yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mandy09:
Can you tell me how to do this. Was your phone rooted already?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Timmy C:
Same thing just happened today with my S5. Can anyone get me info on how to unlock. Rent a Center is no help and quite rude about it. They shouldn't be selling phones that you have no way of knowing they come from them.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] justverde:
This literally just happened to me today in the afternoon, phone locked up after 4 months of great use. I'm not sure how to "flash it to cyanogenmod 12" and I'm worried about bricking the phone. Can anyone spell it out in a little more detail how to do this?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
PLEASE READ ALL THE STEPS FIRST and ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU ARE NOT CLEAR.

Download Odin3_v3.09

Download TWRP or any other custom recovery of your choice.

Download Cyanogenmod 12 for G900T : https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=klte -> Put this on your external microSD card. You can use internal storage as well.

Download GApps for Cyanogenmod 12 http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Google_Apps#Downloads -> Put this on your external microSD card. You can use internal storage as well.

Run Odin and flash TWRP or any other custom recovery of your choice to your phone. This will set KNOX security flag to 1, meaning no more warranty for the phone if you send it to Samsung to repair something else. Follow this http://www.droidviews.com/install-twrp-recovery-samsung-galaxy-s5/ or watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuAT7GwSAic

Boot into custom recovery ( with phone off, press and hold Volume Up and Home keys while turning on the phone ) and Wipe -> Advanced wipe -> Wipe System, Dalvik, Cache and Data. This will erase everything on the phone. No need to do ROM back up as we have Stock ROM available for this model to go back if needed. Your choice.

Flash/Install Cyanogenmod 12 zip file and then GApps zip file

Reboot

Let your phone sit for 10 minutes.

Cyanogenmod 12 is the only way to use the phone without the "Rent-A-Center" screen at this point. I tried multiple Stock ROM from 4.4.2 to 5.0 But phone still showed the lock screen after initial setup.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PAinguINx:
Same thing happened to a client today. RAC Just started this?

First I woukd lie to express just how outraged I am at this new policy. As if worrying and checking ESN's to ensure a phone is not active or stolen or if there is an iCloud account on an iPhone now we have to worry about them being "rented"? And there is no DB for this, you would have to call every Rent to Own shop in the ares to verify it's safe to buy.

But enough ranting, I too have heard that flashing Cyanogenmod works to remove this lock. I mean the losers who rent a phone and then sell it are scum. You check the ESN and it's clean, 6 months later you get RAC ads and pin locks? No way...

So, the method you've outlined has no steps for rooting or unlocking the bootloader. Does this work simply because it's being flashed via Odin as opposed to the usual way of rooting and reflashing.

I called RAC and of course they are not sillng to help. My business didn't even have a shop when I purchased that S5, and now months later the customer I sold it to comes back to me with this. I understand why in a way but what does she expect me to do? I've never heard of or seen this RAC bs until now.

This phone jas already been factory unlocked which can be done only by netting contractual obligations. Besides, how is it fair to flag the device? How could anyone possibly have known it was a "rental". Who the heck rents phones? Seems like abwhite trashy thing to do. The selling of said item makes it that even more so. Leaving the innocent people to deal with the hassle.

Someone please tell me there is a way around this, this is THE mobile development site. Not "A" site...THE site. This device has unwanted bloatware on it basically. So let's remove it. Again, how does one flash a custom recovery and Rom with no root access or an unlocked bootloader?

Thanks in advance!

PAinguIN

---------- Post added at 03:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 AM ----------

Actually, nevermind, this answered all of my questions. Have not tried it yet, but I'm confident... I'll let you all know of it works. Cheers!

http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_klte
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Timmy C:
Sucks for people like me who buy a phone only to find out six months later it was stolen from rent a center. Then get treated the way I am getting treated by them. I can not believe that there is nothing on the phones that lets you know it is from them. Thought I was just buying an unlocked phone. If anyone in Illinois could help me get this unlocked with cyanogenmod I would appreciate it.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Neish574:
Please help

I need my phone asap and I tried to flash cyanogenmod 12 but I got two error messages "failed to verify whole-file signature" and another "signature verification failed" I'm lost please help me!!!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
You were using stock recovery. You have to flash a custom recovery on it first.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Neish574:
:cool:My phone is back working OMG!!!!:D THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! SCREW RENT A CENTER! I must admit cyanogenmod 12 is a little strange:confused: and it's going to take time getting used to but it beats buying a new phone.:p I'm beyond happy thank you so much I could hug the life out of you right now lol. :victory:

---------- Post added at 04:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------

:cool:My phone is back working OMG!!!!:D THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! SCREW RENT A CENTER! I must admit cyanogenmod 12 is a little strange:confused: and it's going to take time getting used to but it beats buying a new phone.:p I'm beyond happy thank you so much I could hug the life out of you right now lol. :victory:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mandy09:
How do you do it? Does the phone have to be rooted?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ttn1185:
Follow my instructions on the previous post on this same thread.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Timmy C:
PM sent
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] keyma1:
help

I have no ideal how to go about doing the steps that was given...where do I download all of the apps if I cant use the phone and how do I load it to my phone. can someone please help an give me step by step on what device to use and how to apply this to my phone to unlock it please
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
Anyone have a step by step, YouTube video, or willing to help a novice unlock a Note 4. My 15-yr old son saved his money and purchased a Note 4 from craigslist that is now RAC locked. Trying to fix for him.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Castle2k:
Which version of Note 4 My friend?

AT&T, T-MOBILE, SPRINT, VERIZON...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
The Note 4 is used on AT&T. It has worked fine for 4 months but the Rent A Center lock appeared yesterday. Thanks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
But it's originally a T-Mobile model. Those are the only ones that I've seen loaded with the lock software. Technically you're in possession of stolen property - the original owner didn't finish paying RAC for it...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
I called Rent A Center and the guy said there was nothing he could do. He said he didn't care if I brought the phone back or not. If I did he could only give me $40 for it.

Based on that response, In my opinion I have full freedom to try to fix the phone.

Anyone willing to help explain a little to help me? Thank you in advance.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
What are you trying to do remove the rent a center lock? Did you try the zip I posted in this thread to remove it?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
I am sorry for the relatively simple question, but how to do I apply the zip file? Do I save it to a MicroSim and then try to flash from that from boot menu? Thanks

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 PM ----------

I meant micro SD, not MicroSim
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
You need to flash the zip file in custom recovery like twrp or cwm. So your device has to be rooted. If it isn't then simply root the device and odin custom recovery onto it and then flash the zip file
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
I did research, downloaded the files, and I think I am close! I connected with Odin and installed TWRP and rooted.

I downloaded the zip file. I just don't know exactly what you mean by "Odin custom recovery onto it and flash the zip file"

Could you help explain this last step? Thanks!!!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Odin custom recovery just meant to install TWRP or CWM which it sounds like you've done so just now flash that zip in TWRP and that's it its done. Report back and let me know if it worked for you.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
So I will need to save you zip file on the microSD card correct?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Yes save on micro SD and then flssh

Make sure and don't forget to post to let me know if it worked which it worked for me but depending on your device it might not but it should work for most if not all devices.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
I flashed the zip file and it appears to have worked. The phone does not show the RAC lock. However, the phone did ask for a pin and my son's old pin was not working.

I did an advanced wipe to try to get rid of PIN but now when I went to reboot I have deleted my OS.

Where do I download an OS file? How do I install that?

Thanks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
Can anyone help please? I'm stuck at the point of I can't boot the phone because it doesn't have an OS.

What file do I download for an OS? I just want the latest stock OS which I think is 5.1.1. Just not sure what or where to download an OS file.

Then, how do I install the OS. Do I flash it in Odin? Or do I save it to microSD and flash it?

I think I am close to having it fixed but I also know if I screw this part up I could brick it. Thanks
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
NO! Why would you do that lol. Now your gonna have to download the stock firmware to flash it. Actually just download a custom rom and put it on your external SD and boot back into recovery and flash the rom. Depending on what kind of phone you have if your referring to the Google account login password I have a bypass for that also
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
When you say just download stock firmware or a custom Rom what do you mean? Any link to a download?

The only file I have found is one called:

N910TUVU2DOK2_N910TTMB2DOK2_N910TUVU2DOK2_HOME.tar.md5

It says this fils is Android 5.1.1 for T-Mobile Note 4 (I am ATT but phone was originally T-Mobile)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Just download this ROM and put it on your external SD card. Flash the rom and after it boots if your locked out because you don't know the password your gonna need a micro USB memory stick that plugs into your Mico USB charge port. I will upload the zip thar your gonna need to extract and all it is is a apk that once you plug your memory stick into the phone it automatically takes you to your Samsung file manager and then install the apk that I'm gonna upload for you which will then take you into the phone settings. Once you in the phone settings then factory reset the phone in settings. When you do that there will not be a password on the phone anymore. Here's the link to the rom to download. Next time don't format or wipe your internal storage unless you have a rom on your external SD card or a backup on there.

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24269982087014296
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
While I was waiting I got a little impatient and tried flashing the file I listed. The phone works completely and would be "good enough" but is completely T-Mobile badged (start up images, start up tones, apps). I tried to use a AT&T full convert flash and after flashing it would never go past the AT&T logo. Therefore, I just reinstalled that T-Mobile ROM with Odin.

Would I be better leaving the phone as it is and maybe retrying the AT&T convert flash or should I try the ROM you uploaded? What is good/bad/better about the RON you uploaded?

I really, really appreciate all the help!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
Usually you want to flash whatever carrier the phone is. It doesn't matter what carrier your using with the phone but what carrier the phone actually is. So you said it's a tmobile note 4 but you use att. So you still want to flash a tmobile rom then simply enter in att apn settings. So by the sound of things your phone works now? My zip file got rid of the rent a center lock?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] syberianmystichealer:
Is there anyway to remove RAC software from my gs5 to prevent them from being able to lock it in the first place? I plan on trying to keep my payments on time but if anyone has luck like me there is gonna be something happen down the road that could put me financially behind and would like the security that even if I'm delinquent with my payments that I can still use my phone. Even if nothing happens and I make my payment on time I would still like to know that at least that there is one more corporation out there that don't know my every key stroke and every time I stop for a big Mac. Will rooting and flashing the custom rom before hand prevent lockout and remove them completely from my phone? Thanks for any help
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dvrice:
Doing the steps I did to fix the RAC lock should also prevent the RAC lock from ever occurring.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
It's gone! Will never ever ever show up again!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JustJess:
Im completely new to this whole thing. Ive got TWRP installed, I'm currently having issues moving the cm to my sd card? Any insight on this issue ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] phillipmckinnish:
I bought a t-mobile note 3 off of swappa and it has that sec.abt app. on it.The phone still works fine.What I was wondering is if I could flash that zip to keep this from happening to me..
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] phillipmckinnish:
What fix did you do on your note 3????
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jpaul228:
Any idea how to get the rent a center lock off the s6

---------- Post added at 03:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 AM ----------

Will it work on the galaxy s6 please help
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Gaideran:
SICKMADE! I flashed the zip you posted and holy sweetness it worked on my Note 4 tmobile version! Thank you! Thank you!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] toxicsoul:
This is a permanent fix for Samsung Galaxy S5 firmware locked by Rent-A-Center . Should also fix S5 phones locked by computrance absolute software .

This does not unlock your network carrier.

1. PLEASE READ ALL THE STEPS FIRST and ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU ARE NOT CLEAR.

2. Download Odin3_v3.09

3. Download TWRP or any other custom recovery of your choice.

4. Run Odin and flash TWRP or any other custom recovery of your choice to your phone. This will set KNOX security flag to 1, meaning no more warranty for the phone if you send it to Samsung to repair something else. Follow this http://www.droidviews.com/install-twrp-recovery-samsung-galaxy-s5/ or watch this

5. Boot into custom recovery ( with phone off, press and hold Volume Up and Home keys while turning on the phone ) and Wipe -> Advanced wipe -> Wipe System, Dalvik, Cache and Data. This will erase everything on the phone. No need to do ROM back up as we have Stock ROM available for this model to go back if needed. Your choice.

6. Go to Advanced -> Terminal Command -> hit "Select"

7. Type in these 2 commands:

8. mke2fs /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/persdata

9. dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/persdata

10. Go back to the Home screen of the custom recovery. Wipe -> Factory reset.

11. Reboot

12. You can flash stock software for SM-G900T back into the phone. Please be aware that if the original software of the phone is 4.4 , you can flash any software newer than 4.4 . If it is 5.0 , you can only flash any software newer than 5.0
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DroidRazrNy:
I'm returning my phone to rent a center because my wife bought me a Verizon note 4 :'( well its the thought that counts,anyway.

I backed up the RAC rom on my computer when I first did this, can I flash it back through twrp or should I Odin?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
I would definitely not flash backup because then all the rent a center crap will be on there assuming it's the same exact phone to flash the preexisting backup anyway
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DroidRazrNy:
Yes, I know, I'm flashing back because I'm returning it to them and if they notice the T-Mobile boot animation they'll be really suspicious lol.

---------- Post added at 05:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:29 AM ----------

I'm thinking about selling my Verizon note 4 and HTC one m8 to buy a note 4 dev. Edition or a regular T-Mobile note 4
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DroidRazrNy:
I didn't flash anything new but I think I'm going to need to. After entering these commands phone randomly reboots gets stuck on Tmobile splash screen until I wipe cache and davalic again. Runs for a bit then same issue again
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] djdragonfire13:
Thank you so much!!!

I found a Note 3 (with a cracked screen, but I'm going to replace it) at a park I was photographing at a few days ago, tried to contact the numbers that had called and texted and none replied. I called fair game and factory reset the phone. Surprise, surprise, RAC lock popped up. Called 'em up, told 'em I found it and that it had a cracked screen and they said they'd give me $30-40 depending on how bad it was cracked. Told em no thanks. I tried flashing everything I could find and only yours has been successful! Now I have a cool phone to play with!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DroidRazrNy:
Does RAC not have the ability to blacklist these phones?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
I posted the zip to flash in recovery months ago pages back
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DroidRazrNy:
Does rent a center not have the ability to blacklist their phones?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hotteapot:
does this work for S6?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] somethingamber:
Does this work for T-Mobile s4 m919?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Paralycium001:
Rent a center locked my sisters note 3 and she gave it to me only I need a 15 digit code and I want to go through i wireless and my provider.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] raach:
open gapps

thanks so much it works, i used it on a note 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but i have a question when i download open gapps which variant should a choose?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iBowToAndroid:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never seen this lock on an S4. I didn't think the persist partition existed until later devices
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Julin22:
Hi. My Note 4 just got blocked by the RAC this morning after almost 4 months of usage. I immediately did my research and found this discussion, since then I've spent the whole time learning the things that you guys are talking about. I followed your instructions and flashed the zip file using the TWRP and it went fine. When I turn my phone on however, it's still asking for a PIN and the RAC notification still appears after a few minutes. Please help. :crying:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Julin22:
spaces?

I'm sorry if this sounds stupid but I'm so new to this and have little idea on what I'm doing. Does the second command have spaces between dd and if and zero and of? And if they do, does the lack or presence of spaces matter?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SICKMADE:
What device do you have?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dadicated:
I'm a mobile expert for RAC just wanting to help folks out there who are about to buy a phone on eBay orbany other site. Ask the seller to send you a screen shot of the contacts list specifically for the letter R. If the phone has the locking software installed on it then Rent-A-Center will show up as a contact there. I'm available for any other questions also... Good luck!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jtaxel:
I have a note 4 t mobile locked by RAC. of course cm 12 works. I just tested CM 13 , works great also for those who want to atleast upgrade from 12 to 13.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rex59:
Hi.

My Galaxy S6 6.0.1MM blocked by the RAC. I followed instructions and flashed the zip file using the TWRP and other methods.. it's still asking for a PIN and the RAC notification still appears after a few minutes.

Are there any builds of CM for S6 920T?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] thadarkone:
I know this is old how how do you your computer to recognize the phone and I'm getting the RAC locked screen stuff as well on my note 3 thank got the phone on a trade looked all good til I tried to setup.. you and if you could email the steps for the Galaxy note 3 the ppl that theirs fixed/working your I would appreciate it I've tried downloading odin3 to my laptop and I'm not find a good download for it and the correct ROM for my note 3 model SM-N900T .....justin240sx@ymail.com ...... can someone plz help me.......?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] thadarkone:
Hey would you mind sending me the stuff you used to get your note 3 to work everything I've tried isn't working like the downloads arent working can send to justin240sx@ymai.com plz help me....I'm using the sm-n900t galaxy note 3
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] obliviousmnd:
Rent A Center help

If anyone needs help with removing a Rent a Center lock on their Samsung phones, please message me or email me at obliviousmnd@gmail.com I would be willing to help. I see so many posts with people struggling, so I will offer my time to help.

Thank you.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] pitkitten:
ttn118- My note 3 got locked months and months ago, I recently found it and tried the factory reset, of course the lock came back minutes later. 2 days ago I turned it on and the lock stayed off for two days, tonight it locked and no matter what I cant get in again.

How do I download odin on the note three along with Twrp and cyanogenmod12 to mysd card? I do have a laptop that has odin, I tried another guys method and it didnt work, crashed my desktop somehow,. If you have time shoot me an email if your up to explaing this for the millionth time. Thanks for yourtime. Shelby pit_kitten92@hotmail.com
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] obliviousmnd:
There are people on ebay that offer this service, to remove the RAC lock. I used to help removing these locks but everyone was damn demanding and ungrateful l, so i stopped doing it. At least with carrier unlocks the people are polite and grateful. Cor some reason though the RAC people are demanding jerks. Not saying you are, just saying why im pointing you elsewhere in case noone helps.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gretschpr:
Can you help me? I have an S5 locked on RAC ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Tammoa:
I need help i cant get past rent a center lock