Develop Bugs

[Q] Help, unable to unlock phone.

Hey Guys,
First of all, I want to say I search all the threads but didn't find anything relating to my post.
Some background:
I got an S3 from Telus last year, rooted it and was using mostly CM on it. I recently got the S4 and decided to give the S3 to my GF.
I knew the phone was locked when I tried to use it overseas. Before attempting to do any unlocks, I flashed carrier stock ROM on it.
I tried the following:
1) Free method - did not work since the options the guide described were not on my screen (I do have 4.1.1)
(Did my mucking around here do something to the phone? Is there a way to reset these settings?)
2) FastGSM - did not work, got an error
3) quickphoneunlock.com - Gave these guys my IMEI and they gave me a code that doesn't work. I called them and the kid who answered the phone said that it didn't work because my phone has been previously rooted. He further guranteed me that the code I got from him would be the same code I would get from my carrier.
I'm at a loss what to do now. I already switched my GF to the new SIM so no she's phoneless.
I'd appreciate any help.

Can you be a bit more specific as to which options were not on your screen? I OTA'd my Telus GS3 to 4.1.2 before I realized you could unlock your phone. I Odin flashed back to stock 4.1.1 and tried the unlock and it was successful. Mind you my phone was never rooted before (but shouldn't matter if you're going back to a stock rom?).

Hw4ng3r said:
Can you be a bit more specific as to which options were not on your screen? I OTA'd my Telus GS3 to 4.2.1 before I realized you could unlock your phone. I Odin flashed back to stock 4.1.1 and tried the unlock and it was successful. Mind you my phone was never rooted before (but shouldn't matter if you're going to back to a stock rom?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After selecting the [3] OFF option, option [4] is not my screen.
I am also not sure if flashing recovery / ROMs affects this menu.
Do you mind sharing the specific ROM you used?

vitalious said:
After selecting the [3] OFF option, option [4] is not my screen.
I am also not sure if flashing recovery / ROMs affects this menu.
Do you mind sharing the specific ROM you used?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest you flash this in odin:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1739426
Then try the code. If it still doesn't work you could try to flash the stock .tar from the sammobile site that is unrooted

hednik said:
I would suggest you flash this in odin:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1739426
Then try the code. If it still doesn't work you could try to flash the stock .tar from the sammobile site that is unrooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help.
I'm not sure why you want me to flash the rooted stock first, but I'm downloading the sammobile one and will flash it at home when I get back from work.

vitalious said:
Thanks for the help.
I'm not sure why you want me to flash the rooted stock first, but I'm downloading the sammobile one and will flash it at home when I get back from work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the sammobile one. Its just place stock firmware you can flash in odin and you should be just fine with the code then.

hednik said:
Try the sammobile one. Its just place stock firmware you can flash in odin and you should be just fine with the code then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope it will work.
The thing is, my current ROM is a 4.1.1 Telus as well.
I will let you know tonight how it went.
In the meanwhile, I need to prove with a video to those cellphoneunlock clowns that their code didn't work.

Are you using the instructions from here? http://www.redmondpie.com/permanentl...w-to-tutorial/ and if you are when it says wait.. you really do have to wait otherwise it will not work....

Still doesn't work
I don't see option [4] after waiting 30 seconds.

vitalious said:
Still doesn't work
I don't see option [4] after waiting 30 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay so you say you don't get to option 4 in Step 5. When you do step 4, the menu key they are talking about is the physical menu key on the phone. I have a Telus phone also and I have done this a few times. The only thing is you need to watch the code when your doing this...
MENU NOT EXIST
PRESS BACK KEY
Current Command is 118640
If you get current command is 118630 then you have likely relocked it
Check here, I have 2 posts, one with screen shots.... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2176719&page=3
Step 3: In the Options screen, choose [3] Perso SHA256 OFF. Wait for 30 seconds after making this selection.
Step 4: Go back one step by pressing the menu key, and then back once. You should now again be in [6] Network Lock
Step 5: Here, now choose [4]NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ. Wait for one minute after making the choice.
Step 6: After a minute has passed, reboot

Thanks for everyone's help.
Here is what worked at the end for me:
I downloaded the following 4.1.1 Telus ROM:
After I flashed, the phone was going through endless FC. I did a Factory Reset via the recovery and the FC went away.
After flashing the ROM, the free unlock method worked.
Hooray.

SIM no longer recognized as being inserted; IMEI not visible in software

Firstly, my apologies if this issue has been solved before here, but neither a search of the forum nor the automatically found "similar threads" based on the title have revealed such a problem as this.
Last night, I attempted (and eventually succeeded) at reverting my SGH-I747 to the stock 4.1.1 ROM, with the intention of subsequently installing the 4.3 and 4.4 OTAs. However, I was unable to do this because the phone behaved as though no SIM had been inserted, despite the fact that one had. At various points throughout today, I've performed factory resets, re-flashed the 4.1.1 ROM, and gone back to CM11 (under which my cellular connection had been fully functional up until last night), all with no results. My next thought was that the SIM card itself had somehow broken*, so I looked through AT&T's process for ordering a new SIM. However, I am unable to view the phones IMEI (which is required for such ordering) through software. Obviously, I could just pull out the battery and look at the IMEI there, but I worry that the lack of ability to view it in software is indicitave of some sort of problem with the phone.
My main concern is, is this a problem that I can easily solve? Or have I irrevocably screwed up my phone's SIM slot (or some other piece of related hardware) which I need to replace in order to recieve mobile communication?
Any help much appreciated.
*Before anyone asks, I am unable to test the SIM in a different device, as neither I nor anyone I know has a device on AT&T with a micro-SIM slot whose phone I can borrow for that purpose.

dhmmjoph said:
Firstly, my apologies if this issue has been solved before here, but neither a search of the forum nor the automatically found "similar threads" based on the title have revealed such a problem as this.
Last night, I attempted (and eventually succeeded) at reverting my SGH-I747 to the stock 4.1.1 ROM, with the intention of subsequently installing the 4.3 and 4.4 OTAs. However, I was unable to do this because the phone behaved as though no SIM had been inserted, despite the fact that one had. At various points throughout today, I've performed factory resets, re-flashed the 4.1.1 ROM, and gone back to CM11 (under which my cellular connection had been fully functional up until last night), all with no results. My next thought was that the SIM card itself had somehow broken*, so I looked through AT&T's process for ordering a new SIM. However, I am unable to view the phones IMEI (which is required for such ordering) through software. Obviously, I could just pull out the battery and look at the IMEI there, but I worry that the lack of ability to view it in software is indicitave of some sort of problem with the phone.
My main concern is, is this a problem that I can easily solve? Or have I irrevocably screwed up my phone's SIM slot (or some other piece of related hardware) which I need to replace in order to recieve mobile communication?
Any help much appreciated.
*Before anyone asks, I am unable to test the SIM in a different device, as neither I nor anyone I know has a device on AT&T with a micro-SIM slot whose phone I can borrow for that purpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're quite lucky you didn't brick your phone downgrading like that.
You're gonna need nv-reader/write to get your IMEI back.. Look here.

BWolf56 said:
You're quite lucky you didn't brick your phone downgrading like that.
You're gonna need nv-reader/write to get your IMEI back.. Look here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, thanks for your reply.
Secondly, the procedure to which you linked requires an nv file from another identical phone, to which I don't have access. Do you know of anywhere online where I may be able to get such a file?

dhmmjoph said:
Firstly, thanks for your reply.
Secondly, the procedure to which you linked requires an nv file from another identical phone, to which I don't have access. Do you know of anywhere online where I may be able to get such a file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, sorry. And I doubt you'll find one.

dhmmjoph said:
Firstly, thanks for your reply.
Secondly, the procedure to which you linked requires an nv file from another identical phone, to which I don't have access. Do you know of anywhere online where I may be able to get such a file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before you try the NV re-write, I would suggest you first check to see your modem hasn't been corrupted. Go to settings and see what is showing under Baseband version. If it reads <Unknown>, then you may be able to fix it by flashing the 4.3 MJB modem. I don't know what procedure you used to downgrade from 4.3 to 4.1.1 without hard-bricking your phone. It is indeed possible to downgrade the ROM only without downgrading the bootloader. However, the 4.3 bootloader and modem are in a tight and unbreakable marriage so if you downgrade the ROM and modem, you would end up losing your modem and consequently all cellular functioning even if you didn't up in a hard brick.
If your baseband version is indeed showing as unknown, then you can go to the link below to download the modem and flash via custom recovery ....
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23212708291680823

Larry2999 said:
Before you try the NV re-write, I would suggest you first check to see your modem hasn't been corrupted. Go to settings and see what is showing under Baseband version. If it reads <Unknown>, then you may be able to fix it by flashing the 4.3 MJB modem. I don't know what procedure you used to downgrade from 4.3 to 4.1.1 without hard-bricking your phone. It is indeed possible to downgrade the ROM only without downgrading the bootloader. However, the 4.3 bootloader and modem are in a tight and unbreakable marriage so if you downgrade the ROM and modem, you would end up losing your modem and consequently all cellular functioning even if you didn't up in a hard brick.
If your baseband version is indeed showing as unknown, then you can go to the link below to download the modem and flash via custom recovery ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The baseband version is shown as "unknown"
I downloaded the file and moved it to the sd card in my phone, but the file doesn't appear in TWRP's "Select Zip to install" dialog. Does the file extension need to be changed? or do I need to flash some other recovery?
Thanks for your help!

dhmmjoph said:
The baseband version is shown as "unknown"
I downloaded the file and moved it to the sd card in my phone, but the file doesn't appear in TWRP's "Select Zip to install" dialog. Does the file extension need to be changed? or do I need to flash some other recovery?
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said you moved it to your sd card? You might have to change TWRP's mounting to it.

BWolf56 said:
You said you moved it to your sd card? You might have to change TWRP's mounting to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should clarify. I downloaded the file using my laptop, then connected the phone to the laptop, and moved the file to the root of the external SD. Using a file explorer app on the phone, I can see the file in that location, as well as several flashable ZIPs which I've put there in the past. However, when using TWRP to select a file to flash, I can navigate to the root of the external SD and see (and flash, if I wanted to) the other files, but not the .bin, presumably (though it's possible - or likely - that I'm wrong here) because TWRP expects all flashable files to be .ZIPs, and so doesn't display files that don't end in .zip. So, the question is, in order to flash this file, do I need to change the extension to .zip? or flash a different custom recovery? or use some other method for flashing altogether?

dhmmjoph said:
I should clarify. I downloaded the file using my laptop, then connected the phone to the laptop, and moved the file to the root of the external SD. Using a file explorer app on the phone, I can see the file in that location, as well as several flashable ZIPs which I've put there in the past. However, when using TWRP to select a file to flash, I can navigate to the root of the external SD and see (and flash, if I wanted to) the other files, but not the .bin, presumably (though it's possible - or likely - that I'm wrong here) because TWRP expects all flashable files to be .ZIPs, and so doesn't display files that don't end in .zip. So, the question is, in order to flash this file, do I need to change the extension to .zip? or flash a different custom recovery? or use some other method for flashing altogether?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not so sure what file you downloaded but it should be a zip. In order to flash, you need a zip with META-INF folder in it (to put it simply).
Here's what you need: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1831898 (The MJB one).

dhmmjoph said:
The baseband version is shown as "unknown"
I downloaded the file and moved it to the sd card in my phone, but the file doesn't appear in TWRP's "Select Zip to install" dialog. Does the file extension need to be changed? or do I need to flash some other recovery?
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The file should be a zip. Just checked the link I sent you and I'm just seeing it's a*.bin file. You could try the one from the link forwarded by BWolf although this appears to be for CWM.
After this, you may also want to see if you won't be better off going to full stock 4.3. I'm not sure the hybrid firmware (4.1.1 ROM with 4.3 Bootloader/Modem) offers any real benefits.

Larry2999 said:
The file should be a zip. Just checked the link I sent you and I'm just seeing it's a*.bin file. You could try the one from the link forwarded by BWolf although this appears to be for CWM.
After this, you may also want to see if you won't be better off going to full stock 4.3. I'm not sure the hybrid firmware (4.1.1 ROM with 4.3 Bootloader/Modem) offers any real benefits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a TWRP flashable zip for the modem if the CWM doesn't work.

Is it still possible to unlock S3 - SGH-I747M

Currently the phone is running Android 4.3. The phone is currently locked to Fido.
Baseband version: I747MVKUEMK5
Is it possible to unlock this phone? If not, is there unlock codes like for Blackberry on ebay that are 99cents?

Only if you have an unlock code. You can usually get one from the carrier or buy one online. Yes, you can find them on ebay.

Thanks for the help! Ill look on ebay seems like its about 13-15$ to unlock the phone.

DHeffernan said:
Thanks for the help! Ill look on ebay seems like its about 13-15$ to unlock the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may seem expensive but not compared to the Bell version of the i747m.

Really? Wasn't that long ago I heard about people doing this for less than $5. Ill see if I cant find it later. Think it was in the T-Mobile General sections unlock thread if you want to search through it yourself.

audit13 said:
That may seem expensive but not compared to the Bell version of the i747m.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this is a FIDO one. You got a better and cheaper source?
DocHoliday77 said:
Really? Wasn't that long ago I heard about people doing this for less than $5. Ill see if I cant find it later. Think it was in the T-Mobile General sections unlock thread if you want to search through it yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well there was a free way until android 4.3 came which blocked that. The current one I tried tonight ($13) just emailed me back and said he couldn't find a code for my IMEI.. Wtf.
Can either of you help me with a better source?

Sorry, I don't have a cheaper source. I was able to unlock my phones using the free method. I was lucky enough to find three i747m phones from Bell that were all running 4.1.2.

No worries. I think I might have found another few sources that are around 13-15$.

When I was searching around for the GPS fix(GPS tends to break when you switch from TouchWiz to AOSP or vice versa a bunch of times, and for me as a crack flasher this would be a bummer) I found out about the same service menu you guys use to unlock the phones. I was unable to even reach the menu, but surprisingly enough it worked perfectly with one ROM I flashed. The last step(which is used to initialize the NV data or something similar) doesn't exist in the menu, but there is an option to rebuild the NV data, which might be a perfect substitute. So it might be theoretically possible to unlock the S3, even on 4.3! Can someone please try the steps below and report back? (you will be flashing another ROM, so be prepared to do a full wipe)
1-) Download StockMOD ROM located in the Android development section, not sure if you should use 4.4 or 4.3, please try both and report.
2-) Flash the zip file using the custom recovery of your choice. Make sure to do a full wipe.
3-) Open the dialer of your phone and enter the code *#197328640#, it will open the Service Mode Menu.
4-) In the Service Mode Menu, select [1] UMTS. If you select the wrong option by mistake, press the menu button of your device and select back.
5-) In the menu under UMTS, select the [1] DEBUG SCREEN.
6-) In the Debug Screen, select [8] PHONE CONTROL.
7-) In the Network Lock Screen, select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF and wait for 30 seconds. Then press the Menu button and select back.
Now, if you're lucky, there might be an option called [4] NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ, I personally couldn't find it, and this method itself is untested(can't test it myself, my only phone is hardbricked from the KitKat update and I already unlocked it on 4.1.1). If you're lucky, press that option, wait for a couple of minutes, reboot the phone and you're done! If you're not, look for the NV Rebuild option somewhere in the menus, I can't give direct instructions because I don't own a phone at the moment. If you find it, wait a minute and reboot. If it's unlocked, please report back.

CBKarabudak said:
When I was searching around for the GPS fix(GPS tends to break when you switch from TouchWiz to AOSP or vice versa a bunch of times, and for me as a crack flasher this would be a bummer) I found out about the same service menu you guys use to unlock the phones. I was unable to even reach the menu, but surprisingly enough it worked perfectly with one ROM I flashed. The last step(which is used to initialize the NV data or something similar) doesn't exist in the menu, but there is an option to rebuild the NV data, which might be a perfect substitute. So it might be theoretically possible to unlock the S3, even on 4.3! Can someone please try the steps below and report back? (you will be flashing another ROM, so be prepared to do a full wipe)
1-) Download StockMOD ROM located in the Android development section, not sure if you should use 4.4 or 4.3, please try both and report.
2-) Flash the zip file using the custom recovery of your choice. Make sure to do a full wipe.
3-) Open the dialer of your phone and enter the code *#197328640#, it will open the Service Mode Menu.
4-) In the Service Mode Menu, select [1] UMTS. If you select the wrong option by mistake, press the menu button of your device and select back.
5-) In the menu under UMTS, select the [1] DEBUG SCREEN.
6-) In the Debug Screen, select [8] PHONE CONTROL.
7-) In the Network Lock Screen, select [3] PERSO SHA256 OFF and wait for 30 seconds. Then press the Menu button and select back.
Now, if you're lucky, there might be an option called [4] NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ, I personally couldn't find it, and this method itself is untested(can't test it myself, my only phone is hardbricked from the KitKat update and I already unlocked it on 4.1.1). If you're lucky, press that option, wait for a couple of minutes, reboot the phone and you're done! If you're not, look for the NV Rebuild option somewhere in the menus, I can't give direct instructions because I don't own a phone at the moment. If you find it, wait a minute and reboot. If it's unlocked, please report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read through some of the other threads and the 4.1.1 modem is required to get the unlock option but the 4.1.1 modem will not work on a 4.3 bootloader. Users have even loaded a completely stock 4.1.1 ROM onto a 4.3 bootloader without any luck.

audit13 said:
I read through some of the other threads and the 4.1.1 modem is required to get the unlock option but the 4.1.1 modem will not work on a 4.3 bootloader. Users have even loaded a completely stock 4.1.1 ROM onto a 4.3 bootloader without any luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ROM I mentioned about is a 4.3 ROM(there's even a 4.4 version if I remember correctly) but for some odd reason the service menu opens perfectly on it, so if you haven't unlocked yet, can you please try the instructions I posted and report back?

CBKarabudak said:
The ROM I mentioned about is a 4.3 ROM(there's even a 4.4 version if I remember correctly) but for some odd reason the service menu opens perfectly on it, so if you haven't unlocked yet, can you please try the instructions I posted and report back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't try it since all of my phones have already been unlocked. The stock mod ROM needs the i747 bootloader and my phones are three i747m.

audit13 said:
I can't try it since all of my phones have already been unlocked. The stock mod ROM needs the i747 bootloader and my phones are three i747m.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an i747M and I installed it perfectly, i747 and i747M ROM's are perfectly interchangeable, just make sure you do NOT install any sorts of bootloaders/modems/anything, that will brick your phone. As long as you only flash the zip file, you shouldn't have any problems, at least I didn't.

Well I just ordered the unlock code $8.99. We will see if it works.

audit13 said:
I read through some of the other threads and the 4.1.1 modem is required to get the unlock option but the 4.1.1 modem will not work on a 4.3 bootloader. Users have even loaded a completely stock 4.1.1 ROM onto a 4.3 bootloader without any luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should also mention that downgrading from the 4.3 bootloaders will brick their device.

CBKarabudak said:
I have an i747M and I installed it perfectly, i747 and i747M ROM's are perfectly interchangeable, just make sure you do NOT install any sorts of bootloaders/modems/anything, that will brick your phone. As long as you only flash the zip file, you shouldn't have any problems, at least I didn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason I mentioned the fact that I have an i747m is that I could not load the stock mod ROM because I do not have an i747 bootloader and I would never attempt to load an i747 bootloader onto an i747m.

BWolf56 said:
Should also mention that downgrading from the 4.3 bootloaders will brick their device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I read when I further googled some stuff.. lots of people reporting bricking phones if they downgrade.. and it's just not worth it to me considering the unlock code was $9...
I'll report back if this unlock code comes through, the last place I purchased it from $13 they emailed me back and said they couldn't find a code for it and refunded me the money. So crossing my fingers on this place.

StockMod should run just fine on the I747M. You may need to update your firmware for it to flash, but it would work just fine on that model.

So the second place got back to me.. also informing me that they can't get a unlock code for the phone. WTF is the deal with this?
Are Samsung's difficult to unlock or what?

DHeffernan said:
So the second place got back to me.. also informing me that they can't get a unlock code for the phone. WTF is the deal with this?
Are Samsung's difficult to unlock or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not so much about Samsung's phone but being a Canadian variant. Canadian carriers are a pita when it comes to unlocking.

Last Resort Regarding Carrier Switching

I'd like to start off by apologizing if there's a thread that has answered this. I've spent nearly a week trying to find my answer because, I'm one of those that doesn't like duplicate post to begin with or those who don't google however, I can't find my definite answer and I just want to reassure before going and spending money.
Scenario: I recently have been given an AT&T Galaxy S9 and I'm mad in love with it (using an iPhone X at the moment lol) and I need it to work on Verizon. Of course my first step will be unlocking the device to be able to be used on different networks and I do by putting in the code that I received and it does unlock it. I proceed to put my sim card in it and I notice I can't seem to get service to work. I noticed giving my Note 8 Verizon to my friend who has AT&T, he could put his sim card in and it'll restart with all AT&T functions including the boot logo and all. My S9 AT&T rejects it still. I did try and tinker with the dial codes (*#*#4636#*#*) and setting my bands to LTE/CDMA. Doing this allowed me to receive 4G LTE on the device but, no cellular service. With that being said, I've read on threads that firmwares from certain manufacturers disable bands so I assume AT&T has those disabled that work for Verizon. My next step was trying to get a verizon firmware to work on it. I downloaded the ARG8 U firmware from verizon for it and it still boots AT&T firmware regardless. My last thought would be waiting for the updated V3 U1 Firmware for the S9 and maybe that'll fix it? I just need some opinions on this matter because, if I can't get this to work then I'm going to proceed on buying a new one unlocked.
Thank you guys in advanced and again, if there's already answers for this then I apologize. I've worked with android since the HTC Hero days and I still get stumped on some things haha.

megaghostgamer said:
Thank you guys in advanced and again, if there's already answers for this then I apologize. I've worked with android since the HTC Hero days and I still get stumped on some things haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.. wait till XAA-U1 is available or an ATT firmware with userdata file inside which has all ATT related files.

nimms said:
Yes.. wait till XAA-U1 is available or an ATT firmware with userdata file inside which has all ATT related files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say ATT firmware do you mean Verizon? I'm trying to convert from ATT to Verizon which I've tried a firmware with Verizon's userdata inside and all it did was double my bloatware lol. Had ATT and Verizon BS. As far as the XAA-U1, I understand then.

megaghostgamer said:
When you say ATT firmware do you mean Verizon? I'm trying to convert from ATT to Verizon which I've tried a firmware with Verizon's userdata inside and all it did was double my bloatware lol. Had ATT and Verizon BS. As far as the XAA-U1, I understand then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I misread..
try VZW version
https://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=12EDD7F878D311E89F15FA163EE8F90B
Or VZW U1
https://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=E2DA06D078D411E89F15FA163EE8F90B
For proper functionality, make sure there's a "userdata" file when you unzip.
Also, use CSC file which wipes the phone, not home csc file which keeps data intact.
If things don't work.. keep sim inside and do a factory reset with sim. it'll ensure proper CSC selection.

nimms said:
Yeah, I misread..
try VZW version
https://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=12EDD7F878D311E89F15FA163EE8F90B
Or VZW U1
https://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=E2DA06D078D411E89F15FA163EE8F90B
For proper functionality, make sure there's a "userdata" file when you unzip.
Also, use CSC file which wipes the phone, not home csc file which keeps data intact.
If things don't work.. keep sim inside and do a factory reset with sim. it'll ensure proper CSC selection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See the issue is those links you posted are meant for the V2 bootloader. G960UOYN(2)ARF4 . I've actually tried the U1 and all from V2 but, it gives back that binary fail due to me being on the V3 bootloader. I'll try with the V3 bootloader files for verizon again and do the whole factor reset afterwards. Unfortunately there hasn't been a V3 U1 yet for the S9. Thank you for helping me figure this out, i'll post my results shortly.

nimms said:
Yeah, I misread..
try VZW version
https://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=12EDD7F878D311E89F15FA163EE8F90B
Or VZW U1
https://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?record=E2DA06D078D411E89F15FA163EE8F90B
For proper functionality, make sure there's a "userdata" file when you unzip.
Also, use CSC file which wipes the phone, not home csc file which keeps data intact.
If things don't work.. keep sim inside and do a factory reset with sim. it'll ensure proper CSC selection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updating from earlier, I tried with the Verizon U3ARG8 file and all it did was add on the bloatware from verizon. I've tried factory resetting and all and it still doesn't want to swap over. Every time it boots, it begins with the AT&T boot logo and proceeds to not give me proper service. I can mess with the LTE bands and get data working, just not service itself.

megaghostgamer said:
Updating from earlier, I tried with the Verizon U3ARG8 file and all it did was add on the bloatware from verizon. I've tried factory resetting and all and it still doesn't want to swap over. Every time it boots, it begins with the AT&T boot logo and proceeds to not give me proper service. I can mess with the LTE bands and get data working, just not service itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In S8, there's a method using Combination rom (factory binary) to do a proper carrier switch. Take a look and try. Not sure if that would work, but that's an option.

nimms said:
In S8, there's a method using Combination rom (factory binary) to do a proper carrier switch. Take a look and try. Not sure if that would work, but that's an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried it, once you get in the factory binary, you're supposed to type *#243203855# in the dialer and be able to switch it there however, it's not allowing me to do so. All it does is clear what I've typed.

megaghostgamer said:
Just tried it, once you get in the factory binary, you're supposed to type *#243203855# in the dialer and be able to switch it there however, it's not allowing me to do so. All it does is clear what I've typed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S8 needs flashing canadian CSC before flashing factory binary. Did you try that too?

nimms said:
S8 needs flashing canadian CSC before flashing factory binary. Did you try that too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Canadian csc is XAC right? Just trying to hunt for one. I don’t see any for the G960U. I see XAS (unknown) but, I don’t believe it’s the same thing.

megaghostgamer said:
The Canadian csc is XAC right? Just trying to hunt for one. I don’t see any for the G960U. I see XAS (unknown) but, I don’t believe it’s the same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must look for G960W files for Canadian csc

nimms said:
You must look for G960W files for Canadian csc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it, however, since it's the Canada one, it only allows me to change the CSC to companies from Canada. It doesn't allow me to type the code in factory binary but, it does in stock rom with the XAC CSC flashed. I tried the adb shell where you use the echo function but, I get the common problem others do "/system/bin/sh: can't create /efs/imei/mps_code.dat: Permission denied".
Seems though we are getting closer and closer, never seen something so stubborn haha. Sucks there isn't a U3 XAA yet.

megaghostgamer said:
Got it, however, since it's the Canada one, it only allows me to change the CSC to companies from Canada. It doesn't allow me to type the code in factory binary but, it does in stock rom with the XAC CSC flashed. I tried the adb shell where you use the echo function but, I get the common problem others do "/system/bin/sh: can't create /efs/imei/mps_code.dat: Permission denied".
Seems though we are getting closer and closer, never seen something so stubborn haha. Sucks there isn't a U3 XAA yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing process
Factory binary,
Do reboot to bootloader via ADB,
Flash Canada "Home CSC" (not plain CSC)
Dial *#243203855# via IME button
Choose XAC, let it restart,
On adb shell, Type in
echo "VZW" > /efs/imei/mps_code.dat
(Make sure to include quotes on VZW)
If that's what you did, i think we are done here (Can't think of any other options)
Source : https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817

nimms said:
Flashing process
Factory binary,
Do reboot to bootloader via ADB,
Flash Canada "Home CSC" (not plain CSC)
Dial *#243203855# via IME button
Choose XAC, let it restart,
On adb shell, Type in
echo "VZW" > /efs/imei/mps_code.dat
(Make sure to include quotes on VZW)
If that's what you did, i think we are done here (Can't think of any other options)
Source : https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meant to reply back but, after flashing the hell out of the phone, it somehow went into XAA CSC and I factory reset it and afterwards it allowed me to connect to Verizon. Thank you so much!

Hi,
Im also trying to convert a VZM S9 to a Canadian CSC. Do the above steps work? because after i flash the factory bin, boot into it, when i try to flash the home_csc from the canadian fw, it always fails, no matter which odin i try. also that IME code, is it only supposed to work once the canadian home_csc as been flashed? because if i try that code in the IME section of the factory bin, i get nothing!

Swapping simcards

I have an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that was a Verizon Wireless variant. I went to swap the SIM cards from the Total Wireless SIM to active AT&T SIM card just to see if it would work and it did but I went to put the Total Wireless SIM card back in and I'm left with all of this AT&T bloat ware that won't let me uninstall along with the AT&T globe as boot logo... Any ideas?

Liftkit said:
I have an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that was a Verizon Wireless variant. I went to swap the SIM cards from the Total Wireless SIM to active AT&T SIM card just to see if it would work and it did but I went to put the Total Wireless SIM card back in and I'm left with all of this AT&T bloat ware that won't let me uninstall along with the AT&T globe as boot logo... Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to flash the unlocked firmware that's N950U1 because that doesn't have the bloatware like that.

I'm confused. The phone is not rooted it's just been carrier unlocked. It acts like bloatware and it wasn't there before I don't understand how a SIM card inserting it and replacing it with a different carriers what causes it to leave behind un-installable applications and a boot logo

Liftkit said:
I'm confused. The phone is not rooted it's just been carrier unlocked. It acts like bloatware and it wasn't there before I don't understand how a SIM card inserting it and replacing it with a different carriers what causes it to leave behind un-installable applications and a boot logo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it caused your CSC to change and the carriers love putting all their crappy bloatware in the phone because they want you to use their products.. Root has nothing to do with it. If you flash the unlocked firmware N950U1 you won't have to deal with that again!

MrMike2182 said:
Because it caused your CSC to change and the carriers love putting all their crappy bloatware in the phone because they want you to use their products.. Root has nothing to do with it. If you flash the unlocked firmware N950U1 you won't have to deal with that again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah bloatware is such a nuisance. Could you provide a link to some instructions on how to flash firmware? thanks

Liftkit said:
Yeah bloatware is such a nuisance. Could you provide a link to some instructions on how to flash firmware? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's pretty easy actually.. You just download odin that's the application you flash with then you download the firmware you want to flash then unzip the downloaded firmware so you can see all the files in it.. Make sure the computer already has the cellphones drivers already installed or it won't see the phone connected then open odin and put each file in their respective places AP to AP BL to BL etc... Then flash. If you end up with an error just ask us.

MrMike2182 said:
It's pretty easy actually.. You just download odin that's the application you flash with then you download the firmware you want to flash then unzip the downloaded firmware so you can see all the files in it.. Make sure the computer already has the cellphones drivers already installed or it won't see the phone connected then open odin and put each file in their respective places AP to AP BL to BL etc... Then flash. If you end up with an error just ask us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok ive got all of it downloaded and unzipped and files added to all the corresponding boxes, my phone is recognized and in download mode.. Yet it still fails to start the process. Ive got the latest odin and im assuming it must be the firmware version?

Just out of curiosity, did you try doing a cache wipe and factory reset in recovery mode with the Total Wireless SIM card installed. Honestly dont know if that would work but might be worth a try.
Also with Odin, did you try to run as administrator? And assuming you are using a Windows based computer, what version of Windows are you using? And I believe there are also 2 versions of the latest Odin, 1 regular and 1 that is modded. Maybe try the other version as well. I dont have a link but I'm sure someone may come along and provide it.

I was trying to keep all of my info so I didn't do a wipe. In the odin version that I have on been using is the one on the Samsung firmware website.

I'm pretty sure this is the patched one here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/patched-odin-3-13-1-t3762572
Also if you use Samsung Smart Switch, that is an easy way to save pretty much all your data, customizations, and most of your programs right to your SD card. It will restore pretty much everything for you. It makes things a lot easier to restore when playing with different ROMs or versions of Android. When you use Smart Switch to restore, it will basically look and feel like it was before you wiped.

Liftkit said:
Ok ive got all of it downloaded and unzipped and files added to all the corresponding boxes, my phone is recognized and in download mode.. Yet it still fails to start the process. Ive got the latest odin and im assuming it must be the firmware version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're using the wrong odin you need to use the patched version or it will continue to fail.. I've attached the patched version of odin here.

MrMike2182 said:
You're using the wrong odin you need to use the patched version or it will continue to fail.. I've attached the patched version of odin here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the version in the link provided and now it doesnt even recognize the phone when connected where as the the one on sammobile recognized it and started but failed

Liftkit said:
I tried the version in the link provided and now it doesnt even recognize the phone when connected where as the the one on sammobile recognized it and started but failed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something isn't right.. Try a different USB port and a different wire!! Also make sure you right click on odin and run it as administrator.. Go through the firmware files that you extracted and delete just the .md5 part off of all of the files you're going to flash.

MrMike2182 said:
Something isn't right.. Try a different USB port and a different wire!! Also make sure you right click on odin and run it as administrator.. Go through the firmware files that you extracted and delete just the .md5 part off of all of the files you're going to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay I got it to download it was a USB drivers not installed properly although know that I have completed the firmware update now my SIM card doesn't even register in my phone, what happened?i have attached screen shots. to addit was a Verzon firm not sprint

Liftkit said:
Okay I got it to download it was a USB drivers not installed properly although know that I have completed the firmware update now my SIM card doesn't even register in my phone, what happened?i have attached screen shots. to addit was a Verzon firm not sprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pop the sim card tray out and then push it back in with the phone on and see if it sees it and asks to restart.. If it doesn't then I'm not sure and someone else will need to chime in.

MrMike2182 said:
Pop the sim card tray out and then push it back in with the phone on and see if it sees it and asks to restart.. If it doesn't then I'm not sure and someone else will need to chime in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i tried that and nothin still restarted it but nothing, still. no. service

I couldn't get my phone to work if I tried right now anyting I'm screwed with any SIM card

Liftkit said:
I couldn't get my phone to work if I tried right now anyting I'm screwed with any SIM card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get the phone from?

MrMike2182 said:
Where did you get the phone from?
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Click to collapse
A third-party seller on eBay but it was brand new never been opened or activated.

But I think that would be irrelevant since it was working just fine with the exception of some bloatware.