yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] wkv2101:
Spoiler content hidden.

Spoiler content hidden.

Version 0B16 broke everything app/downgrade related. If you are on 0B15, check and see if your Gabb is downgradeable.

Check your software version by going to settings -> about

Hello all! I am the guy who made the last post about having apps on the Gabb Phone Z2. Since I made that post, many sneaky kids and teenagers have come up with ways that we could possibly hack our way into the phone, installing apps.

Now, throughout the development and such, I was gone. I got rid of my Gabb Phone a week after that post was made. I made a video on how you could get YouTube videos on the Gabb phone, by downloading them as MP4s and simply moving them to a folder on the Gabb phone itself. (edit: youtube took down my video, go figure) However, even though I can't be exact and close, my brother just got one so I'm back here again! Helo

The original bug was that you could go to PRIVACY -> PRIVACY MANAGER -> Search icon in the top right ->Search "auto" and click on autofill in developer settings, then turn it on.

From there you could install apps by enabling USB Debugging, and installing from ADB. However this was patched in an update. Even if you had developer options and usb debugging enabled, usb debugging was removed from the phone itself. It will not work.

Thanks to Users Howl1346, and ryujin88, we've gotten a guide on how to downgrade. i can't stress this enough, if you have a phone that is on 0B16 and above, was manufactured after December 2020, and hasn't been backed up using mtkclient, don't do this. Always take a backup with mtkclient, just in case something goes wrong.

Ever since then, we've mostly been talking about how we need someone to make a custom rom, or a modified one with Gabb Wireless' apns. (They do not work on the other carrier phone's roms.) I do not know how to make a custom rom and am not sure how to learn, so I'll leave it to some other people. EDIT: this doesn't look like its going to happen for now.

I DONT WANT ANYONE SHARING EMAILS PLEASE, keep it open here, and I'll post anything that we found on our discord to here. https://discord.gg/GhAwuUrvrh

Did I forget anything? Have any updates? Reply below.
[General Topics] Nikο:
Yes, this is me
[General Topics] PrivateCaboose6:
poor niko, disabled account
[General Topics] wkv2101:
i got it disabled, you're only allowed one account on xda, dont worry about it
[General Topics] rilokiley:
Could you change the system files to allow developer mode to be or maybe enable developer mode through the system files?
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Take a look at these tools

GitHub - bkerler/mtkclient: MTK reverse engineering and flash tool

MTK reverse engineering and flash tool. Contribute to bkerler/mtkclient development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

We should be able to reverse engineer download mode and get the rom. We can then make changes to it and flash it back to the phone.
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Have you tried "oem adb_enable 1"?
[General Topics] gabbhacker:
I am constantly trying new ways to make this work. Does anyone have any information that will make a 2021 model work? Was talking with @calvertcrew and he says my 2021 model will brick if i follow the google doc. I have also been trying to convinve gabb to send me a personal update to have devoloper options while trying to pass as a devoloper.

Help would be appriciated.
[General Topics] gabbhacker:
Also, what is the lockdown feature that popped up when I pushed power to restart?
[General Topics] jsolo112:
Hello all! I currenlty run a gooogle doc that collboarts ideas on hacking the gabb phone from the inside. However, I now see that there is only one slotuoinm and that is from the outside. So I invite all to collobrate with me on it. Shoot me an email at gabbphonehack@gmail.com
[General Topics] gabbhacker:
can anyone make it so devoloper options are always on?
[General Topics] rilokiley:
I'm sorry I know nothing about hacking Gabb phones and I don't know what that means. Can you tell me what that means? I am more into coding games.
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
It's when you use adb/fastboot. It's a command for when you put the phone in bootloader mode. The full command is "fastboot oem adb_enable 1". It allows you to tell the rom to trust the computer when the phone boots and automatically has adb enabled on boot.
[General Topics] gabbhacker:
how

do you do that?
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Simple, download adb/fastboot, then put the phone into bootloader mode, then type "fastboot oem adb_enable 1"
[General Topics] Hawkeyewastaken:
ok, has anyone so far made any new developments???? I want to do something that wont mess up my phone because I don't want to pay for it and parents wont by me a new one if I mess it up
[General Topics] wkv2101:
guys let's just do a discord, I don't want a lot of that email stuff it really locks it down for other people, here's our discord invite https://discord.gg/GhAwuUrvrh
[General Topics] wkv2101:
Ok please stop saying this, it doesn't work. Do you even have a gabb phone?
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Lol, yes I do. I was just trying some ideas.
[General Topics] wkv2101:
Please try them by yourself before telling other people (most likely kids) to do the same. It makes the whole thing more confusing for anybody looking, and floods up the thread.

You're welcome to join the discord to try things out though.
[General Topics] randomguyoninternet155:
Sorry, I accidentally posted twice. cant figure out how to delete it.
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Yeah so we can't enable usb debugging because gabb disabled developer options entirely.
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
so you can set the file to the home screen on a Gabb phone z2 through file manager if you do it to an APK file a notification pops up that says the app has not been downloaded so in theory you can drag and drop the files of an app from another computer. then you can in theory launch the app from the homescreen it's exciting and I've gone around a bit and I haven't seen anyone else mention this I hope it works. also in theory you can use this home screen opening to open an emulator like Dolfin or ppsspp idk ill try it when I get home today and post what happens tomorrow.

also since most people on this thread are middle schoolers and small children you could potentially do this on a Chromebook if you go to Google Play Store when you download an app you can set it to be an app download I've only noticed this for the VLC media player personally but you can run the file from your phone if you have it plugged into the Chromebook but in theory, if that works any apps that you can download onto the Chromebook you can put on the Gabb phone. so if you are in high school this opens the possibility of Minecraft education edition.

so the Gabb phone has an HTML viewer if you download an HTML file onto a Gabb one you could, in theory, open anything you want I've tried to find some files to use it on but I haven't found anything cause I'm too lazy to look on my actual PC and I use my Chromebook lol so if I accidentally install malware I don't break anything that I need. lol. but the HTML view is meant for the internet connection if you've ever tried to connect to the internet on an airplane from a gabb phone it will open the HTML viewer. if that helps anyone you are welcome. *

There is also an Android update installer on the phone which is pretty interesting if you go and hole the volume and power button it opens a menu I know it has been mentioned before but idr what it is called if you run a graphics test it shows that android files are missing from the memory and it updates the graphics using the android update installer I've only ever seen it launched at that point it may prove useful.

also, the file manager app is pretty open in itself. It is useful and I don't see many others talking bout how much accessibility you can find through it. make sure you have the show hidden files settings on though just open File Manager then click the settings button on the top right then you should see it just click on it and it should be good.

I've been trying for like a year and a half now to find a solution and I've never been this close before I would appreciate it if people could help and try to find a solution to this problem I'm sure no sane person with a gabb phone likes it. it personally made a social barrier for me and it caused a lot of problems and id like to get past it.

*to add to the previous part in theory if you download a Java script reader onto an HTML file then you put it on the gabb phone then run the application you can get a Windows emulator and you could in theory turn your gabb into a computer.

I won't personally explore this I just wanted to share my idea.
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
so i did my apk file opening idea i could not get it to work but I got closer it now asks me what application I want to use to open it I'm gonna try to find an HTML file set to open it.
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
so more progress on the APK file opener if I can find the app opener file and set it to my home screen it may work as an app I've been trying it with Discord and I'm getting close I just don't wanna a trial error my entire way though all of discords files.
[General Topics] sinisterchaos22:
Sorry, but it's not possible to install apks through file manager. The package installer system app is literally removed from the system. The only way you can install apps is via ADB
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
you can duplicate the Android file system like there's an Android folder in the Gabb phones settings you cant delete it if you can get the same model phone or a model with Android 7(the version the Gabb uses is 7 by the way if you run a graphics test in the debug menu the animation at the beginning is for android 7) but you could in theory recreate the file system and get the apps to launch

also, I'm not installing the apps through the phone I go through an APK file opener online then I just drag and drop the file I'm not stupid I know it doesn't work I'm not full of it I'm actively working on this thing.

but if I could find the opening file to make the app launch it could work the problem I'm facing is that some of the APK file openers don't download all the files for some reason so that's my only problem.

also, I'm not sure what and is could you please elaborate it could help me figure it out?
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
I hit a wall with the development on the file system launching since I don't have the actual manufactured phone I only have the Gabb phone so I can try to recreate the file system yet and the apk expander that I use can expand all the files so it won't work for me so I gotta figure out something else

I've resorted to going into fastboot and bootloader and learning how to code the android it'll take me a while but ill do it I have the materials to do it if anyone knows how to help with that I would appreciate that
[General Topics] sinisterchaos22:
I'm sorry to say this, but it simply isnt possible to install APKs through this "online installer", since the gabb doesn't have a package installer built-in, like other Android phones do.

Also, Fastboot won't help you acheive anything. I've already decompiled and string-searched the fastboot firmware for the gabb. There's nothing useful there.

To install APKs, you must use ADB. There actually is an exploit avaiable that can help. I'll send it to you if you'd like.
[General Topics] ford92925:
Ever since then, we've mostly been talking about how we need someone to make a custom rom, or a modified one with Gabb Wireless' apns. (They do not work on the other carrier phone's roms.) I do not know how to make a custom rom and am not sure how to learn, so I'll leave it to some other people. EDIT: this doesn't look like its going to happen for now.

www.routerlogin.net

pikashow
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
sure send it to me please but I still think it's possible it's the same type of thing that lets you open HTML and stuff on there I know you can't do much with the HTML opener I spent about 4 hours trying last week but I do think I may be looking into getting some software to be able to open the file all the way to transfer it. also with Androids, they run their files off of folders in them if you replicate it it should in theory work I'm just trying to figure it out.

I've looked it up a bunch as well personally on fast boot and I think I can figure it out but you didn't say anything about the bootloader also there's an install update from the SD card option in there do you know anything about that?

honestly at this point tho I'm not doing this for myself I'm trying to learn how to code better and stuff anyways so I don't mind hitting walls and stuff so im still gonna try it im not trying to be controversial.
[General Topics] Johnyoboo:
does this method still work? also what kinds of apps does it allow you to download?
[General Topics] PigFart12:
I got flappy bird on gabb by downloading the file down there on my pc

plugging my phone using a USB cable selecting file transfer

transferring the file, then in the gabb file manager app selecting the file and clicking (add to Home Screen)

here's the file

https://github.com/sonicsut/gabb-flappy-bird/releases/tag/Files

download the HTML
[General Topics] Kosumaa:
sure send it to me
[General Topics] copop 64:
is this thread still alive?

i tried the flappy bird but it gave an error and said the website was unavailable
[General Topics] PigFart12:
Sorry I took so long to respond. I know it doesn’t work anymore; Gabb patched it. I’m working on a new way. I do have an idea but have not tried it yet because I don’t have a Gabb phone, but my friend does, and that is why I’m doing it. Gabb uploads their own apps to the phone and removes the old ones, but there is one way to access the real Files app created by Google. I can’t say it because I think Gabb is spying on this thread, but I will test it out and will make a way to access it.
[General Topics] copop 64:
thanks
[General Topics] jsolo112:
Excuse me? Since when did email lock it down? It provides way more security against moles. Anyone can join a discord. Plus, it"s harder to join a discord than send a email. I'm not sure that you are aware of the danger of moles. They have discovered previous exploits, and reported them to Gabb.
[General Topics] wkv2101:
Excuse you, sorry that you feel like email is more safe than discord. We've already gotten a full system backup, possibly that we could modify, or use to help those who bricked their phone. Something that would've taken weeks to do here, or on private email.

We get there's gonna be Gabb moles, and we'll ban as needed if we find someone to be suspicious. This speeds things up more than ever and opens us up (finally) to things that can't just be patched by a simple update.
[General Topics] wkv2101:
By the way this dude has been making a breakthrough with everything, we really appreciate it. GO RAZER WOO
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
So, gabb can't do anything to patch download mode. It doesn't matter if they know or not anymore
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Haha yes thank you!
[General Topics] plexagon:
Is there a way to recover a bricked phone yet?
[General Topics] Ivia_Loveschocolate!:
Nope, not yet
[General Topics] Nature Grey:
It's ok if i mention this out loud because this can't be patched wirelessly but heard from android.stackexchange.com that you can take the sim card out and turn off the wifi and it didn't mention this but i think you can go to recovery options and uninstall the package of com.zte.zdm over adb. then but the sim card back in and turn on the wifi.
[General Topics] Wasping:
If anybody is interested in learning the code language that android is coded in then here is the link: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-c

It is free. All you need to do is create an account.

I have also found the version of Kernel it's coded in. it is 4.9.190+
[General Topics] GameboyColor87:
I managed to open the phone up. Not sure that’s a good idea, but I did it anyway.
[General Topics] sadboi452:
So just a check in still no way of getting into developer settings?
[General Topics] Wasping:
I just got a software update notification. Anyone know what this thing does before I install it? Thanks.
[General Topics] hezyCB:
I can help you with that! I hacked my Gabb Z2 to run full android 10. It's pretty easy with a windows computer. It takes around 10 minutes. I'll leave a PDF I made which will explain how to do it and also the files in a zip. Good luck!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DqyDEc-r1NQhpefaBg30oFQcPpgfTvQ1/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/125djqXwclqDy_2Tc1uGJTD1KIRDSdAYC/view?usp=drivesdk
[General Topics] hezyCB:
Oops wrong link here is the one. Have fun!

Copy of GABB.pdf

drive.google.com
[General Topics] MCtekkz:
does this process delete all of the data on your phone?
[General Topics] Nobodyknowsanymore:
Has anyone figured out how out how to just be able to download the apps without the zip's? Also must you restart it to an android? I seriously wish they hand't patched it.
[General Topics] hezyCB:
Ya. Also I'm working on a method that doesn't
[General Topics] MCtekkz:
Maybe make a vid on it?
[General Topics] restl3ss_:
I may just not be very smart but to me your instructions were a bit vague, is it possible for you to make a video, or some more specific instructions?
[General Topics] MCtekkz:
Yea i agree it is very confusing
[General Topics] moneyfarm:
WTF they disabled file transfer PLS TELL US WHAT TO DO 😰
[General Topics] moneyfarm:
The only thing I can think of is going recovery mode and doing an update thru ADB, Sim card,micro sd
[General Topics] moneyfarm:
ANSWER ME pls
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
I tried flashing but i busted my gabb.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
Hey moneyfarm! File transfer is not disabled! Earlier today i did it and it worked fine.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
My guess is that if we can mess with the ADB Drivers, we can force install an apk.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
Hey Everyone! The Files That hezyCB Do NOT WORK!!!!! This Will BRICK YOUR GABB PHONE!!!!!!!!! I have recently flashed a OLDER version of the GABB FIRMWARE And bricked my phone. As a result, i had to get a new one. If you are like 20 years old you should know how to do this. I am like 10.
[General Topics] hezyCB:
Yeah but then Gabb can patch it. This goes out to all my dev email is eth0shacks@gmail.com. I have made the method with my group Eth0s. Email me for more info. Best of luck!
[General Topics] hezyCB:
It works only on below a certain level. My apologies for you brick. I have made a better method that does not involve SP flash tool. My apologies again
[General Topics] moneyfarm:
for me it wasn't working
[General Topics] moneyfarm:
what if we do a Factory Reset.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
I was using my bricked phone for test flashing, and sp tool wont flash. Can you tell me exactly how you did it?
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
Good idea, if you have complex settings that you will not remember to switch on/off don't do it, But if you want to, plug your phone into pc, copy and paste files into a backup folder, format (Recovery mode, format.) then move your original folders back to the formatted one. Best Of Luck :)!
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
Ok, so i successfully flashed the firmware on my BRICKED phone, its just black. it doesn't even make sounds anymore :(.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
Hey everyone! Good news!!!! Minimal ADB AND FASTBOOT can not detect adb, but i booted in to fastboot, and i found my device! if you can do anything with this, please let me know!
[General Topics] IHATEGABBS:
So i actually did hack my gabb through my schools guest wifi which required me to sign in with google and if your schools wifi/ guest wifi makes you do this then click terms at the bottom of the page and it takes you to a page that has the google waffle that you can click and change your account to a non school account then google is on the waffle but only certain websites are allowed like docs and gmail but you can play google doodles. Sad part is it only works in range of the wifi.
[General Topics] jackfrom21:
Hello I'm pretty new at coding mostly just rewriting to attain free stuff across steam and I've found that on some of the apps on the gabb phone you can access the code through usb and wondering if you could run the apks code through there and rewrite an app such as the calculator. If yall can do something with this cool if not it was worth a shot.
[General Topics] jackfrom21:
hey man i did the same thing and freaked out try a different usb cord certain ones dont work i found the original cord that came with it works best
[General Topics] DefectiveToilet:
Is there any way to completely uninstall the Gabb software and just install Android?
[General Topics] vertatux:
is it possible that we could somehow make a copy of everything on the phone store it on a thumbdrive and then delete the original data then install a copy of android? we would likely need to know what the model is(of phone).

maybe an emp device ? strong magnet? something to irreparably damage the core security functions of gabbs software. with security measures down our issues would be solved.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
This will most likely brick your phone unless you have one before the two updates
[General Topics] MCtekkz:
so it will work if you do have the phone with the 2 updates?
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
You have to have the phone like before october 2021, if you havn't there is no possible way yet.
[General Topics] Stephen's Studio:
He I have been watching this forum and want to give some info on what I have done in the past.... and maybe propose a solution ..home it helps... just realize I don't code.. but I maintain.. systems

just so you guys know usb debugger used to be an option un messages default click the search option auto fill but they updated it and it won't open any more..last year I did put app on my phone like a contacts back up program the only problem was the system has not uninstall option... I was thinking I you had some boot loader recovery option to got back before the security update... I have never loaded a custom rom or messed with bootloader so I may be wrong But I have done my share of Android package file loading via android debug bridge on other phone......

hope this helps
[General Topics] MCtekkz:
So it will 100% work?
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
When Did You Get the phone
[General Topics] MCtekkz:
june
[General Topics] FunkyFrenchFry:
I have a gabb and I hate that I can not play any games on it, can someone please help me, I am so mad at gabb.
[General Topics] FunkyFrenchFry:
how do you do that?
[General Topics] :
It's a MediaTek device. It doesn't have Download Mode. It does, however, have Preloader and BROM modes.
[General Topics] :
I will try using MTKClient.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
Im in school rn, help u later
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Sorry, that is what I meant. Also, up until 0b16 (the latest update) Mtkclient actually did work, We are now having some issues.
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
WARNING! IF YOUR GABB GETS BRICKED, IT IS NOT MY FAULT, YOU ARE TAKING THE RISK.

These are the steps: Download sp flash tool,

Find Gabb z2 firmware,

flash scatter loading file,

completed.

If tis works let me know!
[General Topics] :
What MediaTek chip is in the Z2?
[General Topics] FunkyFrenchFry:
umm
[General Topics] FunkyFrenchFry:
could you make a video or somthing like that
[General Topics] FunkyFrenchFry:
Or somthing more discriptive.
[General Topics] larryschmidli:
hey guys can anyone help me i have the wto updates and i am modding my gabb using a school pc so no admin permissions so would i be able to use adb sideload to downgrade
[General Topics] FunkyFrenchFry:
IDK
[General Topics] TheGabbHacker:
This Will Brick You Phone (KIll it)
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Sorry I have been away. It uses a MTK6761.
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
Doesn't work anymore bud
[General Topics] :
Perhaps we could MTK-SU to get temporary root?

Edit: Miracle Thunder supports this CPU, but it's a paid tool. :confused:
[General Topics] dtingley11222:
I already obtained root through magisk in the older firmware. It isn't too hard :)