[GUIDE] Guide to unlock bootloader for every LG SDM845 except G710TM (With PHOTOS)

[EmanuelCN]

Really can UBL korean variant ?

It can unlock ALL variants apart TM.

 

[EmanuelCN]

Do not have option to turn on usb debugging in developer options. Please advise.

Double check it, should be there.

 

[BartmanEH]

Many thanks to EmanuelCN for documenting this process.

I have a LM-G710AWM model. I'm stuck on the last step "restoring" firmware--I cannot get LGUP to detect my device. QFIL still works.

Initially I was not able to restore my partitions with QFIL (flaky USB connection maybe?) so I used fastboot commands like this (path removed to protect the 'innocent'):
./fastboot flash abl_b "[path to]\Abl_bbackup.bin"
./fastboot flash abl_b "[path to]\Abl_bbackup.bin"
./fastboot flash laf_a "[path to]\laf_abackup.bin"
./fastboot flash laf_b "[path to]\laf_bbackup.bin"
all with success messages. But I just couldn't move on to the next step restoring firmware. So I tried again to restore my partitions with QFIL, this time with success. In fact, I've done it at least twice with QFIL for all four partitions: abl_a, abl_b, laf_a and laf_b from the backup files I made in the early steps.

But LGUP just shows this:

I purposely put Device Manager in the screenshot so you can see that I'm in EDL mode and the correct driver is running. Same issue on another Windows system:

I also tried a newer LGUP version and I tried UPPERCUT 1.0.0.0 but nothing enabled the device to be detected by LGUP.

I can switch between Fastboot mode:

...and EDL mode (black screen but with Qualcom 9008 device showing in Device Manager) but I cannot get LGUP to work. I think fastboot screen is showing that I have successfully unlocked bootloader and I have successfully restored my partitions because it doesn't say "PRODUCT_NAME - LM-U350AWM" anymore.
This is the KDZ firmware I downloaded that I think matches what my device was before I started this which showed "Software version G710AWM30e" in About:
lg-firmwares.com/downloads-file/25886/G710AWM30e_00_OPEN_CA_OP_0902

I cannot even power the device down--it just bootloops into fastboot mode (which I can intercept to get into EDL mode).

What have I done wrong? How do I restore the KDZ firmware?

EDIT: OK I have figured out that Download mode is different from EDL mode. It's very difficult to get my device into Download mode because it will not turn off--just immediately boots up in bootloader mode. 1 in 10 tries of timing pressing and holding the VOL+ key right when it starts up will finally get me into this Download mode:

So I'm getting close but right now LGUP does not recognize my device:

EDIT2: I’m not sure if it really helped but I switched slots in fast boot mode:

And then LGUP recognized my device when I went back into Download mode! I successfully completed the last step on the OP’s guide and reinstalled stock firmware so now I’m up and running with unlocked bootloader. Next step… root.

 

[User5324]

Works for LG Velvet 4G LMG910EMW, which is very good since LG has shutdown their official unlock page. And other manualy like MTKclient seem not to work for G910.
The steps need to be followed exactly as described by EmanuelCN (thanks very much for the details steps, any word less, and i would have been lost).
Some remarks. Holding power+Minus for 8 secs and then frequently pressing Plus opens the "special" 9008 mode, keeping the mobile display completely blank. With the driver in his package, the device must appear in Windows device manager with "Qualcomm ..." (not Android device and also not ABD interface device).
For step 19-21, i did not find the sources for fastboot driver.zip, FixFastboot.zip, fastboot-tools.zip. For me the standard ADB platform-tools_r33.0.3-windows.zip worked. Plus, i googled for Fastboot driver-20221109T134015Z-001.zip. In the end, the device must be found as "ADB interface device" or similar in device manager.
For me, at step 24 there was an error after "erasing data" that the command did not finish successfully. Anyhow, retrying the command shows that "bootloader already unlocked". Cool.
Also reverting back the backup partitions was straight forward, a little bit nervous is normal is guess, not mixing up the wrong files or partitions , but i was lucky.
The last step (28) was not required, i could just boot normally showing that bootloader could not be verified, then normal boot started. In developer options i see that OEM unlock is now greyed out which also indicated that the unlock worked.
Thanks you very much.
Cheers!

 

[EmanuelCN]

Works for LG Velvet 4G LMG910EMW, which is very good since LG has shutdown their official unlock page. And other manualy like MTKclient seem not to work for G910.
The steps need to be followed exactly as described by EmanuelCN (thanks very much for the details steps, any word less, and i would have been lost).
Some remarks. Holding power+Minus for 8 secs and then frequently pressing Plus opens the "special" 9008 mode, keeping the mobile display completely blank. With the driver in his package, the device must appear in Windows device manager with "Qualcomm ..." (not Android device and also not ABD interface device).
For step 19-21, i did not find the sources for fastboot driver.zip, FixFastboot.zip, fastboot-tools.zip. For me the standard ADB platform-tools_r33.0.3-windows.zip worked. Plus, i googled for Fastboot driver-20221109T134015Z-001.zip. In the end, the device must be found as "ADB interface device" or similar in device manager.
For me, at step 24 there was an error after "erasing data" that the command did not finish successfully. Anyhow, retrying the command shows that "bootloader already unlocked". Cool.
Also reverting back the backup partitions was straight forward, a little bit nervous is normal is guess, not mixing up the wrong files or partitions , but i was lucky.
The last step (28) was not required, i could just boot normally showing that bootloader could not be verified, then normal boot started. In developer options i see that OEM unlock is now greyed out which also indicated that the unlock worked.
Thanks you very much.
Cheers!

Yeah, it can work on any LG with sdm845 with exception of some models like T-mobile which uses a special locked down soc, i'm glad its been helpful for you.

 

[Darkius]

I'm Stuck at this step of "Partition Manager"
need advice

 

[brilljohn]

Thanks for this guide.

Quick question: If the ABL partition gets corrupted, is it still possible to enter EDL mode using combo buttons? Or do i need to find Test Points? In order to re-flash and fix ABL…

 

[cogaminh666]

I wasn't able to complete the first step because qualcomm port 9008 was not showing

 

[EmanuelCN]

I wasn't able to complete the first step because qualcomm port 9008 was not showing

Then it means you are not in EDL mode, in EDL mode your phone wont display anything will be completly black.

 

[EmanuelCN]

Thanks for this guide.

Quick question: If the ABL partition gets corrupted, is it still possible to enter EDL mode using combo buttons? Or do i need to find Test Points? In order to re-flash and fix ABL…

It would automatly enter in edl so it should work right away without any combination unless your phone runs out of battery then you'd need test points.

 

[joseph15two]

Do I need to backup my data before attempting this guide? There doesn't seem to be anything about backing up user data only about backing up your partitions in QFIL. I need some clarification regarding whether or not unlocking bootloader erases user data. Thanks

Edit: looks like I do need to. I backed up everything just in case before I started the guide. I now have an unlocked bootloader + Pixel Experience Plus installed. Thanks for the guide OP!

 

[joseph15two]

Also, could this method be used in a similar form to unlock the bootloader of the LG G5 Canadian model? I've been using the G5 as is but I'm frustrated with their stock as it's stuck on Nougat.