I have a S21, T-mobile model, G991U. It has the Snapdragon chip, not the Enyos. Last time I rooted a phone was a Motorola Charge I think it was before I tried jailbreaking the iPhone 4. Back then, manufacturers didn't try as hard to prevent modifications.
Fast forward to today. I have the T-Mobile S21 I want to root. I'll admit I am over my head, and unsure of how to proceed. First thought I could use Magisk Root, but apparently that only works for the Samsung processor. Found myself on SamPwnd's website, but only up to the S20s seem to be supported. The editor's blog here on XDA warns against using RootKing due to intrusive ads/possible malware, so that's out. Eventually found myself on a shady Polish website offering unlock that didn't pan out. It goes without saying I visited https://www.xda-developers.com/root/ and wasn't able to find anything.
Is there a legitimate root for the S21 US edition yet?
No. All S and Note series devices since the S7 have a locked bootloader in the US. Root is impossible unless you pay for a bootloader unlocking service (here - https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...unlock-for-samsung-us-canada-devices.4215101/) and that's not released yet. Expect to pay over $100 for the service, and expect for things to break when you do (Samsung Pay, Knox, etc).
^ This. My last Samsung was an S6 Edge, so I didn't know about the perma-locked bootloader crap on newer models. I'm sending back my preordered S21 because I can't root it and getting a Pixel 5 instead. The S21's hardware is clearly better, but it's not worth dealing that BS on the software side.
Related
Anybody interested in the bootloader and unlocking it I encourage you to sign this petition. These phones are ours to use how we see fit and the more noise we make the better our chances are. I bought this phone under the assumption that nothing had changed and for Samsung to change their policies without notice isn't acceptable for me and hopefully you as well. Thank you
Petition
brendan802 said:
Anybody interested in the bootloader and unlocking it I encourage you to sign this petition. These phones are ours to use how we see fit and the more noise we make the better our chances are. I bought this phone under the assumption that nothing had changed and for Samsung to change their policies without notice isn't acceptable for me and hopefully you as well. Thank you
Petition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloaders have been locked down on samsung devices for a long time. Tmobile was lucky enough to have them open. This will never happen.
this is the end..
signed.
Signed
Never happened with the Note 3 despite similar petitions, likely never going to happen with the S7 either. I do agree that if you own the phone outright (not on a lease from AT&T) then you should be able to do as you please with it and once you completed the lease then you should be allowed to unlock the bootloader.
naiku said:
Never happened with the Note 3 despite similar petitions, likely never going to happen with the S7 either. I do agree that if you own the phone outright (not on a lease from AT&T) then you should be able to do as you please with it and once you completed the lease then you should be allowed to unlock the bootloader.
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Click to collapse
I would like to say that technically through ATT it is not a lease, it is a payment plan. That would be like buying a house or a car not leasing in which case they are both considered yours right off the bat. Yes you are making payments on it but if the deal is done properly you will never return the phone to ATT making it yours, unlike a lease.
whoamanwtf said:
I would like to say that technically through ATT it is not a lease, it is a payment plan. That would be like buying a house or a car not leasing in which case they are both considered yours right off the bat. Yes you are making payments on it but if the deal is done properly you will never return the phone to ATT making it yours, unlike a lease.
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Click to collapse
That is a very good point, however I can at least understand with AT&T that until you pay for that phone in full it is not considered yours. I would not be surprised if they have something in the fine print on the Next plan that says something to that effect. Note - I do agree with you entirely, I am paying for a phone and should be able to do whatever the heck I want with it.
If you're going to write a petition to these companies, you should run it through a proofreader and spell check. Nobody will take that seriously written the way it is. Also, if you want it to gain more traction, you should probably share it in the Galaxy S7 subreddit as well at www.reddit.com/r/galaxys7.
Don't think it will happen with Samsung Pay. They are very protective of it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
With no upgrade availability for any of the phone numbers on my account, I paid full price for my S7 Edge, so I own my phone outright and want the bootloader unlocked!
What happens when this reaches 1500? With a locked bootloader aren't things such as root and safestrap still feasible?
TheZander said:
What happens when this reaches 1500? With a locked bootloader aren't things such as root and safestrap still feasible?
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Click to collapse
Yes root it possible. Not sure about safe strap.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
billydroid said:
Yes root it possible. Not sure about safe strap.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Root is still a longshot and I'd go as far as saying that safestrap won't happen at all. Look at the past, the AT&T S6 barely got root, still doesn't have more than like 2 ROMs, and is entirely dependent on one root method that supports two specific builds and an app called Flashfire. Samsung, on behalf of the carriers, is doing everything in their power to make rooting and custom ROMs an impossible feat. With that being said, let's take a look at the AT&T Note 5. It still has just received root from the same people who are supporting root on the S6 (from what I've seen, PingPongRoot was born and died with an earlier S6 build). The majority of the big devs who used to put in the work for supporting Samsung devices have all jumped ship to devices that aren't as heavily locked down. Unfortunately, I think the dev scene for Samsung devices that aren't the international or T-Mobile versions is pretty much dead (even the Tmo Note 5 isn't getting much love). The only redemption here is that the S7 uses a qualcomm processor, not an exynos, which is much more heavily documented, meaning that if someone is able to crack open the bootloader, the ROMs (and more importantly, the kernels) will be much easier to build. This is all just my 2 cents, I hope someone does accomplish the unthinkable and achieve all of this, but in the meantime, if you want to stick with Samsung, buckle up and enjoy the stock touchwiz. You'll probably be on it for a while.
TekGadgt said:
Root is still a longshot and I'd go as far as saying that safestrap won't happen at all. Look at the past, the AT&T S6 barely got root, still doesn't have more than like 2 ROMs, and is entirely dependent on one root method that supports two specific builds and an app called Flashfire. Samsung, on behalf of the carriers, is doing everything in their power to make rooting and custom ROMs an impossible feat. With that being said, let's take a look at the AT&T Note 5. It still has just received root from the same people who are supporting root on the S6 (from what I've seen, PingPongRoot was born and died with an earlier S6 build). The majority of the big devs who used to put in the work for supporting Samsung devices have all jumped ship to devices that aren't as heavily locked down. Unfortunately, I think the dev scene for Samsung devices that aren't the international or T-Mobile versions is pretty much dead (even the Tmo Note 5 isn't getting much love). The only redemption here is that the S7 uses a qualcomm processor, not an exynos, which is much more heavily documented, meaning that if someone is able to crack open the bootloader, the ROMs (and more importantly, the kernels) will be much easier to build. This is all just my 2 cents, I hope someone does accomplish the unthinkable and achieve all of this, but in the meantime, if you want to stick with Samsung, buckle up and enjoy the stock touchwiz. You'll probably be on it for a while.
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Click to collapse
I agree with you. The real kicker for me is what T-Mobile is doing, which is my carrier. Almost every device on tmo had the ability to get root and be unlocked. But they are getting on board with Verizon and AT&T and requested devices be locked down. Then they lie to us and say it's the manufacturers. They had them lock down the LG g5, which LG always gave us a unlock method,.garbage.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
dubbactrumpetmsu said:
If you're going to write a petition to these companies, you should run it through a proofreader and spell check. Nobody will take that seriously written the way it is. Also, if you want it to gain more traction, you should probably share it in the Galaxy S7 subreddit as well at www.reddit.com/r/galaxys7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you, I would love to sign a petition and I'm glad someone started one, but this petition has too many mistakes to even count. I doubt any company is going to take it very seriously. No disrespect intended to the person who wrote it, but it needs to be re-written.
Best hope for us is for the mandatory arbitration clause to go away. That would enable a group of users to sue when a locked bootloader prevents them from upgraded their phone. Older phones are susceptible to vulnerabilities because AT&T doesn't continue to roll out updates and the locked bootloader prevents you from updating the phone on your own.
I could be wrong, but I think this could be a pathway.
In the history of these sites and smartphones I don't think any company has ever unlocked the bootloader for any petition, and there have been plenty of them. I don't think they ever will. As much as I agree that it shouldn't be locked, especially if you outright own the phone, this is just a lost cause.
This thread about an app called "crom" in China is interesting: http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-s7-edge/help/code-t3379915/page24
Posted in the Sprint S7 edge forums. I guess the China varient is able to have its bootloader unlocked with this app...
xjimmy said:
This thread about an app called "crom" in China is interesting: http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-s7-edge/help/code-t3379915/page24
Posted in the Sprint S7 edge forums. I guess the China varient is able to have its bootloader unlocked with this app...
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Click to collapse
China's bootloader isn't as locked down as ours in the states is...[emoji30]
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA-Developers mobile app
Hi, what model of phone is the best to buy used online, without the risk of finding out that the bootloader is locked?
I'm looking to buy a used phone off ebay. I try to get a phones for <$100, so I'm mostly looking for devices a few years old.
After fighting with Verizon Samsung phones years back, I vowed never again to buy a Samsung device. Instead, I would only buy the Nexus handsets, as they're explicitly made to be developer phones. afaik, there are no Nexus phones with locked bootloaders. That's great! I'd rather just sidestep that whole hassle..
Earlier this year Lineage OS was finally released for the Google Pixel, so I started looking into buying a Pixel. However, I recently discovered that there are some Pixels (distributed by Verizon & EE in the UK) that have locked bootloaders!!
Yes, an android developer-model phone with a locked bootloader! This was a surprise to me, as I thought the intention of that line of phones was to set aside a sacred handset for hackers. Apparently not.
So, good people of xda, I come to you: can you please tell me if there exists a recent (last few years) phone model that I can buy off ebay without the risk of any of those phones having their bootloaders locked?
TIA!
is there a list of phone manufacturers that allow unlocking and ones that don't?
(and if there is variance between devices from manufacturers, then a list of devices?)
Thanks
gardina said:
is there a list of phone manufacturers that allow unlocking and ones that don't?
(and if there is variance between devices from manufacturers, then a list of devices?)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea it goes like this:
Huawei---> can't unlock
EVery other frickin' phone manifacturer --> can unlock, sometimes it's hard, but u can
More seriously, atm every phone that I know of can be unlocked. Samsung is making it complicated, but still. The only OEM I know that locks down the phone is Huawei.
With the manufacturer "Oppo"(another chinese company like huwaei), at least some oppo phones can't be unlocked. See my post #36 https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/oppo-a9-2020-rooting.4003265/page-2
How are Samsung making it hard?
Samsung has locked bootloaders on - many - if not all usa snapdragon phones and if you buy one of them the only way to get it unlocked is by finding some random person on the internet who has the samsung proprietary toolkit and pay him/her $100 - $150 to have them modify it so you can get oem unlock.
Samsung - in the usa - doesnt want you removing bloatware, blocking adds or doing what you want with your phone... or perhaps its the carriers themselves who are all mandating this... unknown to me; aside from the fact that I've bought four samsung phones in recent months trying to unlock and learning that I've wasted my cash...
plus I hear the Quallcom secureboot is an issue here as well - though I'm a noob when it comes to this I only have conceptual level knowledge.
SAME applies to some Motorola devices - a company that used to almost be guaranteed easy to unlock.. last few devices I've gotten from them are impossible to root and change the OS.
Same applies to EVERY device sold on the Verizon network.
You want an unlocked phone?
Get one that advertises it proudly like this - https://www.fxtec.com/ Android - lineage - sailfish are options.
So, I've got a couple of Note 3s set up for my kids to use. I need to keep Knox to get the advantages it gives to Boomerang parental controls. I need root for running Xposed modules. Since 3g is going away, I'm scrambling to find newer devices.
I've been looking at the S8 and S9 and their variations. I found some S9+s in good condition for a reasonable price. They are the G965U1 running Android 10 on bootloader v9. My understanding is that they should work with T-Mobile or AT&T for voLTE and also for wifi calling on T-Mobile.
I've been reading a lot, but can't find definite answers to some questions.
Do these factory unlocked phones support voLTE and wifi calling or do they have to be branded by the correct carrier?
Can they be rooted on v9 bootloader without tripping Knox (Extreme Syndicate)?
Does anyone want to test Boomerang parental controls' Knox features on a device with Knox already tripped for me? If The Knox features still work, this would be the very best solution, but the app developer said they can't answer as to whether it will or not. The developer said to just try it. I'm not ready to lay out hundreds for a test that might leave me with a device I have to replace again.
It looks like originally you needed to downgrade to Android 8, but then some also update to Android 9. I prefer to have Android 9 or 10, but have read some saying that the system can't be downgraded from 10, which would leave unlocking the bootloader (and tripping Knox) as the only option for root. So what's the real deal?
I've also looked into the s5 and a few others, but like the idea of something with a newer Android for all comparability. Willing to look at anything that will work, though.
I appreciate any help.
If you trip the Knox e-fuse, Knox is gone forever unless you replace the mobo.
Both 9 and 10 are reasonably secure, 8 and below less so.
The Note 10+ 12gb ram, 4G Snapdragon variant is a gorgeous workhorse of a phone. The display is still one of the very best for color rendering and viewing. New ones can be had for $800 still, used for much less. New ones are loaded with 10, but used ones are likely updated to 11 unless you can confirm otherwise. Exercise caution as there's a lot of misinformation and outright scamming going on with used phones.
As for voLTE support it depends on the carrier and the model. My new unlock N10+ works on AT&T but some models especially older ones may not. Check with your carrier to see what models they support.
Whatever Samsung you choose I would recommend that you keep it stock. You can use a package disabler to easily tone down a stock Samsung... rooting isn't necessary.
blackhawk said:
If you trip the Knox e-fuse, Knox is gone forever unless you replace the mobo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that tripping the counter cannot be undone. Are you saying that third-party software that uses Knox cannot run after it is tripped, even if the Knox software remains? There seems to be evidence to the contrary.
Both 9 and 10 are reasonably secure, 8 and below less so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is part of why I prefer to use 9 or 10, but other concerns are more important.
As for voLTE support it depends on the carrier and the model. My new unlock N10+ works on AT&T but some models especially older ones may not. Check with your carrier to see what models they support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both carriers list these generic models (S8,S9,etc.) but don't specifically list branded or factory unlocked model numbers. Some people have had problems in the past trying to use an AT&T branded phone, carrier unlocked, on T-Mobile, specifically wifi calling not allowed. My bigger concern is now that 3g is being phased out; will voLTE work on each carrier with a factory-unlocked phone? Is there a way to use wifi calling on a factory-unlocked phone?
Whatever Samsung you choose I would recommend that you keep it stock. You can use a package disabler to easily tone down a stock Samsung... rooting isn't necessary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you propose that I run X posed modules without rooting?
I just know that members here have issues with bank apps on rooted phones. Haven't paid that much attention to that problem but Knox's status is easily available if the banking app wants check it.
My unlocked Note 10+ was added to the AT&T network by simply swapping out the sim from my other AT&T 10+. Boom, that's all I had to do to set it up. Obviously AT&T will need to punch you out a sim card for the new phones. Talk to Advanced Tech support at AT&T to get a firm answer about voLTE support. If it's just the unlocked model of the variant they sell it will likely work.
The only way you can run some apps is to be rooted. So if you're hell bent on a specific app that requires root... can't have your cake and eat it too.
My kids don't need banking apps. They do need to be able to place and receive phone calls after 3g goes away next month.
With Samsung ditching Exynos. Will bootloaders come unlocked from now on? North America? Europe?
More than likely. Snaps are notoriously hard to root. I wouldn't even consider it with my N10+'s.
Newer models will likely be even more locked down.
Samsung doesn't care to have the niche market of power users anymore. A market they help to create. They just want your green backs.
Samsung used to advertise how they weren't like Apple. Not anymore. Apple did better in the last quarter too. Great plan Sammy... more of the bs that got you into this hole.
blackhawk said:
More than likely. Snaps are notoriously hard to root. I wouldn't even consider it with my N10+'s.
Newer models will likely be even more locked down.
Samsung doesn't care to have the niche market of power users anymore. A market they help to create. They just want your green backs.
Samsung used to advertise how they weren't like Apple. Not anymore. Apple did better in the last quarter too. Great plan Sammy... more of the bs that got you into this hole.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not really hard its just depends on the manufacturer
blackhawk said:
More than likely. Snaps are notoriously hard to root. I wouldn't even consider it with my N10+'s.
Newer models will likely be even more locked down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not like that. Usually before S22 Samsung was giving SD version only to limited carrier and those are locked bootloader so not possible /hard to root
Since S22 many regions got SD like Asian countries and those SD version are as easy to root like exynos
So irrespective of SD or Exynos, root capabilities should remain same regional specific rather than CPU specific
The only SnapDragon CPU devices that are hard to root, are the devices usually designed for South America, at least when it comes to Samsung devices.
dr.ketan said:
It's not like that. Usually before S22 Samsung was giving SD version only to limited carrier and those are locked bootloader so not possible /hard to root
Since S22 many regions got SD like Asian countries and those SD version are as easy to root like exynos
So irrespective of SD or Exynos, root capabilities should remain same regional specific rather than CPU specific
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good news then once proven.
Unfortunately I'm in the US. There's also the Knox efuse that gets tripped. That's ok though as my only real incentive to root would be to get out of Android 11 or higher load. Pie remains my favorite version. The way things are going I'll likely ditch Samsung once I stop using my N10+'s years from now.
dr.ketan said:
It's not like that. Usually before S22 Samsung was giving SD version only to limited carrier and those are locked bootloader so not possible /hard to root
Since S22 many regions got SD like Asian countries and those SD version are as easy to root like exynos
So irrespective of SD or Exynos, root capabilities should remain same regional specific rather than CPU specific
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, i Have now switched to Samsung after years of Oneplus, my journey ended then with the Samsung S5 and started with the OP5t and 8t so far.
Now I have turned back to Samsung and would be very happy to get root support of the Samsung S23 Ultra from you.
I've been watching your site since the S21 and think their work is great.
If one purchases the Tweaks Pro package from you, is there also a Telegram or general support group? I would be happy to join there.
U.S. Carriers demand that Bootloader's be locked down. So it is highly unlikely U.S. models will be unlockable anytime soon.
Paul_Deemer said:
U.S. Carriers demand that Bootloader's be locked down. So it is highly unlikely U.S. models will be unlockable anytime soon.
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Click to collapse
This is false. Verizon demands it but AT&T and T-Mobile don't care once it has been paid off and SIM unlocked.
EtherealRemnant said:
This is false. Verizon demands it but AT&T and T-Mobile don't care once it has been paid off and SIM unlocked.
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Click to collapse
Not False according to this. U.S. S22 models were not rootable so why would the U.S. S23 models be any different?
Paul_Deemer said:
Not False according to this. U.S. S22 models were not rootable so why would the U.S. S23 models be any different?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am saying it's false that carriers demand it. They've sold other devices that have unlockable bootloaders, it's just Samsung that does the full lockdown nonsense. Also, if it was just the carriers demanding it, the factory unlocked model would be bootloader unlockable as the carriers can't control those - and it is well known that they're in fact not unlockable either. Samsung makes a choice to lock down the US devices.
EtherealRemnant said:
I am saying it's false that carriers demand it. They've sold other devices that have unlockable bootloaders, it's just Samsung that does the full lockdown nonsense. Also, if it was just the carriers demanding it, the factory unlocked model would be bootloader unlockable as the carriers can't control those - and it is well known that they're in fact not unlockable either. Samsung makes a choice to lock down the US devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably true about the US variants but make no mistake Samsung is actively partnered with at least AT&T. AT&T provides Samsung with the firmware specs they want. AT&T therefore has much more leverage than an individual consumer with Samsung. Don't ever let AT&T play off issues by saying they have no input or control of the firmware as in fact they very much do.
blackhawk said:
Probably true about the US variants but make no mistake Samsung is actively partnered with at least AT&T. AT&T provides Samsung with the firmware specs they want. AT&T therefore has much more leverage than an individual consumer with Samsung. Don't ever let AT&T play off issues by saying they have no input or control of the firmware as in fact they very much do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets are high quality and incur higher BoM (Bill of Material).
Network providers in U.S.A such as Verizon have stringent requirements which Qualcomm SoC pass. Samsung needs to use Snapdragon SoC if they want to launch their devices there.
In order to maintain profit healthy, Samsung use their SoC in other regions.
Further proof that Qualcomm and US Carriers are in the cahoots together and probably why Samsung locks the bootloader because that's the way the carriers want it.
blackhawk said:
Probably true about the US variants but make no mistake Samsung is actively partnered with at least AT&T. AT&T provides Samsung with the firmware specs they want. AT&T therefore has much more leverage than an individual consumer with Samsung. Don't ever let AT&T play off issues by saying they have no input or control of the firmware as in fact they very much do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are actively involved in firmware for their devices and for unlocked devices with their network SIM cards but that would never stop Samsung from having an unlocked bootloader on the factory unlocked device if they cared to allow it. They like having us locked in.
EtherealRemnant said:
They like having us locked in.
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Click to collapse
Truth. I've had my fill of Samsung's bs. I'll run my N10+'s as long as they're serviceable on Android 9/10 and fulfilling their mission. After which who ever has the best UI, display, form factor, expandable storage and hopefully an spen. Probably 3-5 years from now
blackhawk said:
Truth. I've had my fill of Samsung's bs. I'll run my N10+'s as long as they're serviceable on Android 9/10 and fulfilling their mission. After which who ever has the best UI, display, form factor, expandable storage and hopefully an spen. Probably 3-5 years from now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I don't really care about the locked bootloader cause I have no need to root. I just want Decent Battery Life, Incredible Camera Photos and a Great Gaming experience and Samsung can lock the bootloader till hell freezes over and it won't bother me a bit.
Paul_Deemer said:
Personally I don't really care about the locked bootloader cause I have no need to root. I just want Decent Battery Life, Incredible Camera Photos and a Great Gaming experience and Samsung can lock the bootloader till hell freezes over and it won't bother me a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I run stock as well... and once optimized they run well. Not optimized they're hot running power hogs. Expandable storage is not negotiable for me. Every computer I own is dual drive by intent.
One thing that I don't like about Samsung is they're always mucking with the Package Disabler apps trying to shut them down over the misuse of the Knox licensing.
Samsung could include a native disabler app. Been suggesting that to them for 8 years running. Samsung's customer support is worse than Sony's... and Sony's is terrible.
If the N10+ was like the N9 I be in a jam, fortunately it's a huge performance leap. Enough so that nothing since it compels me to replace it.
There's been nothing in 3+ years from Samsung that can directly supersede it. Don't need 5G, prefer the better color/gamma accuracy over variable refresh rate displays, and don't want a thicker, heavier phone with less SOT!
So it's the hardware that's the primary issue for me along with Android 11 and up. I want Samsung to provide workarounds for scoped storage in the UI. Fat chance. So then an unlocked bootloader is the only way to achieve this and even then it be a major pain. I don't pay for pain... got lots of it for free
Received today polish 1tb SM-S918B
Oem unlock is switchable
Paul_Deemer said:
Personally I don't really care about the locked bootloader cause I have no need to root. I just want Decent Battery Life, Incredible Camera Photos and a Great Gaming experience and Samsung can lock the bootloader till hell freezes over and it won't bother me a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why are you on xda? I mean, xda has been known for years for development,tinkering and rooting. Anyways, rooting for viper4android, custom fonts, de bloating, customizing anything you desire is why people root.
Been rooting since android 2 but can't even get this S23 into bootloader or recovery mode. It always boots normally regardless of which buttons I hold. What's the correct procedure?