Easy trick to get a new S4 from T Mobile without KNOX bootloader!

djcmn · Jan 24, 2014

If you are planning on getting a new one of these at a T Mobile store, DO NOT boot it up normally, even to set up a new SIM. Tell them you want to power it up first without a SIM and then do the following:

Boot into recovery and choose factory reset, then follow by wiping the cache.

These phones have been restickered to include Android 4.3 and KNOX, but on first start it will start updating android from the cache because it is still the original stock 4.22 without the KNOX bootloader.

I just did this yesterday because my previous one dropped and the LCD broke, so I needed a new one. I already had a SIM so instead of having them set it up, I did it myself. On first bootup with the back cover still off, I saw it updating so I immediately pulled the battery to stop it. I then booted into recovery and did the factory reset and cleaned the cache. Happiness followed when I saw it was indeed Android 4.22 with SELinux as permissive. Of course from there I immediately used ODIN to perform the CF Auto Root, update SuperSu pro and install my favorite root apps

I figured there might be a few people here who might want to know this little trick.

androidtoy09 · Jan 24, 2014

good tips. Thank you

johnny crapple · Jan 24, 2014

This could come in handy thanks

ShinySide · Jan 24, 2014

Wait.... Did it go into recovery? If not it wasn't updating.... If you're talking about the "Android is upgrading" and x of x that was your cache building....

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johnny crapple · Jan 25, 2014

ShinySide said:
Wait.... Did it go into recovery? If not it wasn't updating.... If you're talking about the "Android is upgrading" and x of x that was your cache building....

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Good question I didn't think of that.

djcmn · Jan 25, 2014

ShinySide said:
Wait.... Did it go into recovery? If not it wasn't updating.... If you're talking about the "Android is upgrading" and x of x that was your cache building....

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If you let that updating finish you will end up with 4.3 ( and the KNOX garbage) and it will be too late to go back to the original 4.22 without the KNOX bootloader. A friend of mine just bought one for his kid yesterday and that's what happened. This kid really wanted his new phone set up like mine is. I went back there later in the day with him and said the internet wasn't working properly and we did an exchange. I told the lady at the store we were short on time and to just pull the SIM and put it in the box with new phone and I will set it up for him later. We got back to the house and I did the factory reset and cache wipe in recovery before starting it up normally. Confirmed he now has 4.22 and SELinux permissive like I do. My friend doesn't know these phones like I do, so it is good that his son has the same Android version that I do so I can help him if there is problems, especially since many employees at the T Mobile stores are clueless and or course I was the one that rooted it and set it up.

Ha, I did not put Android Tuner by C2 on it though because of what that app can do.

HTCMDA · Jan 26, 2014

djcmn said:
If you let that updating finish you will end up with 4.3 ( and the KNOX garbage) and it will be too late to go back to the original 4.22 without the KNOX bootloader. A friend of mine just bought one for his kid yesterday and that's what happened. This kid really wanted his new phone set up like mine is. I went back there later in the day with him and said the internet wasn't working properly and we did an exchange. I told the lady at the store we were short on time and to just pull the SIM and put it in the box with new phone and I will set it up for him later. We got back to the house and I did the factory reset and cache wipe in recovery before starting it up normally. Confirmed he now has 4.22 and SELinux permissive like I do. My friend doesn't know these phones like I do, so it is good that his son has the same Android version that I do so I can help him if there is problems, especially since many employees at the T Mobile stores are clueless and or course I was the one that rooted it and set it up.

Ha, I did not put Android Tuner by C2 on it though because of what that app can do.

my update finished and I don't have knox...
If you booted directly into recovery without turning the phone on completely, how would you even know if it had knox or not? not all are shipping with the 4.3 update.

djcmn · Jan 26, 2014

HTCMDA said:
my update finished and I don't have knox...
If you booted directly into recovery without turning the phone on completely, how would you even know if it had knox or not? not all are shipping with the 4.3 update.

Please reread what you just quoted me as saying. I will add that all 3 devices came from the same T Mobile store that had only the newer restickered boxes with the 4.3 update. When replacing mine I specifically asked if they had any without the update and they said they didn't because all they had was boxes with the new stickers.

The first one my friends kid got went through the update, and I saw the 4.3 version in " About Device" before we returned it, although I did not actually look for KNOX. The second one was 4.22 when I did the recovery trick which confirmed my suspicion.

The OP was about the one I replaced for myself, and I just acted on a hunch when I first booted up and saw " Android is updating" and stopped it.

TravisAntonio · Jan 28, 2014

Nice and very quick reaction time, maybe you could get dual wielding.

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gamepr · Jan 29, 2014

....I just did this on a replacement phone and it did not work. Booted straight into recovery, wiped cache and did a factory reset with no luck as to what the OP is claiming here.

Phone still has 4.3

scooter247 · Jan 29, 2014

He said he got a new boxed s4 from the store not a replacement that was sent to him. Also the boxes with stickers may have been left over stock already manufactured with 4.2 but has been sent the ota update wich kicks in when booted up. Eventually Samsung will manufactur the update in house. Any refurbished ones will already be updated in house as well.

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Deleted member 4605205 · Jan 29, 2014

gamepr said:
....I just did this on a replacement phone and it did not work. Booted straight into recovery, wiped cache and did a factory reset with no luck as to what the OP is claiming here.

Phone still has 4.3

Nope, all the replacement phones sent to you are refurbished units and already updated before they are sent. This trick he's saying only applies to brand new phones that were manufactured before the 4.3 update (which might not be available for much longer).

djcmn · Jan 30, 2014

Exactly what scooter247 and Yo_2T said. The reason I posted this topic is because time is limited so I wanted to get the word out. Some locations it might already be too late.

roblxskye · Feb 3, 2014

Sorry if this isn't a stupid question, is warranty and downgrading the only reason to not update to 4.3 ota touchwiz?

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PesTicide. · Feb 3, 2014

I bought a new Galaxy s4 (white) 4 days ago. The rep set it up at T-Mobile store with Sim installed and were still Android 4.2.2 out of the box. He say only if you guys click on system updates in the settings but I told him not to because I don't want Knox stuffs.

futty · Feb 6, 2014

Good job for finding this. I don't plan to get a new s4 or whatever until the s5 is out and you bet your ass that knox crap would already be there

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DLovo313 · Feb 10, 2014

futty said:
Good job for finding this. I don't plan to get a new s4 or whatever until the s5 is out and you bet your ass that knox crap would already be there

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Haha I was wondering if the s5 came out and this worked it would be great.

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djcmn · Feb 16, 2014

DLovo313 said:
Haha I was wondering if the s5 came out and this worked it would be great.

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It won't because when the S5 comes out it will be released with a higher Android version. This already applies to the Note 3 as it shipped with 4.3.

mrrobc97 · Feb 16, 2014

It worked!...just got my wife a S4 and I made it boot 4.2. 2 the first time...now after TWRP and Darkstalker its back to 4.3 w/o knox. So it seems they are still S4s with 4.2.2 avialable. Wish I could of done that to my Note 3. Thx buddy for the tip.

Sent from my Blutiful Note3

R.Suave · Feb 20, 2014

Got my S4 replacement in the mail today. Before even booting up I did the few steps mentioned in the OP and no luck. Powered phone on to see 4.3 mk2. Seems as they are shipping with the update already completed. At least in my case. I guess ill be triggering KNOX from here on.

Easy trick to get a new S4 from T Mobile without KNOX bootloader!

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