[Guide] How to root N20 Ultra (N986B)(N9860)

[JeffATL]

Rooting also kills Secure Folder still, right? I know it always has in the past . Just double checking

 

[XXLPoseidon]

I got a SM-N986B/DS from a store in the internet, it seems to be an australian version, because it tried to install a crappy app from singapore government (wtf?).

I can't find a matching firmware for this device on SamMobile and Google... Is the N986B Firmware working too?

 

[Gintskk]

To anyone getting the VBMeta error. When you first enter download mode and hold vol up to unlock the phone you have to set the phone up and just make sure OEM Unlock is greyed out then reboot and follow the rest of the process.

EDIT: This has been fixed. When flashing stock firmware with Odin, remember to always flash BL, CP, CSC too.
I only flashed AP and because of the resultin mismatch of versions (between the bootloader and the system), it was unable to boot and entered this SVB-fail state.
I am keeping the original question up for anyone else who encounters the same issue.

Anyone knows what to do in case of Odin mode (SVB fail)?
Is it likely bricked?
What I did (from the beginning):

1. Enable OEM Unlocking, unlock bootloader.
2. Rebooted, but did not finish the setup process (I noticed the quoted post way too late). I then got the VBMeta error.
3. Tried to flash Magisk-patched AP and boot.tar (with boot.img inside) in Odin. That failed.
4. Returned to the stock firmware - odin flash of AP was successful. Then I rebooted it into recovery and did a factory reset. EDIT: here you should flash also BL, CP, CSC!
5. When trying to boot, it entered a bootloop. After 5th reboot I tried to enter download mode again. At this point I accidentally re-locked the bootloader while in an unbootable state by long-pressing the volUp+power.

• 1st pic: after re-locking,
• 2nd: pressed volUp,
• Last picture: after exiting download mode, it does not boot but instead enters this SVB-fail mode.

 

[ExodusNZ]

Hey guys, I have a N986B - Ive unlocked bootloader etc, flashed magisk_patched-23000_p9NRQ.tar and TWRP_file.tar

It PASSES everytime - Ive unclicked Auto Reboot - However whenever I try to get into TWRP (hold up plus power) I can never get into TWRP

Upon boot I always get a message Your bootloader is unlocked and the software integrity can not be guaranteed

 

[faceliler]

Hey guys, I have a N986B - Ive unlocked bootloader etc, flashed magisk_patched-23000_p9NRQ.tar and TWRP_file.tar

It PASSES everytime - Ive unclicked Auto Reboot - However whenever I try to get into TWRP (hold up plus power) I can never get into TWRP

Upon boot I always get a message Your bootloader is unlocked and the software integrity can not be guaranteed

Plug in your USB cable to a PC to boot to recovery. It's a must since android 11, then format data again, go back and reboot to recovery. Then flash magisk (download only from official GitHub, download magisk 23.0 APK and then rename it to .zip from .apk to flash) and TWRP 3.5.2 from DR.Ketan ROM download page. And restart.

 

[dr.ketan]

Root & TWRP for Android 12 here







.

 

[shaemasa]

Endless support and contribution @dr.ketan

 

[freakboy13]

Hello Dr. longtime forum member and longtime user of your root methods/guides etc.
Once again thank you for a clear and concise way to root my phone: SM-N986B/DS
rooted via magisk and twrp.
I discovered two things:
1. hard brick is def possible if you mess up your flash and you dont have a good charge.
That being said I was able to get this done with less than 10% charge lol. My phone was at 1%
and wouldnt boot to OS or recovery. I finally got it to charge by putting it into DL/Odin mode.
Got to 10% reflashed and was able to get to twrp and all good now.
My only complaint(well more of slight annoyance) is the "custom OS detected" 8 sec load up screen. On the gn9 this was bypassed , and if I remember correctly the gn4 their was a build prop you could mod... I could be wrong its been a while. Anyways thank you for your dedication and hard work Tomorrow ill be installing your custom rom. Happy new year to you!!

 

[stryke-]

Hi, it's been a while since I've done any root/custom ROM (not since the Note 5 came out) so I've been out of the game for a long time and I'm still trying to make sense of things.
I recently obtained a Note 20 Ultra SM-N986B that's still on Android 11, firmware N986BXXS3DUIF.

Also what would be best practice here if I intend to flash DrKeton rom - root on current firmware then flash rom or update to stock Android 12 first, root then flash custom rom?

 

[dr.ketan]

Also what would be best practice here if I intend to flash DrKeton rom - root on current firmware then flash rom or update to stock Android 12 first, root then flash custom rom?

You can Straightway flash rom, it will get updated to A12 as well have root. Download rom zip have everything inside. Read installation guide packed inside

 

[handy77]

Hi does this method work on note 20 ultra android 12 UK model.

 

[stryke-]

You can Straightway flash rom, it will get updated to A12 as well have root. Download rom zip have everything inside. Read installation guide packed inside

All installed and seemingly working.
Thanks for all your work and help. Looking forward to getting the most out of the Note 20.

 

[Tex2dj]

Root & TWRP for Android 12 here

hi brother
can i use this steps for my 9860?

.

 

[dr.ketan]

hi brother
can i use this steps for my 9860?

It should work, just use TWRP for your device

 

[valentino90]

Hello Doc,
I just bought a Note 20 and tried to root it following your recommandations.
But unfortunally I can't succeed to boot to recovery. Each time I come back to OS.
Any idea please, i need help.
Thanks in advance

 

[elmor0]

Did you try all the Dr K's steps?
Look here too:

[Guide] How to root N20 Ultra (N986B)(N9860)

Here is Patched kernel to root N986B Note20 Ultra (N986B_TH3) NOTICE : Before you move further, make clear that rooting device - - Your warranty will be void - Some of functions may not work on rooted device, some function may get back with...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[dominick_7]

Hi how do i relock the bootloader?

 

[YamiDev]

Here is Patched kernel to root N986B Note20 Ultra (N986B_TH3)




A.Preparing Root files

You need to patch file to flash using Odin to root device.
1. Download stock firmware for your device (google search will give you many sites to download it) some common are e.g. Sammobile, Samfirmware tool)
you need to download file according your region and model (Dial *#1234# will give you details of existing firmware, download accordingly)

2. Once you finish download, extract files and keep all files on PC. From extracted files a file with name AP_[device_model_sw_ver].tar.md5 copy to your device.

3.Download Latest Magisk Manager and Install to your device

4.Open Magisk Manager - Magisk (first one) - Install - select to "Select and Patch file" - Navigate file you have copied to device (AP_[device_model_sw_ver].tar.md5)

5.Magisk Manager will patch the whole firmware file and store the output to [Internal Storage]/Download/magisk_patched.tar

6.Copy patched file magisk_patched.tar to Your PC - THIS IS FILE ONE YOU NEED TO FLASH, Now prepare second file.

7.
A.Patching Kernel : This is required only If you want to root device without installing custom recovery (TWRP). In case you want to root + have TWRP then skip this step and move to step B

Open magisk_patched.tar with 7zip and extract/pull boot.img from tar - Copy boot.img to device and patch it using Magisk manager same as you patch AP file in step 4 - Now you will have Magisk_patched.img file in download folder - Copy that file to PC. Rename that magisk_patched.img to boot.img (Name must be exact same). Make sure your PC have 7-zip installed, If not get and install it. Rt click on boot.img and select 7zip - select "add to archive" - select archieve format as 'tar' - and name it Patched_Kernel (it will be like Patched_Kernal.tar). Don't keep space in name. This will create a Odin flashable patched kernel and This is FILE TWO YOU NEED TO FLASH

B.Preparing TWRP :
Download TWRP for your device from Here. Extract recovery.img from TWRP file you have downloaded. Make sure your PC have 7-zip installed, If not get and install it. Rt click on recovery.img and select 7zip - select "add to archive" - select archieve format as 'tar' - and name it TWRP_file (it will be like TWRP_file.tar). Don't keep space in name. This will create a Odin flashable patched kernel and This is FILE TWO YOU NEED TO FLASH

If above link for TWRP not working/Updated : You may find latest TWRP ready to flash on my ROM thread download page.

8.Download latest Odin (one is attached to end of this post) and extract to a folder on PC (I recommend on desktop)

Now next step is to modification on device

Unlocking Bootloader

This is a basic step to root device. Go to settings - about phone - Software Information - tap multiple times on "Build number" - This will open developer option.
Now in settings at the end, you will have new option "Developer options" - look for OEM unlocking - Enable it.

(PS : If you don't see this option then you may need to wait up to 7 days or more to appear or may be on some operator you will get it never. Without this option you can not root your device, sorry!)

Once you have enable OEM unlock option, switch off your device and reboot to download mode.
To put device in download mode - Press Volume Up & then Press Volume Down (Keep holding both) and connect device to PC with USB cable
When device start to download mode,long press volume up to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot

Now let finish setup and again enable developer options (as said above), and confirm that the OEM unlocking option exists and grayed out!
If it is not then you can not root device!

Once you see this option and greyed out, you are ready to flash custom binary and root your device

Installation (Flashing) custom binaries

1. Switch off the device and reboot to download mode (As said earlier) and select volume up to continue

Open Odin as administrator (Odin attached to below this post)

A.Click AP tab of Odin and navigate to magisk patched file (AP file that you have patched with magisk manager) (One you made in above Preparing files, STEP 6)
B. Here this step, you needs to decide, you want to install TWRP or not.

- In case you don't want TWRP - Click on UserData tab of Odin and navigate to Patched kernel (One you made in above Preparing files, STEP 7A)

OR

- In case you want TWRP then navigate to TWRP file (One you made in above Preparing files, STEP 7B)

3.From Odin option - uncheck Auto Reboot option

4.Now start flashing and wait till it finish. When you see a PASS sign on Odin, disconnect device.

Factory reset

After disconnecting device, keep holding Vol down + Side key to exit from download mode.
Here is very important - when you see device reboot As soon as the screen turns off, immediately press Volume Up + Side Key to boot to recovery partition. continue pressing the volume up button until you see the recovery screen.

In the stock recovery menu, use volume buttons to navigate through menus, and the power button to select the option. Select Wipe data/factory reset to wipe the data of the device.
Select Reboot system now

In case of TWRP, you needs to select WIPE tab - FORMAT DATA - You need to type "yes' to confirm - After this - select REBOOT - REBOOT to recovery - and you have to install two files 1.Magisk zip (2.MultiDisabler (You can get it from TWRP thread) After flashing both - reboot to system

The device will automatically reboot for the first time it boots. This is completely normal and done by design.After the device is booted up, do the usual initial setup. You shall see Magisk Manager in your app drawer; if not, Download Magisk Manager and manually install the APK you downloaded and continue to the next step.

Magisk Manager will ask to do additional setups. Let it do its job and the app will automatically reboot your device. (You must needed to connected to internet)


Important : Once you root device, it is highly recommended to immediately make EFS IMEI backup of device and keep it to safer place other than device itself.








.

I recently updated to Android 12 with Samsung One UI 4.0 and thought this was gonna prevent me from rooting. Is it "safe" to follow this guide with a recently updated Note?

 

[dominick_7]

I recently updated to Android 12 with Samsung One UI 4.0 and thought this was gonna prevent me from rooting. Is it "safe" to follow this guide with a recently updated Note?

not sure, the unlocked bootloader in developers mode is still greyed out after attempting to use updates and flash the official rom via odin.. if i can hear how to re--lock it it may help answer that.

 

[mustaph12]

Here is Patched kernel to root N986B Note20 Ultra (N986B_TH3)




A.Preparing Root files

You need to patch file to flash using Odin to root device.
1. Download stock firmware for your device (google search will give you many sites to download it) some common are e.g. Sammobile, Samfirmware tool)
you need to download file according your region and model (Dial *#1234# will give you details of existing firmware, download accordingly)

2. Once you finish download, extract files and keep all files on PC. From extracted files a file with name AP_[device_model_sw_ver].tar.md5 copy to your device.

3.Download Latest Magisk Manager and Install to your device

4.Open Magisk Manager - Magisk (first one) - Install - select to "Select and Patch file" - Navigate file you have copied to device (AP_[device_model_sw_ver].tar.md5)

5.Magisk Manager will patch the whole firmware file and store the output to [Internal Storage]/Download/magisk_patched.tar

6.Copy patched file magisk_patched.tar to Your PC - THIS IS FILE ONE YOU NEED TO FLASH, Now prepare second file.

7.
A.Patching Kernel : This is required only If you want to root device without installing custom recovery (TWRP). In case you want to root + have TWRP then skip this step and move to step B

Open magisk_patched.tar with 7zip and extract/pull boot.img from tar - Copy boot.img to device and patch it using Magisk manager same as you patch AP file in step 4 - Now you will have Magisk_patched.img file in download folder - Copy that file to PC. Rename that magisk_patched.img to boot.img (Name must be exact same). Make sure your PC have 7-zip installed, If not get and install it. Rt click on boot.img and select 7zip - select "add to archive" - select archieve format as 'tar' - and name it Patched_Kernel (it will be like Patched_Kernal.tar). Don't keep space in name. This will create a Odin flashable patched kernel and This is FILE TWO YOU NEED TO FLASH

B.Preparing TWRP :
Download TWRP for your device from Here. Extract recovery.img from TWRP file you have downloaded. Make sure your PC have 7-zip installed, If not get and install it. Rt click on recovery.img and select 7zip - select "add to archive" - select archieve format as 'tar' - and name it TWRP_file (it will be like TWRP_file.tar). Don't keep space in name. This will create a Odin flashable patched kernel and This is FILE TWO YOU NEED TO FLASH

If above link for TWRP not working/Updated : You may find latest TWRP ready to flash on my ROM thread download page.

8.Download latest Odin (one is attached to end of this post) and extract to a folder on PC (I recommend on desktop)

Now next step is to modification on device

Unlocking Bootloader

This is a basic step to root device. Go to settings - about phone - Software Information - tap multiple times on "Build number" - This will open developer option.
Now in settings at the end, you will have new option "Developer options" - look for OEM unlocking - Enable it.

(PS : If you don't see this option then you may need to wait up to 7 days or more to appear or may be on some operator you will get it never. Without this option you can not root your device, sorry!)

Once you have enable OEM unlock option, switch off your device and reboot to download mode.
To put device in download mode - Press Volume Up & then Press Volume Down (Keep holding both) and connect device to PC with USB cable
When device start to download mode,long press volume up to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data and automatically reboot

Now let finish setup and again enable developer options (as said above), and confirm that the OEM unlocking option exists and grayed out!
If it is not then you can not root device!

Once you see this option and greyed out, you are ready to flash custom binary and root your device

Installation (Flashing) custom binaries

1. Switch off the device and reboot to download mode (As said earlier) and select volume up to continue

Open Odin as administrator (Odin attached to below this post)

A.Click AP tab of Odin and navigate to magisk patched file (AP file that you have patched with magisk manager) (One you made in above Preparing files, STEP 6)
B. Here this step, you needs to decide, you want to install TWRP or not.

- In case you don't want TWRP - Click on UserData tab of Odin and navigate to Patched kernel (One you made in above Preparing files, STEP 7A)

OR

- In case you want TWRP then navigate to TWRP file (One you made in above Preparing files, STEP 7B)

3.From Odin option - uncheck Auto Reboot option

4.Now start flashing and wait till it finish. When you see a PASS sign on Odin, disconnect device.

Factory reset

After disconnecting device, keep holding Vol down + Side key to exit from download mode.
Here is very important - when you see device reboot As soon as the screen turns off, immediately press Volume Up + Side Key to boot to recovery partition. continue pressing the volume up button until you see the recovery screen.

In the stock recovery menu, use volume buttons to navigate through menus, and the power button to select the option. Select Wipe data/factory reset to wipe the data of the device.
Select Reboot system now

In case of TWRP, you needs to select WIPE tab - FORMAT DATA - You need to type "yes' to confirm - After this - select REBOOT - REBOOT to recovery - and you have to install two files 1.Magisk zip (2.MultiDisabler (You can get it from TWRP thread) After flashing both - reboot to system

The device will automatically reboot for the first time it boots. This is completely normal and done by design.After the device is booted up, do the usual initial setup. You shall see Magisk Manager in your app drawer; if not, Download Magisk Manager and manually install the APK you downloaded and continue to the next step.

Magisk Manager will ask to do additional setups. Let it do its job and the app will automatically reboot your device. (You must needed to connected to internet)


Important : Once you root device, it is highly recommended to immediately make EFS IMEI backup of device and keep it to safer place other than device itself.








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How can I remove bootloader unlock and root warning?