Cross Flash From VS995/Verizon Unlocked to US996/US Unlocked?

[DeyEatDaPooPoo]

I've been looking for a good, inexpensive phone my partner can use on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon and I was able to snatch an unlocked VS995 in excellent condition for $70--it just needs the battery replaced soon which I also ordered. The main downside to this model if you're using it on AT&T and T-Mobile is that it doesn't support Band 12 and 17, but I know the US Unlocked variant does. I just received the phone today. I've been searching on the forum for an answer into if this is possible with the VS995 variant and I've seen people say it is using an LG V20 version of LGUP, but haven't found anyone that's confirmed they've been able to do it on the Verizon and not the AT&T variant and the steps they took to do so.

I want to stay on the stock ROM so I'm not looking to root and install a custom one. Is it possible to convert from the VS995 firmware to US996 so I can gain band 12 and 17 while removing the Verizon bloatware and staying on the stock ROM/OS? If so, would anyone one of y'all be kind enough to post the link to a guide or article that details how to do so? I reset the phone to factory settings so thankfully don't have to do a backup. After doing this, is it still possible to receive OTA updates and, if so, are they gonna mess anything up like reverting the phone to stock firmware or the phone's unlocked status?

Thank y'all so much in advance.

 

[ezzony]

I have a vs995 and I flashed it with US996_usa and working great. You need to download the us996 usa version (2.3GB KDZ) at lg-firmwares dot com and flash it with LGUP PATCHED. There is video on Youtube giving detailed instructions. You will be able to find all these easily via google. I don't know how any of this works with the various US carriers or bands as I'm in europe.

 

[C D]

I've been looking for a good, inexpensive phone my partner can use on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon and I was able to snatch an unlocked VS995 in excellent condition for $70--it just needs the battery replaced soon which I also ordered. The main downside to this model if you're using it on AT&T and T-Mobile is that it doesn't support Band 12 and 17, but I know the US Unlocked variant does. I just received the phone today. I've been searching on the forum for an answer into if this is possible with the VS995 variant and I've seen people say it is using an LG V20 version of LGUP, but haven't found anyone that's confirmed they've been able to do it on the Verizon and not the AT&T variant and the steps they took to do so.

I want to stay on the stock ROM so I'm not looking to root and install a custom one. Is it possible to convert from the VS995 firmware to US996 so I can gain band 12 and 17 while removing the Verizon bloatware and staying on the stock ROM/OS? If so, would anyone one of y'all be kind enough to post the link to a guide or article that details how to do so? I reset the phone to factory settings so thankfully don't have to do a backup. After doing this, is it still possible to receive OTA updates and, if so, are they gonna mess anything up like reverting the phone to stock firmware or the phone's unlocked status?

Thank y'all so much in advance.

As far as I'm aware, cross-flashing firmware on the V20 won't give you any additional frequency bands unlike some other phones, so you're still limited to what the VS995 has from the beginning. From what I've read, US996 firmware works fine on Verizon except for a few features such as WiFi calling and video calling.
As for AT&T and T-Mobile, you won't get VoLTE or WiFi calling along with the missing LTE bands, so, depending on where you live, overall coverage could be significantly worse than having the H910 (AT&T) and H918 (T-Mobile) models, respectively. Not having VoLTE would be a problem if you were in an LTE-only area without roaming because then you'd have no way to make or receive phone calls.

 

[DeyEatDaPooPoo]

I have a vs995 and I flashed it with US996_usa and working great. You need to download the us996 usa version (2.3GB KDZ) at lg-firmwares dot com and flash it with LGUP PATCHED. There is video on Youtube giving detailed instructions. You will be able to find all these easily via google. I don't know how any of this works with the various US carriers or bands as I'm in europe.

Thank you for the info. Are you referring to this video? I'd watched it before but it's for flashing the stock ROM on a US996 variant and the links in the description don't work.

As far as I'm aware, cross-flashing firmware on the V20 won't give you any additional frequency bands unlike some other phones, so you're still limited to what the VS995 has from the beginning. From what I've read, US996 firmware works fine on Verizon except for a few features such as WiFi calling and video calling.

As for AT&T and T-Mobile, you won't get VoLTE or WiFi calling along with the missing LTE bands, so, depending on where you live, overall coverage could be significantly worse than having the H910 (AT&T) and H918 (T-Mobile) models, respectively. Not having VoLTE would be a problem if you were in an LTE-only area without roaming because then you'd have no way to make or receive phone calls.

Hmm, where did you read that? From what I've read the hardware/modem in the VS995 and US996 version is the same and therefore the difference only comes down to the carrier firmware artificially disabling bands the device supports just like it is on many other smartphones. I could be wrong, but one way to find out would be to do it myself and then try to connect to a Band 12 or 17 tower.

WiFi calling and video calling I'm totally fine with not having. Never used or needed them. With AT&T and Cricket I've never not had service and with Metro the couple times I haven't had T-Mobile service roaming has kicked in and saved the day. Thank you for the info.

 

[C D]

Hmm, where did you read that? From what I've read the hardware/modem in the VS995 and US996 version is the same and therefore the difference only comes down to the carrier firmware artificially disabling bands the device supports just like it is on many other smartphones. I could be wrong, but one way to find out would be to do it myself and then try to connect to a Band 12 or 17 tower.

WiFi calling and video calling I'm totally fine with not having. Never used or needed them. With AT&T and Cricket I've never not had service and with Metro the couple times I haven't had T-Mobile service roaming has kicked in and saved the day. Thank you for the info.

Here's some frequency band info for both the VS995 and US996:
VS995
US996

I'm pretty sure this is a hardware difference, and no firmware change will be able to add more band support unlike some other phones you may have heard about (such as recent U.S. models of Samsung phones). Otherwise, there would have been plenty of discussions and guides around here regarding this (and FWIW, I happen to own a US996, LS997, and H918).

As for LTE Band 12 on the T-Mobile network, only phones that are certified by T-Mobile will be able to access it (more info on compatible phones here). So even though a US996 has the hardware for connecting to Band 12, you wouldn't be able to use it since T-Mobile has blocked access to it and only allows it for the H918 model.

Based on all this, I would expect a VS995 to get LTE Bands 2, 4, and 5 on AT&T and T-Mobile. Of course, since you already have the phone, there's only one way to find out. Just make sure you carefully read the guides/procedures about using LGUP for cross-flashing, and absolutely stay away from any H918 firmware (it will instantly kill any V20 that is not an actual H918). Not sure if there even is a separate guide around here as it is usually mentioned in the initial steps of different rooting guides for each V20 model, but you can find the patched LGUP that ezzony mentioned in this thread (you may have to move the DLL file to a specific folder location for it to work properly).

 

[DeyEatDaPooPoo]

Here's some frequency band info for both the VS995 and US996:
VS995
US996

I'm pretty sure this is a hardware difference, and no firmware change will be able to add more band support unlike some other phones you may have heard about (such as recent U.S. models of Samsung phones). Otherwise, there would have been plenty of discussions and guides around here regarding this (and FWIW, I happen to own a US996, LS997, and H918).

As for LTE Band 12 on the T-Mobile network, only phones that are certified by T-Mobile will be able to access it (more info on compatible phones here). So even though a US996 has the hardware for connecting to Band 12, you wouldn't be able to use it since T-Mobile has blocked access to it and only allows it for the H918 model.

Based on all this, I would expect a VS995 to get LTE Bands 2, 4, and 5 on AT&T and T-Mobile. Of course, since you already have the phone, there's only one way to find out. Just make sure you carefully read the guides/procedures about using LGUP for cross-flashing, and absolutely stay away from any H918 firmware (it will instantly kill any V20 that is not an actual H918). Not sure if there even is a separate guide around here as it is usually mentioned in the initial steps of different rooting guides for each V20 model, but you can find the patched LGUP that ezzony mentioned in this thread (you may have to move the DLL file to a specific folder location for it to work properly).

Yes, but the Frequency Check website only looks at firmware differences, not the internal hardware. I decided to do some further digging and went to the source that tests these (the FCC) and found that the VS995 and US996 have the same ZNFVS995 FCC ID meaning they share the same internal hardware. Verizon just decided they wanted to be arseholes and cripple the phone's band support in their firmware so it wouldn't work to the best of its abilities on T-Mobile's and AT&T's network. Similarly, T-Mobile decided to also be arseholes by artificially limiting Band 12/VoLTE support to their own H918 model only. I hate that carriers are able to get away with this BS. It is incredibly anti-consumer and infuriating. If the hardware supports XYZ then it should be enabled and capable of taking advantage of it. The FCC tested Band 12/17 to work properly on these and says regarding the device's capabilities:

This device contains the following capabilities: 850/1900 CDMA (BC0, BC1), 850/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 850/1700/1900 WCDMA/HSPA, Multi-band LTE, 802.11b/g/n/ac WLAN, 802.11a/n/ac UNII, Bluetooth (1x, EDR, LE), NFC LTE Band 12 (698 - 716 MHz) overlaps the entire frequency range of LTE Band 17 (704 - 716 MHz). Therefore, test data provided in this report covers Band 17 as well as Band 12. LTE Band 25 (1850 - 1915 MHz) overlaps the entire frequency range of LTE Band 2 (1850 - 1910 MHz). Therefore, test data provided in this report covers Band 2 as well as Band 25. LTE Band 66 (1710 - 1780 MHz) overlaps the entire frequency range of LTE Band 4 (1710 - 1755 MHz). Therefore, test data provided in this report covers Band 4 as well as Band 66.

Seriously, f*ck both Verizon and T-Mobile. Thankfully I'm starting my Cricket/AT&T service in a week so I'll be able to test if it can pick up and use Band 12/17. You happen to know of any app or way to force/limit the device to only using one specific LTE band? Thank you so much for linking to that thread for flashing these using LGUP. I'll make sure to follow it and to download the US996 (US Unlocked, not US Cellular) firmware and post a small update on my findings. Thank you so much for all the info. Really appreciate it.

 

[C D]

You happen to know of any app or way to force/limit the device to only using one specific LTE band?

While I've never tried this, have a look at this old thread on LTE band selection from a hidden menu. The dialer code differs by model, so for a VS995 it would be *#546368#*995# and for a US996 *#546368#*996#. The code works for my US996 and H918 on Oreo but not for my LS997 on Nougat (for which there is a separate APK file to access the hidden menu). There are lots of submenus and items in there, so be sure not to accidentally change settings that you're not supposed to.

 

[mariowinax]

I have a vs995 and I flashed it with US996_usa and working great. You need to download the us996 usa version (2.3GB KDZ) at lg-firmwares dot com and flash it with LGUP PATCHED. There is video on Youtube giving detailed instructions. You will be able to find all these easily via google. I don't know how any of this works with the various US carriers or bands as I'm in europe.

Hello
You crossflash with which android version 9 or 8
If android 9 whats the battery backup (good/bad)
Does the android 9 has a darkmode
Does it brings back or activate the FM radio ?

Thanks

 

[ezzony]

Hello
You crossflash with which android version 9 or 8
If android 9 whats the battery backup (good/bad)
Does the android 9 has a darkmode
Does it brings back or activate the FM radio ?

Thanks

Android 8.

I know Android 9 does not have FM radio because Android 9 is only available for the Korean variant (F800) and it never had FM in the first place.