yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Fen-X:
Sorry, what do you mean? What kind of restriction? How can we know what country is restricted?

I live in france and plane to buy the note 8 dual sim on samsung shop french website this sunday 'caue there is a discount and is sold at 809 euros. The exact model is : SM-N950FZKDXEF

Do you know if i will have the oem issue? is there a restriction or other?

Thanks for your help.

---------- Post added at 03:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 AM ----------

Hi all,

Anticipating to acquire a note 8, I would like to know if someone would be kind enough to kindly refer me.

1-At this stage, is it possible to flash the official twrp (https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxynote8.html) or is it highly recommended to flash the xda's unofficial one (https://xdaforums.com/galaxy-note-8/development/recovery-twrp-galaxy-note-8-exynos-t3674036)?

2-Is it possible to flash twrp, root with magisk, flash xposed but all that using stock rom?

3-If the answer of the 2nd question is "NO", can someone give me a link to the last best method to succed the flash ( I know Krabman's method is the good way but it's been a long time i've not followed the thread and after cliking the search button and typing "KRABMAN", i didn't manage to find the good post).

4-I come from an oppo find 7 and apart from twrp that I flahed with the windows invit command, all the rest was on my micro SD card in the phone that I flahed directly with twrp. On the note 8, must we use odin only? Do we have obligatory to flash the csc too or It's not worth it?

5-What's the best custom rom for you. I'm looking for a good battery, all the stylet fonctions working, if possible Volte (everything like on the stock rom. i don't care about samsung pay or secure folders). I've read on this thread that the renovate is the best (but if the rom hides the oem option, it will be a problem. No?)

If someone want to say that i have to lean how to use the search button or google is my friend, don't need to post...just ignore my questions.

6-I've read on the lastest posts there is an oem restriction. Can someone precise this to me? How can we know what country is restricted? I live in france and plane to buy the note 8 dual sim on samsung shop french website this sunday 'caue there is a discount and is sold at 809 euros. The exact model is : SM-N950FZKDXEF. Do you know if i will have the oem issue? is there a restriction or another thing?

7-For those who have the oem issue, after flashing custom rom anf root, if you want to try a new custom rom 1 hour later, do you have to wait 7 days or you can do it immediately 'cause i've read that after flash, we have to wait 7 days without rebooting for the oem option reappear again.

Sorry for my english.

Thanks to all for helping.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
Too late.. Waited full 8 days...

This time flashed stock rom and facatory reset

Put in a sim that does not have data connection ( spare sim) and connected to wifi.

Did all the basic setup and connected to google account and samsung acccount.

Now going to leave phone like this for a week and not use the phone for anything.

Will see what happens.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] ALLDAT:
N950F

I hard reset when I got it, connected to Wi-Fi only rebooted here and there and sure enough on the 7day exactly OEM Unlock appear
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
Were u using the phone for the 7 days?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Elin28:
Today finally I have guts to root my international note 8 and similar to most users report on xda, I bought the dual SIM model FD/S from pdaplaza in Canada and l thought it's the same Singapore model, and the one I got is Taiwan model (BRI). No OEM option as expected and I was thinking it wasn't a big deal since note 8 itself is pretty snappy and you can disable most of the bloatware. I read almost entire thread about people returning their note 8 to exchange for UK model...I decide to give a chance and wait for 7 days. In between 7 days, I used my phone as usual (login Google only) and I never setup a Sammy account. As expected..7 days after my first boot, I got my OEM option (exactly 7 days later). I switch it on and then reboot my device ...the OEM switch still there and I have been sitting my phone for few days to make sure it sticks.

Over the weekend I decide to take a chance to root my phone and install the ROM. I followed both instructions from TWRP to obtain the root, then flash the Ironman ROM (one of the favourite ROM when I had my s7). It works perfectly however I don't have a root...I am little scared to reboot since I don't have the oem option...I know Ironman hide the option but who knows whether the switch kicks off by Samsung or not...oh well, worst come to worst , I can install the stock firmware and wait for 7 days.

I reboot back to recovery and flash magisk 14.5, and restart to system, goes to bootlopp (at least not showing the redline). I was thinking I was screwed, but I am still able to boot back in the recovery...this time I am going to install renovate, and surprisingly it install and boot up perfectly...now I am typing on my renovate ROM with root, however my OEM option still missing...I am not sure if can restart it again to avoid soft brick...

Anyways thanks for everyone's make the contribution to the thread. It's a long thread and worth to read. I bet I will wait for 7 days for OEM to appear before I restart..
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
Renovate rom hides oem...so it won't show up again..it will be quite safe to reboot
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] statikk1:
I can definitely confirm that for you.. no OEM at the start.. NEVER setup nor use iris or fingerprint. In fact these are the features I specifically froze/ disabled yet after 7 days OEM showed up
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Elin28:
I reboot it when I was using Ironman ROM
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] ALLDAT:
I did not used at all. Haven't used a stock phone forever lol

---------- Post added at 07:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 PM ----------

Using IronMan Rom too so far good. Just make sure to use stock settings in Aurorma
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Elin28:
I choose modded UI in aroma and that's why I scared like **** when I reboot the phone to install the magisk back to get the root
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] jagr:
would flashing a official stock rom from any custom rom remove the oem unlock option for 7 days again? just wonder if for any reason i need to install a stock rom to fix any flashing screw ups as i've had to with previous phones in the past.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Birbey:
Hey guys, is this exynos note8's can use Verizon network(CDMA) in USA or only GSM networks like AT&t , T Mobil.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] BluePhnx:
Only GSM networks like T-Mobile and At&t.

EXYNOS doesn't support CDMA networks
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] krabman:
Gents...

It does not matter whether you log into either Samsung or Google, people have got OEM unlock when doing both, neither, or one or the other. It does not matter whether or not you enable or don't enable the fingerprint scanner or iris reader. People have got OEM unlock doing both doing neither, or one or the other.

The phone must have connectivity so a background process can contact samsung servers at boot and possibly other times. This process must happen or you will never get OEM unlock. It does not matter if the connectivity is through wi-fi or mobile data, people have got OEM unlock with only one alone or both enabled. It does not appear that there is any region which cannot get OEM unlock, people have reported getting it on devices from essentially every region.

Some people have gone long, past the 7 days. No one knows why but it is clear that something is causing the clock to either be reset, paused, or for whatever reason it hadn't started in the first place in these cases. The fact that some have gone as far as several weeks without, reflashed, then got it after exactly 7 days while a small group have gone short implies that the clock timing can be altered by users. The longest anyone has reported going before getting OEM unlock is 10 days, with no reports of devices getting it after that it might be time to consider re-installing a stock firmware if you are sitting at 10 or more days.

Ironman and Reno both hide the OEM unlock. On Reno we know that you can safely go about you business and have no issues. With Ironman you can elect to use stock settings and keep the OEM unlock slider visible.

Once you do get OEM and follow through with a TWRP/rrot/rom install you do not have to wait to install or reflash a rom unless you have lost your OEM unlock. I have done this myself multiple times because it's my habit while I've got a full backup and already taken the phone to a fresh install state to go ahead and try several roms while I'm there before I decide where to stick. You can reboot you phone as often as you want unless you have lost OEM unlock. You can go into recovery unless you have lost OEM unlock. Please keep in mind the paragraph above, some rom developers hide the OEM unlock. I disagree with this policy but it's their rom their choices. If you find you have lost OEM unlock after flashing on a ROM where it is not hidden THEN you should not reboot for 7 days, you must stay in system.

Don't make it harder than it is guys, once you get unlock follow the instructions on TWRP to the letter and stay in recovery afterwords and install a rom. Most are going to be good to go from there on out. Do not go back to stock as you will get the week in jail again, it never goes away. The trick for those that are going long is just getting OEM unlock in the first place because we really have little idea what's going on with the different timing and the why of it.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] sawdoctor:
Can you pull the battery after flashing before it reboots and then reboot straight into recovery
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Brava27:
[emoji82]
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] $-MONARCH-$:
What actually the ****? Are you asking to remove all adhesive tapes and remove the battery?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] xxx42069:
Rofl! He's just trying to help but seriously rofl. Please don't try to help if you know nothing about the device.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] krabman:
The previous responses are due to the battery being sealed, it is not removable without surgery on this device, not a practical possibility.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] mlkemac:
Samsung does not use fastboot commands. They have their own bootloader.

Stock recovery searches for an update on boot. So that's why it tries installing the csc immediately. Although not sure why it fails yet.

FYI, my 950F is stock singapore. XSP

no oem lock toggle.

the PIT file on my phone seems to match the one available in the UNLOCKED CSC file a few pages back

GREATLTE_EUR_OPEN.pit

sooo..
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Brava27:
I gave up. Sold my phone. [emoji26][emoji26]
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Geekser:
N950F/DS or any other N950F ?

Can anyone tell me if the OEM Unlock option is only missing from some N950F/DS (Dual Sim) models ? Or is it also missing from other N950F Varitents?

Is it in any way related to the COUNTRY we are in ?

I have an N950F/DS that I purchased on EBAY (I was not told it was a dual Sim when I purchased it - it was advertised as an N950F devices - I am in the US.

Is this a software thing that could eventually be fixed by Software ? OR has Samsung effectively locked our bootloader ?

(The bigger question is - WHY would they lock one varient and not others????

This is fu...ing driving me crazy.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] rlahoi:
Singapore sets hold your horses!!No clue whats happening here. Wasn't there yesterday,but to my surprise just found it under dev options. Didn't do nothing to the phone,except maybe a restart earlier during the day. Singtel set, SM-N950F/DS. This is sum weird shid..Yay!!!
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] mlkemac:
What firmware are you on?

*#1234#

?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] rlahoi:
AP : N950FXXU1AQI1

CP : N950FXXU1AQHB

CSC : N950FOXM1AQHF

Model :SM-N950F/DS
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] pswin09:
Hmm.. same firmware but mine don't have oem unlock option .
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] rlahoi:
Can honestly tell u mine don't have it either when i checked yesterday. Did the OTA software update even before I activated dev mode. Not sure if restarting really did the trick though, noob here. :D
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] mlkemac:
I have identical values, however I'm in canada on Rogers

Possibly related to sim card?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] MeltdownSpectre:
Settings > About > Software Information > Service Provider SW Ver

Your CSC will be in the format 'XXX/XXX/XXX', look at the 3rd section and post what it says there. Or just send a screenshot.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] rlahoi:
Service provider SW ver.

SAOMC_SM-N950F_OXM_SIN_0026

ce0617164517b8250d7e

SIN/SIN/XSP
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] MeltdownSpectre:
Well, that's odd. Mine is also XSP, but no OEM Unlock option.

What's your manufacturing date? You can check using the phone info app.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] rlahoi:
Manufacturing Date:

2017.08.18
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] MeltdownSpectre:
Okay then there's a possibility that the bootloader unlock is only possible with a Singapore SIM card in the device.

Anyone else with an XSP Note 8 who's in Singapore can confirm this?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] mlkemac:
Mine is XSP/CHO/XSP

using the unbranded Singapore firmware.. maybe using Singtel makes a difference

https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/SM-N950F/SIN/download/N950FXXU1AQI1/188555/
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] note2clie:
and here I am still at 15hrs....:crying:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] anameeeen:
Thanks for the information.

Someone should put this in the first page.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] maxaiken:
i just want to share something about my device. this is a n950f/ds changed firmware to paraguay UPO.. now it says n950f..

originally i had no OEM UNLOCK. more than a month ago, i enabled OEM UNLOCK after 7 or so days after flashing and factory reset.. after restarting if you dont have internet connection the OEM UNLOCK wont show up. even if it is enabled.

i did not install twrp or anything unofficial.. this is basically official firmware.. but why does it say DEVICE STATUS=CUSTOM in the about phone, status menu

OEM LOCK=OFF ---> in download mode

DEVICE STATUS=CUSTOM ---> in about phone, status

SYSTEM STATUS=OFFICIAL ---> in download mode
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] davidof:
Knox flag is 0x1

Wysłane z mojego SM-N950F przy użyciu Tapatalka
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] and2:
So does this means it is not allowed to boot for 7 days? Because this timer resets to 0 after every reboot.

Gesendet von meinem SM-N950F mit Tapatalk
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] maheshhtc:
Yes its like that. As soon as u boot the timer restarts.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
Don't think that is consistent either. Some people have done reboot without disrupting the timer
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] krabman:
Rebooting does not affect the timer while waiting for OEM unlock to become available.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Zayatoshi:
what's odd is that according to some devices the option to unlock OEM does not appear ... even after the 07 days. I am at 11 days and still not this option

Envoyé de mon SM-N950F en utilisant Tapatalk
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Zayatoshi:
Thank you for all these explanations. I have already tried to install a last firmware stock reset etc ... I am at 11 days and no possibility of unlock oem. I am tired of this situation and I take advantage of my phone without root. I tell myself this option... will arrive one day ...

Envoyé de mon SM-N950F en utilisant Tapatalk
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] mehrec:
I do not see the oem either. can not I be root ???
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] MistahBungle:
No.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] sefrcoko:
You have to wait for the OEM unlock toggle to appear first.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] dr.ketan:
Anyone have tried CF Auto root while binary error blocks custom flashing?

Also nothing wrong to try rooting device with cf auto root and see how it goes.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] krabman:
Warning! I decided to take a chance and install Iron rom with the full system settings to see what would happen and I'm now in jail for the first time since the begining. Do not install Iron rom unless you disable the custom settings/rom control in aroma, you will be in jail!

A week without root and all my customizations... *sob*
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] PlutoDelic:
Two weeks of normal, untouched, stock usage and no OEM unlock option triggered.

Could this be CSC (region) specific?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] CopHard:
Also, If you*can’t find OEM unlock option*in your Note8 under Settings > Developer options, then it means there is nothing you can do here as Samsung hasn’t provided that option on your device. You are out of luck, and can’t root the Note8.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Elin28:
Feel bad for you krabman. Ironman ROM is the first ROM I installed and didn't pay much attention and choose customized option. It works fine for my FD/S. I even flash CSC file from Dr.ketan ROM. However due to no root that's why I am scared to reboot based on all the comments from you and others. Surprisingly I am able to go back and forth between TWRP and the ROM...Now I am at renovate now, and possibly I will stick to it since the most important mod for me is centre clock and adaway.

Good luck.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] sefrcoko:
Not true. There are many cases where the OEM unlock toggle appears after 7-10days, etc. Not seeing it doesn't automatically mean that you'll never see it or that you can never root.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] VerucaSalt:
I have OEM Unlock appear and have toggled it.

Out of interest, how do you re-lock the bootloader?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] MistahBungle:
If you mean can you 'untrip' Knox after flashing custom firmware, you can't. You can obviously go back to stock via Odin anytime you like though.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] VerucaSalt:
No, I haven't tripped Knox, all I did was toggle OEM Unlock in dev settings.

Just want to relock the bl in order to use Android Pay.

I reflashed stock firmware in Odin but the bl remains unlocked.

Any idea how I might relock it?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] MistahBungle:
You can try toggling OEM unlock to on in developer settings, reboot, see if it sticks. If it doesn't, you might be SOOL. Might be a case of once you set it to unlock, that's it.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] PlutoDelic:
OK, so i think i found a culprit of the delay.

I bought the phone in Iraq, with an MID CSC. I was lucky to have read the REGIONAL LOCK paper while unboxing, saying that the phone is intentionally unlocked, but it needs to do a cumulative 5 minutes calling from the region it is sold from (in this case, Middle East). As i said, lucky enough, other sims worked when i traveled recently.

I only did about 3-4 days in total with the first SIM, and 10 with the other ones. I will give it another 7-10 days with this SIM and see if SIM/Region change is also a trigger for the timer reset.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] xDreDz:
OEM toggle dissappeared ffs. Should have flashed twrp when I had the chance
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
Have you done anything that would have made it disappear??
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] xDreDz:
Hmm.. When I got the phone I immediately looked at the OEM toggle if its there, after checking I wiped my phone and now that I have time to flash twrp it disappeared.

I think I ticked it the first time before doing the wipe
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
How many y days since wipe?

Where did u get the phone and where r u using it?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] xDreDz:
About 2 days, got the phone here in the Philippines and im still using it here. N950F/DS
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Techvir:
U have to wait for full 7 days
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] xDreDz:
I know. Its all over XDA
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Iradj:
I have my Note8 since September 28 and the first day I got it, turned it on and checked if that glorious toggle is there and it was, since then i never messed with it and it's never disappeared and hopefully it stays like that cause who knows maybe I'll root someday surely.

BTW i have the N950F Dual SIM Version.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] holifo:
Mine is the same even after the software update the OEM switch is still there.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] joseph.hsu:
if i know the damn oem unlock option on note8..

i will not buy this phone..i rather to buy s8+

in jail so many times after flashed Rom..
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Wahaj_Alden:
Does doing a factory reset will reset the time for OEM Unlock to appear ??
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] force70:
Yes it does, been mentioned a bunch of times across numerous threads

sent from my Note FE, S8 plus (exynos) or S6
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] mehrec:
I have been on the phone for 3 months. oem still does not appear ... :(((
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] Zayatoshi:
I have the same problem. oem still does not appear (16 Day)

Envoyé de mon SM-N950F en utilisant Tapatalk
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] PRO23:
My oem appear after 4 or 5 days: first stop using Samsung pay for 4 or 5 days.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] NIKKOTUASON:
Do you need OEM Unlock on to flash official firmware? I have the Taiwan N950F/DS and want flash the Colombia (Movistar) (COB) N950FXXU1AQIA. Also will that trip Knox? Thanks
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] krabman:
Nope, you can flash away on official firmware but do be aware that it will reset your clock back to 7 days nominal every time you do it.

---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:19 PM ----------

You're aware the phone hasn't been out three months?

---------- Post added at 06:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:22 PM ----------

When you wiped your phone you reset your clock and worse, whatever procedure you followed has punted you over into the land of timered Note 8's. You now have no option but to wait until you get the switch. When you do don't mess with it until you have time to install TWRP and a rom with knox removed and do it following the established procedures. If you had read up before hand you would not be where you are now. I'm not messing with you, I'm warning you that you can stay in the land of no root for a long time if you don't get ahead of this BS.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] xDreDz:
Hope someone will bypass this. Its annoying that we have to wait for 7 days for something that we bought
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] note2clie:
Finally!! got my oem unlock option appeared after 128 hrs
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Questions and Answers] rocketmail.com:
You can root, and flash a custom Rom.

But be mindful of the steps provided severely on this thread and follow to the letter.

Jail is not a good time for us.