[LG V40 Guides, News, & Discussion] FreeSoftwareServers:
This is just a story of my crazy adventures learning to flash the LG V40 which was by far the hardest phone I've ever rooted. But I learned a lot. I wouldn't reccomend this to anybody who isn't confident w/ Android/Computers etc, but if your here, you probably are willing lol. I wrote this up quickly to share and I'll be around to maybe help/answer Q's but its not 100% and perhaps I'll update it or my blog post moving forward, but here it is!

LG V40 - Custom Rom - Root - Unlock Bootloader - LG405UA - Sprint/ATT - FreeSoftwareServers - FreeSoftwareServers

www.freesoftwareservers.com

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Links:

https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unloc...8-mode-every-variant-except-t-mobile.4042207/

https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-lgup-for-all-no-root-needed.3967858/page-12#post-85451175

https://xdaforums.com/t/twrp-lg-v40-judypn.3970111/

https://xdaforums.com/t/unofficial-havocos-3-5-for-the-lg-v40.4104753/

https://xdaforums.com/posts/85445717/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gy0crcs4D4JgaL5w3yalAD2QcJ7Lgg8v/view

Notes:

You can get to 9008 mode from any screen, even if you break phone basically as long as its not hardware broken

I found it easiest to get to from Download Mode

Hold Vol Down + Power then when it resets press Vol Up repeatedly till you hear sound on computer, nothing shows on screen (continue to hold Vol Down + Power)

I got an error the first time as I got to 9008 mode and left my phone alone, i was able to fix by restarting process and being faster

LG UP v 17.1 got past the "Cross Flash" error for me, then I used regular LGUP to do a "Partition DL" flash (I always used this mode, flash ALL partitions, never lost Unlocked Bootloader, don't care about root, can easily re-root anytime)

LAF partitions = Download Mode

ABL partitions = Bootloader mode

When you get into QFIL, backup EVERY partition via "Read", or at minimum, ABL/LAF/MODEM*/EFS.

I once used "erase flash all" in QFIL and recovered via the ATT_FULLBACKUP, but I had 0 for IMEI. Thankfully I had a modem backup or I would have been screwed, flashing that restored my IMEI.

Unlocking Bootloader is best done on Android 8 or 9

TWRP Metadata is for Android 10 +, don't bother with the regular non-metadata files/instructions, just IGNORE THEM.

To get to Bootloader I had to erase LAF_A and to get back to download mode I had to erase ABL_A and restore LAF_A and visa versa. Always keep backups of these partitions. I had multiple backups based on Android Version and Rom Version for LAF/ABL (Modem not so much).

To get to DL mode or Bootloader hold VOL UP (with phone unplugged) and plug into PC, it will auto boot into that mode (no "timing" needed!)

I don't trust Xenious ROMs as the IMEI was blank on V18 of LOS and I don't think LOS 18 will ever work without a stock FW of Android 11 (which will never get).

There should have been a bigger warning

The "Bug" "BT-Audio in some situations" for LOS based custom roms for LG V40 is more like "BT Audio Doesn't Work".

Don't even bother with LOS ROMS!

Use the Havoc-OS which is based on Pixel (I got an e-mail from google congratulating me on my new Pixel 4 XL!)

I was originally not using this rom as I found it "unprofessional" to have like 4x the same posts in the forum, but it actually works 100% and is super stable.

Order of flashing:

Boot stock, enable USB Debug and Unlock OEM Bootloader

Boot 9008, wipe LAF_A, flash v35eng to ABL_A reboot via VOLDown + Power, release and hit VOL UP when reboot to get to v35 BL

Use commands "fastboot oem unlock" to unlock booloader!

Note: I have severely damaged my phone after this (wiped all partitions in QFIL and NEVER lost unlocked bootloader beyond this point, so your done!)

Now your goal is to use LGUP to get to Android 10. I used the European version that is "open", but you can use Korean (special bands available?) or the VZW (Verizon) one, any should work as long as its Android 10

Note: If you get Cross Flash error, try LGUP v17 which is CLI only (link to come, I forget where I found it in some random XDA thread lol), but it worked for me. I'm unsure what it does, so after, I used LGUP to flash the same kdz via "Partition DL"

If you don't have "Partition DL" in LGUP your not setup correctly

Reboot back into 9008 mode, flash back LAF_A and wipe ABL_A, reboot to DL mode and use LGUP to get to Android 10

Boot Phone then go back into 9008 mode

Wipe LAF_A and reboot to get to "stock" bootloader

"fastboot boot judy-twrp-metadata"

Install via the ZIP file

From TWRP reboot to recovery (same slot "A")

Flash HavocOS (inject TWRP)

From TWRP switch slots, reboot to recovery

Note:

I struggled with this part, not sure how I fixed it tbh, I had to get to bootloader and then use the command "fastboot erase userdata" to get HavocOS to boot, I kept getting "Enter Password to run Android" (Failed to decrypt Drive)

Perhaps you can do this via TWRP?

For metadata w/ LOS I had to reboot to recovery in slot B, then factory reset, then install Magisk + OpenGApps BEFORE first boot.

I actually didn't think that TWRP got installed, but it did, the only way I could get there was via Magisk - Reboot to Recovery, not via ADB commands or Vol/Power combos.

You'll never get to pass Integrity I don't think (No Google Pay)

Apps that detected root I was unable to "hide" from and just couldn't use

BT Audio works 100%!

I used Titanium Backup to freeze the Messenger App (but not Messenger Service or MMS didnt work) otherwise each boot Messenger would load even though I use Textra for Default

I also froze the Camera App as it isn't able to be configured to use Storage Correctly, I use "Open Camera" and it works fine.