yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
There is only one v3 firmware out....once the other firmwares are released....they are official so switching may still be possible...just no downgrades...to v2....I also don't have the v3 binary yet...the v2 binary may be the cause of the brick....all firmwares, including binaries, are official....they would have to lock down the CSC to a specific carrier to stop switching....we will see soon...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Mr. Orange 645:
Actually there is Verizon, Sprint, USC, and ATT firmwares released with Blv3 right now. And no it has nothing to do with trying to downgrade BL versions.

There's already an article on XDA about it. Blv3 patches Comsey ODIN, so anything you need Comsey for, including Factory Binary, flashing out of region firmware (such as the N950UW XAC files) WILL hard brick your device.

There's been much discussion and confirmation of this in the Telegram group.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
So we need an update to Comsy's Odin to bypass the patch....and I only found CCT and USC firmwares...ill research the block to modified Odin and see if anyone's working on a newer version...since it is used in unlocking (for pay) there should be a workaround soon...

Never say Never...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] uplusd:
Anyone?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] car2carl:
@ Bluefox please take a look this post method to bypass the patch , will it work?

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=75360965&postcount=22
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Bra8 has v3 bootloader so no downgrades and Prince Comsy's Odin is blocked for now so no flashing binaries for different models...like u1 firmware...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Interesting but requires root access to edit buildprop...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Pulverizer:
Need to NOTICE about BL3 problem and Doubts of BL3

[MENTION=5649240]BlueFox721[/MENTION]

[MENTION=2925132]Mr. Orange 645[/MENTION]

Always thanks for sharing useful information to us.

Regarding this BL3 New bootloader protection, I think we would be NOTICE of about this new BL3 problem.

It meaning the First post of this thread, Who add this strong WARNING message on the First post/page.

"PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS MODEL / CARRIER FLASH IF YOU FIRMWARE INDICATE BL3 binary. (like N950USQU3BRAX,The last X values are depending on Carriers)

Most of carrier released this BL3 ENABLED binary from Jan/28, So If your binary received since Jan/28, Please DO NOT TRY THIS CARRIER SWITCH"

Already many guys saw at XDA portal article as below link.

https://www.xda-developers.com/samsung-galaxy-s8-note8-bootloader-odin/

But, even now who read this Article and trying to flash another carrier or switch to unlocked firmware even who has already received BL3 stock firmware.

And may he gets HARD-BRICKED. Its too sad.

Regarding this Bootloader 3 happen, i have some doubts and investigate of some Cases.

Already BL3 enabled stock carrier firmware received/applied guys, will not try or won't try this Model/CSC change.

Because If whom use official Odin program, they will reject the flashing with FAIL message if Canada model firmware(950W) or Unlocked firmware(950U1).

The problem is already Model or CSC changed users are affects this BL3 brick happen occur or not.

(I think this BL3 is almost big APOCALYPSE to here members. )

[ Already flashed from N950U to N950U1 (Unlock firmware) when firmware has BL1 or BL2 ]

(BL1/BL2) N950U ===> (BL1/BL2) N950U1 / This work will okay.

So, Original was N950U model and flashed to N950U1 model, Now it changed to N950U1 model.

Then this case, if fimware update to N950U1 BL3 / firmware, Will it brick? Even Odin Flash or FOTA update.

Because this original model was N950U, Not N950U1

Actually, when I feel bad things Note8 Korean variants model suddenly BL version increasing in short period.

They suddenly Bootloader two level increased in one Month. This happen was unbelievable.

This is the history of Korean Note8 N950N especially bootloader upgrade.

(History can be found from Samfirm : https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-note8/SM-N950N/ )

I haven't seen Samsung bootloader upgrade speed like this case. The bootloader increasing speed is crazy. It meaning they found something protect or block function.

But BIG shocking is they block the Carrier or model switching in this BL3 changes. Its too too too bad story for ours. :crying::crying:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Thank you for your concern and overwhelming attempt to guide how I manage my own thread...I was on Vacation when this new information came about and was already planning to update my thread, just like others who manage threads on XDA...It would be severly dificult for any to use this thread effectively seeing that I have not posted an V3 Binary, as we do not have one. If anyone attempted to switch carriers without the updated binary, it would not have worked anyways...My guide states to use binaries that match your Firmware..so If one is following my guide, they would know that there is not a way to switch carriers yet for the updated V3 Firmware...Stating that this guide is causing BRICKs is FALSE.....However, the Noted disclaimer that I planned to update with is updated on my thread...If you or anyone else wishes to dictate what I place in my threads, feel free to send me a PM...DO NOT DICTATE WHAT I SHOULD POST WITHIN THE THREAD, as I do not do this to others...

Now seeing that this may be an FRP issue and that the Unlockers that make money need to use a modified Odin at times, It is most likely that we will see a newer version of a Modified Odin, maybe a different version of Hiemdall, that will resolve the issue...It may be as simple as removing all accounts from device and then flashing Factory Binary, of which we do not have yet, to flash another device's Firmware...Where there is a will there is a way...After all, how did we get root?

I will keep an eye out, and even play with Odin myself, to ensure that when there is a fix, if ever, I will update it...

Thank you though for looking out for your fellow XDA members...

:cool:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Friendlyx355:
Hey everyone! I have a Note 8 Unlocked with the firmware of T-Mobile, flashed through these steps. I just got the t-mobile January update, should i update? What happens when oreo comes? Will i be able to just update straight from Samsung? What are the steps i should take to not have a bricked phone.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Pulverizer:
I am sorry for dictate you without any notice. I'll be careful from next time.

Details, I sent a PM to you. :)

I am very appreciate to your this Great guide and your efforts. :good: :highfive:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] DeathSentinels:
Reports of successful Blv3 flashes using prince comsey, I was able to flash N950W CSC from Bra5 to CRB1 N950U firmware, I haven't done a full switch from N950U back to N950W but with the successful CSC switch I'm confident that it would be successful.

Pretty exciting developments going on!
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Mr. Orange 645:
Update from [MENTION=7277512]mweinbach[/MENTION]:

"EDIT: After being tested by XDA Senior member me2151, it turns out cross region flashing does work. Prince Comsy Odin is working, but we can not test if the factory binary flashing will hard brick your phone. So flashing US unlocked onto a US carrier device should work."

To expand a bit on what [MENTION=7277512]mweinbach[/MENTION]*just said, [MENTION=4591212]me2151[/MENTION]*did some more testing, and he was able to successfully carrier switch from a 950U to 950W using Comsey ODIN. So it looks like Comsey ODIN is not patched as we originally thought. Not sure exactly what caused the tester's phone to brick, but it HARD BRICKED and had to be RMA'd at his expense. So we jumped on the forums here to warn others until more testing could be done. [MENTION=7277512]mweinbach[/MENTION]*wrote the article and [MENTION=7820902]xdanilva[/MENTION]and I began posting here.*

We may have overreacted, but wanted to err on the side of caution to protect people from hard bricks.*

The Blv3 factory binary has not been tested, so still unsure if/how we will be able to use it, or if it will cause issues.*

For now, carry on as usual, but understand we still don't know the full implications of the Blv3 patches. One person has already HARD BRICKED, and [MENTION=4591212]me2151[/MENTION]*almost hard bricked testing all of this for us.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Removing accounts before flashing will bypass frp...so it may be prudent to do so before flashing...thank you all for checking this out...:cool:
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Mr. Orange 645:
Not sure if had anything to do with FRP. Not saying you're wrong, I honestly don't know.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Hello Blue Fox are you going to post any of these new files?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Yep indeedy....i was just waiting for confirmation that all is well...going to post the binary as well...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Yeah I was just going off of an earlier post of users bypassing frp while rooted to use Prince Comsy's Odin...for non-rooted users we have to remove accounts...but it's all good...lol
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] jerrycoffman45:
i went from u to u1 no problem both v3 bootloader
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Ok thank you. Waiting on the AT&T cause for the life of me can't figure out how to get the OTA automatically. I tried adding the AT&T apn but still doesn't work. Unless someone with the 950U1 running ATT stock firmware. Please let me know if you figured out how to get the OTA from AT&T. I am coming from the carrier unlocked 950U1 and flashed the stock 950U software.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] jerrycoffman45:
i believe your imie has to be in their system
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] badkidrf:
I originally have a SPR N950U Note 8, had been using U1 Unlocked Rom for sometime now. I must say, I paid to SIM Unlock my phone the first week with the phone. Recently switched from T-Mobile Service to Verizon, I had kept the U1 Rom on as it provisioned automatically after I switched SIM Cards.

For some reason, I'm obsessed with constantly switching firmwares on my phone so I wanted to officially indulge in all VRZ had to offer so I flashed N950USQS2BQL5 VRZ version (U2 Bootloader) I believe. I ran that for a bit and all was well, suddenly received an OTA Update for N950USQU3BRA5 (U3 Bootloader). I took the update and my phone updated properly.

Everything is well on my end... longest post ever but I just wanted your advise guys. I'll wait patiently while ODIN is fixed or whatnot but I've tried flashing XAA Unlocked Version again to no avail (Fail256 error). Thank God I came across these posts regarding Bricking your phone with this new BL. I would like to switch back to the Unlocked U1 Firmware but wanted to know if I should just ride it out until more information comes to light regarding this New U3 BL.

Again my phone is a SIM Unlocked SPR Note 8 N950U ran XAA Unlocked Firmware for a while, switched to the VRZ N950USQS2BQL5 then took the VRZ N950USQU3BRA5 OTA Update.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated, sorry for this anthology I just posted.

---------- Post added at 12:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 AM ----------

Am I locked down to VRZ Firmwares going forward?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] nelms:
Can I flash csc and userdata from att bql5 over unlocked bql2 ? Still trying to obtain att features... Factory unlocked 950u1
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] twynn:
Anybody have input about flashing AT&T U1 firmware on a UICC unlocked U sprint phone? Can I just flash CSC , BL, AP, CP , User data and roll?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Mr. Orange 645:
Nope the Blv3 myth was busted. We aren't sure what caused the testers phone to brick, but we have verified carrier switching still works. Your 256 error was likely because you were using regular ODIN. Comsey ODIN will flash it no problem.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] cajun456:
I just wanted to say thank you to BlueFox721 an all whom contribute to this awesome community. I have the AT&T version Note 8. It is SIM unlocked and by following the instructions on the OP, I have flashed the unlocked firmware. I have now used my Note 8 on AT&T and Verizon without any problems. I received the latest update with my Verizon SIM and put my AT&T SIM back in later and everything is still working great. Any way, just wanted to say thanks. I hit that donate button for you BlueFox.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] NfamousDroid:
So just to be absolutely clear. Its ok to flash from original carrier firmware to the unlocked firmware using comsey ODIN. Just have to removed all accounts in my phone before doing so, correct?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Yes...I just have not removed disclaimer yet...I am uploading the new files soon
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
I have a carrier unlocked note 8. I flashed the csc for AT&T. So I can get some of the AT&T features. Has anyone figured out why u lose voice calling when you do this. I disabled volte to get voice calls back. But would like to enable it back and still have my voice calling. Has anyone solved this beside going full AT&T stock rom?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
COMBINATION_FA71_N950USQU3ARA3 and AQL1 Binaries added to OP...Firmware uploads still progressing...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] _Dennis_:
AT&T requires your IMEI to be in their system as an AT&T phone to get VoLTE.

If you're phone is trying to stay on LTE for a voice call but the network is not looking for voice calls on LTE from that phone you'll not be able to make or receive voice calls.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
When I flash the AT&T stock Rom all my features work. Including VOLTE, WIFI CALLING and VVM.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Ohh_Trenton:
I have been following this thread and android developments for a while now. I'm no stranger to android development but this one has me scratching my head.

I followed the carrier switch guide. Successfully did that (or so I believe). Everything went smoothly. I have a Verizon Note 8, bootloader v2 with a VZW sim. I was previously running unlocked XAA. I flashed ATT firmware onto my note 8 using a VZW sim still. However I cannot get any data to work whatsoever. Tried the default APNs and added some I found on Google to no avail. Am I missing something here?

Once again I have an unlocked Verizon Note 8 on a VZW sim card currently running ATT firmware but no data. Any suggestions please?

EDIT: After the 10th try, I made some slight progress. Similar to post #335 in this thread, I finally got the 32% error screen, then I wiped and rebooted. Had LTE for the first 4 seconds on bootup, then it totally disappeared. Messing around with APNS currently but I don't know why it went away
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] foreverbeta:
I flashed the USERDATA portion using ODIN and lost all of my data, but am now receiving OTA updates. There is something in USERDATA that tells the update server that this is a TMB device.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] NfamousDroid:
Ok sorry if I missed this somewhere. But, if im on latest update BRA6 and just want to flash unlocked firmware can i flash the latest N950U1UEU2BQL2 or do i have to wait for the BRA5 firmware and flash that? Thanks in advance!
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] noob4598:
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=673956719939816760

Not sure if this is what you were looking for but this is bra5 firmware for the U1.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
I have a 950U1 on BRA5 for the Note 8. Is it ok to flash BRA8 Stock ATT through regular Odin or Comsy?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] kevindevonwilliams:
Am on V1 bootloader on SPR N950U, I want to change to US N950U1 firmware that is stock without any Sprint bloatware...

How do you advise I proceed without bricking device...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] cam30era:
1) Don't do anything that you don't understand.

2) Read, read, read and ask questions about anything you're not sure about.

3) Specifically, print out a hard copy of the OP and read it very carefully (several times). Mark up everything you don't understand. Then read this thread, from about the 1st of this year (page 75) and look for answers. After you've done all that, come back here and ask those questions that haven't already been answered in this forum.

Good luck.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] kevindevonwilliams:
I read the flashing unlocked firmware post, I did that on previous F model but never the U model.. But since there is a new firmware out which has V3 bootloader I just wanted to know the precise route to take to move from SPR N950U to XAA N950U1 without bricking the device or anything of that sort.. And would I get OTA directly from Samsung?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
You won't brick by following directions posted...everything still the same....yes OTA comes from Samsung
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] badkidrf:
Mr. Orange you're the man, I was just impatient. Can confirm my Sprint Note 8 is fully working on the BRA5 U1 firmware ---> Verizon Strong for now.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] kevindevonwilliams:
Thanks, so I can move from SPR V1 N950U to XAA V3 N950U1 bootloader without any problem?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] badkidrf:
From SPR to TMB to XAA to VRZ back to XAA, all on the same Sprint Note8 - N950U.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] kevindevonwilliams:
How was the process? Smooth?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] badkidrf:
Yes, No complications really. It's just certain firmware you can't go back to the lower versions once you've upgrade but via Modified ODIN you could definitely get to an XAA Unlocked firmware via ODIN for your SPR note
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Yes...just use Prince Comsy's Odin...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] blane3298:
my sprint note 8 is on 3bra8. is there a unlocked firmware i can flash? been trying everything and nothing is working
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] cajun456:
I have an AT&T Note 8 that I flashed with the unlocked firmware. I want to get the VOLTE working and see that I need to flash the CSC file for the AT&T firmware. From what I have read flashing the CSC file will wipe the data on my phone. Although, flashing the Home_CSC file is the same except it doesn't wipe the data. Does this sound right? I prefer not to have to wipe my phone.

Also, do I need to re-flash the AP, BL, and CP files when I flash the CSC or Home_CSC?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] colonel187:
is it just me or is the carrier firmware garbage. I was obsessing over getting VZW app and WiFI calling working on my unlocked Note 8 and I've flashed both combinations of the firmware with VZW stuff. I can't stand that some features are missing and the settings garbage layout compared to unlocked/unbranded. I've decided I don't care about WiFi calling that much. Am I the only one that feels like they are ruining their device by putting carrier firmware on it?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Ohh_Trenton:
Nope I'm right there with you. I only run unlocked firmware on VZW. The carrier features aren't worth it here. I wish RCS was present for us. But signal will do for now.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] arrayat:
I ran the latest OTA security update, and lost access to my Sim Card!

Any ideas?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] cam30era:
Take a look at this thread > https://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/how-to-fix-imei-drk-issues-t3622559
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Blackhawk163:
Blue, did you take down bra5 xaa from your links? Can't seem to download it.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Ok I flashed the AT&T carrier version on my unlocked carrier phone. The only thing that works is VOLTE. Wi-Fi doesn't work and Video calls don't work. I don't think it was worth it. If I want to go back to Unlocked. I can just flash the carrier unlocked version the same way I flashed the carrier version?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Flash using regular Odin, run as administrator
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Before it boots to setup screen is when SIM is important...must be present for provisioning
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
Use Prince Comsy's Odin to go back...did you call ATT for carrier provisioning and imei added to whitelist?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
You may also benefit by doing this:

Factory reset from recovery...after reset back out to main recovery menu and select boot to bootloader...then flash using regular Odin, run as administrator

Recovery is Volume+ + Bixby + Power
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Do I have to do anything differently? Or just add the appropriate files to each selection. I did not contact them. I wanted to flash the carrier unlocked then flash the AT&T userdata and csc.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] SimplyNando:
So I just removed my SD card, installed Kies and used the Unlocked XAA firmware and used the AT&T CSC and Userdata and all flashed without issue. I don't know what the actual issue was since I did all 3 at the same time and then gave it another go.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
Did u flash the user and csc separately after flashing the unlocked firmware?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] SimplyNando:
Yes. I was going to leave it as just the plain jane unlocked firmware, but I quickly noticed/remembered i needed the WiFi calling so i had to go back and flash those afterwards.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] borijess:
So you just flashed the USER and CSC from the ATT firmware? Which odin did you use?
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] SimplyNando:
Correct. Everything else was the regular XAA version. I used PrinceComsy's Odin that i downloaded from another site since it didn't look like this one was working for me. I had to change the config file for the UMS and USERDATA from 0 to 1 so i could unlock the UMS section to enter the USERDATA.

---------- Post added at 11:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 AM ----------

I downloaded this Odin:

https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=24591023225177749

After everything is finished, it's basically just a debloated Note8 with AT&T services still intact.
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
I noticed that different settings are applied when changing CSC code to XAA or VZW before flashing Unlocked Firmware. On Sprint, more settings are available with XAA but the carrier functions tend to work right away by using SPR...it is a pain to flash multiple times but you may notice one or the other works best...just a thought...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] BlueFox721:
No, I just tested the link and it is working...sometimes AFH has issues...just try again if it happens again...
[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] justinxfan:
Hi I live in Canada and I want to buy an unlocked at&t Note8 model N950U. Can I flash it to the n950W firmware?