yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
It's a darn shame to not have even a recovery for this phone. It's a decent device that would be killer with some fine tuning. I've read the challenge is due to the kernel, but don't know where to go from there.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alzar:
Thing is that its a low end carrier exclusive phone which means no big devolopers like CWM or TWRP will make a recovery for it.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
Moral of the story is check XDA before getting a phone. I locked up my S4's sim card and didnt have time to screw around with it to get it right again, went out to wallys world and snapped up a Samsung thinking i would be styling, I was mistaken. now that i have a daily driver I will look into getting the s4 going again I reckon. there are a ton of great developers working with the s4 still. I was just hoping something would come up soon for this express prime.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alzar:
Same thing happened to me I just ended up using nova launcher and some widgets and icon packs and am doing pretty good and only wish i was rooted every once in a while.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
I agree, it's a nicely spec'ed device and it looks good too, not like a $20 budget phone.

I wouldn't consider it low end, J3 is actually a strong mid-range device in other countries. J320A might be a carrier specific device in USA, but it is being sold in many other countries with identical hardware except different branding or combination J320xx.

So getting other roms should not be too difficult once we can root this thing, we don't even know if it's rootable/bootloader locked or not, can we check that using ADB?

I am planning to receive this phone soon and will try to run it as my daily driver for a month or so to see how it performs, but with AT&T bloatware, it's sure to affect performance.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
Hi I too think its rather fast and was able to get rid of alot of the bloat all together using chrome adb. the phone has a oem unlock option. I was able to get a adb shell with root however my add and two yr old daughter make it a challenge to get much farther.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
It would be awesome if you could share how you got rid of AT&T bloatware? (I am on AT&T, I still don't want their crap cluttering the phone, at least we can now hide them).

This phone is actually fantastic for $80, and decent at $100. It goes on sale frequently on bestbuy.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
I used chrome adb. enabled adb through the developer options on the phone. when i opened chrome adb it shows everything thats installed. you can force close apps clear data and uninstall apps. on the phone you can choose to disable most of the apps and it will give you the option to uninstall the updated version of the apps. in most cases this actually left the app showing zero data zero everything. it wont even show up in your app drawer
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alzar:
Welp progress rooting wise figured out how to disable Knox and all other attached bloatware just downloaded package disabled samsung pro. So gotta see we what we can do with that info
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
I did see that samsung pro tool. i havent had a chance to try it and wondered if it could actually do anything. I am a bit leery of screwing the phone up although i did back it up with smart switch. I would be interested to learn what you can get accomplished with that tool. even without a recovery root would be cool for using kernel adiutor and a ad blocker.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] JaXxz:
Have you tried KingRoot after disabling Knox?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alzar:
Yep same result
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Cloud Connected:
google How2Root Galaxy Express Prime
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
No root yet

Still no root for the GEP, (Gakaxy express prime) :confused:

Hmmmm....

For the time being, I am using the "purify" app to decrease battery drain. But, of course, that doesn't Uninstaller bloat were....

The main reason I am seeking root on this phone is to control startups....

Still don't know why this option is not there in the unrooted system....
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Worth a try maybe?

https://androidmtk.com/download-360-root-app-apk

Just in case anyone bricks.

http://d-h.st/bHAc
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alzar:
Check out Samsung Package disabler Premium. I used it to disable all the att and samsung bloatware and then replaced them all with the stock google apps from play stores pretty useful. You can't uninstall but it disables it which is nice
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
Thanks ashyx for the tip. I tried a couple times with the 360 root app and failed (probably because of the KNOX problem. )

This 360app is all in Chinese. The only thing that I could understand via pictures after the failed root attempt was that the app recommends HOOKING up to a PC and retrying.

Apparently, There is a PC version available. I'll try it this weekend when I have some free time. ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
Disable KNOX

As Jaxxz said, we need to disable Knox first and then try KINGROOT or Root 360 or whatever....

Here is a link on strategies to disable KNOX.

https://www.androidpit.com/how-to-uninstall-knox

I won't have any free time until this Sunday to fool around with my phone.

However, if anyone else has the time, give it a try. :good:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alzar:
One of those methods require root and the other requires android 4.3 so IDK if it aqpllies to GEP
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ItsOnlyTemporary:
There are apparently 13,000 people watching this thread... how is it that nobody has been able to find a solution yet???
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
I am fairly certain that thel only way to root this phone will be to get a custom recovery installed first that will allow us to flash supersu via the custom recovery. TWRP is the most competent modern custom recovery these days, so that is where webbed to start.

---------- Post added at 09:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------

From what I can gather , AT&T hasn't released the kernals for this phone making rooting impossible.

So, thats where we stand.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
OK I'll just point out some issues relating to rooting this device.

1. Device has a locked bootloader.

This means no custom boot image or recovery can ever be installed unless it's an engineering kernel or the bootloader is somehow unlocked(highly unlikely).

Any attempt is likely an instant brick.

2. Dm-verity. MM is forcing the use of Dm-verity. Any modification to the system partition again causes instant brick unless it is disabled in the boot image. Back to issue 1.

With Lollipop there is a chance an exploit such as Kingroot will work.

3. ATT will never release an official unlock. Neither will Samsung.

4. Basically unless an official/unofficial unlock is made available or someone gets hold of Samsungs signing key or some new exploit that is able to circumvent said restrictions above or an exploit is found to root the Lollipop firmware then this device is unlikely to ever see root.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
Thanks ashyx,

Well that pretty much explains it then.

Well, for what it is with, the app "one cleaner" which seemed to automatically install when I attempted to root with iroot and a USB cable offers a quasi-upgrade to our non-related device. I noticed that when I install a new app, that the iroot app, "one cleaner" pops up with the prompt, "Fo you want this program to auto start?" well, for me a way, THAT is s the EXACT reason I wanted to root the device in the first place: simply to control start ups.

So, perhaps the problem has been solved for this user...

Ilk do some more playing around with the app after work. ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
No go

A no go for controlling start ups without root. The app one cleaner will try to root the phone (which it can't do when the user attempts to control start-ups.

Gotta admit, though, that for roughly 100 U. S. dollars that this is a pretty sweet phone. ?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrmazak:
I have been able to get a root shell on this device with the same method i did on a BLU device. but still limited. I can do "whoami" from shell and response is "root". But when I try to cp /dev/block to get the recovery and boot img's, I get permission denied.

method is the use dirtycow to replace the app_process32 with different binary that will fork a shell (lsh).

something is different in the zygote or system context. maybe a rewrite of the binary or a different hijacked file will do.

if your interested to see if I am headed in the right direction my( not originally mine) work so far is here on github

https://github.com/mrmazakblu/Samsung_Galaxy_Express_Prime-SM-J320a
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ItsOnlyTemporary:
I understand the whole locked bootloader/kernel issues, as the AT&T Galaxy S4 had the same problem. However, we were able to get around that by using SafeStrap... is it at all possible that we may also be able to use it on this device.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Safestrap needs root.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
I am just amazed that any of the devices can be roited
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jason123420:
I had the LG G4 with a locked bootloader and to get root you had to inject root into the system image then put your phone in download mode and flash the stock image that you previously injected root into with LG up. It only worked on lollipop tho... I dunno.. maybe this method could help you guys. I don't know anything about anything tho I just like to flash stuff.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ItsOnlyTemporary:
Ok, so after a ****ton of searching, I've finally found/remembered how we were able to root the Galaxy S4. We used an app called Towelroot. I'm pretty sure development for the app has ceased, but is it possible that something like this could work for us?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mclot01s:
Any new info?

Any new info on rooting this model?

I just got the phone. It's awesome. I love it
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wimmer4Archery:
I did try to towelroot e as one of my first attempts. No luck. If the developer of chainfire says that this phone will likely never see root, I believe him. You gotta admit, though for one hundred U. S. Dollars that this phone even in its unrooted state was one he'll of a buy.

---------- Post added at 01:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:46 PM ----------

One thing I would recommend is "one cleaner" which automatically installed itself when I tried I root.

http://apk-dl.com/one-cleaner

This app will prompt you to allow or disallow user apps to start up or not. It will not be able to control start ups of system apps that AT&T does not want you to have control over, but works extremely well with about 75-80% percent of the apps on my phone.

Peace.

---------- Post added at 01:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 PM ----------

WARNING!

Please do not try to download one cleaner from the link provided above as it appears to be malicious.

Forum administrator : please remove the above link!

Thanks. P. S. I will try to find a legitimate link for one cleaner.

Thanks.

---------- Post added at 02:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:58 PM ----------

Try this:

http://freeandroidroot.com/download-iroot-application-all-versions/

I am testing it now to be sure it is legitimate.

---------- Post added at 02:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 PM ----------

http://freeandroidroot.com/download-iroot

Tested and works.

You must download this to Windows PC and have a USB micro cable physical connection for your PC to phone.

And you must have the Samsung drivers installed that will allow communication between your PC and phone.

---------- Post added at 02:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 PM ----------

Samsung drivers:

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ItsOnlyTemporary:
I might give that a try once I get my computer going again...

I was hoping to find a more root-friendly device, preferably with a more Vanilla Android experience, but no such luck so far. And nobody is responding to my thread I created to get some suggestions...

I hate Touchwiz.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Sakata San:
I just tried iRoot and it failed.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
maybe the best bet is to keep trying kingroot. im hoping if enough request get in for the device they may try to tackle it. Im not holding my breath however. just my way of not completely giving up the idea of having root on a not so bad phone
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TheDoctorZ:
So at this point there is no way to root this phone. I'm stuck with this one as my iphone 6 just died and we have this one as an extra. Will probably upgrade to a better android phone in the near future, but was hoping to install a rom like I did with my older galaxy.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kalookapoo:
Bump for activity. Does anyone have any more information or attempts with this device?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
Hello Guys, sorry maybe this is not the propper place to post this question, but i don't found a lot of information about this device, son any help is welcomed :)

I have a Samsung galaxy express prime J320A from Att that is stucked at Samsung's logo in a boot loop. i'm aviable to get the phone in Download Mode, but I can't get the right firmware for my device, and, Kies and SmartSwitch don't appears with the SN to get the Firmware back to the phone. I was looking for TWRP o CWM to bring it back with a nandroid backup, but as I already said, I hadn't found anything for this device.

Someone knows where I can find a Firmware for Odin?

Thanks!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
It's most likely something in the data partition that is causing the issue.

You could always factory reset in recovery.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
[MENTION=4899305]ashyx[/MENTION] thanks for your reply...

I can't get into Receovery Mode, that was the first thing camed to my mind, performHard Reset, but the phones seem to have damaged that partition too :(

I would like to get the "recovery.img" too, do you know where i can find it?

Thanks.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
have you tried holding down the vol up, home button, and power button simultaneously? on my samsung s4 holding down the home button wasnt necessary. it is necessary however on the sm j320a to get into recovery. on a side note im a bit curious how you got a bootloop. i earnestly hope you can get up and running again.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
What do you mean you can't get into recovery mode?

Turn the device off and power on with POWER + HOME + VOL UP.

If that doesn't work boot to Download mode, but cancel it. As soon as the device reboots quickly hold the 3 buttons as advised above.

Timing is critical so it may take a few tries.

Factory reset in recovery.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I already try it, the only thing I can do is; if i press (volume up) + (home) + (power) that its supposed to boot into recovery but it just turns on in the boot loop; if i press (volume down) + (home) + (power) that takes me to the Download Mode correctly.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Hold the buttons down until you see recovery. Do not release.

Also how did you end up in this situation?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
Also tryied holding down the keys as you said, but the phone remains at "samsung Galaxy" boot logo.

The owner is a friend of mine, he said that he was in Facebook app, the phone freezed, he took out the battery, then put it again, and the phone never booted again, he bring it to me, so I can help him... what I remembered was that he has a lot of apps like "Battery booster, CM security, etc..." the ones that put on your phone a lot of adds, and supposed to make it faster with a bunch of animations that make it slower.... I think that those apps were part of the problem.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Sorted?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
you mean the way I press the keys...? that wold be Yes 1st (volume up) 2nd (home button) 3rd (power button)...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
No I mean flashing software?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
Okay, well not really a specific order... but let me tell you the order I'm making the precedure, may be I'm doing something wrong:

First Conect samsung in Download Mode

Open Odin as Admin (using windows 8.1)

See that the COM port is correctly added

Load BL, AP, CP, CSC partitions of the respective firmware, in the order I mentioned them.

Then I press the "start" button and wait it to reboot

Thats all, after Odin says "pass" the phone reboots I wait even 30 minutes but dosen't boots far than the Samsung's logo. If I try to boot into recovery nothng happends remins at samsung logo.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Seems like hardware EMMC failure. Others who have had the same issue was diagnosed as hardware failure.

---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 PM ----------

I have the engineering boot for the j320a which should at least give a root shell in adb.

From that it may be possible to use Chainfire's modified supersu to get root.

It also shouldn't trip knox.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bullracing:
Ashyx, yes, maybe is a hardware issue. Thanks for you help.

Regards XDAs
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kalookapoo:
SRS Root supposedly got this exact model sorted today. I'm off to try it out!!!

Edit: they lied. I have the exact build id as the one pictured below and was unable whatsoever to get srsroot to root successfully. Attempted both "safe" and "normal" root methods.

Though you are able to get into recovery with SRS Root.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
It's already been discussed this software is fake.

I've already offered the engineering boot, but it seems nobody wants to try it.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] kalookapoo:
Damn. I heard about it from an XDA post :/
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rapidrayo:
Hello did someone have the original firmware of this baseband version J320AUCU2APJ2, I will really appreciate if you can help me
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TambourineReindeer:
Hi mrmazak, I saw and commented in an issue someone opened for it. If there is any way I can help with that perhaps, please let me know. I don't really have a lot of spare time currently though.

What is the engineering boot? I want to try it if you can describe how to do it (unless I am oblivious and should know what that is >.<). I just received this phone today...though I wanted to buy my own when I had money to, but I suppose it's something, as my HTC One m7 died a few days ago. I would love to contribute to figuring this out and helping everyone here if I can.

Unfortunately, none of us do. I think only Samsung or AT&T would have it right now.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
I have the firmware for this device, but not sure what build it is until I check later.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] coolguykatende:
I have the one with this baseband J320AUCU1APC4 i had J320AUCU1APC9 before but due to the need to root this fone i tried to look for ways of first backing it up and couldnt find it then i decided to flash that one of J320AUCU1APC4 Baseband so if you want tell me and i provide you with the link
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 2gosh:
bump
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] CEOofOGN:
I received a notice from AT&T on my phone saying there is an update now available. Maybe this update will make it possible to root? Fingers are crossed.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] th3rever3nd:
I would be interested in trying this. Do you have a download link? And which version of SuperSU would i want to try and flash? Thanks in advance!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TWWilson93:
Hey! New to the community! Anyways, just picked this phone up. Will be following this thread!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
OK here you go.

First thing to do is to install the engineering boot image then reboot to android. Enable USB debugging in developer settings.

Open adb and see if you can obtain a root shell.

In ADB type:

adb shell

If you get a # instead of a $ theres hope.

See the S7 thread below and follow the instructions, obviously don't use the eng boot file use the one posted here:

https://xdaforums.com/att-galaxy-s7/how-to/root-s7-att-g930a-g935a-t3410538

ENG_BOOT_J320A_PG1

Good luck

[MENTION=8099404]stainmaster[/MENTION]

.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
I have root and busybox installed

I have root access on SM J320A. I used Odin to install the engineering boot, used kingroot to get root, then supersume to switch to super su pro. busybox is installed and a rootchecker app has verified my root access. I will say after kingroot granted access my phone froze. I had to remove the battery and restart but still have root. also you will probably get a unauthorized activity notification that keeps showing in the notification screen. Im rather geeked, thank you ton
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Wow, you got root with kingroot on marshmallow?

Please post the build number of firmware you're running and kingroot and SuperSUME version you used, so others can follow.

To remove that silly notification freeze or remove 'security log agent'

Well done ;)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jonpjingleheimler:
thank you for the engineering boot, couldn't have done it without that. I used the latest kingroot app, and the latest supersume. the build number is MMB29K.J320AUSC2AQA1. I did delete the security log agent with a system app remover. I am noticing that when i restart the phone I have to reenter my wifi password and my kernel adiutor settings are reset. but at least i still have root. for now I just wont shut the phone off, which I rarely do anyway. when I installed the engineering boot in my haste i didnt not realize there was a certain odin to use. could that create the issue. either way Im thrilled thanks again. hopefully a rom will pop up that I can use flashfire or my mobile odin to install if a recovery doesnt become available
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ashyx:
Thanks for the info, I'm surprised the eng boot works on the latest revision 2 firmware also as yours seems to be.

So just to clarify kingroot didn't work until you installed the eng boot?

The odin version doesn't matter as long as it flashes OK.

To fix the wifi and probably other issues modify the line below in /system/build.prop:

ro.securestorage.support=true to false

Also there will never be a custom recovery while this device still has a locked bootloader.

Flashfire will have to be used to upgrade, but never allow the boot image to be replaced.

Now we just need someone else to confirm it works and we can confirm this device rooted.

---------- Post added at 09:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 AM ----------

Links to required files:

1.Flash Eng boot with odin:

ENG_BOOT_J320A_PG1

2. Install and run Kingroot:

https://xdaforums.com/android/apps-games/one-click-root-tool-android-2-x-5-0-t3107461

3. Install and run SuperSU me (not required) :

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ore&pcampaignid=APPU_1_uzPDVbGyFcGNyATHrqmoCA

4. Wifi fix:

modify the line below in /system/build.prop:

ro.securestorage.support=true to false