[Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Guides, News, & Discussion] iBowToAndroid:
For those who don't know, N981U is the model number of all of the US carrier versions of the Galaxy Note 20. The N981U1 is the model number of the same device, but sold by Samsung SIM unlocked and with no carrier bloatware. Firmware is 100% interchangeable among these models: any U or U1 firmware version can be flashed to any U or U1 device at any time, assuming that you're not trying to downgrade the bootloader. Also, U firmware is identical for the 4 base files (AP, BL, CP, CSC) for each individual build, no matter which carrier it comes from. So if you download 2 different carrier versions of the exact same build, the 4 base files will be identical. Where the firmware differs is in the USERDATA file - that's where the carrier bloatware and customizations reside.

Samsung firmware flashing (if you have Windows) is done via a software tool called Odin. Manual flashing is designed for those who:

- want to manually update to a newer version of U firmware on their U device, either because they don't want to wait for their carrier's OTA or because OTAs aren't working on their device, or a different carrier got a new feature/patch before they did

- want to flash U1 firmware to their U device

- want to convert from U1 firmware to carrier U firmware

- want to convert from one carrier's U firmware (with all apps and bloatware) to a different carrier's U firmware (with all apps and bloatware)

So these files that I'm posting are used for converting from one carrier's U firmware/bloatware to AT&T's, or from U1 firmware back to U firmware with AT&T features and bloat. These are much tougher to find than other carriers' files due to AT&T's policy against public hosting of their firmware files. Anyone can obtain the latest/newest version of firmware for pretty much every other carrier (and also U1 firmware) at any time via many of the software tools published here on XDA - SamFirm, Frija, and SamFwTool are some of the examples. You could also download firmware from a website like SamMobile, but most of those type of sites are going to have very slow download speeds unless you're paying for a plan. I pay for a subscription to a different site that gets AT&T files, and also sometimes gets other carriers' firmware files early before they hit the Samsung servers that the software tools pull from, so that's where my files come from.

I'll be uploading at least one USERDATA for each bootloader and Android version, and I'll do the full firmware (for at least one build per bootloader level) if AT&T was the only carrier to get that specific build. Since firmware is universal on U models, for any USERDATA where I don't have the full build posted, you can use the other 4 Odin files (BL, AP, CP, CSC) from any other carrier's firmware of the same build. You can use one of the aforementioned software tools to download it, if it's the very latest/newest version released for that carrier. Or otherwise you can search on AFH or SamMobile etc. You can probably even mix and match builds (as long as the Android version is the same), if you can't find files for the exact same build - I would recommend getting as close as possible to the USERDATA version though (eg. if the USERDATA build ends in TKx, look for a TKx build of the full firmware).

Happy flashing!

Downloads for : Samsung Galaxy Note 20 | AndroidFileHost.com | Download GApps, Roms, Kernels, Themes, Firmware and more. Free file hosting for all Android developers.

Download GApps, Roms, Kernels, Themes, Firmware, and more. Free file hosting for all Android developers.

www.androidfilehost.com

NOTES:

- Please don't quote the OP when replying, kthx

- I compress extra small for space and bandwidth savings. The default Windows extractor can't handle it, so you'll need a 3rd party tool like 7zip, WinRAR, etc

- I won't be providing detailed instructions on how to flash files in Odin. If you're not aware of how to do that, there are countless "beginner's guide to Odin flashing"-type threads here on XDA already. Version 3.14.1 patched will be needed

- HOME CSC file keeps data intact; using the other CSC will wipe data. Flashing USERDATA will also wipe data. Going between U and U1 requires a wipe - you'll have errors and crashes galore if you don't.

- My naming method for AFH folders is: build - bootloader - Android version.

So "SAT - 1 - 9.0" means the full build number ends in SAT, it's bootloader version 1, and it's Android 9.0. When bootloader and Android versions increment, the first build to have those changes will have its folder notated appropriately.

- the correct procedure for switching from one carrier's firmware to another is:

1. Flash full U1 firmware package including non HOME CSC

2. Upon boot, insert a SIM (doesn't have to be activated) of the carrier whose firmware you want

3. Watch for the popup that says "reboot to apply new carrier settings" etc, and do it

4. After that restart completes, reboot back to Download mode and flash the full U firmware package, with the USERDATA file of the carrier whose firmware you want

- If you're interested, USERDATAs for most other CSCs/regions can be gotten from the software tools mentioned above - for the latest version. If you need an old USERDATA for a CSC/region that's not commonly found, let me know and I can probably get it

- For identifying USERDATAS, and to know what region/CSC to use in the software tools:

AIO = Cricket (not available via the tools)

ATT = AT&T (not available via the tools)

BST = Boost Mobile

CCT = Xfinity Mobile (Comcast)

CHA = Spectrum Mobile (Charter)

SPR = Sprint

TMB = T-Mobile

TMK = Metro PCS

USC = US Cellular

VZW = Verizon (available via the tools, but Manual Entry is required - Auto will not work)

XAA = U1 firmware