[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Rottytops:
Was able to bypass FRP unlock using one of those paid tools, but it may have been unnecessary to pay. (SamFW to be specific)

I'll explain for future googlers dealing with the same issue.

So I had the ATT model of the device. Specifically model SM-A146U. It comes with an Exynos or Mediatek SoC.

Mine was specifically the MT variant.

I used Odin3 to revert to the stock build. Build dated November 29/Dec 1 2022; despite the official release date of the device being Jan 2023.

The emergency code *#0*# does not work, but *#*#88#*#* does.

Obviously you needed Samsung USB, ADB, drivers installed. Additional troubleshooting has me download Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 ; and MT65XX Preload Drivers.

The SamFW tool claims it's free to remove the FRP lock on security patches pre-dating December 2022.

The SamFW tool only suggests you needed Samsung driver's and Visual C++. So I tried several times using the SamFW tool to push it's exploit, and it kept failing.

So in a moment of weakness, I bought the $15 credit pack because it promised "All models", ran the tool again, and still it failed. It required a credit card number for a service called coffee break or something, which is exactly the shady **** I have a cash app card for. I was not going to use my real bank account.

Because it runs a ADB exploit, I reboot into Recovery. Then in recovery menu, I select to Reboot into Bootloader, which puts the device into fastboot.

This is where I discover that I had no ADB drivers.

So I install ADB, and open Terminal/shell, whatever you call it. (Hold Shift and right click in ADB folder to shortcut ADB terminal)

I type:

Fastboot Devices

Didn't get a serial. I reboot Fastboot again, this time with Device Manager open on Windows, and notice for 5 seconds, a device called MT65xx preloader was lacking driver, and unloaded to reload ADB drivers. This is where I find out I'm using a MediaTek SoC

So I finally googled and install MT65xx Preload. Reboot to Fastboot 1 more time. I type

Fastboot Devices

I get a serial.

So not I reboot to system, then on phone in emergency dial type *#*#88#*#* then do another device check. Looks good.

Because I already paid $15 for the premium unlock, that's the first option I pick it finally unlocks. But because all this time I was missing critical mediatek drivers, the free option still could have worked. So I can't confirm if being free would have sufficed, or if I needed that paid service.

But what's done was done, and I was able to get into the phone.

So to recap I used:

SM-A146U ATT stock Rom (5.5GB), earliest build Nov-Dec 2022 (Google it)

Odin v3 Flash Tool (Hold Vol+ Vol- & Power to access)

Samsung USB Drivers (Latest and official)

Google ADB Drivers (Mini installer)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2015

MT65xx preloader Drivers (Google it)

And SamFW 4.6 FRP Tool

Emergency Dial code : *#*#88#*#*

To bypass FRP Lock on Galaxy A14 ATT version, Model SM-A146U ; MediaTek variant.

and to reiterate, Recovery and Fast Boot are not necessary in any part of the process.

I use Recovery to boot into Fastboot, and I only use FastBoot + ADB to personally confirm that my computer recognizes the device connected in several boot modes