Anyways,
The moment i inserted my sim, it worked like a charm so its unlocked at the moment.
I dont know how they made payment their or how it was unlocked, but the way used must be legit coz its still stock at the moment without root / recovery etc. .
I read humo saying it can get locked again...
My main question, what are the odds of that happening?
Also since i live in india, i wont be able to contact t mobile via phone/walk in, are there ways i can get it unlocked again?
I dont have the bill too if it matters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in same scenario as you are/were,I am also having s6 (Tmobile) please tell me did flashing relocked your device?
So far no
I have flashed recovery - custom rom - kernel
Messed up sometimes so even went back to stock using odin then flashed everything again
Its still unkocked
Hello! I've bought my S6 (SM-G920T) as carrier unlocked but when my pcb has burned due to factory fault and sent my phone to Samsung they gave me again it was locked. I'm from Argentina and I haven't T-Mobile sim to unlock with default application. I've called to my carrier in Argentina and they said me the IMEI it's unlocked but my phone still sais it's network blocked... Can anybody help me?
vita_lp said:
Hello! I've bought my S6 (SM-G920T) as carrier unlocked but when my pcb has burned due to factory fault and sent my phone to Samsung they gave me again it was locked. I'm from Argentina and I haven't T-Mobile sim to unlock with default application. I've called to my carrier in Argentina and they said me the IMEI it's unlocked but my phone still sais it's network blocked... Can anybody help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried with the tmobile device unloced app.? If that doesnt work then head over to this awesome guy, he can help you unlock it remotely. https://forum.xda-developers.com/tmobile-galaxy-s6/general/sim-unlock-honestly-free-t3601740
Hi! When I got my R1 HD, I wanted to get Lineage OS and TWRP. I tried everything including:
adb "fastboot oem unlock",
SP Flash Tool, and
DirtyCow R1-HD Tool,
yet I found no luck. Does anybody know how to get an unlocked bootloader and TWRP on an R1 HD v21? Thanks!:good:
P.S:
My "Custom build version" is:
BLU_R0011UU_V21_GENERIC. Also, this is not the Amazon Prime variant, however I got this from Amazon (for example: I get no ads).
Sorry to tell you, but version 21 of the ROM cannot be bootloader unlocked or rooted. The more recent updates have secured the phone so that none of the previous methods you mention work anymore. The phone is no longer being manufactured and Blu does not provide a process for unlocking the bootloader as some other companies, like Motorola, do. So even though you paid more to get the no ad version, you can't root it. 8-( This was only possible in the earlier versions of both the amaon and non-amazon models.
yaconsult said:
Sorry to tell you, but version 21 of the ROM cannot be bootloader unlocked or rooted. The more recent updates have secured the phone so that none of the previous methods you mention work anymore. The phone is no longer being manufactured and Blu does not provide a process for unlocking the bootloader as some other companies, like Motorola, do. So even though you paid more to get the no ad version, you can't root it. 8-( This was only possible in the earlier versions of both the amazon and non-amazon models.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, can I revert back to an earlier version of the ROM where it is possible to unlock the bootloader?
PastThePixels said:
So, can I revert back to an earlier version of the ROM where it is possible to unlock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, the signed updates are incremental so, the checksum verification will pervent flashing old version
OK.... What's the best thing to do now?
I found this option in my updater that says "Local updates". Maybe this can help?
PastThePixels said:
OK.... What's the best thing to do now?
I found this option in my updater that says "Local updates". Maybe this can help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, sorry - there is no known way to root or flash modified software after the phone has been upgraded with factory software. You can't go back. And, even if you could, it wouldn't help - it still couldn't be rooted or flash a modified ROM. Blu does not offer to unlock bootloaders the way some companies, like Motorola, do. Your phone is stuck with what you have now.
The best thing to do now? Enjoy your cheap android phone with great performance for the price!
yaconsult said:
No, sorry - there is no known way to root or flash modified software after the phone has been upgraded with factory software. You can't go back. And, even if you could, it wouldn't help - it still couldn't be rooted or flash a modified ROM. Blu does not offer to unlock bootloaders the way some companies, like Motorola, do. Your phone is stuck with what you have now.
The best thing to do now? Enjoy your cheap android phone with great performance for the price!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, is there at least a way to skin the phone (ex: change bootanimation, remove bloatware (Yes, there is still bloatware apps, and I'm talking REMOVE the apps, no uninstall for user only), remove the Adups spyware) so that it is just like stock Android?
PastThePixels said:
Well, is there at least a way to skin the phone (ex: change bootanimation, remove bloatware (Yes, there is still bloatware apps, and I'm talking REMOVE the apps, no uninstall for user only), remove the Adups spyware) so that it is just like stock Android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No - all those things require root, which you can't get. Only the phones that were shipped with earlier versions of the ROM and hadn't been updated over-the-air could be unlocked and rooted.
Related. I have an 8GB phone; Custom build:
BLU_R0010UU_V8.7_GENERIC 05-08-2017
I've been trying to install TWRP (and then Lineage) but I'm having zero luck with SPFlash. I've tried on a couple of computers and followed the directions step by step. Am I missing something here?
Thanks,
Edit: yep, saw in another thread anything above 8.1.
Imma email Blu and see if they'll loosen the restrictions if they're stopping development. Can't hurt at this point.
From Endgadget: https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/26/google-starts-blocking-its-apps-on-uncertified-android-devices/
If you're fond of loading custom ROMs on your Android phone, life just became complicated. Google has quietly started blocking access to its apps on uncertified devices whose firmware was built after March 16th. If you're affected, you'll get a warning that a device is "not certified" and can't sign into a Google account. This won't prevent you from loading ROMs, but you'll have to register your device IDs on a white list every time you undergo a factory reset -- when there's a 100-ID limit, you could run into problems if you're routinely wiping your phone to install new firmware.
We've asked Google for comment on the move.
The company is already quite clear about the rationale, however. Vendors officially need to get certification to load Google apps (Android's licensing model is built around this), but some of them ignore this requirement and either load the apps regardless or encourage you to download them yourself. This new block theoretically pushes those less-than-scrupulous brands to clean up their acts by either obtaining certification or sticking to an AOSP version of Android, where they'd depend on third-party apps.
The problem, of course, is that it leaves custom ROM users caught in the crossfire. They may have to be more selective about when they install ROMs and skip minor updates. It's far from the end of custom firmware, but the era of anything-goes firmware (on phones that allowed custom ROMs in the first place, that is) might be winding down.
I was just posting a thread about this aswell. My thoughts are more focused around the app store. How will we access the app store? Are we able to hack / "pirate" the app store apk or is the mod community going to have to start a separate app store? Maybe even twrp install every app we use?
Stop using wonky ass roms, if your rom passes safetynet and certifies your device, you won't need to do this. DU has been passing as certified for like a week now, even before the issue was made public. I made 2 clean flashes yesterday and haven't faced the issue. SO if rom devs fix their stuff, there won't be any need for IMEI or androidID registration.
As you can see my OnePlus 5 is listed as uncertified and I'm on stock OpenBeta 7 with no root or any other mod. Only my bootloader is unlocked that's it. BTW I flash the OpenBeta 7 clean with a erase everything and setup the phone without any issues :good:
Sent from my OnePlus 5 using XDA Labs
Is the certification check is going to be based on Bootloader lock status or ROMs????
I am confused.....
smohanv said:
Is the certification check is going to be based on Bootloader lock status or ROMs????
I am confused.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I remember me right I look at that before I unlock my bootloader and it shows me certified after the unlock it shows me uncertified, to me it seems it is based on a locked or unlocked bootloader, but I can be wrong this have to answer the gurus here :good:
Sent from my OnePlus 5 using XDA Labs
GraveDigger176 said:
If I remember me right I look at that before I unlock my bootloader and it shows me certified after the unlock it shows me uncertified, to me it seems it is based on a locked or unlocked bootloader, but I can be wrong this have to answer the gurus here :good:
Sent from my OnePlus 5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmmm....... so, if this is the case rooting is going to a an issue... until an exploit is found we may have to lock bootloader back and stay without rooting for a while.
Let us wait for more knowledge coming on this subject before we think of any action... at the moment my device is rooted and also I am running crDroid (Oreo 8.1) and also using magisk with Safety Net passed so that I am able to use Google Pay.
GraveDigger176 said:
As you can see my OnePlus 5 is listed as uncertified and I'm on stock OpenBeta 7 with no root or any other mod. Only my bootloader is unlocked that's it. BTW I flash the OpenBeta 7 clean with a erase everything and setup the phone without any issues :good:
Sent from my OnePlus 5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I clean flashed OB7 on my OnePlus 5, my bootloader is set back to locked as well and my device says certified.
Maybe it's because of the unlocked bootloader that you see uncertified?
dazr87 said:
I clean flashed OB7 on my OnePlus 5, my bootloader is set back to locked as well and my device says certified.
Maybe it's because of the unlocked bootloader that you see uncertified?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it seems so, but i have clean flash OpenBeta 7 with erase everything and unlocked bootloader and setup the Phone without any problems, I let it as it is now until i got problems with signing in google account after a clean flash :good:
I think certified or uncertified it depends on your rom, because my device still showed me certified status, with unlocked bootloader rooted with magisk, yes it's strange but somehow I'll look after it since I'm still waiting the open beta release to stable
Ps: sorry I can't upload screenshot because my xda app keeps saying bad request
sendashano said:
I think certified or uncertified it depends on your rom, because my device still showed me certified status, with unlocked bootloader rooted with magisk, yes it's strange but somehow I'll look after it since I'm still waiting the open beta release to stable
Ps: sorry I can't upload screenshot because my xda app keeps saying bad request
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well then is stock OpenBeta 7 crap :laugh:
BTW then all OOS stock roms crap since I unlock the bootloader it shows me uncertified :good:
Sent from my OnePlus 5 using XDA Labs
My OP5 is running stock OB 7, with an unlocked boot loader. I'm not rooted. When I got mine used off of Swappa, I made sure to unlock the bl and then flashed the OB 5 fw. Since then I've taken the OTA's for OB 6 and 7. No issues and my device is certified in the Play Store.
Mine is stock ROM Nougat 7.1 with unlocked bootloader and root and my device is uncertified.
AEX-Rom Oreo, decrypted, rooted with Magisk shows certified.
This is no problem with stock/nonstock/root etc.
Maybe Magisk helps to be certified
Google says that will not uncertified the custom roms
I'm on ob7 unlocked bootloader with magisk installed and shows me certified
OOS 5.04, unlocked bootloader, magisk 16.0 - uncertified!!
I'm on xXx NoLimits 10.1 Stable 5.04 and rooted (Magisk 16.3) with an unlocked bootloader. No problems here.
I recently got an XT1900-1 on EBay and tried to unlock the bootloader on the way to rooting the phone. The Motorola site told me that the bootloader could not be unlocked. The phone is carrier unlocked. I thought that maybe since I was attempting to unlock a still-unactivated phone that *could* later be activated on AT&T or Verizon, I might have better luck if I inserted a Sprint SIM (since I'm on Sprint). Is that right, or is there another reason? Though the phone is not marked as an Amazon phone and Alexa is not in the app drawer, Alexa does show up in the list of hidden apps on the phone. Is this enough to make it an Amazon phone? I sure thought I had the retail version.
So if I'm being refused a bootloader-unlock code because of Amazon, would I have better luck with a new Moto X4? They're available on EBay in the Android One variant with Nougat instead of Pie. If I got one of those phones, could I root it and keep it from upgrading to Pie? I see that Android One updates still seem to be coming. The latest update my current XT1900-1 has is from January 2020.
I also have the XT1900-1 version and mine was completely unlockable. One issue with Moto X4's unlocking is that once you unlock it, there is no way to make it as clean as it was, meaning the phone will trip some value and it's just not possible to revert it back to the locked bootloader with everything stock. You can flash the stock ROM and relock the bootloader but the integrity check will fail and you will get Play Store not certified error, which renders Google Pay (NFC) and some apps useless/un-installable. Now, if you want to root the phone, you're gonna have to keep the BL unlocked of course, so even if you didn't prevent it from updating to Pie, you can always flash Nougat back on the phone, granted you have the stock images. If the Moto's website told you that your phone is not unlockable, then there is no way for you to unlock the phone If you get an unlockable version (non-Amazon), you can get the code and unlock the device to do whatever you want with it. Once you get it, you can enable Developer settings and disable Automatic system updates from there to avoid installing newer versions. Cheers!
Pixel 5 from "Google Emploee". Locked for AT&T and bootloader is unlocked?
I bought a pixel 5 from google emploee, who is saying he got it from google.
It has a sticker on the back with barcode and some numbers and a date of 6/26
Problems are:
1. It is locked for AT&T and does not want to unlock via AT&T website (https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/). I got a message from ATT that it is unlocked, but still does not like T-Mobile sim. Any suggestions?
2. It is saying the bootloader is unlocked. Will I have problems with google pay? Can I undo this?
3. How to check this is an actual Pixel 5, not a prototype or something? It says "model Pixel 5" in "About phone"..
worry said:
I bought a pixel 5 from google emploee, who is saying he got it from google.
It has a sticker on the back with barcode and some numbers and a date of 6/26
Problems are:
1. It is locked for AT&T and does not want to unlock via AT&T website (https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/). I got a message from ATT that it is unlocked, but still does not like T-Mobile sim. Any suggestions?
2. It is saying the bootloader is unlocked. Will I have problems with google pay? Can I undo this?
3. How to check this is an actual Pixel 5, not a prototype or something? It says "model Pixel 5" in "About phone"..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak as to the origin of your phone, buy it from someone else, and you're buying someone else's problems.
Unlocked bootloader and carrier unlocked are two distinctly different things.
Carrier unlocked means that you can use the carrier of your choice. Unlocked bootloader lets you flash images to you phone, from entire monthly security updates to a custom kernel, root, and do other fun things. Google Pay will not work with an unlocked bootloader unless you root the phone and hide that from Google using root-based trickery. (Standard Google Firmware)
The fact that your bootloader is unlocked means that it probably is NOT from AT&T. Why you seem to be carrier locked is a mystery to me, but I will tell you something, AT&T is probably the most evil carrier to deal with. My phone was purchased directly from Google, my first act was to unlock the bootloader, root it, then get the phone up and running with T-Mobile. If you don't want to root your phone, have no need for it, whatever, yes, it is possible to relock the bootloader. Be aware that this will wipe your phone clean, and you'll be starting fresh.
Look in the forums or:
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Google has very comprehensive instructions on how to lock/unlock your bootloader, flash factory images, take OTA's etc..
Be aware that if you aren't sure what you are doing, flashing a factory image can also wipe your phone, and you'll be back to square one if you don't backup your stuff.
There are tons of tutorials on this site on this subject, just poke around...
bleez99 said:
I can't speak as to the origin of your phone, buy it from someone else, and you're buying someone else's problems.
Unlocked bootloader and carrier unlocked are two distinctly different things.
Carrier unlocked means that you can use the carrier of your choice. Unlocked bootloader lets you flash images to you phone, from entire monthly security updates to a custom kernel, root, and do other fun things. Google Pay will not work with an unlocked bootloader unless you root the phone and hide that from Google using root-based trickery. (Standard Google Firmware)
The fact that your bootloader is unlocked means that it probably is NOT from AT&T. Why you seem to be carrier locked is a mystery to me, but I will tell you something, AT&T is probably the most evil carrier to deal with. My phone was purchased directly from Google, my first act was to unlock the bootloader, root it, then get the phone up and running with T-Mobile. If you don't want to root your phone, have no need for it, whatever, yes, it is possible to relock the bootloader. Be aware that this will wipe your phone clean, and you'll be starting fresh.
Look in the forums or:
https://developers.google.com/android/images
Google has very comprehensive instructions on how to lock/unlock your bootloader, flash factory images, take OTA's etc..
Be aware that if you aren't sure what you are doing, flashing a factory image can also wipe your phone, and you'll be back to square one if you don't backup your stuff.
There are tons of tutorials on this site on this subject, just poke around...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Weird part is that If I go to system-> updates I see an update from ATT:
"ATT Redfin RD1A.2008..."
So this is not a "pure" google pixel? It has an ATT image? Can I install the genuine pixel 5 image?
You sort of do. If your bootloader is unlocked, and you get yourself decoupled from AT&T, you can grab the latest firmware directly from Google and flast it. There is no difference between the AT&T "model" and the generic Google version in the hardware. I don't know what's AT&T is up to these days but the AT&T versions at least older phones, used to lock down their bootloader and make it impossible to unlock. But if yours is already unlocked you sho6be able to put on Google's firmware and possibly escape from AT&T.
bleez99 said:
You sort of do. If your bootloader is unlocked, and you get yourself decoupled from AT&T, you can grab the latest firmware directly from Google and flast it. There is no difference between the AT&T "model" and the generic Google version in the hardware. I don't know what's AT&T is up to these days but the AT&T versions at least older phones, used to lock down their bootloader and make it impossible to unlock. But if yours is already unlocked you sho6be able to put on Google's firmware and possibly escape from AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And what about AT&T lock? Once I have official image, the sim lock would be gone? Or do I need just to flash a modem?