I have a G8 (LM-G820TM, US T-Mobile variant) that had been updated OTA to Android 11 (G820TM30b). I used Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, version 21H2, on a Dell Latitude E6230 (That shouldn't matter, but is provided for reference).
Some notes for anyone else doing this, and wisdom I got from more experienced commenters in this thread:
Read all the instructions carefully. Read every word slowly. Do what you need to do to make sure you don't skip any steps. If necessary, print out the instructions and cross them off one by one.
EDL Mode doesn't show anything on the screen. You'll only know if your phone is in EDL mode if your computer makes a USB Connected chime, and it shows up under Ports in Device Manager.
Use a good quality USB 2.0 cable and USB 2.0 port. QFIL is finicky, and doesn't like USB 3 ports. If you get a Sahara error, use a different cable, a different port, or a different computer.
When you back up your abl_a and abl_b partitions, they should be about 1MB. (1024KB exactly, in my case). If they're significantly larger, then they didn't read correctly. You'll need to flash them back later, and if they didn't read correctly, you can't restore them.
The provided engineering abl_a should be flashed to abl_a and abl_b.
The engineering abl should only be used to enable fastboot temporarily so that you can unlock the bootloader. You can't leave it there - you have to flash your original abl_a and abl_b back to your phone once the bootloader is unlocked. If you leave the engineering abl on there, you'll either get a bootloop or your touchscreen won't work.
When booting into fastboot for the first time, Windows doesn't use the correct (or any) driver, so the phone just shows up as "Android" in Device Manager, and it doesn't show up when you do "fastboot devices". I had the LG Mobile Driver installed per the instructions, so it was just a matter of pointing Windows at the correct driver. In Windows 10 it was Update Drivers -> Browse my computer for drivers -> Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer -> Android -> LGE Mobile ADB Interface
I recently updated my device to Android 12 and tried this method, I managed to unlock the Bootloader but I can't install magisk.
I already tried everything, I patched the boot_a and boot_b files but they don't work, just magisk doesn't load on the phone system, what do you recommend?
I recently updated my device to Android 12 and tried this method, I managed to unlock the Bootloader but I can't install magisk.
I already tried everything, I patched the boot_a and boot_b files but they don't work, just magisk doesn't load on the phone system, what do you recommend?
So I know I'm an idiot, but I pressed the wrong button when backing up the abl partitions and it didn't actually make a backup image of them. So now my phone can't use touch, I can't get into download mode to use LGUP to revert to a good image (assuming that would even work), and basically I'm screwed.
Again, fully aware that it's my fault for being a dummy, but I have to ask: is it *at all* possible to find a known-working image of the abl partitions? Would it even work to transfer from one phone to another?
So I know I'm an idiot, but I pressed the wrong button when backing up the abl partitions and it didn't actually make a backup image of them. So now my phone can't use touch, I can't get into download mode to use LGUP to revert to a good image (assuming that would even work), and basically I'm screwed.
Again, fully aware that it's my fault for being a dummy, but I have to ask: is it *at all* possible to find a known-working image of the abl partitions? Would it even work to transfer from one phone to another?
The abl's in this link should work. They are from sprint device but same android version. Pretty sure they will work but just in case, be careful everything you do so you can revert back if necessary.
and, btw, those are the files you would need to flash all if you want to get lg-up to recognize the phone and reflash kdz.
Bootloader Unlock Unlocking your bootloader will erase all data on your phone
First Install LG Mobile Driver, QFIL driver, and QFIL (Select first option, WWAN)
All Variants other than Verizon: Go to Settings, > System > About Phone > Software Info > Tap Build Number 7 Times.
Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options. Check Enable OEM Unlock
Boot you phone into EDL
You can make sure that your phone is in EDL by plugging your phone to your pc and checking the Device Manager > Ports > Qualcom HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (COM#)
Hold Vol- and Power, when the phone screen turns off to restart begin quickly pressing the vol+ but keep holding vol- and power.
Here is a youtube video of how to boot to EDL:
Open QFIL, Select your Phone's Port, Select Flat Build under Select Build Type, Select the Firehose.elf file under Select Programmer, on the bottom right of QFIL select UFS as the Storage Type.
Close Partition Manager. Your phone will reboot to EDL on its own after pressing OK. Wait on that.
Go back to Partition Manager and right click on abl_a again then select Manage Partition Data, then Select Load and choose the abl engineering file.
Do the same for abl_b.
Close Partition Manager. Your phone will reboot to EDL on its own after pressing OK. Wait on that.
Reboot to Fastboot. Hold Vol- and Power then release power when reboot starts and keep holding vol-
If that doesn't work unplug and Power off your phone. Hold vol- and plug it in. It should go into fastboot.
Once your phone is in Fastboot it should say
Device State: Locked and Active A/B Slot - _a or _b
remember whichever slot your device says and stay on that slot, you may risk bricking if you change to the other slot. You also need this for Root later.
Extract the ADB.zip
open a Command Prompt and change the directory to the adb folder you just extracted
cd C:\adb
run fastboot devices in that command prompt. it should show "LMG850UM fastboot"
Move the backed up abl_a.bin and abl_b.bin to the adb folder, also frp_verizon.img if you have the verizon LG G8.
Verizon LG G8 only: Run fastboot flash frp frp_verizon.img then fastboot reboot-bootloader
Reboot to Fastboot. Hold Vol- and Power then release power when reboot starts and keep holding vol-
If that doesn't work unplug and Power off your phone. Hold vol- and plug it in. It should go into fastboot.
Run fastboot oem unlock
Select Unlock The Bootloader with your arrow keys and press the Power Button
Find the slot you are on from the fastboot bootloader earlier
Go to Windows Explorer and go to C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Qualcomm\QFIL\COMPORT#
Transfer to your phone the boot_a.bin or boot_b.bin that you backed up in the COMPORT# folder.
Download and install Magisk Manager.
Open Magisk Manager and beside Magisk hit "Install" then "Select and Patch a File" and select the boot_a.bin or boot_b.bin.
After Magisk has patched your boot img you should have magisk_patched#####.img in your phones Download folder.
Transfer it to your PC.
Reboot to EDL
Open QFIL. Click Tools > Partition Manager.
Find the slot you are on from the fastboot bootloader earlier and right click on either boot_a or boot_b and select Manage Partition Data.
Click Load and select the magisk_patched#####.img file you transfered from your phone.
Wait for it to finish then Close Partition Manager. Your phone will reboot to EDL on its own after pressing OK. Wait on that.
Reboot to System by holding vol- and power till your phone reboots out of EDL then release both.
Your phone is now Bootloader Unlocked with Magisk Root.
Hopefully this helps.
This guide was written by me, but the information was provided by Cloud1250000.
If there are any errors let me know and I will fix.
I've gotten to the part it's time to use fastboot mode to inject the files, but reached a brick wall (not a bricked device lol). When I enter a command prompt to "search for devices", I get error messages saying it's not the correct entry. I know I'm missing a step somewhere, even though I've followed it to the letter thus far. I'll keep searching this forum for clues, but can use any tidbits of info to steer me in the right direction.
I've gotten to the part it's time to use fastboot mode to inject the files, but reached a brick wall (not a bricked device lol). When I enter a command prompt to "search for devices", I get error messages saying it's not the correct entry. I know I'm missing a step somewhere, even though I've followed it to the letter thus far. I'll keep searching this forum for clues, but can use any tidbits of info to steer me in the right direction.
Two things... one, please don't quote the entire first post, just to make a comment about an issue yer having. Tremendously needless waste of space.
Second, what command are u entering? Your comment doesn't specify what yer doing, only the results, how can anyone possibly know?
**IF** you're entering 'fastboot devices', and getting nothing, look in device manager and find the entry with 'Android !' and load the adb driver for that entry.
I now have a AT&T LG G8X TQ rooted and running Magisk with my unlocked bootloader on Android 11. Now I have an issue with no fingerprints. The option is there for me, but it tells me I have a screen protector on my device, which I don't, and to remove it and will not let me continue.
This is the ONLY issue that I am needing help with. Is there anyway to get FP back without downgrading?
I now have a AT&T LG G8X TQ rooted and running Magisk with my unlocked bootloader on Android 11. Now I have an issue with no fingerprints. The option is there for me, but it tells me I have a screen protector on my device, which I don't, and to remove it and will not let me continue.
This is the ONLY issue that I am needing help with. Is there anyway to get FP back without downgrading?
I have a G8 (LM-G820TM, US T-Mobile variant) that had been updated OTA to Android 11 (G820TM30b). I used Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, version 21H2, on a Dell Latitude E6230 (That shouldn't matter, but is provided for reference).
Some notes for anyone else doing this, and wisdom I got from more experienced commenters in this thread:
Read all the instructions carefully. Read every word slowly. Do what you need to do to make sure you don't skip any steps. If necessary, print out the instructions and cross them off one by one.
EDL Mode doesn't show anything on the screen. You'll only know if your phone is in EDL mode if your computer makes a USB Connected chime, and it shows up under Ports in Device Manager.
Use a good quality USB 2.0 cable and USB 2.0 port. QFIL is finicky, and doesn't like USB 3 ports. If you get a Sahara error, use a different cable, a different port, or a different computer.
When you back up your abl_a and abl_b partitions, they should be about 1MB. (1024KB exactly, in my case). If they're significantly larger, then they didn't read correctly. You'll need to flash them back later, and if they didn't read correctly, you can't restore them.
The provided engineering abl_a should be flashed to abl_a and abl_b.
The engineering abl should only be used to enable fastboot temporarily so that you can unlock the bootloader. You can't leave it there - you have to flash your original abl_a and abl_b back to your phone once the bootloader is unlocked. If you leave the engineering abl on there, you'll either get a bootloop or your touchscreen won't work.
When booting into fastboot for the first time, Windows doesn't use the correct (or any) driver, so the phone just shows up as "Android" in Device Manager, and it doesn't show up when you do "fastboot devices". I had the LG Mobile Driver installed per the instructions, so it was just a matter of pointing Windows at the correct driver. In Windows 10 it was Update Drivers -> Browse my computer for drivers -> Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer -> Android -> LGE Mobile ADB Interface
Bootloader Unlock Unlocking your bootloader will erase all data on your phone
First Install LG Mobile Driver, QFIL driver, and QFIL (Select first option, WWAN)
All Variants other than Verizon: Go to Settings, > System > About Phone > Software Info > Tap Build Number 7 Times.
Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options. Check Enable OEM Unlock
Boot you phone into EDL
You can make sure that your phone is in EDL by plugging your phone to your pc and checking the Device Manager > Ports > Qualcom HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (COM#)
Hold Vol- and Power, when the phone screen turns off to restart begin quickly pressing the vol+ but keep holding vol- and power.
Here is a youtube video of how to boot to EDL:
Open QFIL, Select your Phone's Port, Select Flat Build under Select Build Type, Select the Firehose.elf file under Select Programmer, on the bottom right of QFIL select UFS as the Storage Type.
Click Tools > Partition Manager.
Find Abl_a and right click on it and select Manage Partition Data. Click Read to backup your abl_a.
Go to Windows Explorer and go to C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Qualcomm\QFIL\COMPORT#
Rename your ReadData_ufs_Lun4.bin to abl_a.bin
Do the same with abl_b, boot_a, and boot_b.
Boot_a and Boot_b is for Magisk Root. Skip if you only want Bootloader Unlock.
Close Partition Manager. Your phone will reboot to EDL on its own after pressing OK. Wait on that.
Go back to Partition Manager and right click on abl_a again then select Manage Partition Data, then Select Load and choose the abl engineering file.
Do the same for abl_b.
Close Partition Manager. Your phone will reboot to EDL on its own after pressing OK. Wait on that.
Reboot to Fastboot. Hold Vol- and Power then release power when reboot starts and keep holding vol-
If that doesn't work unplug and Power off your phone. Hold vol- and plug it in. It should go into fastboot.
Once your phone is in Fastboot it should say
Device State: Locked and Active A/B Slot - _a or _b
remember whichever slot your device says and stay on that slot, you may risk bricking if you change to the other slot. You also need this for Root later.
Extract the ADB.zip
open a Command Prompt and change the directory to the adb folder you just extracted
cd C:\adb
run fastboot devices in that command prompt. it should show "LMG850UM fastboot"
Move the backed up abl_a.bin and abl_b.bin to the adb folder, also frp_verizon.img if you have the verizon LG G8.
Verizon LG G8 only: Run fastboot flash frp frp_verizon.img then fastboot reboot-bootloader
Reboot to Fastboot. Hold Vol- and Power then release power when reboot starts and keep holding vol-
If that doesn't work unplug and Power off your phone. Hold vol- and plug it in. It should go into fastboot.
Run fastboot oem unlock
Select Unlock The Bootloader with your arrow keys and press the Power Button
Reboot back to the Bootloader. Unplug your phone, Power off, Hold Vol-, then Plug it in.
Your phone should say Device State – unlocked now
Now fastboot flash abl_a abl_a.bin
and fastboot flash abl_b abl_b.bin
Finish with fastboot reboot
Your Phone Is now Bootloader Unlocked.
Magisk Root Only do this after you have followed the above guide and have Unlocked your Bootloader.
Find the slot you are on from the fastboot bootloader earlier
Go to Windows Explorer and go to C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Qualcomm\QFIL\COMPORT#
Transfer to your phone the boot_a.bin or boot_b.bin that you backed up in the COMPORT# folder.
Download and install Magisk Manager.
Open Magisk Manager and beside Magisk hit "Install" then "Select and Patch a File" and select the boot_a.bin or boot_b.bin.
After Magisk has patched your boot img you should have magisk_patched#####.img in your phones Download folder.
Transfer it to your PC.
Reboot to EDL
Open QFIL. Click Tools > Partition Manager.
Find the slot you are on from the fastboot bootloader earlier and right click on either boot_a or boot_b and select Manage Partition Data.
Click Load and select the magisk_patched#####.img file you transfered from your phone.
Wait for it to finish then Close Partition Manager. Your phone will reboot to EDL on its own after pressing OK. Wait on that.
Reboot to System by holding vol- and power till your phone reboots out of EDL then release both.
Your phone is now Bootloader Unlocked with Magisk Root.
Hopefully this helps.
This guide was written by me, but the information was provided by Cloud1250000.
If there are any errors let me know and I will fix.
Go back to Partition Manager and right click on abl_a again then select Manage Partition Data, then Select Load and choose the abl engineering file.
Do the same for abl_b.
Maybe I'm not catching on to something but, following the guide I don't have a abl_b.bin file besides the one backed up.
There was a link provided for an abl_a.bin file.
What am I not understanding?
Okay I got it this morning. Reread it still didn't understand but had some hunches so check around the net about LG dual sim unlocking and then it clicked. It was meant to say load the engineering file provided into both abl_a and abl_b
Thanks for the guide maybe rephrase that part. I was super confused for a bit, would never overwrite something with a different name without being super clear.
I have a G8 (LM-G820TM, US T-Mobile variant) that had been updated OTA to Android 11 (G820TM30b). I used Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, version 21H2, on a Dell Latitude E6230 (That shouldn't matter, but is provided for reference).
Some notes for anyone else doing this, and wisdom I got from more experienced commenters in this thread:
Read all the instructions carefully. Read every word slowly. Do what you need to do to make sure you don't skip any steps. If necessary, print out the instructions and cross them off one by one.
EDL Mode doesn't show anything on the screen. You'll only know if your phone is in EDL mode if your computer makes a USB Connected chime, and it shows up under Ports in Device Manager.
Use a good quality USB 2.0 cable and USB 2.0 port. QFIL is finicky, and doesn't like USB 3 ports. If you get a Sahara error, use a different cable, a different port, or a different computer.
When you back up your abl_a and abl_b partitions, they should be about 1MB. (1024KB exactly, in my case). If they're significantly larger, then they didn't read correctly. You'll need to flash them back later, and if they didn't read correctly, you can't restore them.
The provided engineering abl_a should be flashed to abl_a and abl_b.
The engineering abl should only be used to enable fastboot temporarily so that you can unlock the bootloader. You can't leave it there - you have to flash your original abl_a and abl_b back to your phone once the bootloader is unlocked. If you leave the engineering abl on there, you'll either get a bootloop or your touchscreen won't work.
When booting into fastboot for the first time, Windows doesn't use the correct (or any) driver, so the phone just shows up as "Android" in Device Manager, and it doesn't show up when you do "fastboot devices". I had the LG Mobile Driver installed per the instructions, so it was just a matter of pointing Windows at the correct driver. In Windows 10 it was Update Drivers -> Browse my computer for drivers -> Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer -> Android -> LGE Mobile ADB Interface
Ok, so maybe you unlocked the bootloader, still not sure. But you didn't even root? How do you consider this a success then?
Well, to answer the first part of your response here are a couple images (jpg type)
And for the rest of your response, I am going to try to finish out this tutorial this morning. I can say this much in advance: I have found that once a phone has been bootloader unlocked, gaining root (whether it be by magisk, the ol' SuperSU, or whatever) becomes an eventuality of overwhelmingly high likelihood of success. I am saying 'high likelihood' only because I realize that there are never any absolute guarantees in XDA, and it's not a good idea to jinx yourself by getting overconfident. So I'm gonna try to get rooted here and keep my fingers crossed, but I personally can not recall ever hearing of a phone whose bootloader is unlocked, that couldn't be rooted.
