yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] rezarac:
Doesn't loose root for me. Shows a warning message on boot asking to press power button again to continue. You can change the warning image (following instructions in the post) but can't avoid having to press the power button again AFAIK. If you don't press it then nothing happens (it keeps rebooting to the warning screen).
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
I don't press the power button and it boots normally
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Same for me, the message pops up twice but then device boots without pressing power button.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
Is there a fast way to re-establish root after reloading stock?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
Do you still have TWRP?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
[MENTION=5440376]physwizz[/MENTION] No, this is after a full install of stock ROM. I never had success with restoring from TWRP - a bit of a guessing game as to which partitions to backup / restore without ending up with the dreaded red text at the top of the screen:eek:

OEM Unlock button activated but grayed out in Developer options, Odin fails to flash rooted boot image etc. Have to wait forever for the functionality to return which gives me plenty of time to hate Samsung even more:mad:
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
When you do eventually get back in, just backup boot, data & system.(not system.IMG)

I have 6 different GSI backups of these 3 and have no trouble swapping between any of them. I also have a stock backup of the same 3 partitions. I have gone back to the stock back up several times.

The only exception is Android 10. I explained that one on the GSI page.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] droidzer1:
Somewhere in this thread or the TWRP one I mention how I bypass any waiting game for the OEM thing by just setting the date back 3 or 4 weeks on first boot up. Disable Wifi and put in Airplane mode and turn off auto-update time by network - then do a reboot and allow it to update by Wifi or network. More details around in these threads but it always worked for me without having to flash the RMbypass zip.

Just curious since you mentioned several times your dislike for Samsung what brand do you like most?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
[MENTION=5513307]droidzer1[/MENTION] I have figured out to to recover quickly after trashing the phone. It needs to make like E.T and call home before it will let you access the unlocked bootloader for real - before that happens, it only pretends to give you access to break your spirit and eventually submit to the will of Samsung.

On the more serious side of things....... In Australia we are limited in brands and models on offer (the land of the duopoly) so to buy one of the better OnePlus, Google Pixel or even Moto offerings is either impossible or priced over the top. I took a punt on the A20 which has been a bit of a failure with crippled hardware performance (SoC, Camera, Modem, Sound etc), mediocre battery life even after a good debloating. All I ever want is a cheapo phone that can be rooted, debloated, de-Googled, de-Samsunged or de-whatever branded. Is that allowed anymore or am I being a non-conformist?

I still use my Moto G 2013 as my primary device running 7.1 - now that was a good phone but whether or not that can be said about current Lenovo built Motos is another question.....
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] droidzer1:
Well that explains it. Your phone is listening to all the bad things you say about it so it is trying to mess with you by being as difficult as possible. LOL ... but seriously I don't have a SIM in mine so it can't call home unless Wifi is on. I think my experience was that even if OEM unlock is grayed out you can still install Magisk and once you do that it is no longer grayed out. From official Magisk directions - this info may be relevant:

since things had changed drastically from previous Samsung devices, and there are some

details that many might not know, I figure this would be helpful.

Allow bootloader unlocking in Developer options → OEM unlocking

Power off your device. Press Bixby + Volume Down and plug in your device to a PC to boot into download mode.

Long press volume up to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot.

Just when you think the bootloader is unlocked, surprise surprise, it is actually not! Samsung introduced VaultKeeper in the system, meaning the bootloader will reject any unofficial partitions before VaultKeeper explicitly allows it.

Go through the initial setup. Skip through all the steps since data will be wiped again later when we are installing Magisk. Connect the device to internet in the setup!

Enable developer options, and confirm that the OEM unlocking option exists and grayed out! The VaultKeeper service will unleash the bootloader after it confirms that the user has the OEM unlocking option enabled. This step is to simply make sure the service gets

the correct info, and also double check that our device is in a correct state

Your bootloader now accepts unofficial images in download mode.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
[MENTION=5513307]droidzer1[/MENTION] Yes, it must be that Vaultkeeper service protecting the pot of gold (my data) for Samsung and Alphabet to plunder. Note to self: Do not delete or disable Samsung Payment service again - it is crucial to the phone remaining functional because it involves Samsung and money......hmmm?

If Samsung and Alphabet are so concerned about our phone security, then why do we still run Webview v72 and miss out on all the so called "security" improvements released since then? Why do we get a warning when replacing the stock keyboard that the aftermarket keyboard app will be able to keylog our every move when the reverse is exactly the reason to replace it?

What a joke this is all becoming.......why can't I have a phone that just does what I want it to do and doesn't split the spoils of my data between 2 badly behaved multinational companies?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] argonax:
is there someone from the PH tried this rooting method I am afraid to try it with my A20. :D:D
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
It works with all A20s except the SM-A205U
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] droidzer1:
Download the stock ROM for your phone first - make sure you have the correct model and build. Then if anything goes wrong you can flash the stock ROM back with Odin. As long as you don't have the Metro PCS model (SM-A205U) you should be good to go. I'd suggest looking here: https://samsung-firmware.org/model/SM-A205G/ or search from their home page: https://samsung-firmware.org/
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] argonax:
I am using SM-A250GN from ph. i will try but my history in rooting samsung is 1 out of 10 only samsung s3 rogers edition i was successfully doing the root process.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] droidzer1:
That site has your model for stock ROMs here: https://samsung-firmware.org/model/SM-A205GN/

People here can help you out if you have trouble but following the directions you should be fine. However if it's your only phone and you must rely on it being dependable at all times (like when a root attempt fails) then I would understand not trying this. A computer with at least Windows 7 will be helpful if you decide to try.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] argonax:
I have a windows 10 pro laptop. my only problem is, does my phone still receive s OTA incase I root it?bootloader will be unlocked as well right?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] droidzer1:
Yes boot loader would be unlocked and you won't get OTA updates unless you restore your phone to stock. Then you would need to reinstall TWRP and probably re-root it.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] janga9:
These links don't work. The second one doesnt have my device (SM-A205YN) listed, and the first one the download will fail about a quarter of the way through every time :/

Does anyone have any working links for the SM-A205YN? Also, I'm not entirely sure what the difference between VAP, TLP and XSA firmware is. They are all listed under the SM-A205YN page on the first link given, but it doesnt tell me what the difference is. FWIW I plan on installing a GSI ROM later anyway, so does it matter?

Thanks :)
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
I downloaded the 205yn vap.

Check your "about phone" to see
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] janga9:
Thank you! I had mine listed as XSA under Service Provider. Thanks for the info :)
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
sit the phone right next to the wifi and don't use it until download is finished.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] janga9:
Didnt help :( It still fails everytime about half an hour after i start the download.

would anyone be able to supply an alternative mirror?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
I don't know of one.

You might try downloading to a computer with a good internet connection (NBN)
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] janga9:
I live in Australia (hence SM-A205YN) and I have the NBN, our governments "upgraded" broadband connection, which crippled my internet. I now get better speeds than the old ADSL connection, but it slows to a snail every 10 minutes. I have tried several ISP's, contacting the government directly to get them to fix our ****ing broadband, but nothing works. My home internet is utter trash and most of my internet use is done from 4G now.

I'll have to try getting a mate to download it for me and copy it to my computer.

Thanks tho
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
I'll be getting the nbn soon.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Can we root U3 bootloader? I am still on U2ASG1
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] vicecry:
SM-A205F

i followed steps same as you wrote after flasing patched boot.img my phone wasn't starting and showed error at samsung a20 logo screen in red color at top of screen " Only Official Release Binaries Are Allowed To Be Flash " and then phone was turning power off automatically wasn't able to boot rom, my firmware was up to date/updated then i decided to flash stock june 2019 firmware of my region and now im able to root my phone easily without any error but facing 1 error in TWRP E:FBE found but FBE support not present in TWRP.

maybe this magisk root method has been patched in latest firmware update as i was getting error in updated firmware "Only Official Release Binaries Are Allowed To Be Flash"
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Has anyone rooted U3 bootloader? (205G)
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
You might be the first!
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Lol...no dont want to upgrade no way back if it's not possible
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] iriigsiby:
so am i to understand that rooting is not an option for a samsung galaxy a20 sm-a205u? did i buy digital AIDS?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Can confirm root works on A205GUBU3ASJ4. Don't know if anyone else tried it yet but followed OP's same steps for U2 bootloader and U3 bootloader is rooted. Have not attempted Twrp yet. Just wanted all to know.

---------- Post added at 01:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------

No you cannot root as that model bootloader cannot be unlocked.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
Someone mentioned safestrap as an option for a205u
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
I have safestrap on my Snapdragon Note8. I wonder if a few tweaks will get it working.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] s7aycool:
Hello everybody.

My A205FN is stuck on "samsung" loading screen after patching boot.img. Anybody experienced that? What goes wrong?

Long story:

I had successfully rooted my A205FN following subject guide, but suddenly I got my OS unbootable after editing some files related to system app permissions. I flashed newest stock ROM, and after flashing patched boot.img I have my a20 stuck on "samsung" loading screen. Tried 3 different versions to flash: I tried newest Ukrainian stock rom, 2 Russian stock roms (1 fresh and 1 rotten). I event tried to flash Ukrainian ROM and then flash patched boot.img from Ukrainian rom. It just stucks on samsung loading after I do factory reset after flashing.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
did you follow all these steps?

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=80021195&postcount=4
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
[MENTION=10297495]s7aycool[/MENTION] Did you flash back to a stock ROM that is not updated to September or later and use a patched boot.img from that i.e. using no components from the updated ROM? I had the same issues trying to root a stock ROM after the latest update and it seems virtually every current Samsung A8~A50 model has the same issues.

It looks like Samsung's idea of "security" is to keep you from customizing your own phone and removing their sources of ongoing income. If they were serious about security, the update would have included Webview v78 as a priority as Google is forever "improving" the (cough) "security" of it. It did not, so Samsung is exposed as being only interested in what profits them with no regard to your security at all.......maybe next they will bake backdoors into the physical SoC like certain Chinese firms with their own foundry do (if they are not doing that already) :(
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
Remind me not to update. #@$^%$
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
I wonder how this is going to play out for future updates? If we get Android 10 but have to loose Root and TWRP, is it worth updating at all?

The alternative path of using GSI ROMs has its drawbacks with some loss or degradation of functionality. Everyone was so quick to blame and rubbish MTK for dead-ending updates when it wasn't their fault but not too many shine a light on the big players like Samsung for more sinister practices.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] s7aycool:
yes, absolutely.

I flashed stock ROM from 2019-08-02.

Guys, thanks for the answers!

For now I have my root achieved and I know where was the problem. I simply wasn't patient enough while system.img was unpacking: I started flashing my phone when system.img wasn't even in my folder, it was unzipping xD I don't know how this happened. I flashed about 3-4 times everything from ROM, without system.img and OS somehow was working. How is it possible?

Thanks for the guide again, it's very cool. Despite the fact that you can easily unpack lz4 on pc.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
TWRP is the next step.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
[MENTION=5440376]physwizz[/MENTION] [MENTION=5952980]jajk[/MENTION] i also updated on oct patch and will try root later but as i can assume the magisk 20.1 version also patching dtbo.img thats why its not booting maybe.. we cant do anything(can't even unpack and repack) to dtbo bcz its packed by samsung avb.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] jajk:
If you read the scripts that Magisk uses to patch boot and dtbo, you might be able to manually run magiskboot commands in a terminal on your phone to extract and repack dtbo.....
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Okay u didt understand my point.. u can unpack and repack dtbo(obviously bcz its img format)..But when u flash the repacked dtbo the device will not boot..

Bcz its packed by samsung avb signature and only samsung can modify the values in dtbo.. Yes we can easily modify the values clock speed etc. but when we repack it without samsung avb. it does not boot. idk why samsung is copying oppo vivo like firms(means locking the phone with updates) i think avb can be fully removed but there is no solution for now.

---------- Post added at 10:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 AM ----------

@jajk one more question

is u successfully rooted your phn with oct patch?

---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 AM ----------

There is alot more protection in newer phones.. So ****ed source sammy is going crazy.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] :
SM-A205G model from Brazil successfully rooted ;)

Thanks for the method, I didn't know that Magisk had this feature about patching official boot images to flash into the phone as it was an "official" ROM.

In my case I have used Heimdall to flash the image to my phone.

UPDATE: I'm so sad, that didn't work... yet!

ANOTHER UPDATE: I've got a software brick XD... That's OK, it seems I will have to wait one day until the battery ends.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Can anyone provide me the latest stock (october patch) recovery.img and boot.img bcz im stucked bcz of twrp.

AND DONT HAVE FRIMWARE FILE...WILL BE HELPFULL.
[MENTION=4496829]butchieboy[/MENTION]
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Give me a minute
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Really appreciated.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Here ya go[emoji106]

boot.tar (U3)

https://mega.nz/#!z9pREQ5B!-r-IGC1Ej5mngYFapqcJFsYMseaQpnlg_UeVpZUSjQg
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Bro does u included the recovery.img?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
It's the patched boot that allows root
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Yeah but as i say i flashed twrp if i dont flash u3 stock recovery it will not boot ...twrp is messing with sw check.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
So odin U3 and start there.

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------

I haven't tried to install Twrp on U3. You will have to consult with OP on that. He is more knowledgeable then me on that subject
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
U didt understood..

Do u have stock frimware file?( oct patch).

Just extract the ap file and then u will see recovery.img that what i want.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Are you not able to do that yourself? Not trying to be a jerk I'm just curious. I know how to do it just wondering why you cant..lol
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Big bro bcz i dont have latest U3 frimware.

I have u2 frimware and i get u3 from ota update..
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Recovery.img (U3)

https://mega.nz/#!HhxDiaaA!P2BNOHz-N7B_4_g6c1IfXy-BugHh1X2tHhyveAn7ENY
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Ty for that. Im in so much treble bcz of that..hope now the device boot.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
[emoji106]hope it helps
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Worked.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Glad you're back up and running
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] LeonardoGC:
Hi [MENTION=5440376]physwizz[/MENTION]

I previously rooted my Galaxy A20 (SM-A205G) with the A205GUBU2ASG3 version (July 2019 Update). All the available versions are in the following link:

https://samfrew.com/model/SM-A205G/region/SAM/

Now there is a new version: A205GUBS3ASH2 (August 2019 Security Update).

The question is: Can I flash, with Odin, the new version and keep the root? or Do I need to flash the new version and follow the root procedure again from scratch?

Thanks in advance

Regards
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
U need to follow all the steps again.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
But the TWRP may not work
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Will work (August update).
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] LeonardoGC:
I did not install TWRP yet but I've seen that there is a warning regarding the October update.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
I suspect to August update should be ok
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Net_Spy:
I just rooted my A20 by following given steps. Rootverify app did show device is rooted but when using rootexplorer it only access system/app. When I try to write something in app folder for examole creating a simple directory it failed to write. Any one face similar issue? What else do I need to fix write permission although it has su permission granted.

Regards

NetSpy
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Deluriane:
Hello! I recently rooted my phone w/latest security patch which is oct, thanks for the guide! Anyway, how do you open param.bin.lz4 to extract param.bin? Tried using 7zip but I get an error "cant open archieve" opening the file on 7zip.

Note: Found a way to extract param.bin.lz4 already
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] hooooossamq:
try to use another app like MiXplorer

---------- Post added at 08:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 AM ----------

i try to edit the build pop file in system\vendor i edited and save. but after i reboot the phone every thing back to stock inside the build pop file..how i can do change in build pop file???

i root the phone its in July patch.stock rom latest mgisk version
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] butchieboy:
Was able to get 4G working here in United States on At&tView attachment 4888521
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] :
For me it's seeming impossible to root my phone (SM-A205G), I don't know why, but everytime when I flash the patched boot.img I get a different error message.

Only official binaries are allowed to be flashed...

or

Kernel rev device:3 binary:4 something like this.

Also I noticed that OEM Unlock option disappeared from developer options after I unlocked the bootloader for the first time, does it have something to do?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
you have to flash boot.tar
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
Only official binaries are allowed to be flashed...

Device is in prenormal state.

Kernel rev device:3 binary:4

U are Flashing latest frimware Boot.img.

Check ur build number and flash that frimware boot.img
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] :
I tried flashing boot.img with Heimdall and also tried flashing on Odin after compressing it to the tar format.

Thanks for this tip man :) I think this was my mistake right from beginning. I downloaded the firmware two months ago and since then I updated my phone via OTA many times.

I've read somewhere that after rooting the phone I can't restart it anymore, if I do I will lose magisk and all that stuff, is it true? It also said that the only way to restart without losing root is restarting inside Magisk.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] Agrim720:
It is not true.
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
We are now here

https://xdaforums.com/galaxy-a20
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] IamTheBRAVE:
For those of you, like me, who are still on rooted stock, found this thread that might interest you.

https://xdaforums.com/android/general/guides-android-8-0-oreo-mods-thread-t3772017

Haven't tried any of the tweaks yet, but i will once i read more on it.

Cheers

EDIT

Most of those tweaks require decompiling recompiling apks, so might not be easy for everyone to do
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
Looks like fun. Have you tried any?
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] IamTheBRAVE:
Not yet, trying to find some easy mod to start with. The landscape lockscreen is an easy one
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] mgrandy:
Works on a20e

Ty[IMG="a20e"][/IMG]

:)
[Samsung Galaxy A20 Guides, News, & Discussion] physwizz:
Great news