[Guide] (Oreo) Root Note8 (Exynos) + OEM Issue Fix + EFS Backup (Note8/S8/S8+)

dr.ketan · Sep 21, 2017

[Guide] How to Root Note8 + EFS Backup

Index of post

Must Read - You must read this to know about side effects of rooting device.

OEM Issue - OEM unlock option is must to root device, know about it

PART1: Recommended method to root N8 (exynos)

PART2: Other possible methods to root N8 (exynos) - Use this as knowledge base, we still recommend method said in PART1.

PART3:EFS Backup - You must backup EFS as soon as you root the device and make a copy to other safe place too

.

Must Read :

READ THIS BEFORE ROOTING DEVICE

- Any of below said method to root will trip knox and void warranty forever.
- Root process needs wipe data so make backup of important data (including Internal Device storage) before proceed.
- As of now you will lose Samsung Pay and Secure folder forever if you root once, even unrooting won't help. (hope in future we can get it working on tripped knox device). Also you may not able to run some banking apps, but for that there are some workaround like Magisk Hide or SU hide, google it.
- OTA likely won't work once you root device.
- To unroot device completely, simply flash Samsung stock firmware, Remember, Unrooting won't revokes warranty nor you will be able to use Secure folder/Samsung Pay. Once rooted, these feature gone for you unless some magic happen in future and may find a way to use it.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

OEM issue
OEM affected device - means OEM unlock option missing out of box and appears 7 days later. If you are uncertain about this, you can consider your device OEM affected .

Workaround to get OEM unlock option if it is not available (Normally it appears after 7 days of clean install but this trick may bring it without 7 days waiting)

- Flash latest stock firmware
- Set clock 8 days prior to current date
- Check for OTA update (check last check date is set to 8days prior from current)
- Reboot
- Set current date
- Check for OTA update (now last check date should be current day
- Check Developer option for OEM option

PART1 : For Oreo & Pie

ROOT Note8 (exynos) (Recommended method for all including have OEM issue )

This method is most convenient and give most options in single pack, like root with magisk/SuperSU also it does patch OEM issue (losing OEM toggle on rooting device, follow below said guide to the letter to work it properly)

PART2 : (FOR OREO Only)

ROOT Note8 (exynos) for devices that doesn't have OEM issue
This method is actually for knowledge base purpose about all possible ways to root N950 (exynos), also to note that you shouldn't use this method if your device have OEM issue. We recommend all to use above said method for all in PART1

Here is detailed guide about Root Galaxy Note8. Guide made in two sections, One who want root + Custom recovery and second Root without flashing custom recovery.

1.Root with TWRP (Recommended method) You can root with SuperSU OR Magisk

Root with TWRP is preferred method as it gives option to flash zip like mods,custom ROMs etc

Root with SuperSU

1.Enable Developer Option (settings - about phone - Software information - Tap 7 times on build number to activate developer option in settings menu)
2.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)
3.Download SuperSU (I have used SuperSU 2.82 SR4) to Ext SD card. Here is Original thread to see if any update available.
4.Download TWRP for N8
5.Switch Off device
6.Press Vol down + Bixby + Power to reboot to download mode, press volume up when asked to continue to download mode
7.Download Odin and open it, Disable 'Auto reboot' from option menu of Odin
8.Select TWRP (tar image) with AP tab of Odin and Start
9.Once Successfully flashed, you will see 'Passed' in Odin tab
10.Disconnect device and hold Vol down + power till screen goes off, Now immediately press Vol Up + Bixby + Power to reboot to TWRP
11.Select to allow modification
12.From TWRP, Select WIPE menu - Then FORMAT DATA - You need to type 'yes' to perform wipe. WARNING : This will erase all data including Int SD storage from device
13.Once format device completes, go back and select REBOOT' Menu and then - 'RECOVERY', This will reboot to TWRP again
14.Now select Install and navigate path to Ext SD card - SuperSU, you have copied earlier
15.Once SuperSu flash successfully, Reboot to System

Keep patience and allow device to boot, It may take time as we have formated data.

Once device boot, you will have SuperSU in app drwer with working boot.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Root with Magisks

1.Enable Developer Option (settings - about phone - Software information - Tap 7 times on build number to activate developer option in settings menu)
2.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)
3.Download and copy latest Magisks zip to Ext SD card
4.Download TWRP for N8
5.Switch Off device
6.Press Vol down + Bixby + Power to reboot to download mode, press volume up when asked to continue to download mode
7.Download Odin and open it, Disable 'Auto reboot' from option menu of Odin
8.Select TWRP (tar image) with AP tab of Odin and Start
9.Once Successfully flashed, you will see 'Passed' in Odin tab
10.Disconnect device and hold Vol down + power till screen goes off, Now immediately press Vol Up + Bixby + Power to reboot to TWRP
11.Select to allow modification
12.From TWRP, Select WIPE menu - Then FORMAT DATA - You need to type 'yes' to perform wipe. WARNING : This will erase all data including Int SD storage from device
13.Once format device completes, go back and select REBOOT' Menu and then - 'RECOVERY', This will reboot to TWRP again
14.Now select Install and navigate path to Ext SD card -Magisks zip, you have copied earlier
15.Once Magisk flash successfully, Reboot to System

Keep patience and allow device to boot, It may take time as we have formated data.

2. Root with Stock Recovery
This will give just root access and No custom recovery. (you can't flash custom ROM, mods zip with stock recovery but still can use FlashFire or similar.
There are two ways, you can root with stock recovery
1.CF Auto Root (superSU)
1. Download CF Auto root package Thanks to @ChainFire and MobiFirmware
2.Extract and read ReadMe.txt for details
3.Enable Developer Option (settings - about phone - Software information - Tap 7 times on build number to activate developer option in settings menu)
4.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)
5.Switch Off device
6.Press Vol down + Bixby + Power to reboot to download mode, press volume up when asked to continue to download mode
7.Download Odin and open it
8.Select Image.tar.md5 (From you have download CF root package above) with AP tab of Odin and Start
9.Once Successfully flashed, you will see 'Passed' in Odin tab
Device will get Reboot with root access

2.Magisk

1.You need to have stock firmware, Extract boot.img file from that firmware with winzip or similar
2.Install Latest Magisk Manager
3.Open it and explore settings - Patched Boot Output format - select img.tar
4.Now again from main page of Magisk Manager click Install - Install - Patch Boot Image File and patched the boot.img
5.Copy patched_boot.img.tar to a PC from MagiskManager directory on Int Storage
6.Enable Developer Option (settings - about phone - Software information - Tap 7 times on build number to activate developer option in settings menu)
7.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)
8.Switch Off device
6.Press Vol down + Bixby + Power to reboot to download mode, press volume up when asked to continue to download mode
7.Download Odin and open it, Disable 'Auto reboot' from option menu of Odin and
8.Select patched_image.tar (You copied as step 5 above) with AP tab of Odin and Start
9.Once Successfully flashed, you will see 'Passed' in Odin tab
10.The phone restarts and ask to reset to factory settings, This will erase all data from device
11. Let reboot device and install Magisk manager again and open it. Now you will have root.
12.You can install FlashFire and re flash Magisk zip again to have magisk module to work.

PART3 :

EFS Backup Tool Note8 /S8 /S8+

Download EFS Backup Tool :

PlayStore version

XDA version

ChangeLog :

1.0
- Initial Release (4696)
1.1 (2650)
- S9/S9+ added to supported list
- Fix probable issue with SuperSu and Magisk (16.4) on Oreo
1.2
- Compatible with latest magisk

jellyhead · Sep 21, 2017

which models of phone it is for or where to find TWRP for the Note 8?

dr.ketan · Sep 21, 2017

What is EFS

This part of the device contains some important and some basic info related to our device identity like Bluetooth MAC address, wireless devices MAC addresses, product code (also in the nv_data.bin) and the very main IMEI address (nv_data.bin), programming parameters for the device such as your account information (phone number, etc), data provisioning parameters, and a whole bunch of other things. So you can guess it's will be different for each device and one can't use others. In latest samsung device this information store in other partition so requires to make backup of that partition too.

How it can corrupt :

- Any bad flashing, mishandling system modification can cause this.
- Also It can be corrupted by downgrading stock ROM. If you flash any old ROM on newer ROM it can corrupt EFS. Basically newer ROM believed to have new kernel that changes EFS data which older Modems can't read and results to fail in reading IMEI.

Impact on device/How I know I have corrupted EFS

When there is EFS partition is corrupted, device loses IMEI and due to this device can't gets connected to network. Baseband info also sometimes shows unknown.
-Check your IMEI in setting / by dialling *#06# if it is null OR if it starts with 0049** then IMEI is generic and corrupted. In Normal case IMEI which you can see in device setting or dialing *#06# is exactly same you can see on bill/box/sticker under battery compartment
-If you are unable to connect to network in spite of correct IMEI, chance are
A. Your device is Locked to specific Network OR
B. Your device is banned due to tempered IMEI
-If your AP,CP,CSC all are correct and even you are getting error (unknown CSC XXX) on kies update, it may be due to corrupt Product code in EFS. Read This for detail.

What care should i take
Before flashing anything, first thing you should do is to make EFS backup. Every person who have rooted device should make EFS backup earliest and place it to safer place on PC and /Cloud.
If you are on older ROM, make EFS backup on older ROM as well make another after upgrading ROM too.
If you have already updated to newer ROM, make backup on current ROM.

Exit "Permanent Safe Mode" This condition represent with loss of IMEI + yellow text box on homescreen with device info.here is Screenshot

Here is different method to remove it.

Method1 :

Method2:

Method3

e:failed to mount /efs(invalid argument) error with bootloop

This condition usually happens with using unsupported tool (usually from play store).

To recover this, needs to use adb shell

Code:

adb shell
 mke2fs / dev/block/mmcblk0p[COLOR="Red"]x[/COLOR]
 mount-w-t ext4 / dev/block/mmcblk0p[COLOR="red"]x[/COLOR] / efs

x means your device EFS partition number

PS : It needs CWM and busybox installed.

douger1957 · Sep 21, 2017

You may want to put in your OP that this is for Exgynos only.

nader1450 · Sep 24, 2017

OEM Unlock Options

My note 8 doesn't have oem unlock in developer option

any news for oem unlock enabling (tool)?

any idea about how to root?

Regards

jenellej · Sep 25, 2017

Same here, no OEM unlock option in dev tools

dr.ketan · Sep 25, 2017

Some users reported it appear after 5 days
Here below is separate thread for that.
https://xdaforums.com/galaxy-note-8/help/info-note-8-exynos-n950f-fd-oem-unlock-t3673140

.

AllGamer · Sep 25, 2017

any chance for this root to work on the Snapdragon 835 model of Note8 ?

nader1450 · Sep 25, 2017

dr.ketan said:
Some users reported it appear after 5 days
Here below is separate thread for that.
https://xdaforums.com/galaxy-note-8/help/info-note-8-exynos-n950f-fd-oem-unlock-t3673140

.

i'm not developer
but you can make custom rom and flash with odin

any idea?

Thanks

dr.ketan · Sep 25, 2017

nader1450 said:
i'm not developer
but you can make custom rom and flash with odin

any idea?

Thanks

How one can flash ROM without custom recovery? Also to use FlashFire or similar, you need a rooted device. There is nothing can be done before this option (OEM Unlock toggle) appear, or at least something can be done to make appear this option, it must be through odin by faking samsung binary.

nader1450 · Sep 25, 2017

samsung live chat:

that device note 8 after registered also dose not support OEM unlock

any idea?

Brava27 · Sep 25, 2017

nader1450 said:
samsung live chat:

that device note 8 after registered also dose not support OEM unlock

any idea?

Stop asking the same questions over and over again. All OEM unlock issues should be referred to the thread mentioned above.

xxx42069 · Sep 26, 2017

Thank you for the guide Dr., much appreciated!

skyuvraj · Sep 26, 2017

Hello, sir. Thanks for this informative post. I Rooted my Samsung Galaxy Note 8. And published all the steps which I followed to root it at Andro Root. There are some modification in the steps. With Proper Attribution. Here:- How to Root Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Torquemada288 · Sep 27, 2017

nader1450 said:
samsung live chat:

that device note 8 after registered also dose not support OEM unlock

any idea?

Samsung Live Chat is staffed by below average imbeciles. You might as well ask your dog.
Wait 7-10 days after you first turned on the device then check in Developer Options for the OEM Unlock option.

xDark_ · Sep 27, 2017

nader1450 said:
samsung live chat:

that device note 8 after registered also dose not support OEM unlock

any idea?

Cry yourself to sleep

---------- Post added at 07:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 AM ----------

AllGamer said:
any chance for this root to work on the Snapdragon 835 model of Note8 ?

Can't unlock the bootloader on Snapdragon devices so no.

dr.ketan · Sep 27, 2017

Op is updated with links as well added different methods to root.

xxx42069 · Sep 27, 2017

dr.ketan said:
Op is updated with links as well added different methods to root.

Thank you Dr.
Any idea when we will see your EFS back up tool?

dr.ketan · Sep 27, 2017

xxx42069 said:
Thank you Dr.
Any idea when we will see your EFS back up tool?

Probably finish by tomorrow. Today working on Folder Mount with magisk

sirriom · Sep 27, 2017

Just rooting , with the third option , does this trip knox ?
Not flashing any recovery I mean , just the simple root .....
Anyone know please ?

[Guide] (Oreo) Root Note8 (Exynos) + OEM Issue Fix + EFS Backup (Note8/S8/S8+)

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