I first flashed a firmware file i found online : sm-a025u_tmk_a025usqu1auc6_(mobileguru4.com) with odin. that flashed with no problems. i then followed the tutorial for rooting sm-a025m or whatever. followed it to a tee. I am now rooted and with twrp installed. i have magisk manager and some edxposed modules running. its still locked to boost though. if i knew what files to look for in the root directory to retrieve my mck i could unlock it i know i could. so PLEASE ANYBODY know what file holds my MCK CODE?
I first flashed a firmware file i found online : sm-a025u_tmk_a025usqu1auc6_(mobileguru4.com) with odin. that flashed with no problems. i then followed the tutorial for rooting sm-a025m or whatever. followed it to a tee. I am now rooted and with twrp installed. i have magisk manager and some edxposed modules running. its still locked to boost though. if i knew what files to look for in the root directory to retrieve my mck i could unlock it i know i could. so PLEASE ANYBODY know what file holds my MCK CODE?View attachment 5374005View attachment 5374005
how about the location of the phones mck code? and under normal circumstances flashing unlocked xaa firmware will get rid of network lock, so can i repackage maybe just the ap and csc-home file of the xaa firmware and flash it in twrp? please let me know. Ive been tinkering with phones for about 5 years now. I love this site just never became a member till a year ago. and this is the most posting ive ever done lol
I have my A022M, trying to flash boot.tar file created as this guide said, but, Odin is on infinite loop "file analysis"...
I got the magisk pacthed "boot.img" and "recovery/vbmeta" files from stock rom, created a tar file as guide said, and now I am trying to flash already made half hour... repeated twice times waiting 15min each time.
Anyone could help me?
I gonna just try flash pacthed AP file, like other tutorial I seen for my A022M, if this have good results I share with everyone here.
just wondering, will this guide work for the sm-a025m/ds? AKA the international a02s with dual sim? i purchased it unlocked from amazon so there is no network lock.
I first flashed a firmware file i found online : sm-a025u_tmk_a025usqu1auc6_(mobileguru4.com) with odin. that flashed with no problems. i then followed the tutorial for rooting sm-a025m or whatever. followed it to a tee. I am now rooted and with twrp installed. i have magisk manager and some edxposed modules running. its still locked to boost though. if i knew what files to look for in the root directory to retrieve my mck i could unlock it i know i could. so PLEASE ANYBODY know what file holds my MCK CODE?View attachment 5374005View attachment 5374005
So does this mean without doing ANYTHING first (such as unlock OEM and whatnot), you jut flashed an unlocked firmware? Could this possibly be done with the Cricket US version??
This guide was made prior to there being a working custom recovery for this device. I highly recommend installing @afaneh92 TWRP in this thread and then simply flash magisk from recovery.
I purchased this phone a few days ago for around £120 - Bargain.
I have spent a few evenings trying to obtain root - and finally managed to achieve it with Magisk
Full data wipes are required during the process (please backup first) Knox will trip but safetynet passes and google pay working once magisk hide enabled
Based on the Samsung specific guide provided on Magisk Github - with a few minor differences.
Make sure your device is on the latest firmware and download the zip
- I used SamFwTool version 1.21.0 to download the BTU Firmware for SM-A025G A025GXXU1AUA3
Install Magisk apk on your device.
Extract the AP _ tar.md5 from the downloaded firmware .zip using 7zip
Transfer the AP to your device and Patch it with Magisk , then copy back to your computer.
Enable OEM Unlock and Unlock the bootloader the instructions from magisk git are below, for those that need a reminder.
Unlocking bootloader on modern Samsung devices have some caveats:
Allow bootloader unlocking in Developer options → OEM unlocking
Reboot to download mode: power off your device and press the download mode key combo for your device
Long press volume up to unlock the bootloader.
This will wipe your data and automatically reboot.
If you think the bootloader is fully unlocked, it is actually not! Samsung introduced VaultKeeper, meaning the bootloader will still reject any unofficial partitions before VaultKeeper explicitly allows it.
Go through the initial setup. Skip through all the steps since data will be wiped again later when we are installing Magisk. Connect the device to Internet during the setup.
Enable developer options, and confirm that the OEM unlocking option exists and is greyed out. This means the VaultKeeper service has unleashed the bootloader.
Your bootloader now accepts unofficial images in download mode
This is where we deviate from the magisk guide... as when I flashed the magisk patched AP along with the BL CP and CSC, you get a vbmeta error and it simply reboots to stock. Magisk seems to patch the vbmeta file and I tried replacing the vbmeta with the stock version from the firmware zip but that also was fruitless.
Extract the boot.img from magisk patched AP
Extract recovery.img.lz4 and vbmeta.img.lz4 from the stock (unpatched) AP file
7zip - create a new TAR, adding only those 3 files. Boot.tar will suffice for filename
Odin 3.14.4 - uncheck auto reboot and then Flash boot.tar in the AP section (CSC, HOME CSC, CP, BL not required - as the device and download are using the latest firmware)
The next part is essential and doing it wrong will again, result in no root....
I mistakenly pressed power up and it loaded fastboot... booting direct to recovery from fastboot again, results in no root.
Hold volume down and power to reboot...
As soon as the screen turns black indicating it is rebooting let go of volume down and hold power and volume up
Release power button when you see the android logo but continue to hold volume up
Release volume up when the unlocked bootloader warning appears
Update 10April2021: Since doing this quite a few times, I've actually had most success with Magisk 22.0 (I initially went with Canary - but stock is less hit and miss and if you do it exactly like the steps above you will get root.
Is it possible to flash the SM-A025U1 variant with CSC: XAA (unbranded US) firmware to the SM-A025AZ (Cricket US) to retrieve OEM unlock? Or are all US variants stuck with a locked bootloader?
Not sure we are going to get it.. I'm nervous to try and ODIN flash an XXA or XAA whatever variant and being locked out of carrier or something.. now that I think about it.. can ODIN even be used without OEM unlock?? Its been awhile since I've had a rootable phone... they don't want you to be able to take the battery out.. no OEM unlock unless you pay $600 for phone.. these things aren't that important to me.. i just wanted to be able to use hotspot without it being recognized by my carrier.. and I did find PDANet+.. it works.. but I'd still like to be able to remove all the damn bloatware and bull**** they put on these things... plus flashin ROMs and running an operating system that isn't restricted is pretty cool too.. but damnit I just want root!..
Gotta see if you can get "oem unlock" in developer options.. which can be difficult.. which is why alot of us are here at the end of this forum here lol
I have my A022M, trying to flash boot.tar file created as this guide said, but, Odin is on infinite loop "file analysis"...
I got the magisk pacthed "boot.img" and "recovery/vbmeta" files from stock rom, created a tar file as guide said, and now I am trying to flash already made half hour... repeated twice times waiting 15min each time.
Anyone could help me?
I gonna just try flash pacthed AP file, like other tutorial I seen for my A022M, if this have good results I share with everyone here.
Not sure we are going to get it.. I'm nervous to try and ODIN flash an XXA or XAA whatever variant and being locked out of carrier or something.. now that I think about it.. can ODIN even be used without OEM unlock?? Its been awhile since I've had a rootable phone... they don't want you to be able to take the battery out.. no OEM unlock unless you pay $600 for phone.. these things aren't that important to me.. i just wanted to be able to use hotspot without it being recognized by my carrier.. and I did find PDANet+.. it works.. but I'd still like to be able to remove all the damn bloatware and bull**** they put on these things... plus flashin ROMs and running an operating system that isn't restricted is pretty cool too.. but damnit I just want root!..
Gotta see if you can get "oem unlock" in developer options.. which can be difficult.. which is why alot of us are here at the end of this forum here lol
XAA as I said before us the Boost Mobile version and I do have the OEM unlock option. I am trying to root this and am looking to know if this would work with mine since it's not written for my model.
I have my A022M, trying to flash boot.tar file created as this guide said, but, Odin is on infinite loop "file analysis"...
I got the magisk pacthed "boot.img" and "recovery/vbmeta" files from stock rom, created a tar file as guide said, and now I am trying to flash already made half hour... repeated twice times waiting 15min each time.
Anyone could help me?
I gonna just try flash pacthed AP file, like other tutorial I seen for my A022M, if this have good results I share with everyone here.
Change the name of the file you are trying to flash from (.md5) to just (.tar) and make sure you are using the patched version of odin. It should skip the file analysis.
So does this mean without doing ANYTHING first (such as unlock OEM and whatnot), you jut flashed an unlocked firmware? Could this possibly be done with the Cricket US version??
Yes. I flashed the file i said in my original comment just put the phone in download mode and flash that file. Well maybe not that exact file you have to make sure the bootloader variant is correct, anyway afyer it reboots you should have oem unlock tab available. Then follow the tutorial.good luck. One thing I've learned with these phones is nothing is really truly bricked. I once fixed a Samsung S8 that was stuck on the screen that says return to samsung for servicing. Phone wouldn't go into download mode. So with the help of this site i self taught how to enter edl and was able to bring the phone back to life. (Only to have my wife smash it 3 days later lol)
Yes. I flashed the file i said in my original comment just put the phone in download mode and flash that file. Well maybe not that exact file you have to make sure the bootloader variant is correct, anyway afyer it reboots you should have oem unlock tab available. Then follow the tutorial.good luck. One thing I've learned with these phones is nothing is really truly bricked. I once fixed a Samsung S8 that was stuck on the screen that says return to samsung for servicing. Phone wouldn't go into download mode. So with the help of this site i self taught how to enter edl and was able to bring the phone back to life. (Only to have my wife smash it
XAA as I said before us the Boost Mobile version and I do have the OEM unlock option. I am trying to root this and am looking to know if this would work with mine since it's not written for my
Ok I see.. but XAA is unbranded.. so it technically doesnt belong to Boost. I'm not familiar with this rooting app.. the method yes, but not magic **** or whatever its called (that's what I thought it said when I first read it. Juvinile?.. yeah, a little...) I personally would attepmt the SU version to get root.. but that's just me.. and just as the above reply said, nothing (with Samsung, at least) is truly bricked. You will still be able to access download mode and can flash your stock firmware back to original with ODIN and a google search for your phone's stock (unrooted) firmware.. that's if you wanted to give it a shot, and things go south during the attept. Have you tried any of the one-click rooting apps?
Yes. I flashed the file i said in my original comment just put the phone in download mode and flash that file. Well maybe not that exact file you have to make sure the bootloader variant is correct, anyway afyer it reboots you should have oem unlock tab available. Then follow the tutorial.good luck. One thing I've learned with these phones is nothing is really truly bricked. I once fixed a Samsung S8 that was stuck on the screen that says return to samsung for servicing. Phone wouldn't go into download mode. So with the help of this site i self taught how to enter edl and was able to bring the phone back to life. (Only to have my wife smash it 3 days later lol)
The only phone I believe I truly bricked was an LG.. LG flash tool wouldnt recognize it.. cant enter recovery or downlod mode.. screen would just flash over and over till you finally just take the battery out and give up.. but I thought I bricked that phone mulitple times before but the LG flash tool fixed her up every time.. but I think I may have let the battery drain while flashing or something like that. Cuz she is 100% dead.. I believe it is possble.. but kinda hard to do.. idk just my 2 cents.. gonna go ahead and try flashing XAA U1 variant in ODIN.. *fingers crossed*... if all goes well, I will be back to update... Excelsior!
This guide was made prior to there being a working custom recovery for this device. I highly recommend installing @afaneh92 TWRP in this thread and then simply flash magisk from recovery.
I purchased this phone a few days ago for around £120 - Bargain.
I have spent a few evenings trying to obtain root - and finally managed to achieve it with Magisk
Full data wipes are required during the process (please backup first) Knox will trip but safetynet passes and google pay working once magisk hide enabled
Based on the Samsung specific guide provided on Magisk Github - with a few minor differences.
Make sure your device is on the latest firmware and download the zip
- I used SamFwTool version 1.21.0 to download the BTU Firmware for SM-A025G A025GXXU1AUA3
Install Magisk apk on your device.
Extract the AP _ tar.md5 from the downloaded firmware .zip using 7zip
Transfer the AP to your device and Patch it with Magisk , then copy back to your computer.
Enable OEM Unlock and Unlock the bootloader the instructions from magisk git are below, for those that need a reminder.
Unlocking bootloader on modern Samsung devices have some caveats:
Allow bootloader unlocking in Developer options → OEM unlocking
Reboot to download mode: power off your device and press the download mode key combo for your device
Long press volume up to unlock the bootloader.
This will wipe your data and automatically reboot.
If you think the bootloader is fully unlocked, it is actually not! Samsung introduced VaultKeeper, meaning the bootloader will still reject any unofficial partitions before VaultKeeper explicitly allows it.
Go through the initial setup. Skip through all the steps since data will be wiped again later when we are installing Magisk. Connect the device to Internet during the setup.
Enable developer options, and confirm that the OEM unlocking option exists and is greyed out. This means the VaultKeeper service has unleashed the bootloader.
Your bootloader now accepts unofficial images in download mode
This is where we deviate from the magisk guide... as when I flashed the magisk patched AP along with the BL CP and CSC, you get a vbmeta error and it simply reboots to stock. Magisk seems to patch the vbmeta file and I tried replacing the vbmeta with the stock version from the firmware zip but that also was fruitless.
Extract the boot.img from magisk patched AP
Extract recovery.img.lz4 and vbmeta.img.lz4 from the stock (unpatched) AP file
7zip - create a new TAR, adding only those 3 files. Boot.tar will suffice for filename
Odin 3.14.4 - uncheck auto reboot and then Flash boot.tar in the AP section (CSC, HOME CSC, CP, BL not required - as the device and download are using the latest firmware)
The next part is essential and doing it wrong will again, result in no root....
I mistakenly pressed power up and it loaded fastboot... booting direct to recovery from fastboot again, results in no root.
Hold volume down and power to reboot...
As soon as the screen turns black indicating it is rebooting let go of volume down and hold power and volume up
Release power button when you see the android logo but continue to hold volume up
Release volume up when the unlocked bootloader warning appears
Tap the power button once to skip that warning
Stock recovery should now appear
Select wipe data / factory reset
Reboot system
Setup as usual and install the magisk apk
. .
Update 10April2021: Since doing this quite a few times, I've actually had most success with Magisk 22.0 (I initially went with Canary - but stock is less hit and miss and if you do it exactly like the steps above you will get root.
No problem at all, It was the same position I was in so had to post as it was painful process - needed it documented for myself to follow in future too lol
yes - it's very easy to unroot directly in the magisk app
I successfully upgraded to the latest version 22004 from within the magisk app. No issues to report.
I first flashed a firmware file i found online : sm-a025u_tmk_a025usqu1auc6_(mobileguru4.com) with odin. that flashed with no problems. i then followed the tutorial for rooting sm-a025m or whatever. followed it to a tee. I am now rooted and with twrp installed. i have magisk manager and some edxposed modules running. its still locked to boost though. if i knew what files to look for in the root directory to retrieve my mck i could unlock it i know i could. so PLEASE ANYBODY know what file holds my MCK CODE?
