Hey folks. I'm really tempted to get the T-Mobile S4, have it unlocked so I can take it to AT&T but I know at some point I'll be doing custom roms and probably radio upgrades since they come out once in a while. But will doing any of that break the SIM unlock? The one I fear most is probably radio upgrades but I've never moved a phone to another carrier so don't know all of the implications. Roms I doubt will be an issue but anyone know or have previous experience? At worse I have to keep calling T-Mobile to get it unlocked again if radio upgrades mess it up but I'd rather not be calling them all the time and if it is a problem then maybe I need to rethink this a bit more.
No, when you unlock it, it will be permanently unlocked, even you restore to stock rom, flash any other rom, radios, recovery or anything to OS or software related.
Before you flash a rom, make sure to try it in another provider with the factory/stock version, so you can make sure that the phone is working fine since the beginning,
T-Mobile S4 (SGH-M919) has a lot to offer in connectivity such as LTE Bands 1/2/4/5/7/17; in HSPA+/UMTS: 850/AWS/1900/2100MHz and finally GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz, so it surely will work on the AT&T network.
While the AT&T S4 (SGH-I337) only has LTE: Bands 1/4/7/17; HSPA+/UMTS: 850/1900/2100MHz; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz.
For unlocking your T-Mobile S4, here is the link to the new T-Mobile Unlocking Policies: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1588. I bought my new S4 recently and they declined to unlock it before the first 40 days (postpaid) and before the first 60 days (prepaid) and there are certain other requirements to comply.
Lucky for me I found a trick on this forum to unlock it without the subsidy code (since my requests were rejected), it worked flawlessly and even I restore or flash any stock or custom rom, the unlocked state stays permanently because it's based on the NV system, just don't mess up with the NV base system.
If you want a phone with full LTE bands coverage, go for the M919 and it's bootloader unlocked from factory unlike the AT&T version which is bootloader locked. So, you can't go wrong with this model.
In terms of performance, the international version I9500 (without LTE support) is faster than any other S4 with SnapDragon 600 processor, I tested it myself since I have both I9500 and M919, the I9500 is octa-core (4-core of 1.6, and 4-core of 1.2) but only 4-cores work at the same time, in order to have a better power management, but even works in 1.6, it's a little bit faster than the 1.9 from SD600, i noticed on the graphics performance too.
And custom roms and other mods will come thru time for this specific model, just be patience, I have my M919 working with a non-US carrier sim card and installed custom rom Wicked v2 and it's working fast and stable.
I hope this info help you to decide!
Cheers!
Screwbal said:
Hey folks. I'm really tempted to get the T-Mobile S4, have it unlocked so I can take it to AT&T but I know at some point I'll be doing custom roms and probably radio upgrades since they come out once in a while. But will doing any of that break the SIM unlock? The one I fear most is probably radio upgrades but I've never moved a phone to another carrier so don't know all of the implications. Roms I doubt will be an issue but anyone know or have previous experience? At worse I have to keep calling T-Mobile to get it unlocked again if radio upgrades mess it up but I'd rather not be calling them all the time and if it is a problem then maybe I need to rethink this a bit more.
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Being Canadian not getting the international phone can any one tell me if the international Roms will work with the Canadian s4 mini? I know it's very similar to the us model but that one has a locked
Bootloader if I am not mistaken.and the Canadian model is not locked.
I know the 6.3 mega has compatibility between Canadian and international models, (and very similar hardware to the s4mini) so I was hoping if someone had tried the s4mini international Roms on their I257m and had any luck.
written in your mud with my stick
May be a dumb question but since I see a different section for the T-Mobile variant, aren't they both the same unlocked version? So all ROMs from this section should work on the T-Mobile version right?
Anyone with T-Mobile on here flashing ROMs?
Most roms should be work t-mobile.I think only cdma phones will have issues.Im on at&t m8 and on t-mobile network.
Well in short I have an At&t Model GS4 the i337 its currently unlocked running on stock Nj4 and of course want to root it. First of all i suspect i need to use t mobile roms now that i am on that network.
Here is a list of questions and links are also appreciated as answers anything that helps!
First and foremost how should i root this (my last device was a G3) so if things are different please tell me also, I their an app or a thread you can point me to.
Secondly how do i update it to a v5.1 or the latest so updating them rom later is not a problem if i must use odin to do this (i want to use the latest to use odin the least)
Lastly anyone who can give directions on how to root and get to the latest version of android i wold greatly appreciate the time anyone spend to respond to this this post i TYIA
So any links that will work work with NJ4 I would be so happy I have only experience with the G3 I feel i know what to do with it but the Gs4 is new to me and i appreciate any help i receive/
Thank yo for reading this and TYIA for responding thank you for your help i hope its as simple as someone posting some links so i can do this easy i again thanks for leading me through the fog and TIA
@BeatnikBandit :
Basically, you're in the wrong forum. You'll need to get support fir the ATT version i337 over in the forum for that model. I used to have one, actually. I sold it on Swappa and got a T-Mo M919 S4 so that I could take advantage of all the AOSP ROMs for the M919. At least as of a year ago, there was no way to unlock the boot loader on the i337 and the only ROMs available for it were basically just skins on the TouchWiz kernel. ROMs, such as they were, used something called SafeStrap. Not sure if things have changed for that device in the year since I gave it up.
You can only use ROMs made for your model. So, even if the locked boot loader weren't an issue with the i337, its hardware is different from the Verizon or T-Mo variants. Using a ROM for a different model will give problems. On the T-Mo M919, there's a bit of an exception in that we're hardware comparable to the international variant, so we can often use ROMs for that one (9505 I think). Oh, and the M919 never got an official lollipop upgrade from T-mo before they gave up on it, so there are some issues with using LolliPop ROMs on the M919.
I'm sorry I can't help you with how to root, but presumably you will find that answer over in the i337 forum.
As for using the i337 on T-Mo, that should be easy enough. Just go in and enter the APN information for T-Mo (probably is in the T-Mo forum somewhere) in place of the ATT APN info and you should be good to go, presuming your phone is SIM-unlocked. Instructions on SIM-unlocking it should be in the ATT i337 forum, if you're not already unlocked. For example, when I got my M919, all I had to do to get it to work on ATT was enter the APN info from ATT, and BOOM I was on the network. I bought a pre-SIM-unlocked phone to avoid having to unlock it myself.
I hope this is at least a little helpful even if it's not all the answers you were hoping for.
Marc
Hello. Just would like to get the ball rolling on this, as no one has yet to make a thread for this device. I realize chances look slim right now of any possibility, but we might as well get to brainstorming.
hope in some Root user method ....
unnecessary thread. please see below for all updates for all models. At the moment we are speculating that only ONE model will be available for unlock in the USA. The unbranded unlocked carrier model US998.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/how-to/progress-root-twrp-roms-achieved-t3690577/
hachiroku said:
unnecessary thread. please see below for all updates for all models. At the moment we are speculating that only ONE model will be available for unlock in the USA. The unbranded unlocked carrier model US998.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/how-to/progress-root-twrp-roms-achieved-t3690577/
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That isn't the point of the other thread the other thread is for tmobile v30 which already has a bootloader unlock just no fastboot flash commands
The first post states its for the T-Mobile model, but all the information up until now is the same as we currently have no progress. It just so happens there are more T-Mobile users of the V30 than there are of the Verizon model. Once unlock, fastboot, etc can be addressed for one unlockable model any progress will branch off onto other US unlockable models.
hachiroku said:
The first post states its for the T-Mobile model, but all the information up until now is the same as we currently have no progress. It just so happens there are more T-Mobile users of the V30 than there are of the Verizon model. Once unlock, fastboot, etc can be addressed for one unlockable model any progress will branch off onto other US unlockable models.
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Not really they face different challenges and why hold back the tmo thread for issues pertaining to unlocking a bootloader when they don't need that part?
Cameron581 said:
Not really they face different challenges and why hold back the tmo thread for issues pertaining to unlocking a bootloader when they don't need that part?
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Agreed. There's also a general bootloader unlock/root thread that even supersedes the T-Mobile thread.
LG V30 - Unlock bootloader and Root
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/help/unlock-bootloader-root-t3665927
It was started back in September, and the T-Mobile thread was a fork of that one. Because the T-Mobile people already had bootloader unlock and didn't want to discuss bootloader unlock. So they started their own thread, and that thread op says he ONLY wants to discuss the T-Mobile variant in that thread.
mr turtle droid said:
I'm making this thread to update the progress towards root and such for the T-MOBILE LG v30
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Well, Verizon LG V30 variant doesn't have bootloader unlock. It's quite different from the T-mobile situation. So, this Verizon thread is another fork.
ALSO, due to information not available back in September I wouldn't be surprised if some or all the bootloader locked carrier variants (like Verizon especially) have fastboot flash commands -- if someone could unlock the bootloader.
This is a complete turnaround from what I thought back in September, when it seemed LG had removed the fastboot flash commands from all the 2017 flagship phones. If you read that post I linked above I give my reasons why the change in thinking.
I still believe the LG Developer Bootloader Unlock list is the only GUARANTEED way these LG V30 phones can be rooted -- and thus why I advised everyone to buy the phones that would be eligible for that bootloader unlock list... But I would be very curious to see an AT&T or Verizon or even U.S. Cellular LG V30 model bootloader unlocked by some exploint -- to see what's underneath.
While this could all be discussed in the LG Bootloader Unlock and Root thread, there's nothing wrong with having a dedicated Verizon variant thread if there's enough interest. Basically you will need some developer to find an exploit.
Read post #2 of the T-Mobile thread. At first it seemed like it was starting out as duplicate/rehash of the LG V30 Bootloader Unlock and Root thread -- and I pointed out it was unnecessary -- until the op said he only wanted to discuss the T-Mobile variant. OK, then.
Same here.
Sent from my official carrier unlocked LG V30+ US998
I'm considering getting a V30. If I find a US998, is unlock & root virtually guaranteed? Also, it sounds like the T-mobile models are unlockable & rootable. If I find a carrier-unlocked T-mobile phone, will it be able to use Verizon's LTE technology (or whatever is the latest) or will I be stuck with GSM or something else that doesn't match the best Verizon has to offer?
Thanks!
GTabJosh said:
I'm considering getting a V30. If I find a US998, is unlock & root virtually guaranteed? Also, it sounds like the T-mobile models are unlockable & rootable. If I find a carrier-unlocked T-mobile phone, will it be able to use Verizon's LTE technology (or whatever is the latest) or will I be stuck with GSM or something else that doesn't match the best Verizon has to offer?
Thanks!
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The open market US998 V30/V30+ has not yet been placed on the LG Developer Bootloader Unlock list. Should be, soon (it's been six weeks since release).
The T-Mobile variant does not yet have root. One guy said he has it figured out, but he bricked his phone and is waiting for replacement. In the meantime, other methods are being worked on.
You wouldn't have Verizon CDMA bands with T-Mobile phone.
Sent from my official carrier unlocked LG V30+ US998
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/how-to/us998-bootloader-unlock-achieved-t3743359
Will this change things for our devices?
GgOTi said:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/how-to/us998-bootloader-unlock-achieved-t3743359
Will this change things for our devices?
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Most likely not, they use the iemi to identify devices.
(Delete)
Okay so, since I'm sticking with the VS996 (for now) I'm really optimistic on root/bootloader unlock, just to clarify though, so the current situation is that the T-Mobile variant HAS unlocked bootloader BUT commands disabled hence no TWRP or root...
On the other hand we have the Verizon variant which has LOCKED bootloader, but could potentially have all commands intact/not striped away...
So all in all, if some amazing devs find a way to unlock the bootloader, we could potentially have a strong chance of root?, (Assuming commands are actually there)
With android 8.0 officially rolled out, I'm just wondering if anyone is currently looking for any exploits/or working towards cracking/unlocking the bootloader, thanks for any replies, staying optimistic :fingers-crossed:
TheInfiniteAndroid said:
With android 8.0 officially rolled out, I'm just wondering if anyone is currently looking for any exploits/or working towards cracking/unlocking the bootloader, thanks for any replies, staying optimistic :fingers-crossed:
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Personally not a developer or really know anything about developing root, but we could start a bounty for the VS996 and/or other versions.
yjgfikl said:
Personally not a developer or really know anything about developing root, but we could start a bounty for the VS996 and/or other versions.
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Sounds good, hopefully this will add some encouragement to any developers currently trying :highfive:
Omg, spent hours scouring XDA for 'VS996' & even just '996' only ever finding one thread... and a random Google search finds this thread. Anyways, my adhd makes busy forums hard to sift thru and I'll cut to the chase as I've been reading for hours... On this VS996...
I have a VS996 that can be used for fodder (testing).
I hate Verizon and want on Google Fi so I'm kicking myself for not getting a Pixel at this point. You got stuff you want me to try? Sweet. I run Linux as a competent user.... But im currently in the middle of soldering a new power jack on my laptop... while ALSO in the middle of moving....
Lemme know.
radman119 said:
Omg, spent hours scouring XDA for 'VS996' & even just '996' only ever finding one thread... and a random Google search finds this thread. Anyways, my adhd makes busy forums hard to sift thru and I'll cut to the chase as I've been reading for hours... On this VS996...
I have a VS996 that can be used for fodder (testing).
I hate Verizon and want on Google Fi so I'm kicking myself for not getting a Pixel at this point. You got stuff you want me to try? Sweet. I run Linux as a competent user.... But im currently in the middle of soldering a new power jack on my laptop... while ALSO in the middle of moving....
Lemme know.
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Unfortunately, although I'm sure everyone in here is very appreciative of this, I don't think there's any developers actually working on the VS996, I hope there is/or will be for you guys, but don't get your hopes up...
You can't even get to the hidden menus with the Verizon variant.
Just so everyone is aware. The VS996 by Verizon does have root with unlocked bootloader. You can Frankenstein Flash vs998 firmware to 7.0 then update to vs998 8.0 then flash an exploit unlock.bin found in the 'WTF...' thread.
I successfully flashed my VS996 to 998, updated to Oreo then flashed the exploit unlock.bin and can confirm this method works.
Verizon can suck it again. Woot.