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How To Guide Guide to root Galaxy S21 FE (B/N/0), unlock bootloader and flash official firmware (noob friendly)

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Code:
Your warranty is now void.
If you root your device, Your KNOX status will be tripped.
You can still pass the safety net after you root if you follow the instructions.
I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards although it is not really possible
Please do some research if you have any concerns about doing this to your device

How to flash official firmware? (not the root and unlock bootloader part!)

You will need:

A Galaxy S21 FE and common sense

Samsung Odin (the flashing tool of the official firmware)

https://dl2018.sammobile.com/Odin3-v3.14.1.zip

You need to extract the zip file and you are going to use the file Odin3_v3.14.1.exe inside the folder.

Samsung Android USB Driver for Windows


Double-click and install the exe file.

Samsung Official Firmware


Download the platform you want to download to. (Windows)

You need to extract the zip and double click open the file Bifrost.exe inside the folder.

You need to fill in the Model, Region, press the Check for Updates button and the Download button.

How to find the Model: on your phone → Settings → About Phone → The third row says the Model number and you need to remove the part with the part of /xx, for example, SM-G990B/DS and you only need to type SM-G990B

How to find the Region: You can check the Region at this link https://samfrew.com/model/SM-G990B/

You need to find find a three-letter word depending on your carrier and country and type it in Bifrost, for example, EVR

Press the Check for Update button and download it with the Download button.

Put it to a place you can easily find, ie. Desktop.

After downloading it, find the file SM-xxxxx_x_xxxxxxxx_xxx.zip.enc4 on the place you put it and change the document format from .enc4 to .zip. Then, double click and extract the file.

Open Odin3_v3.14.1.exe and turn off your phone. Connect a side of your USB to your PC/Laptop, keep pressing volume up and down together until you go to Download Mode. Put another side of the USB into your phone. When you arrived at Download Mode press volume up. Go back to Odin3_v3.14.1.exe:

-Click on BL and select BL_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

-Click on AP and select AP_xxxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

-Click on CP and select CP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

(If you want to keep your data don't flash CSC).
-Click on CSC and select CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

-Click on USERDATA and select HOME_CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

Press Start to flash the firmware, after done, your device will automatically reboot to the system.

How to unlock the bootloader?

Go to your phone → Settings → About Phone → Software information → Press Build number 6 times until you see the notice “You’re now a developer”

Go in Settings → Developer options → enable OEM unlocking

Power off your phone first. Then, connect a side of your USB to your PC/Laptop, keep pressing volume up and down together until you go to Download Mode. Put another side of the USB into your phone.

When you arrived at Download Mode, long press volume up until you see the black screen. Confirm to unlock the bootloader and you will erase your device.

How to root your phone?

After you unlock your bootloader, you set up your phone and make sure you do not sign in google account first. Install Magisk https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases/download/v24.1/Magisk-v24.1.apk on your phone. Oh yes, in case you do not know, you need to allow the app to install apps so that you can install the apk.

Transfer AP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5 in the firmware you download from your PC/Laptop to your phone.
Open Magisk on your phone and press the install button in the Magisk column. Select 'Select and Patch a File', 'Let's Go' and find the AP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5 and select it. You can have a cup of coffee if you like when you waiting for the patching of the file.

After finishing the patching, you need to transfer the file magisk_patched-24xxx_xxxxx.tar in the Downloads folder back to your PC/Laptop.

Turn off your phone. Connect a side of your USB to your PC/Laptop, keep pressing volume up and down together until you go to Download Mode. Put another side of the USB into your phone. When you arrived at Download Mode press volume up. Open Odin3_v3.14.1.exe on your PC/Laptop:

Click on BL and select BL_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

-Click on AP and select magisk_patched-24xxx_xxxxx.tar

-Click on CP and select CP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

(If you want to keep your data don't flash CSC).
-Click on CSC and select CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

-Click on USERDATA and select HOME_CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

When it finishes flashing it, it will automatically reboot and you can gain root access.

Optional: If you want to have the safety net passed (most of the banking apps use it), then you need to install the zip
as a Magisk module in Magisk https://github.com/kdrag0n/safetynet-fix/releases
How? Go to Magisk → Modules → install from storage and select the zip you downloaded.

 
Very good, you have successfully rooted your S21 FE device? any problem unlocking the bootloader like breaking the camera like Galaxy A52s?
In fact, I don't own this device. I have heard the problem of A52s and S21 is Samsung's S series. It is known S series is top set. So, I don't think there will be problem like that. All Samsung devices can be rooted using this way. Only except USA locked Snapdragon model
 
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Doghan13

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
61
36
Very good, you have successfully rooted your S21 FE device? any problem unlocking the bootloader like breaking the camera like Galaxy A52s?
My S21 FE is rooted and camera still awesome. Don't know what you mean by broken but all I need is working like it should (pictures, vidéo, zoom, effects, pro...). To me, you can root without fear :)
 

wazer1337

Senior Member
Sep 8, 2009
155
15
Huawei P20
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Is there any possible way to root temporary, and if so will it trigger knox? and if so can I untrigger knox again after root is removed?

I need to add some 2fa auth keys to an app which requires root since I got them backed up from my old phone.
 

wazer1337

Senior Member
Sep 8, 2009
155
15
Huawei P20
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Once you have unlock your bootloader(unlock OEM unlock & unlock bootloader in download mode), you will trip knox forever
I guess there will soon be some bypasses without the need to unlock bootloader?


8PyWfZu.png



BsBsPhI.png



  • source code for every Trusted Applet (TA) installed in Samsung’s TrustZone environment used for sensitive operations (e.g. hardware cryptography, binary encryption, access control)
  • algorithms for all biometric unlock operations
  • bootloader source code for all recent Samsung devices
  • confidential source code from Qualcomm
  • source code for Samsung’s activation servers
  • full source code for technology used for authorizing and authenticating Samsung accounts, including APIs and services
 
Last edited:
I guess there will soon be some bypasses without the need to unlock bootloader?


8PyWfZu.png



BsBsPhI.png



  • source code for every Trusted Applet (TA) installed in Samsung’s TrustZone environment used for sensitive operations (e.g. hardware cryptography, binary encryption, access control)
  • algorithms for all biometric unlock operations
  • bootloader source code for all recent Samsung devices
  • confidential source code from Qualcomm
  • source code for Samsung’s activation servers
  • full source code for technology used for authorizing and authenticating Samsung accounts, including APIs and services
are you sure it is not spamming?
 

Badger50

Senior Moderator / Moderator Committee
Staff member
So, is Samsung's bootloader really got "hacked"?

That remains to be seen. There was a lot of proprietary information released in this hack which could lead to what you stated. However, XDA wants nothing to do with this if it comes
to fruition since it was acquired by nefarious means.
 
That remains to be seen. There was a lot of proprietary released in this hack which could lead to what you stated. However, XDA wants nothing to do with this if it comes
to fruition since it was acquired by nefarious means.
Thanks for your reply. I wish the bootloader business will be fixed soon by Samsung and no harm has been done. Also, UNLOCK ALL THE BOOTLOADER FOR ALL MODELS, SAMSUNG!
 

wazer1337

Senior Member
Sep 8, 2009
155
15
Huawei P20
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
That remains to be seen. There was a lot of proprietary information released in this hack which could lead to what you stated. However, XDA wants nothing to do with this if it comes
to fruition since it was acquired by nefarious means.
Nobody can stop experience and know how when it comes to hacks and exploits, even if XDA does not want it here, you will never be able to stop the learning from it which will lead to exploits, which none of you can ban/deny because a) it will not include stolen gods b) you will never know how the exploit was obtained.

Don't forget XDA would never exist if it was not for expoits and hacks/mods from the community.
 
Nobody can stop experience and know how when it comes to hacks and exploits, even if XDA does not want it here, you will never be able to stop the learning from it which will lead to exploits, which none of you can ban/deny because a) it will not include stolen gods b) you will never know how the exploit was obtained.

Don't forget XDA would never exist if it was not for expoits and hacks/mods from the community.
Well, you are right. However, XDA will not allow the illegal stuff in it. Samsung confidential data, for instance
 

zeechia

New member
Feb 13, 2011
3
0
Thanks for this awesome resource btw. I have a S21 FE (sm-990B) (snapdragon 888 ver) European version. Its running on Android 11 and I want to update it to the Android 12. The problem is I am in South Africa and want Samsung Pay to work as well. Right now it says - no service provider set... when I run Samsung Pay. I see there is a firmware available for South Africa but with a sm-990E firmware (probably enynoss). https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-s21-fe/firmware/SM-G990E/XFE/#SM-G990E

Question is can I flash this firmware on the sm-990B or can I try using the EUY version of the sm-990B firmware....
or what is your suggestion...

Thanks to whoever responds...
 

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  • 9
    Code:
    Your warranty is now void.
    If you root your device, Your KNOX status will be tripped.
    You can still pass the safety net after you root if you follow the instructions.
    I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards although it is not really possible
    Please do some research if you have any concerns about doing this to your device

    How to flash official firmware? (not the root and unlock bootloader part!)

    You will need:

    A Galaxy S21 FE and common sense

    Samsung Odin (the flashing tool of the official firmware)

    https://dl2018.sammobile.com/Odin3-v3.14.1.zip

    You need to extract the zip file and you are going to use the file Odin3_v3.14.1.exe inside the folder.

    Samsung Android USB Driver for Windows


    Double-click and install the exe file.

    Samsung Official Firmware


    Download the platform you want to download to. (Windows)

    You need to extract the zip and double click open the file Bifrost.exe inside the folder.

    You need to fill in the Model, Region, press the Check for Updates button and the Download button.

    How to find the Model: on your phone → Settings → About Phone → The third row says the Model number and you need to remove the part with the part of /xx, for example, SM-G990B/DS and you only need to type SM-G990B

    How to find the Region: You can check the Region at this link https://samfrew.com/model/SM-G990B/

    You need to find find a three-letter word depending on your carrier and country and type it in Bifrost, for example, EVR

    Press the Check for Update button and download it with the Download button.

    Put it to a place you can easily find, ie. Desktop.

    After downloading it, find the file SM-xxxxx_x_xxxxxxxx_xxx.zip.enc4 on the place you put it and change the document format from .enc4 to .zip. Then, double click and extract the file.

    Open Odin3_v3.14.1.exe and turn off your phone. Connect a side of your USB to your PC/Laptop, keep pressing volume up and down together until you go to Download Mode. Put another side of the USB into your phone. When you arrived at Download Mode press volume up. Go back to Odin3_v3.14.1.exe:

    -Click on BL and select BL_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    -Click on AP and select AP_xxxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    -Click on CP and select CP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    (If you want to keep your data don't flash CSC).
    -Click on CSC and select CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    -Click on USERDATA and select HOME_CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    Press Start to flash the firmware, after done, your device will automatically reboot to the system.

    How to unlock the bootloader?

    Go to your phone → Settings → About Phone → Software information → Press Build number 6 times until you see the notice “You’re now a developer”

    Go in Settings → Developer options → enable OEM unlocking

    Power off your phone first. Then, connect a side of your USB to your PC/Laptop, keep pressing volume up and down together until you go to Download Mode. Put another side of the USB into your phone.

    When you arrived at Download Mode, long press volume up until you see the black screen. Confirm to unlock the bootloader and you will erase your device.

    How to root your phone?

    After you unlock your bootloader, you set up your phone and make sure you do not sign in google account first. Install Magisk https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases/download/v24.1/Magisk-v24.1.apk on your phone. Oh yes, in case you do not know, you need to allow the app to install apps so that you can install the apk.

    Transfer AP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5 in the firmware you download from your PC/Laptop to your phone.
    Open Magisk on your phone and press the install button in the Magisk column. Select 'Select and Patch a File', 'Let's Go' and find the AP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5 and select it. You can have a cup of coffee if you like when you waiting for the patching of the file.

    After finishing the patching, you need to transfer the file magisk_patched-24xxx_xxxxx.tar in the Downloads folder back to your PC/Laptop.

    Turn off your phone. Connect a side of your USB to your PC/Laptop, keep pressing volume up and down together until you go to Download Mode. Put another side of the USB into your phone. When you arrived at Download Mode press volume up. Open Odin3_v3.14.1.exe on your PC/Laptop:

    Click on BL and select BL_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    -Click on AP and select magisk_patched-24xxx_xxxxx.tar

    -Click on CP and select CP_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    (If you want to keep your data don't flash CSC).
    -Click on CSC and select CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    -Click on USERDATA and select HOME_CSC_OMC_xxxxxxxxxx.tar.md5

    When it finishes flashing it, it will automatically reboot and you can gain root access.

    Optional: If you want to have the safety net passed (most of the banking apps use it), then you need to install the zip
    as a Magisk module in Magisk https://github.com/kdrag0n/safetynet-fix/releases
    How? Go to Magisk → Modules → install from storage and select the zip you downloaded.

    3
    Very good, you have successfully rooted your S21 FE device? any problem unlocking the bootloader like breaking the camera like Galaxy A52s?
    My S21 FE is rooted and camera still awesome. Don't know what you mean by broken but all I need is working like it should (pictures, vidéo, zoom, effects, pro...). To me, you can root without fear :)
    2
    Good to know, Galaxy A52s camera stops working when bootloader is opened.
    Fortunately, it doesn't happened with S21
    2
    found a /sketchy/ source. worked. though a good (working) source for FW would be nice
    I use https://samfe.com/
    1
    Hey can i root my SM-G99OU2 (T-Mobile) this way as well? I'm guessing if I have T-Mobile I'm pretty much screwed cuz they have a lockdown on the bootloader from what I understand