yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Googling "Verizon (model) updates" usually lists the Verizon software update page for that specific device as the first result.

Same for T-Mo.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
AT&T USERDATA for bootloader 2 has been added - build UB5. The rest of the UB5 files (if needed) were already uploaded by others to AFH, or you can grab them yourself via the various firmware download tools, if AFH tends to always give you a crappy mirror. This looks like a universal update - pretty much every other carrier has gotten it so far
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SnakeFist:
I'm getting the SM-G996U1 (USA unlocked) will i be able to unlock the bootloader on this without paying for it? Add rooting, twrp and custom roms?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
No. Unlocking the bootloader requires paying a 3rd party professional business to do it. I can provide a recommendation if needed/desired. U and U1 models have never been user-unlockable
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SnakeFist:
What about rooting like with towel root?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Towel Root was from like, Kit Kat 😂
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SnakeFist:
Well it's been awhile since i rooted a device samsung s5 rooted and the last device i rotted and dual booted android was my nexus 7 2013. No need to make fun. How can i root with out unlocking the bootloader?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
You can't. There hasn't been an OS-based Samsung root exploit for a long time. You obviously haven't done much research yet. If rooting was that easy, there would be tons of posts and threads on it
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SnakeFist:
Then what new phone is easy to root then? I have been researching for days but it's so confusing now.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
If you want a Samsung that's user-unlockable, you need an international model
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SnakeFist:
I'll stick with my galaxy s5 for a few more years. It has lasted me 6 years so it should last another 5 years. Plus having the moto edge and the screen problems it's facing i don't think i want a new phone since they might all have problems the day the warranty ends. Plus android 10 was so ugly looking. JM2C. This comment don't reflect anyones views/opinions but my own.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] mbuboltz:
I try and flash the AT&T USERDATA but it is not flashing as I think my phone has a newer version and can't downgrade does anyone have the newer ATT userdata? I switched from Verizon to ATT and the phone is not connecting to data correctly as it only shows H+ not LTE or 5G.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Bootloader 2 USERDATA was added 3 weeks ago
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] mbuboltz:
I found it but it only has the USERDATA in that folder, not the main files to flash and if I use the G996U_TLF_1.zip file it won't flash.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
The post that I made 3 weeks ago already tells you where to get the rest of the files
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] mat_919:
Wait... What?

How To Unlock Bootloader on Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra - NaldoTech

In this tutorial, you will learn how to unlock the bootloader on the Samsung Galaxy S21 (SM-G991, SM-G996, SM-G998). A bootloader is the piece of code that

www.naldotech.com
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
You clearly didn't read past the title/headline
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] mat_919:
Maybe I did miss something. English is not my first language, but from the (linked) article it does not seem that one has to pay 3rd party to unlock a bootloader...
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
The article states quite clearly that it's only for Exynos models
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] mat_919:
(y)Thank you!!! See... I missed it. just one word....:( Then... there's no way to root SM-G996U1 without paying for BL unlock first? Is that right?

edit: Never mind I found the thread for BL unlock. Thanks

BTW... You saved me a lot of headaches. My SM-G699U1 goes back today to Samsung. I've had it for one day.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
So I downloaded Odin 3.14.1 patched, I have a locked tmobile s21 plus and I installed all the drivers and Odin reads my phone as being plugged in when in Odin mode but it keeps failing, anyone else have a similar issue? I'm trying to flash to U1, I have the U1 software available in first post and I'm on the latest tmobile update
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
"keeps failing" is very vague. We need to know the specific error messages that show on the phone and/or in Odin
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
I'll run it again and share the fail message, sorry about that
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
this is the error i get in odin trying to flash tmobile to u1
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
You're probably trying to flash bootloader 1 firmware to a bootloader 2 device. But I would need to see the error message that appears on the phone, in order to know for sure
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
I think it is because I'm on the latest T-Mobile update and the download in the OG post is from January so I used frija to download the latest u1 so I will try that today and if it fails I will post the error message that is on the phone
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
I got it, just needed the recent XAA and it worked!
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Yeah, i thought so. Need to pay attention to bootloader level when you flash
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
It's been so long since I have had a Samsung device(s9 plus like years ago) I've become unfamiliar to a few things but thanks so much for responding I appreciate it 😀
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Chiripio:
Here with T-mobile version stuck on TMB/TMB/TMB after going to U1 firmware?

Is there a way to Fix this or with a new update?

thanks
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] SomeXGhost:
I'm on u1 tmb too is this an actual issue that breaks anything or am I good? Will I receive software updates?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Chiripio:
Only issues i have had not able to set phone number for voicemail and no call recording not sure what update i will get next and in developer mode no option for OEM unlocker.

Any help would be appreciated.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
OEM unlock is never present on any U or U1 firmware.

For the rest, you'll need to ask your carrier for assistance. I don't think there's much that any of us can do about that
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Chiripio:
Thanks for the info.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] LENO7:
I have a G996U AT&T device. If I install U1 firmware, will knox be triggered?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
It's impossible to trip knox on a U or U1 device, since they have locked bootloaders. So they won't allow you to flash something that would trip Knox
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Full bootloader 3 firmware has been added, as well as the AT&T USERDATA - build UDB
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] grimya13:
Hi, am I correct in assuming that at this point we can't flash from U to U1 because of U1 being backwards bootloader version?

Thanks!
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] grimya13:
I was able to download the correct U1 bootloader 3 files and it worked great at removing the verizon bloatware. However, I attempted to load the AT&T userdata and it went back to verizon. The phone is unlocked, I've been using it on AT&T for a bit, but when it reset back to verizon it just told me the sim card was not from verizon and I wouldn't be able to make even emergency calls. I'm loading the U1 back on, but from what I'm told there are some features that will be disabled by not using the ATT firmware.

It's very likely I've done something incorrectly as this was my first time doing this.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Tuxedo.Bond:
I apparently didn't do the procedure correctly. I flashed a T-Mobile branded S21+ to Verizon firmware to get the Wi-Fi calling enabled while used on a Verizon network. It did not appear. Is there a way to add the Wi-Fi calling or force the carrier specific customizations without having to flash again? Or is this a glitch?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] grimya13:
This is part of my issue as well. Are you still with TMobile or Verizon? I did the being your own device from Verizon to ATT and its been a nightmare.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Step #3 from the instructions that you quoted is the key. If you don't get that popup, the firmware won't change over when you re-flash U firmware - even if you use the correct USERDATA

VoLTE or wifi calling or any other carrier-specific feature is never guaranteed to be enabled on any particular device or model. Many of those features are provisioned via the IMEI, so the carrier won't enable it if they know you're using a device that's not originally theirs
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Tuxedo.Bond:
I have T-Mobile and my sister who I gave the phone to has Verizon.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] grimya13:
Gotcha. Is there a reason it might not pop up or did I insert the sim card too soon?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] koax88:
hi, im using s21+ sd version, hongkong set (sm G9960), still no ota for june update. so the question is, can i flash other SM G9960 firmware? it seems china already go june update. i know, i can just wait for the ota, but today is weekend and i got nothing to do, so...
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
AT&T USERDATA for bootloader 4 has been added to the OP links - build UF5. If needed, the rest of the files can be obtained via the various firmware download tools, via CCT or CHA. Bootloader 4 U1 firmware is also out already
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] IT Tech:
Hello Everyone & @iBowToAndroid ,

After seven years of rooting, flashing, testing/troubleshooting Roms for the LG G2 running Android 11...WOW! "a Big Thank You to @aleasto " (and also a Samsung Tablet GT-N8013) I could not pass up a great deal on a new Samsung S21+ (Verizon). So I am the proud owner of the Phantom Silver model.

So far this phone is awesome. SMOKING HOT!!! (y) :cool:

My intent when getting this new phone was to enjoy it for a while and take a break from seven years of rooting, flashing, testing/troubleshooting Roms :unsure:
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] RYZONN:
I'm recent with samsung's, are these firmwares that you recommend in this post, are they originals without changes or clean? or is it exactly the same firmware that comes standard on my s21+? stay in doubt, mine is the G996B/DS
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Read the thread title. This thread is for U and U1 models, not B
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] hmi11:
Hello, did you manage to do that?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] hmi11:
Can i load a hong kong firmware on a U1 or U model?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] renso2113:
Did you find any solution to flash the g996 / TMB, I have the same problem please help me
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] wizenthorne:
I bought the Verizon version of the S21+ from Samsung.com earlier in the year. I flashed the unlocked version shortly after. Now I'm sending it to Samsung.com as a trade-in for a new Galaxy phone.

Do I need to flash back to the Verizon branded version, or is it okay that I've got the U1 version on the phone? I've already removed my accounts and did a factory reset so everything is ready to go on it.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
I have no idea. That would be a question for Samsung.

If it were me, I'd return it with VZW bloatware
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] wizenthorne:
I don't know what I'm doing wrong now but it's straight up refusing to let me put the stock rom back on it. I'm not sure what could have changed in the past 8 months. Perhaps I'm just rusty. Tempted to send back the way it is. I've verified the bootloader screen says VZW on it and it was factory rebooted successfully. The only difference visually is that little 1 at the end of the firmware version.

Is the U/U1 tied to the IMEI somehow, or would Samsung have any idea that the phone originally had the Verizon U version and now has the Unlocked U1 version, especially since they sell both?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
"straight up refusing to let me put the stock rom back on it" is pretty vague.

You need to explain exactly what you're doing and exactly what happens when you do it, including any error messages
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] wizenthorne:
No, you're absolutely right. I wasn't really trying to troubleshoot so I didn't offer any details about what it was doing. I'll try it again and explain what's happening.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] apickens07:
I have a sm-g996u tmb. it is unlocked. I use verizon as my service provider. I am trying to flash the vzw firmware. my current build software is g996usqu4augq. i used Frija, it told me G996U1UES4AUH9 was the most current. Still shows TMB after flashing. The main reason I am trying to do this is with the current TMB build it does not show wifi calling as an option. I really need it as I get spotty signal in the house.

how do i manually enter the vzw provider software?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
If after inserting a Verizon SIM, you don't get the pop up prompt to "reboot to apply new carrier settings", then changing firmware is not going to be possible unfortunately
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] apickens07:
$800 paper weight? So no way to wipe and rebuild or anything. I am just out of luck and $$$??? Seems crazy to have the same hardware and unable to change the firmware from one provider to another.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
No, it's not a paperweight. If you require Verizon bloatware, then just sell it and buy a Verizon model. Costs should cancel themselves out, assuming both phones are in the same condition
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] tvBilly:
Now be fair. apickens07 already mentioned why: "The main reason I am trying to do this is with the current TMB build it does not show wifi calling as an option"

But I do agree that it's far from hopeless and if apickens07 wants to give up, that's up to him.

I wonder if it's actually unlocked from T-Mobile at all...
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] ogsamrock:
Hello i have SM-G996U1 with csc GCF/GCF/VZW. Can i flash this firmware? The current phone cannot get any ota updates so i wanted to flash the latest firmware for the phone. Thanks.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
The answer is already in the first post
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Aftashok:
could anyone maybe direct Me to one of those beginner's guides? it's been so long since I've done any of this stuff, probably since My S7 Edge. I have an AT&T S21+, and want to flash the Unlocked version firmware so that I can download the OneUI4 beta.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Morzas:
Hello, I have S21 plus blocked on US Cellular, is it possible to unlock it?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] tamir_89:
Better pay for it... There are lots of 3rd party sites out there that do that. Flashing firmware is way too light to get rid of the carrier lock...
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] tamir_89:
I have the same question, can I flash different region firmware on unlocked s21+? This dilemma with single sim option in US is just straight up bull****. I recon, I could at least get the eSim option, if I get the different regionfirmware. Help?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] tamir_89:
Nope, as in very difficult or nope as in not possible in any shape or form?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
"Nope" = no

"Very difficult" = very difficult
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] IT Tech:
Verizon Galaxy S21+(SM-G996U)

Just received the Official OTA Update from Verizon for Android 12
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] yusufjee:
Does anyone know if Verizon update firmware is available somewhere? I cant find it as I need to manually flash it through ODIN.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Yep. It's already up on Samsung's servers so you can use Frija or any of the other similar firmware download tools
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] akrasna:
So here is where I am confused (even before the 120hz 60hz bug) -

How come there were Android 12 g996u versions available, but not g996u1?

Shouldn't the "unlocked" non-carrier always be available before or at least at the same time as the first carrier (verizon) - as of this moment there are 4 carrier android 12s available on sammobile -

PDA	G996USQU4BUK7
CSC	G996UOYN4BUK7

But there are no g996u1 (and I have been checking every day so I don't think it was there and then removed)

would love

1. An explanation of why

2. A link to the unlocked firmware if I was just too stupid to understand where it is .

Thanks
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Nope. Carriers obviously sell way more devices than Samsung themselves do, so there are way more U devices than U1 out there. So Samsung tends to push out updates to the carrier models first, in order to get it to as many people as possible
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] akrasna:
Thanks

I just assumed that since the files are the same it would be easy to drop the unlocked ...

guess I will wait
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
ATT USERDATA has been added for Android 12 - build UK7. All other carriers got this same version so the rest of the files are readily available elsewhere if needed
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Android 12 is now available for U1, via Frija and the other similar firmware download tools
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] geeyow30:
Hello guys! I just need some clarification on some stuff.

So I got my girlfriend, who is outside the US, an unlocked Samsung S21+ through an online seller. The phone arrived, and her sim works properly. Our only problem is that her phone doesn't get any updates. I have looked around here, and found out that her phone was actually an ATT unlocked phone. Hers is SM-G996U (ATT). I've come across this thread, so please, can anyone confirm if what we're going to do is correct or not:

1. Download SM-G996U1 (XAA) firmware from Frija

2. Load BL, AP, CP, CSC on Odin 14 (patched)

3. Put phone on DL mode, and start the process.

4. Wait for phone to boot.

Is that the whole process?

She is still stuck on the February update. I tried the process of going from U to U1 using a spare phone, which is a T-Mobile A32 5G. I got the XAA unlocked firmware for the A32, but it seems to just fail as soon as I start flashing. Maybe because the U1 firmware's bootloader is a lower version compared to the one that the latest T-Mobile firmware has? Thanks to anyone who will answer. :D
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
1. Yes, that's correct. Make sure she backs up her stuff ahead of time, and it's best to remove screen lock and Google account, to prevent an FRP lock

2. If your A32 is on bootloader 6, then yes, that would explain it. Bootloader 6 hasn't been released for U1 firmware for that model yet
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] geeyow30:
Thanks for the confirmation! The phone doesn't have that much stuff yet, since it's pretty new. I caught the OTA update issue right away.

By the way, looking at the file names of the firmwares, how can you tell which bootloader version that firmware has? Is there a certain number that you need to be looking at? What I did with the A32 was more of a hit and miss thing, where I didn't really know about the bootloader version stuff.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Bootloader version is the 5th character from the end, in either the Build Number or Baseband Version.

There are posts here on XDA and also articles across the web that explain how to read Samsung's software version naming scheme
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] geeyow30:
Thanks!! Knowing the bootloader version really helps a lot. We'll do the flashing this weekend. Let you know how it goes. Cheers!
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] sr2021:
You know I have a Samsung S21+ Factory unlocked US version, when I traveled to India and used local SIM, VoLTE was WIFI calling disabled and I could not use the phone. As soon as I insert the US SIM the VoLTE/WIFI calling will be enabled. my phone has XAA firmware because it is factory unlocked.

When asked about this Samsung said it is by design and till now we found NO workaround.

Samsung account

us.community.samsung.com

so be very careful about the
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] baazigarg:
hello, I want to downgrade my U1 device using odin but I cant access the bootloader. Can you help me or point me to any guides on unlocking my bootloader?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
No idea what you mean by "access the bootloader". What type of downgrade are you referring to?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] baazigarg:
I want to dowgrade from One UI 4 to One UI 3.1 using odin but the bootloader is locked.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
You don't need to unlock it
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Vaarish.M:
Hi, I was facing the same issue. The phone shipped out with One UI 3 and recently I updated to UI 4.0 to realise that VoLTE is dead. @iBowToAndroid Can you please guide on how can we downgrade back to the previous version so that our phone doesn’t remain a paperweight anymore. If nothing, there are atleast 50-100 people looking to get a solution.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
1. Download One UI 3 firmware that's bootloader level 4

2. Flash in Odin
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Vaarish.M:
Hello , I did try figuring out how to download that specific firmware but I can’t seem to find much, considering I’m not very thorough with all this. I’m willing to Donate if you could help me out with this procedure, I don’t want to brick my device and not bring it to a level where I cannot use it for future updates, I just want to use 3.0-3.1 until 4.0 problem is fixed. Please let me know.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] baazigarg:
I found a tutorial on youtube but I cannot get into that blue bootloader scree. for odin to flash the files. My phone just restarts. The comments on that video also confirm that they sre unable to access their bootloader. am i missing something here?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
It's not the bootloader. It's called "Download mode". And you access it by (with the phone powered off) holding all 3 buttons until you see a Warning screen, and then pressing Volume Up once
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] methodologyx:
Does anyone have this firmware but for a 512gb s21+ 5g g996u? I accidentally flashed a 256gb model and lost half of my storage. Looked at trying to edit PIT files but I have yet to see any write ups or videos with clear information. Also tried Odin with Nand Erase and Re-Partition with no luck getting the other half of storage back so far.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
There is no such thing as separate firmware for separate storage sizes - for any model, from any manufacturer. The only way that you can lose half your storage is if the device was rooted and it was messed with - a standard Odin flashing process is NEVER going to make half of your storage disappear. Go visit this link - www.sickw.com and use the FREE SAMSUNG INFO checker and make sure your model is actually a 512 GB version, per the IMEI. If it is, contact Samsung
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] methodologyx:
It's definitely 512gb, I had it almost full before it updated to android 12 last night ( I downgraded back to 11 because after the update I was having really weird graphical issues, like running Fortnite. looked like when you spread cards out. X-plore file explorer was "blank" and other weird things, some apps just did not work). Fortunately, I backed all my files to a portable 1tb before I downgraded.

Talked to samsung this morning they made an appointment at a local store, local store said right off the bat part of the internal storage probably died before, after or during either the update or reflash. They are going to do diagnostic then give me a ticket so I can recontact samsung and send them the phone.
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] Ronald326:
Hello. I have tried to install XAA Firmware to my S21+ (ATT) Factory Unlocked.

I have downloaded the latest ULE version from Frija, flashing with Odin 3.14.1 Patched, putting BL, AP, CP, and CSC (No Home) in their proper place, but it always gives me an error.

Am I missing something?
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
"an error" is pretty vague. Can't provide much help with that
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] zenlifexxa:
Can some expert confirm this is correct?

My S21+ (TMB) was network unlocked and updated to firmware version G996USQU5BULJ via T-Mobile OTA.

When I tried to flash the firmware to G996U1UES4BULE via Odin3 v3.14.1_3B_PatcheD (BL, AP, CP, and CSC-No Home), I got a "FAILED" message.

This is because I cannot downgrade from higher bootloader level firmware (G996USQU5BULJ) to lower bootloader level firmware (G996U1UES4BULE)?

Thanks!
[Samsung Galaxy S21+] iBowToAndroid:
Correct