[Evidence] Samsung might have some kind of HTC devs bootloader type unlock system.

[ethanscooter]

After unusual complications with installing custom software and issues a person with a locked bootloader may experience, I decided to contact Samsung to find out what was going on. They basically told me that the U.S variants are locked and so are the exynos variants (but we already know those arent). I also found there are issues with flashing custom software. There is still possible light for the issue as the rep was somewhat hinting at an HTC type of way to unlock the bootloader.

EDIT: With a recent chat we have some hope that Samsung may allow us to do a HTC devs type of unlock.

Take a look at the new chat that makes me think we will have an HTC type of bootloader unlock in the U.S

John: I talked to many different samsung reps
John: and I found out that the U.S Galaxy S7 bootloader is locked (SD820 variants) but not the Exynos variants
John: One rep basically said that samsung will have a way to unlock it
John: For devs
Tapaswi M: Hello John.
John: somewhat like what HTC has
John: is this correct?}
John: ?*
Tapaswi M: I will help you with required information regarding the bootloader.
John: Thank you
Tapaswi M: You're welcome.
Tapaswi M: I have check the details for you and would like to inform you that, we in live support deal only with the technical troubleshooting of the devices and unfortunately, we are not provided with the information on unlocking the boot loaders.
Tapaswi M: Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone).
Tapaswi M: So Samsung do not recommend or assist unlocking the boot loader on your phone.
John: That's what is making me curious...
John: You guys keep saying this
John: "Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone)."
John: Like you're implying samsung may provide a way for developers to unlock it
John: even though its locked
John: is this correct?
Tapaswi M: Yes, however we have seen few customers who tried to root the phones prior to S7.
John: Like if it was just locked like how Verizon locks their bootloaders there is no way to unlock except for unofficial ways like Sunshine's exploit for the S5
John: thus, no reason to say that
John: Are you implying there will be a way that Samsung will provide to American owners that will allow us to unlock it?
Tapaswi M: I will be right with you.
Tapaswi M: If you wish, I can transfer the chat to my supervisor who may provide you with this information.
John: sure
Tapaswi M: Please wait while I transfer the chat.
John: Alright
Chat InformationPlease wait while I transfer the chat to 'Srikanth M'.
Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'Srikanth M'. The reference number for this chat is 4305967214. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Srikanth M: Hi John, this is srikanth and I am the floor supervisor.
John: Hello, I had a few questions about the bootloader
John: It's obviously locked in USA and not other countries for some reason.
Srikanth M: Yes, I see your question John.
Srikanth M: Okay.
John: I've concluded this based off of what other people have told me from support chats and my own tests.
John: Samsung reps from live chats are saying this
John: ""Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone).""
John: Thats basically implying that samsung will provide a way to unlock it
John: If the bootloader lock type Samsung was enforcing upon its American S7 owners was like Verizons method of locking their bootloaders then there would be no reason to say that
John: However, it seems like the 2 reps that told me this are implying samsung will have an unlock method in the near future
John: Is this correct?
Srikanth M: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
Srikanth M: Let me explain it to you.
Srikanth M: Samsung doesn't provide assistance regarding rooting or unrooting the devices as this has to be done through third party sources which we are unaware of.
Srikanth M: I do understand your concern regarding unlocking the bootloader on S7. However, we ate live chat do not have this information. As of now, Samsung doesn't have an option of unlocking the boot loader.
John: Rooting has nothing to do with my question at the moment. I have no idea why it is only enforced in the United States.
John: Also, do you know why Samsung has not made ANY statement on this?
John: This should've been public information
Srikanth M: I wish I could help. We ate live chat deal only with troubleshooting part of the devices and have limited information on this.
Srikanth M: I recommend you to contact our voice support for more insights on this John.
Srikanth M: I hope you understand the limitations from our end.
Srikanth M: You can contact our voice support at 1-888-987-4357, Mon-Fri: 7 AM - 2 AM (CST), Sat: 9 AM - 10 PM (CST).
John: thanks anyways

They were hinting at an HTC devs method of unlocking the boot!
"Srikanth M: I do understand your concern regarding unlocking the bootloader on S7. However, we ate live chat do not have this information. As of now, Samsung doesn't have an option of unlocking the boot loader." It gives us some hope and something to look forward to.


Take a look at our old chat:

Varsha G: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
John: Hello, I have a question about my S7 (G930T_
John: )*
John: T-Mobile variant, obviously
Varsha G: Hello John!
John: Hello!
John: Im wondering if the bootloader is unlocked
John: not SIM unlocked
John: bootloader unlocked
Varsha G: Thank you for the model number.
Varsha G: I will be glad to help you with the required information on the bootloader lock on the device.
Varsha G: I would like to inform you that as per the Samsung, the new devices i.e S7 and S7 edge are boot loader locked, and we do not have an option to unlock the boot loader for the new devices as per the device limitations from Samsung.
Varsha G: I would like to inform you that, we in live chat deal only with the technical troubleshooting of the devices and unfortunately, we are not provided with the information on unlocking the boot loaders. Also, I should inform you that Unlocking your phone’s boot loader voids its warranty and also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc and may lead to improper functioning of the phone(brick the phone). So Samsung do not recommend or assist unlocking the boot loader on your phone.
John: Thanks, I guess...

I think it's safe to say that as of now we can infer all Samsung Galaxy S7's in the United States are bootloader locked. However, Samsung may provide us with a way to unlock in the future.

Thanks for reading,
Ethanscooter

 

[ethanscooter]

Confirmed myself and with other reps that it is bootloader locked. Updated thread.

 

[ethanscooter]

Updated thread, after doing my own tests and speaking to numerous representatives I concluded that the Galaxy S7's bootloader IS LOCKED FOR ALL U.S MODELS! However, Samsung most likely will have an HTC type unlock bootloader method. Like HTC Devs.

 

[Corwinder]

Updated thread, thankfully it is bootloader unlocked and SIM locked.

Thank you for checking that. I knew someone else was lying when he said he contacted Samsung. He just assumed since I couldn't use ADB to install the recovery then the bootloader was locked. Duh, if it were that easy we all wouldn't be looking for an Odin flashable method. Again, thanks for taking the time to find that out.

 

[ethanscooter]

Thank you for checking that. I knew someone else was lying when he said he contacted Samsung. He just assumed since I couldn't use ADB to install the recovery then the bootloader was locked. Duh, if it were that easy we all wouldn't be looking for an Odin flashable method. Again, thanks for taking the time to find that out.

I know who you're talking about, the reason you couldn't use ADB to install the recovery that way is because you need root to install the recovery that way. Also, he probably contacted Samsung and they said it was locked because they were thinking of SIM unlocking, like my representative. Once I clarified what I meant they said the bootloader was not locked!

But I do know who you're talking about, and he probably is lying..

 

[Corwinder]

I know who you're talking about, the reason you couldn't use ADB to install the recovery that way is because you need root to install the recovery that way. Also, he probably contacted Samsung and they said it was locked because they were thinking of SIM unlocking, like my representative. Once I clarified what I meant they said the bootloader was not locked!

But I do know who you're talking about, and he probably is lying..

Agreed. I notice he didn't answer if the G930T kernel source was out yet.

 

[ethanscooter]

Agreed. I notice he didn't answer if the G930T kernel source was out yet.

When the kernel sources do get released they will be located here: http://opensource.samsung.com/reception/receptionSub.do?method=sub&sub=F&searchValue=SM-G930T

Also, he was talking about a 930A kernel? That doesn't make sense, do we even have a 930A kernel? It's almost impossible to do anything to the G930A because of it's locked bootloader and if you root it then you can't use the phone due to a security feature.

 

[Corwinder]

When the kernel sources do get released they will be located here: http://opensource.samsung.com/reception/receptionSub.do?method=sub&sub=F&searchValue=SM-G930T

Also, he was talking about a 930A kernel? That doesn't make sense, do we even have a 930A kernel? It's almost impossible to do anything to the G930A because of it's locked bootloader and if you root it then you can't use the phone due to a security feature.

no the only kernel sources he had was for the G930F

 

[ethanscooter]

no the only kernel sources he had was for the G930F

Which is one of the factors as to why the recovery wouldn't work for our phone...


Do you see why I didn't like the guy?

 

[jcadduono]

Which is one of the factors as to why the recovery wouldn't work for our phone...


Do you see why I didn't like the guy?

ya i dont like him either he has no idea what hes talking about

 

[Root-Maniac]

Glad to hear all this. Thanks guys

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[noahajac]

Thank you for checking that. I knew someone else was lying when he said he contacted Samsung. He just assumed since I couldn't use ADB to install the recovery then the bootloader was locked. Duh, if it were that easy we all wouldn't be looking for an Odin flashable method. Again, thanks for taking the time to find that out.

You need to flash recovery in fastboot, not ADB. Unless in some scenarios if it is rooted.

 

[mocsab]

Finally! I got in a live chat and they confirmed with me that the GS7 on T-Mobile IS thankfully bootloader unlocked.

I appreciate your going to the troiuble to do this, but what gave you the idea that the Bootloader was locked on TMobile S7 Edge in the firstt place? Just curious? I am not sayingI know everything by any means - but I wasn't concerned at all...?

 

[peachpuff]

Srikanth S: The S7 model is bootloader locked.
Srikanth S: The model which you're referring is a bootloader unlocked.
Srikanth S: Yes, the T-mobile S7 is sim locked but not the bootloader locked.
Srikanth S: Sprint variant is not a bootloader unlocked.

S7 is bootloader locked, bootloader unlocked, not a bootloader locked? English might not be his first launguage but I don't think even he knows what he's talking aboot.

 

[jcadduono]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmo...-discussion-future-sticky-root-t3327399/page4

Stop relaxing and read from that page and on.
The normal S7 falls under the same category as the S7 Edge.

 

[thrgk]

Any news on Verizon boot loader or root

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[jcadduono]

Any news on Verizon boot loader or root

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

try flashing https://idlekernel.com/twrp/hero2qlte/3.0.0-0/twrp-3.0.0-0-hero2qltetmo.tar.md5
while it isn't for your phone (it's actually for T-Mobile S7 Edge), if it at least flashes then you are in the clear and I will happily port TWRP for your device.

If the flash fails with SECURE CHECK FAIL, then you are out of luck. (nothing is changed and it won't trip knox)

RESULTS
if it flashes successfully, and trips knox, then you have an unlocked bootloader, and twrp will happen for you in a few days
if it does not flash, it will not trip knox, and nothing will have changed, but you have a locked bootloader

 

[thrgk]

So no chance of screwing up my phone really ?

BTW twrp allows root right ? Or at least means it's possible ?

If no chance of brick I'd give it a go

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[jcadduono]

So no chance of screwing up my phone really ?

BTW twrp allows root right ? Or at least means it's possible ?

If no chance of brick I'd give it a go

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

You won't brick. If it actually flashes you'll just be without stock recovery for a few days while we get an actual TWRP for your device ready.

 

[thrgk]

If it does flash is there anyway to get back to full stock ? BTW if it flashes does that mean root is possible ? Downloading now

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk