Develop Bugs

Factory Restore an Encrypted Galaxy S3

Model: Samsung Galaxy S3 AT&T i747
Hi!
I was forced to encrypt my galaxy s3 in order to receive corporate emails on my phone using the stock email app. However I never imagined that encrypting the phone would literally lock the memory and options to customize the phone.
I tried to root the phone to benefit from more flexibility and also debloat the phone. However during the rooting process, I could not mount /emmc/ when using ClockWorkRecovery in the startup menu. Based on what I found on the web, I figured it was due to the encryption.
I then tried to factory reset the phone to get rid of the encryption but I simply can't hard reset the phone from the OS or the startup menu. When doing the reset from the startup menu, the errors are "Can't mount /sdcard/". The reset continues but when the phone reboots, all my applications and personal data are there and the phone is still encrypted.
I read a lot about flashing a custom recovery via flashboot or ADB but I am reluctant to do it without guidance from the experts (you guys).
I deleted my corporate email account (It is my personal phone, I am not required to install exchange on it).
I tried to use an external sd card but as soon as the phone recoginizes it, I have to encrypt the card as well as a result from the corporate policies. I ejected the card and did not encrypt it.
I am new to android (long time iPhone user) and I would really appreciate your guidance on the methods to factory reset my phone or a different technique to get rid of the encryption because I am really stuck right now.

I have never encrypted an Android phone before. But maybe your response to these questions will serve as a "bump" to this thread.
1) What method did you use to encrypt the phone? Stock or 3rd party encryption?
2) Doesn't that same method also offer you the offer to unencrypt the phone?
3) If you used a stock method of encrypting the phone, then I'd assume your provider (AT&T?) tech support should be able to help you unencrypt it.

Eddie,
Thanks for your response.
1) I used stock method for encryption
2) Decrypt the phone is not possible apparently,only way is to factory restore the phone apparently
3) I went to the AT&T store and they were unable to factory restore (using the standard methods). They offered an exchange but since I purchase over the phone at a discounted price, I have to do the exchange using that method. Before shipping back the phone, I was wondering if I could fix it myself with the help of knowledgeable people.
CZ Eddie said:
I have never encrypted an Android phone before. But maybe your response to these questions will serve as a "bump" to this thread.
1) What method did you use to encrypt the phone? Stock or 3rd party encryption?
2) Doesn't that same method also offer you the offer to unencrypt the phone?
3) If you used a stock method of encrypting the phone, then I'd assume your provider (AT&T?) tech support should be able to help you unencrypt it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I have never used the encryption but if the phone can turn on and is usable, cant you go into the encryption settings and turn encryption off? then you should be able to do anything (may be best to start with a factory restore first just so you have a fresh slate to work with)

1ofAKind said:
Model: Samsung Galaxy S3 AT&T i747
Hi!
I was forced to encrypt my galaxy s3 in order to receive corporate emails on my phone using the stock email app. However I never imagined that encrypting the phone would literally lock the memory and options to customize the phone.
I tried to root the phone to benefit from more flexibility and also debloat the phone. However during the rooting process, I could not mount /emmc/ when using ClockWorkRecovery in the startup menu. Based on what I found on the web, I figured it was due to the encryption.
I then tried to factory reset the phone to get rid of the encryption but I simply can't hard reset the phone from the OS or the startup menu. When doing the reset from the startup menu, the errors are "Can't mount /sdcard/". The reset continues but when the phone reboots, all my applications and personal data are there and the phone is still encrypted.
I read a lot about flashing a custom recovery via flashboot or ADB but I am reluctant to do it without guidance from the experts (you guys).
I deleted my corporate email account (It is my personal phone, I am not required to install exchange on it).
I tried to use an external sd card but as soon as the phone recoginizes it, I have to encrypt the card as well as a result from the corporate policies. I ejected the card and did not encrypt it.
I am new to android (long time iPhone user) and I would really appreciate your guidance on the methods to factory reset my phone or a different technique to get rid of the encryption because I am really stuck right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1ofaKind,
Had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me. Encrypted my S3 in order to access work exchange server. Tried CWM but cannot mount /emmc/ problem after booting into recovery. Have not tried to factory reset yet as I am wanting to learn more before I go that route. But basically I am in the same boat as you. The only difference is I was not required to encrypt an external SD card when I put it in my phone. Read about flashboot as well...maybe the only way to actually factory reset after encryption??
Sorry I cannot offer any solutions at the moment...but I will keep scouring the forums looking for a way.
If I learn something valuable, I will try to post it here to help ya out.
EDIT: Maybe you have read these threads, but there is some decent info in them. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1451655 & http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392037
good luck

Look into using Odin to restore a factory image.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

I'm in the same boat here - had to encrypt my GS3 in order to receive corporate (Exchange Server) emails. Now can't update the OS on the phone which is more important to me than receiving corporate emails on the device.
Can someone tell me how to decrypt (UN-encrypt) the phone? Everything I've read says that a factory reset won't do it.
Please help!

CZ Eddie said:
Look into using Odin to restore a factory image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried this? If so, did it work?

I clicked install rom from sd card in cwm selected f/w which i had copied into internal memory. Did factory reset in recovery.

Odin it back to stock.

This might be too late to help you guys, but here's what worked for me. I odined it back to stock. Then I went into recovery (volume down, power and home button) and selected wipe data/factory reset. This does of course erase all your data, so try to copy whatever you can onto a computer or something before doing this. You should end up with an unencrypted storage.

sid9102 said:
This might be too late to help you guys, but here's what worked for me. I odined it back to stock. Then I went into recovery (volume down, power and home button) and selected wipe data/factory reset. This does of course erase all your data, so try to copy whatever you can onto a computer or something before doing this. You should end up with an unencrypted storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...

tamon77 said:
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you hit start, unplug then replug the usb from the computer. I had some issues with it not recognizing it either to flash stock, but when i messed with the cord, it made the noise that i unplugged and it started working. Same thing with the root injected, only this time i fully unplugged it when the fiddling with it didnt work. Make sure you replace it into the same com port.
so, i seem to be having the same problem as all of you, only i encrypted to protect my data from agents. So, right now, i am *hopefully* :fingers-crossed: installing the root injected JB now. I had many issues. TWRP and CWM were no help, couldnt see phone to add new roms to it. ODIN was the only hope. I booted into recovery after going back to stock, did a new factory reset and am installing the stock with root. When i let it boot, it didnt go to encryption this time, but the first time i flashed the stock, it did. This is a mess to say the least.
EDIT: YEAH! done. No encryption and i got root. i used the image from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1968625 DLK3 worked for me. Good luck. i hope this helps. Ill be happy to explain more if you want.

tamon77 said:
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ODIN (for me at least) wont see anything since im using Windows 8. On Windows 7, however, it works just fine.

Factory reset encrypted phone
hi,
I'm using CM11 as a rom.
I didn't want to reinstall stock rom, just to root it again later.
Installing updated version from external SD didn't work (updated the ROM but no decryption)
Tried to factory reset from recovery - didn't work, as the internal storage is encrypted it can't mount /sdcard/
however, from within settings menu, in backup&restore there's an option to do a factory reset - this is formatting internal memory altogether.
worked like a charm.

oxidase said:
After you hit start, unplug then replug the usb from the computer. I had some issues with it not recognizing it either to flash stock, but when i messed with the cord, it made the noise that i unplugged and it started working. Same thing with the root injected, only this time i fully unplugged it when the fiddling with it didnt work. Make sure you replace it into the same com port.
so, i seem to be having the same problem as all of you, only i encrypted to protect my data from agents. So, right now, i am *hopefully* :fingers-crossed: installing the root injected JB now. I had many issues. TWRP and CWM were no help, couldnt see phone to add new roms to it. ODIN was the only hope. I booted into recovery after going back to stock, did a new factory reset and am installing the stock with root. When i let it boot, it didnt go to encryption this time, but the first time i flashed the stock, it did. This is a mess to say the least.
EDIT: YEAH! done. No encryption and i got root. i used the image from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1968625 DLK3 worked for me. Good luck. i hope this helps. Ill be happy to explain more if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand this is very old but I am going to make a note here in case anyone else gets into this problem. When you go back to stock, do the factory reset using the STOCK recovery. Don't install TWRP or anything else until you have cleared the encryption. At least, that's what worked for me.

Stuck in Never-NeverLand

Long story short, I have two phones, an iPhone 4S (no camera because of work), and an SGS III (camera and LTE, for weekends). I am traveling this weekend, and I want the SGS III, but I need MHS, and I have an old plan that doesn't include it, so I figured I'd go ahead and root. I had good luck upgrading to 6.2 on the iPhone and running evasi0n last night, so I figured I'd give rooting a try tonight. I sort of know what I'm doing as I installed a ton of ROMs on the Captivate, which I had before the iPhone.
So I followed the steps on the Redmond Pie tutorial, but I got stuck. I managed to get up to the part where you boot into CWM, but the CMW_SuperUser_v3.07.zip file isn't showing up on the device, even though I put it there, and the device won't boot into Android normally to put it in USB mode, load it on there again, try again, etc. My first thought was to use a MicroSD card to get the file into CWM, except that I don't have one handy, and I can't get access to one before my trip.
So what should I do now?

try a different superuser?
and if you have your phone rooted
you can go playstore and download the app instead

pcshano said:
try a different superuser?
and if you have your phone rooted
you can go playstore and download the app instead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different superuser? And I have to get the phone to boot in order to get to the Play Store...

I threw the phone on it's charger so that it wouldn't drain out, and now it's toasty warm... what now?

GSMinCT said:
Different superuser? And I have to get the phone to boot in order to get to the Play Store...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2042775
have to try this one?

pcshano said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2042775
have to try this one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you suggesting I reflash the whole phone? That would be a MAJOR PITA, as I'd have to re-install all my apps and re-log-in to everything. I do have all the data in various cloud services though in case I have to take the nuclear option.

GSMinCT said:
Are you suggesting I reflash the whole phone? That would be a MAJOR PITA, as I'd have to re-install all my apps and re-log-in to everything. I do have all the data in various cloud services though in case I have to take the nuclear option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
err no?
you aren't flashing at firmware...
the only thing you're flashing thru odin is the recovery img
and the other thing that you are flashing is the root files in cwm

pcshano said:
err no?
you aren't flashing at firmware...
the only thing you're flashing thru odin is the recovery img
and the other thing that you are flashing is the root files in cwm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'd be able to boot again???

GSMinCT said:
So I'd be able to boot again???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
should be, unless you mess up something along the way which could result in soft brick but chances are unlikely because the steps are really easy to follow
the whole process should only take ~5-10 mins so good luck

I tried that guide, and it doesn't work, I just get a newer version of CWM Recovery, which works with the touch screen and is awesome, but it doesn't help me get into Android. I'm sensing I have to re-flash the OS? God I hate AT&T.

I would recommend either flashing a pre-rooted stock firmware (root 66), or the stock firmware, via Odin. if using stock, then root with the chain fire auto root method.
either way, you're going to lose everything that's not on SD or extSD. but at least then it'll boot.

[Q] Unable to select /sdcard when in recovery

I have rooted many mobile devices and flashed numerous ROMS. However I recently purchased a Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and have not been able to get very far in my attempts to root, etc. I have tried Odin and CF-Auto-Root and although it appears to be successful the device is not rooted. I want to install TWRP and then the knox free stock ROM. I am able to push the necessary files to the sdcard with ADB and I can see that the files are in /sdcard using ES File explorer. However when I boot into recovery mode /sdcard is red and at the top of the list and it will not let me navigate to it to install any zip files. I though at first it might be because of the MobileIron I use for company email but I did a factory reset and still have this problem. I just need to root the device so I can use Titanium BU to remove the Samsung apps I don't want. Any help with this would be most appreciated. What do I need to do?
~metafizik

Ultimately I think the first thing I need to resolve is that even though the Odin rooting process appears to be working according to Odin(PASS). The fact is that regardless which combination of Odin 3.07/3.09 and CF-Auto-Root (tried 2 versions) even though Odin says it was successful it turns out the device is not getting rooted. This should be a no brainer but for for whatever reason this device will not root so far.

Bumping this as I have not received any replies. I am hoping that someone has run across a similar situation and can offer some guidance.
Thank you,
~metafizik

metafizik said:
Ultimately I think the first thing I need to resolve is that even though the Odin rooting process appears to be working according to Odin(PASS). The fact is that regardless which combination of Odin 3.07/3.09 and CF-Auto-Root (tried 2 versions) even though Odin says it was successful it turns out the device is not getting rooted. This should be a no brainer but for for whatever reason this device will not root so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you install super su?Did you try to flash twrp.If your not rooted twrp will ask to root.Have you tried to install a root app and see if the permissions pop up?
When you say recovery do you mean the stock one?Im pretty sure i had same problem.It was rooted but i thought it wasnt.

mikep2323 said:
Did you install super su?Did you try to flash twrp.If your not rooted twrp will ask to root.Have you tried to install a root app and see if the permissions pop up?
When you say recovery do you mean the stock one?Im pretty sure i had same problem.It was rooted but i thought it wasnt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a very strange deal. As previously stated I have tried various combinations of Odin and CF-Auto-Root and the Odin process completes with PASS. However when I boot the OS and run Titanium it is never able to gain root access and Root Checker says it is not rooted. Unfortunately even after doing a factory reset the MobileIron Admin console at work says it is rooted so I can't use it for company email. I have definitely tripped the Knox bit. Also I want to install TWRP and have pushed the file to /sdcard and can see it there using a file explorer app. However when I boot into stock recovery I cannot see any of the zip files I have copied there. I also tried to flash TWRP with Odin and again it completes with PASS but TWRP never gets installed. And yes I installed SuperSU but did so from the Play Store.
I purchased this device just last week. I am wondering if maybe Samsung has changed things in the past few weeks and locked these friggin things down even more? This is the first device of many I have owned that I couldn't root or install a custom recovery or ROM. In any case this will definitely be my last Samsung device. I would however like to do whatever I so desire with it since I paid good money for it.

I have resolved all of the problems I was having. They were all due to Knox and my inexperience with it. I was fortunate to have customized my Note 2 before it received the Knox updates. All is well and there is no new unknown vodoo lurking in the latest iteration of Samsung devices.

can't update to 4.4.2 OTA

Hello, my phone recently notified me that a 4.4.2 android OTA update is available (i have a AT&T SGH-i747) however once it reboots, it will get to about 29% complete, then i get the "Update failed" message, and it reboots back into android (4.3) and i was wondering how i could get it to work?
(i'm using stock rom, i've NEVER flashed anything on it before, only thing i've done is root it to use titanium backup, however i used the saferoot thing so as to not flip the knox security stuff)

You need to unroot.

audit13 said:
You need to unroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do i have to do something special to do that? or can i just click the "Full unroot" button in the SuperSU settings tab to unroot my phone

You also need stock recovery and, preferably, all of the ATT apps on your phone. I have read that removing too many ATT apps will prevent the OTA update from completing.
I have never tried removing root that way so I cannot comment.
You should also make note of the fact that it is possible to have something go wrong during the OTA process which may result in the loss of your data. I recommend at least backing everything up to your external SD card and removing the SD card during the OTA update process.

like i said, i only rooted to use titanium backup to restore a backup for a game save, that's all i've ever done (so if that undid stock recovery, or removed AT&T apps without me telling it to, then how would i fix that)

In that case, just unroot and then run the OTA update. Titanium backup would not alter the recovery or remove apps.

well, i have 5 hours to wait before doing so, after unrooting (using the saferoot unroot.bat file, then using supersu's unroot after that to finish the process as the saferoot program said to do) i went to click check for updates, and instead got "Your device is running the latest version" and "you may check again in 5 Hours 0 Minuties" which i'm assuming is because it failed last night when i tried to update it?

So everything is completely stock? Does it say custom on the download screen or anywhere in the About section of the phone.

audit13 said:
So everything is completely stock? Does it say custom on the download screen or anywhere in the About section of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope, doesn't say custom anywhere on the about phone screen, will check the download mode now

logoster said:
nope, doesn't say custom anywhere on the about phone screen, will check the download mode now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry for double post, just checked download mode, says i'm completely stock and official
also thought i'd mention that the check again later timer is going down, it's at 4 hrs and 3 minutes

You could also try booting into recovery and wiping cache and Dalvik. Don't wipe data.

nope, still has a timer, but it's fine as it is going down, i have about 2hrs and 47 Mins left according to it

Sorry for double post again, but timer finished, and update worked flawlessly, so unrooting did work, thanks
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA Free mobile app

Some apps don't work after rooting issue

Hi all,
I ran into an issue while trying to root my Samsung Galaxy S III. I used a tutorial from Max Lee on Youtube (can't post link) to help me get through the process . There was a step that used Titanium Backup to check if you rooted your phone correctly. However when I downloaded Titanium Backup and tried to open it, I didn't see the superSU request window like it appeared in the tutorial. It was stuck on "asking for root rights..." I decided to reinstall Titanium Backup to see if it would help. After uninstalling it, I realized my Play Store would not load anything. I looked at some other apps and they wouldn't load either (Gmail, Hangouts, some games, etc). I tried logging out and back into my Google account but that didn't work either. A lot of my apps aren't working after attempting to root my phone and I'm not sure what the issue is.
I'm new to this sort of stuff and I couldn't really find an answer for my problem (at least not that I could find on Google). Sorry if this has been asked already! Could anyone tell me what I could do to get my phone back to it's original state at least? I'm kind of afraid to try and root again if I do get a fix for this. Also, factory reset is going to be my last option ;_;.
Samsung Galaxy S III SGH-T999 running Android version 4.1.2
Thanks!

If you can, back up your internal sdcard data. It's very likely you may have to do a factory reset which can erase it.
(BTW, when you get it going again, consider using the free unlock method in the General section. Once you update you can't do it free anymore)
OK, so first, only use what info you find in the T999 forums. Everything you need is here and it's hard to help fix things caused by info gained elsewhere.
Do you have a custom recovery installed? (Twrp or cwm) if so boot recovery and factory reset. This will wipe all apps and data (except internal sd...at least it shouldnt). With luck, this is all you need to do. Reboot and hopefully it'll be working so you can reinstall your stuff. If you have stock recovery, still do this, but it WILL wipe ALL user data).
If that doesn't work, the easiest and most reliable next step is to flash your current firmware build via Odin, and factory reset from settings or stock recovery. (wipes all data).
Then you can unlock and update if you so choose. You can find your firmware and instructions in my firmware thread stickied in the development section. (You'll probably want to use the root66 versions)
If you have any questions feel free to ask. Better safe than sorry. But keep in mind just about everything you could possibly need or want to know has been covered, so don't forget to search for your answers first.
If you still want root after all that, we have several extremely easy options.
Good luck!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk