Guide LG G8/G8x/v50 Bootloader Unlock and Magisk Root using Firehose

Alaaaloha · Sep 15, 2021

Seasee606 said:
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any problems from using this guide.
Works for G8, G8s, G8x, and v50
Confirmed working on G8 and v50

Requirements: Android 10

QFIL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P7uGjIirqGRdkwlxgKf_idepDlv6_u-q/view?usp=sharing
QFIL Driver: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPJm1RuSoVX9JMEs-Gx8xNuEDadO6rpj/view?usp=sharing
LG Mobile Driver:

LG Mobile Phone - Drivers and Software Downloads | LG USA Support

LG Mobile Phone - Drivers and Software Downloads. Learn how to use, update, maintain and troubleshoot your LG devices and appliances.

www.lg.com

ADB: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nvlwaicFpDN_4DGR0BZRWUDgwQwYzOhS/view?usp=sharing
Firehose: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ekI_d2-P9GdoakkSgk2hK1WHbQLIPlTQ/view?usp=sharing
abl: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sye4gXsDfD8JVF5qfAMG_GDxSLKY6J6Q/view?usp=sharing

Verizon LG G8 only frp: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1294cXerj2_EkeGw1p38CcVPuyRfdS9N5/view?usp=sharing
This Verizon FRP img was only tested on LG G8 Verizon and is not recommended to be used on other Verizon Variants as it will prevent the phone from booting.

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

View attachment 5194789

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#)

View attachment 5194763

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.

View attachment 5194769

Click Tools > Partition Manager.
Find Abl_a and right click on it and select Manage Partition Data. Click Read to backup your abl_a.

View attachment 5194773

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

View attachment 5194775

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.

View attachment 5194777

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.

View attachment 5194783

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.

View attachment 5194787

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

View attachment 5194799

Reboot back to the Bootloader. Unplug your phone, Power off, Hold Vol-, then Plug it in.
Your phone should say Device State – unlocked now

View attachment 5194801

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.

Magisk
Xda Forum: https://xdaforums.com/f/magisk.5903/
Xda Thread: https://xdaforums.com/t/magisk-the-magic-mask-for-android.3473445/
Github Page: https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk

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.

hello. ,y lg v50 thinq was bootloader unlocked before, i just had to reinstall a new system , and successfuly installed a new one , but now i need to root the device and my phone wont reboot to fastboot to see which slot im in to batch it with magisk ?!!
does it need to reunlock bootloader again or what ? is there any way i can see the current slot other then fastboot ?
please help , thank you

bylgrad · Sep 17, 2021

Seasee606 said:
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any problems from using this guide.
Works for G8, G8s, G8x, and v50
Confirmed working on G8 and v50

Requirements: Android 10

QFIL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P7uGjIirqGRdkwlxgKf_idepDlv6_u-q/view?usp=sharing
QFIL Driver: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPJm1RuSoVX9JMEs-Gx8xNuEDadO6rpj/view?usp=sharing
LG Mobile Driver:

LG Mobile Phone - Drivers and Software Downloads | LG USA Support

LG Mobile Phone - Drivers and Software Downloads. Learn how to use, update, maintain and troubleshoot your LG devices and appliances.

www.lg.com

ADB: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nvlwaicFpDN_4DGR0BZRWUDgwQwYzOhS/view?usp=sharing
Firehose: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ekI_d2-P9GdoakkSgk2hK1WHbQLIPlTQ/view?usp=sharing
abl: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sye4gXsDfD8JVF5qfAMG_GDxSLKY6J6Q/view?usp=sharing

Verizon LG G8 only frp: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1294cXerj2_EkeGw1p38CcVPuyRfdS9N5/view?usp=sharing
This Verizon FRP img was only tested on LG G8 Verizon and is not recommended to be used on other Verizon Variants as it will prevent the phone from booting.

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

View attachment 5194789

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#)

View attachment 5194763

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.

View attachment 5194769

Click Tools > Partition Manager.
Find Abl_a and right click on it and select Manage Partition Data. Click Read to backup your abl_a.

View attachment 5194773

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

View attachment 5194775

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.

View attachment 5194777

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.

View attachment 5194783

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.

View attachment 5194787

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

View attachment 5194799

Reboot back to the Bootloader. Unplug your phone, Power off, Hold Vol-, then Plug it in.
Your phone should say Device State – unlocked now

View attachment 5194801

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.

Magisk
Xda Forum: https://xdaforums.com/f/magisk.5903/
Xda Thread: https://xdaforums.com/t/magisk-the-magic-mask-for-android.3473445/
Github Page: https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk

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.

Thank You for this tutorial. It worked!

I'm using LG V50 thinQ
Model No: LM-V500N
SW Version: V500N20z
Android 10

I was just stucked in the fastboot part because my Laptop cannot detect the device.
typing fastboot devices didn't show the device. So I have to update the driver in the 'Device Manager' . then it worked!.

ohmediafire · Sep 19, 2021

Hi guys. some questions here.

I replaced backup file 'abl_a' and 'abl_b' and successfully unlock bootloader. But after load magisk_patched-23001_xxxxx.img to 'boot_b' my phone keep restarting at 'your device software cannot be checked for corruption. Please lock the bootloader'.

When I change 'boot_b' to backed up one, my phone is working again.

Weirdly, now I can't enter Fastboot mode anymore.

Please help me guys.

LG V50
V500N20z
Korea set
Magisk Manager f822ca5b (23001)

ohmediafire · Sep 20, 2021

ohmediafire said:
Hi guys. some questions here.

I replaced backup file 'abl_a' and 'abl_b' and successfully unlock bootloader. But after load magisk_patched-23001_xxxxx.img to 'boot_b' my phone keep restarting at 'your device software cannot be checked for corruption. Please lock the bootloader'.

When I change 'boot_b' to backed up one, my phone is working again.

Weirdly, now I can't enter Fastboot mode anymore.

Please help me guys.

LG V50
V500N20z
Korea set
Magisk Manager f822ca5b (23001)

Problem solved. i can enter Fastboot mode by flash again abl_a and abl_b with abl_a engineering.

Thanks

TurtlesPartOfTheWayDown · Sep 24, 2021

I decided to try this on my AT&T LG G8X running Android 9 and this worked perfectly for unlocking the bootloader. The software version was G850UM10i. I'm a total beginner and the hardest part for me was getting the fastboot drivers to work on my pc.

I was using the phone on tmobile and didn't want to have to spend more money to get a prepaid at&t sim just to upgrade to android 10 so I decided to try it and was surprised it actually worked. I'll probably try to root it when I have time this weekend. I'm hoping to eventually get LineageOS and possibly Ubuntu Touch running on it.

Thank you so much to those that put this guide together and worked on the unlock method!

feyd2blak · Sep 25, 2021

Hi
Please help!
I have a Sprint V50, and I can't get to the bootloader!
I tried from Recovery and tried from 'adb reboot bootloader', both just reboot to normal use!
It has the latest update, and factory reset goes to that version, not backwards to an earlier version.
Not sure what to try next?
Thanks!

feyd2blak · Sep 25, 2021

Hi
I now have an unlocked bootloader! Thanks!
The next issue I am facing you guys may be able to help with is installing TWRP. I have tried everything I can think of for Sprint V50.
Any one have success for their Spring V50?
Thanks

rikita · Sep 28, 2021

I have Verizon V50.
Bootloader unlocked and Magisk installed.
I can install TWRP through Magisk, but I cannot get phone to reboot to recovery with hardware keys (it will reboot to recovery through Magisk, but no touch).
I have tried every key combination for the last 3 hours.
Any ideas?

Jg_junior · Oct 9, 2021

Any suggestions for QFIL error:

ERROR: function: sahara_rx_data:276 Unable to read packet header. Only read 0 bytes.

I've tried all suggestions to no avail thus far except using an older version of Windows

spatial25 · Oct 9, 2021

Jg_junior said:
Any suggestions for QFIL error:

ERROR: function: sahara_rx_data:276 Unable to read packet header. Only read 0 bytes.

I've tried all suggestions to no avail thus far except using an older version of Windows

Do you have ufs selected at the bottom right of QFIL?

AsItLies · Oct 9, 2021

Jg_junior said:
Any suggestions for QFIL error:

ERROR: function: sahara_rx_data:276 Unable to read packet header. Only read 0 bytes.

I've tried all suggestions to no avail thus far except using an older version of Windows

I'd suggest to follow this thread, it's for the v40 but the qfil stuff is the same, so look carefully at it where it mentions getting qfil installed. It's a bit of a pain to do, but absolutely can be done.

cheers

Jg_junior · Oct 9, 2021

spatial25 said:
Do you have ufs selected at the bottom right of QFIL?

Hey Yes I do

Jg_junior · Oct 9, 2021

AsItLies said:
I'd suggest to follow this thread, it's for the v40 but the qfil stuff is the same, so look carefully at it where it mentions getting qfil installed. It's a bit of a pain to do, but absolutely can be done.

cheers

I Will let you know if it works

AsItLies · Oct 9, 2021

Jg_junior said:
I Will let you know if it works

I should clarify, there is one difference you will do compared to that thread re qfil. When they load the 'programmer file' (the firehose), it will be for the v40 (845 chipset), you will use the one for the G8 / V50 (855 chipset).

Other than that, the installing etc of qfil, qpst is the same.

cheers

Jg_junior · Oct 9, 2021

AsItLies said:
I'd suggest to follow this thread, it's for the v40 but the qfil stuff is the same, so look carefully at it where it mentions getting qfil installed. It's a bit of a pain to do, but absolutely can be done.

cheers

I followed but had no luck, there wasn't anything extra steps within the thread to install QFIL really. The other install of QFIL in this thread is bundled with QPST as well

AsItLies · Oct 10, 2021

Jg_junior said:
I followed but had no luck, there wasn't anything extra steps within the thread to install QFIL really. The other install of QFIL in this thread is bundled with QPST as well

My apologies to the OP here, didn't realize the great write up already exist here. Sometimes I don't read as much as I should.

So given it seems everything is installed properly, then a sahara error is *usually* a result of the cable / usb port issues. It's a common problem using qfil, but once u get the combo right it works properly. Here's the output from the v40 tele group re sahara errors:

"When you get a sahara error on Qfil, change your USB port/cable.
Restart both phone and pc before trying again.
Check drivers on PC
Try reducing the COM port speed by going to device manager
Try another PC
Disable driver signature verification on Windows 10
If you run out of ideas, use a Linux installation; will save you a lot of trouble"

So, as u can see, the fixes kind of run the gamut of possibilities. I'd focus on being sure you're using a usb 2.0 port, and use a data cable, not one just for charging the device.

cheers

sasindu · Oct 13, 2021

Hi, iam using lmg820n with sk telecom firmware and recently i got android 11 and updated.
Can i roll back to Android 10 open korean firmware by following this guide? Is it possible to do while iam on Android 11?

astonmartin214 · Oct 14, 2021

I wish there was a video on this on whole method don't want to mess up
I haven't flashed since the V20 RR rom

astonmartin214 · Oct 14, 2021

VZW phone once I put the phone in download mode then I try to run it it'll say EDL fail

ftx777 · Oct 15, 2021

Привет друзья. Получил обновление до 11 андроид, на данный момент не разблокирован загрузчик и нет рута. Если я установлю обновление для 11 андройд, подойдет ли эта инструкция для этой версии? V500N SKT