yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
painiac's Essential Guide to Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900V) Flashing, Rooting, Fixing, and Customizing

This is a distillation of everything I've learned about rooting, installing custom recovery, installing custom ROMs, and customizing the Verizon Galaxy S5 SM-G900V. I am NOT the creator of any of the hard work that has made all of this possible, I simply compiled it all in one place. I have done this for the convenience of newer people, and to hopefully decrease the need for the same questions coming up every time somebody discovers they can improve their phone but doesn't yet know how. The Galaxy S5 has a steeper learning curve because of its locked bootloader, hence the need for a guide. I know I had a LOT of questions and more than a little worry about accidentally screwing up my phone, so I did a lot of research and accumulated a lot of information in a short amount of time.

CAUTION: Some of the more general information here might apply equally to all variants of the Galaxy S5, but much of it is specific to the Verizon SM-G900V (and attempts to flash any G900V-specific files to a non-G900V variant will in all likelihood brick your phone. You have been warned.)

This is meant to be a general repository of information, but for projects in active development (such as the 5.0 root method, SafeStrap, custom ROMs, etc) I encourage you to ask questions in their respective threads where their developers (who are most knowledgable about their projects) are best able to see and answer your questions.

If a piece of information originated from you and I have failed to credit you properly, please say so and I will do so immediately.

I encourage you to share this information freely, and I encourage you to submit even minor corrections.

Table of Contents

Android Versions

Updates and Flashable Stock Files

Restoring, Upgrading, and Downgrading

Recovery Mode and Download Mode

Flashing Files with Odin

Custom Recovery Environment

Fixing a Bricked Phone

Rooting 4.4.x and 5.x

Custom ROMs

Debloating

Disabling Knox

Xposed Framework and Modules
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ridenickel9:
Awesome thread!! Thank you very much for spending the time and putting this all together!!

Sent from my still locked down SM-G900V ?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] RedRamage:
Lots of great info in here! I appreciate the time and effort.

Are there any roms beyond 5.0 for verizon? I'm still running 4.4.4 right now. I tried 5.0 and hated some of the changes with sounds settings (Normal/Vibrate/Silent). My understanding is that 5.1.1 replaces these with the older setup. If that's the case I'd love to move to 5.1 but haven't found any ROMs that do 5.1.x except for one in the Unified forum. But the links for that are dead.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
Not to my knowledge. The locked bootloader makes development very difficult. I think we will have to receive a stock 5.1 that functions with our locked bootloader before anybody can develop ROMs based on it.

I still prefer 4.4.4, too. However, if you want to give 5.0 another try, you may be able to use an Xposed module to restore the way you prefer the sound settings to work.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] CVertigo1:
As of now, we are limited to 5.0. If you give 5.0 another shot, I'd suggest using Wanam Xposed and enabling expandable volume control. I couldn't stand the volume settings of Lollipop until I started using Wanam.

---------- Post added at 12:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------

Thank you, [MENTION=3529193]painiac[/MENTION]! Now I have a thread I can link every time someone asks how to do the basics. Having a device specific root/ROM thread makes things much easier.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] al50:
I'm trying to help a fellow user who's trying to install the Optimal ROM and he keeps getting the OTA update message. I mentioned for him to try to freeze the SDM 1.0 but he said that it's not listed in TB. And to be honest, I don't see it listed anywhere in the MOAR ROM that I'm running. So if someone could point me in the right direction on how to freeze the OTA update. I/he would be greatly appreciated. He's posted the issue on the Optimal thread. Thank you in advance
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] CVertigo1:
It has been a long time since I've used MOAR, but I'm sure the OTA updater has been removed from it. The name of the app is SDM.apk. You should be able to find it in Titanium, but you can delete it manually if need be.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] al50:
Thank you for replying CVerigo1. That's what I was thinking about it may have been removed. We suggested that he wipe 2 timesbefore installing the ROM just in case he had some files lingering around. I'm hoping that will solve his issue. Thanks again and apologize for posting this in Painiac's thread.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] Dudash:
Thanks for putting all of this together. I sent in a request for the thread to be stickied since we need an updated "How to" thread.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
It appears your request has been approved. I appreciate everyone's kind words.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] rxwookie:
So, say I have a phone that is BOK3 rooted (sweet) and I want to go back to factory

unrooted

BPB1 (to sell it)... what steps do I follow?

Update (3/8): Found out one solution to going back to stock...

1.) (This Step Is Probably Optional) -- Flash the stock BOK3 Rom using Odin and the PA slot -- This clears the bulk of your custom/rooted files off the phone

2.) Check for system update, allow it to install (should be BPB1)

3.) Boot into recovery mode and clear the phone (WARNING: You

will lose

all data on your phone)

--- Turn the Galaxy S5 off.

--- Press and hold the Volume up button, the Home button, and the Power button together until you see the Android on screen.

--- Use Volume down to highlight the wipe data/factory reset option and press the Power button to select it.

--- Use Volume down again to highlight Yes – delete all user data and press Power to select it.

--- Wait until you see the reboot system now option and then use the Power button to select it.

--- When the S5 restarts it should be completely wiped and ready to set up again.

Thanks,

Wook
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
That works, but it has some extra steps. Just flash the PB1 factory image with Odin: there's no real reason to do BOK3 and then wait for an update to install. Flashing a factory image should have cleared all of your user data as well, but you can initiate a factory reset to be sure if you're selling it.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] rxwookie:
Thank you for clarifying that. I was afraid to just flash the PBP1 Rom without knowing how it would act.

When I flashed the stock OK3 Rom it took the OTA update just fine. Interestingly, flashing the stock Rom didn't clear anything off the phone, so a factory reset had to be performed in my case.

In all honesty, I love the phone overall... But I'm just really sick of the locked bootloader.

Thank you for the comprehensive thread (and response to my post above).

Thanks,

Wook
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
You're very welcome. I can't blame you... my next phone likely won't be a Samsung.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] jokajak:
Thank you for putting all of this together. Does http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909 change any of the information regarding custom ROMs?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
It does, IF you have the specific chipset that can be unlocked. Thanks for mentioning that, I should add it to the guide.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] :
This is a wonderful guide, thank you for putting it up. I'm a software engineer, but I rarely work with android code and have been using iPhones for awhile.

I used to root old droid phones back in the days of the Droid X2 and Droid 3, but I haven't done it in awhile. My girlfriend has an S5 that is causing her lots of problems, specifically terrible battery and no more space for adding apps because of the bloatware. When I used the older motorola droids, there was a process termed "sbf-ing" that would allow me to downgrade my phone to a different version. Is there any way I can do this with an s5 ? She has an S5 running 5.1.1, and I'm curious if I can bring it down to 5.0 or 4.xx to work with some of these roms.

Thanks!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] Lightn1ng:
All is carrier specific. What carrier does it have?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] :
Thanks for the quick response.

Verizon; hence me posting in the Verizon S5 forum :)
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] Lightn1ng:
You said she's running 5.1.1, then you said it's Verizon. Verizon's latest version is 5.0, unless she's rooted ;)
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] :
What ?!?! hahahaha

I see hahaha. Okay, so that carrier question was warranted then :D:D:D . She said she was on the latest version, so I assumed all carriers had rolled out 5.1.1 Some quick googling shows that unlike AT&T and T-Mobile, Verizon stayed on 5.0 . Thank you for the clarification, I was wondering why I couldn't find any info on 5.1.1 anywhere on this forum.

So revised question, are the roms on 4.xx more stable than the 5.0 roms? i.e Is there any benefit to rolling back (if I'm able, I need to check her exact model) other than a clearer installation process?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] Lightn1ng:
No benifit from rolling back. The newer 5.0 ROMs are faster and more stable than their Kitkat counterparts :D

EDIT: also note that if she's on the latest build, she cannot even downgrade anyway as the bootloader doesn't allow the Kitkat kernel to load
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] :
Awesome. We'll give it a go then if I get the green light. Thank you!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] bad bone:
It worked
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ldeveraux:
lots of people would disagree with him, so take that advice with a grain of salt.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] caraka:
Which ROMs?

Greetings

Thanks for the great guide. I have a ANCG = 4.4.2, which is rooted and now has the developer mode enabled. Having achieved this, I cannot figure out which ROMS I can and cannot use, because all the ROM threads predate the ability to unlock developer mode, and have grave warnings about having the right bootloader.

Now that dev mode has been unlocked, what are my options in terms of ROMS?

Many thanks to the various folks who put all this together.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ldeveraux:
with an unlocked bootloader you can install any rom designed for the vzwklte. No longer limited to touchwiz based roms.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] tfrederick74656:
Awesome guide, thanks for putting this together!

Question: What partition(s) in the OE1+ image are actually responsible for the bootloader downgrade protection? I'm assuming it's either tz, sbl1, or aboot (which I can't change due to dev unlock).

I've done the samdunk exploit to enable developer mode on my pre-OE1 bootloader. I'd like to get as much of the remaining firmware (modems, etc.) updated, but I don't want to flash whatever triggers the rollback protection.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] al50:
It's written in the OP. Go back and reread the section on firmware and at or towards the end, paniac posted a link to Jrkruse's thread of firmwaresand kernels which do not have the bootloaders in them. Enjoy
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
That question would be better addressed to jrkruse, since he has modified images to omit the bootloader upgrade.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] tfrederick74656:
Thanks for the info - I'm familiar with those, they omit ABOOT, RPM, SBL1, SDI, and TZ, a.k.a. every bootloader partition. Presumably only one actually increments the phone-wide anti-rollback counter, I was hoping to get at which one specifically. I'll ask jrkruse if he knows.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] AndroidHobbyist2016:
Rooted Marshmallow on g900V with locked bootloader?

Hello,

I've been reading XDA forums for years but have never posted a question so apologies if I miss protocol with this question. As a hobbyist, I'm a big fan of all the work that All devs put into this.

Question: Can I install rooted Marshmallow on my s5 with a locked boot loader?

I rooted my s5 via but still have the locked boot loader. Sadly I've got the 11 Toshiba chip yet to be hacked.

I just put Marshmallow on an s4 for a family member and I was so impressed I began reading forums in an attempt to put it on mine. Since Marshmallow is a TW rom, I assume I need to find a g900V compatible rooted Marshmallow rom without the bootloader in order to flash it in safestrap yes?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] noahtampabay:
I guess I cant do anything right?

I have a brand new , out the box samsung galaxy S5 with Lollipop BOK3 = 5.0 ,

This means I cannot downgrade or root it still correct?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ldeveraux:
Do you people even look at the stickies/other threads before posting? It's all spelled out already in those threads, just take a peek before asking...
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] AndroidHobbyist2016:
I am pretty disappointed at the response to my post... I FOUND the answer to my own question....

http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/how-to-update-to-g900voe1-5-0-keeproot-t3149784

No help to "ldeveraux"

Hey guys and gals, let's be honest. Forums suck. If you want to increase the number of aficionados in your crew who want to get involved and have a skill to offer - you've got to offer a better system of information exchange than these forums. These are a GREAT source of information but at GREAT cost to an individual user's time at finding it. I am a computer scientist, but I don't know what a "sticky" is, and these forums exist a world apart. I apologize in that I have no solution to offer, but I ask sincerely.... can there be a better way to get the information out in a searchable manner in a world where such a large disparity in digital knowledge exists? There is curiosity abound, people who want to know these things of all ages, but we need to work together to develop a better way to build, search, and distribute it... than these forums...

Just a thought for the wiser than I.....
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ldeveraux:
If every new user asked the same questions that have been answered countless times, we'd be inundated with new threads. When you join xda, you're supposed to read and understand the faq, which explains all the basics like searching and stickies. I realize most people are beginners, but that's what the faq was designed for. If you want super simple, that's what Google is for. You can even Google search within xda's domain.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] aholeinthewor1d:
Hey I've been away a while so I've been reading like crazy. Everything is much more confusing know. I'm hoping someome can finish this list from the OP for me..including any other LP firmwares and then all MM ones in order. Thanks!!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
That's exactly why I compiled this guide. You're right that there are definitely better ways: unfortunately, the limiting factors are interest and cost. The ideal solution would be for somebody with the passion to keep up on things to make a website where the needed information is easy to navigate. However, as I'm sure you know, maintaining a website takes time and costs hosting fees. Staying on top of all of the developments and curating an always up-to-date guide would be quite time-consuming, because all of the information is primarily first disseminated through these forums. The other factor - interest - is a killer. Most people use a given model of smartphone for, what, 1-3 years?... and then have zero interest in keeping up with developments on phones they no longer use. You can see the aftermath of this: there are several threads (some of them stickies) that claim to be THE guide (to rooting, or whatever), and this was true at the time they were written, but then the writer moved on to other things and their thread became obsolete. My guide is, currently, the most comprehensive, but I have not ventured into Android 6+, and I may not even do so. Sooner or later I, too, will drop off the radar of the Galaxy S5 forum...

By the way, the forum posts deemed most useful are made "sticky" by a moderator. This means they always stay at the top of the list of threads rather than being buried by newer posts (which are always sorted in descending order by date of the most recent post). Stickied threads have a thumb-tack icon next to them. When you go to a topical forum seeking information, you should always read the stickies because in many cases your question will already have been answered there. You incur the wrath of angry nerds by joining the long conga line of new users who join a forum daily and echo the same questions as hundreds of others before them.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
That list contained all firmwares available up to that point. Updated the OP with what I believe is the latest list:
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] uberpippi:
Dude, I've rooted every phone I've had for years now, but there's still a lot of terminology that I wasn't 100% on. this is by FAR the best guide I've ever read that consolidates the key concepts and key words for rooting and installing roms and all that. I'm fairly comfortable with breaking into my phone by now, but this was really helpful for locking down a lot of scattered knowledge. Super helpful. Thanks!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] Hoopsters35:
Android 6.0.1

Fantastic guide! I'm new to the root process and this gave me a lot of information to start on. But just to confirm, does this mean that there is currently no way to root a SM-G900V if it has android 6.0.1? I updated before I got into the rooting process otherwise I definitely would have held off!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] landshark68:
That is correct. No way to root 6.0.1, but you can downgrade to PB1 and root.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] Hoopsters35:
Is there a forum page that talks about the best way to downgrade to PB1? I am new to the rooting process so don't want to take too many chances :)
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ldeveraux:
Yes, read the stickies or do some searching. It's not being hidden from you!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] leif2:
Is downgrading from marshmallow in order to root very hard to do? Im quasi nubi in all this stuff. Anyone have estimate how long it will be untill Verizon marshmallow becomes rootable or if this will ever be possible?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
Downgrading is as simple as flashing the earlier version with Odin. You'll find instructions (and warnings!) for that process in this thread.

As for an estimate on obtaining root for marshmallow, that is unknowable. It's a pass/fail thing: somebody is probably working on it, but root access is not possible for them until the instant they succeed.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] xips:
:svetius: Kudos for the horses painiac. Coming from the Moto line which makes life much simpler to take control of your device, I was sweating bullets on what to do to root a S5. I'm more confident now of not hard bricking. The fog has lifted.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] jrhack:
I have the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5. I presently am on T-Mobile. When I put my T-Mob SIM in, I can make calls and send regular SMS messages. MMS messages will not work. Apps using data only works on WiFi.

My CID is 1501005xxxxxxx. Presently running Android 6.0.1.

Can I root this phone and install a t-mob firmware on it? I want to use all of t-mobs features such as calls over LTE, Turning on Wifi Hotspot and such. Right now it is loaded with Verizon Bloatware.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] al50:
You can root your device. Then if you want, unlock your bootloader and install one of the NO BS ROM's or any other Custom ROM's that's over in the Android Development section of this forum. They're mostly all debloated of unnecessary apps,Verizon ones at that. Except ones that may be needed for some functions.....

HotSpot feature works in the ROM's.....
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] TuxRox:
I am trying to understand this as it is not clicking, I just got a cheap S5 for my wife to replace her dying phone, I am using Ting, essentially a T-mobile wholesale provider, and everything works except for the Verizon crap popping up, and the voicemail trying to go to Verizon, the rep on the phone said other users were successful running custom roms to fix this, I am not new to roms and fastboot / adb but am new to Samsung.

I checked my phone is g900v model and the CID according to eMMC brickbug check starts with 11 so I am screwed?

My goal is simply getting rid of the Verizon crap, and get the annoying messages to go away so she can play pokemon go again. Is there any way I temp root clean out that stuff or go to a rom without the crap and then get pokemon go working? I don't even want root after just a phone that works and plays pokemon go.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] al50:
If I recall correctly, you will not able to use Pokémon on your rooted device. To get rid of the VZW items and notifications, you can do 2 things. Install a custom ROM, as the person suggested, or install Titanium Backup and purchase the Pro key and Freeze the VZW apps. I recommend selecting one app at a time and reboot to be sure nothing will effect or FC your device.....
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
You can root unless you're on android 6.0.1.

You can install any TouchWiz-based ROM, or you can stay stock rooted and just freeze or uninstall the crapware. Like al50 said, freezing is preferable because it's easily reversed.

However, when rooted you will not be able to play pokemon go because the workaround to play it on a rooted device requires an unlocked bootloader, which you do not have.

However, you *may* be able to unroot the phone after you freeze the crapware.. I haven't tried this. I can't even imagine tolerating a phone without root, however...
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] TuxRox:
well this is my wifes phone, all she wants to do is make calls, get on facebook and chrome and play pokemon I got the phone used for 60 with a broken case and I fixed it, now I have it successfully rooted and on PB1 with safestrap recovery, and am debating hwo much effort I want to put into getting it pokemon go friendly.

Do you happen to know if I put a debloated 6.0 rom on it that doesn't have root will pokemon go work?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] al50:
A debloated ROM(s) are for ROOTED devices and for a 6.0 MM ROM, you need to have an unlocked bootloader. Unless you're device is bootloader unlocked, you can only run LP custom ROM's....
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] ldeveraux:
Why even bother rooting then? If she wants the headache of Facebook and pokemon, she can deal with the ads and bloat!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] TuxRox:
Because I am using a verizon galaxy S5 on Ting service, and it was complaining forcebely that it was not a verizon sim.

by flashing PB1 and rooting and uninstalling all the bloat and then unrooting, she is currently on a happy bloat free phone and playing Pokemon go as I write this.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
I'm glad you were able to work out an acceptable compromise. Still, no root... *shudder*
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] tenye2003:
How can i flash an international version s5 g900f modem over g900v modem ? since odin wont work?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] painiac:
I think Odin won't let you do that because you can't?