[KNOX] S4 mini and Knox

[Aronuser]

Disclaimer: I'm not liable to any demage to your device, including Knox. The information here is as good as I know, there is no guarantee.

(If you like to provide extra information or have a correction, I'll add it to the OP)

Read this first:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2447832

Additional information:

- How to view if I've Knox enabled or not? Enter download-mode (Power the device off and then press volume down + home + power, then press volume up if the triangle screen appears) If it says Knox 0x1 instead of 0x0, you tripped knox

- You'll get Knox 0x1 (warranty void) when you flash: custom kernel (which is included in many roms) or custom recovery (Update: @gladson1976 claimed a custom recovery didn't trip Knox at him. But at me it did)


- The device will be functional as before, nothing changes, all apps work etc. (Just at booting recovery or system it says "Set warranty bit, custom recovery" and "Set warranty bit, custom kernel" (depending on if you use a custom kernel or recovery)) info provided by @rpgdev (It's been said though, that Knox related app's will stop working.) (Upate: @fburgos claims that tripping knox caused him signal issues)

Another thing is, that if you've Knox apps still installed, they'll give you a message when giving root rights to apps "there is something wrong with the app", as reported by @Flatric

If you get warnings about applications doing not permitted actions, delete the following files from system/app, or let SuperSU fix it for you.

KNOXAgent.apk
KNOXStore.apk
ContainerAgent.apk
(Use a root browser app for deleting the files)
(information provided by @arco68 throught @R_a_z_v_a_n , thanks.


- Can I reverse Knox? So far it's impossible, but maybe one day there is a workaround (Update: workaround for Exynos CPU available, but not s4 mini yet. (see at buttom))

- Will there ever be a workaround? Knox uses and eFuse chip according to @rogier666 so there will be probably no workaround.

- I heard that in Europe your warranty will not be void, even if it's Knox 0x1 (no guarantee) check this thread for germany: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...arranty-knox-warranty-void-behaviour-t2919994

- It's been reported that even flashing a newer stock firmware with Odin could cause Knox active @tinko975 (I assume this happens because of Odin update of the recovery and kernel (Use in phone Samsung updater to stay safe)

- Reflashing the firmware doesn't cause KNOX 0x1 as reported by @Gloris, confirmed by @Bullet92

- Many rooting method will enable KNOX too, thanks to @afme89 for the info.

Extra:

- People claimed that if you flash a certain rom and remove the custom kernel from it and flash it with odin then it doesn't get Knox (because no custom kernel, no custom recovery.)


Knox workaround news:

@masinj claimed claimed to has found a workaround for Exynos CPU (Not S4 mini) Further info about this:

How does Knox work? Because Knox is both in the OS (apps) and in the firmware (bootloader) it works in two ways. The OS components prevent attempts to obtain root access and make rooting with these Knox apps a pain in the butt. Fortunately they can be removed. In the firmware component (bootloader), Knox works to prevent the flashing of custom kernels and recoveries. If you flash a custom rom or custom recovery WHILE on the Knox bootloader, your Knox flag will be tripped and your Warranty Bit will go from 0x0 to 0x1. The Knox bootloader cannot be downgraded to, say, the MD4 bootloader because of special protections built into it. If you attempt to downgrade it, your phone will instantly brick. Info provided by @R_a_z_v_a_n , thanks.

Credits:

XDA developers
Me
@tinko975
@Gloris
@Bullet92
@afme89
@rpgdev
@Flatric
@R_a_z_v_a_n
@arco68
@masinj
@gladson1976
@fburgos
@rogier666

 

[Aronuser]

Reserved

 

[tinko975]

my device turns knox to 0x1 in the beginning when i flash newer stock firmware with odin..
in Croatia (Europe) Warranty is void if your knox is 0x1.

 

[Aronuser]

my device turns knox to 0x1 in the beginning when i flash newer stock firmware with odin..
in Croatia (Europe) Warranty is void if your knox is 0x1.

Good to know, I'll add this to the OP :good: Thank you for contributing

 

[Aronuser]

Information updated, thanks to @Gloris

 

[Bullet92]

Information updated, thanks to @Gloris

Can confirm that. Reflashed it via Odin yesterday and KNOX is still 0x0.

 

[afme89]

Many rooting methods will set the Knox flag 0x1 too.

 

[Aronuser]

Can confirm that. Reflashed it via Odin yesterday and KNOX is still 0x0.

Many rooting methods will set the Knox flag 0x1 too.

Thank you both, I added the infos and credits to you.

 

[leripe]

I think there could also be a list of firmwares which have knox.

Example mine doesn't have one, l9195XXUAMF5.


Edit: Added link to this to few of my threads, also linked this to my signature, thanks!

 

[Aronuser]

I think there could also be a list of firmwares which have knox.

Example mine doesn't have one, l9195XXUAMF5.


Edit: Added link to this to few of my threads, also linked this to my signature, thanks!

First off, thank you for adding the link to your signature, i really appreciate it.

About the firmware list, well the idea is good but I don't have time for doing that. If you like to provide it I'd add it to the thread if you like (second post).

 

[rpgdev]

You can add that your phone will be functionally the same, I bought a 9195 (after owning the 9190) that had knox and went ahead and flashed something else (knowing that it could trip it, guarantee doesn't cover me anyways) and while it is tripped I can still flash anything, use all of my apps, etc. I had an s3 before and knox was tripped and I still could do everything I used to do.

The only really annoying thing about tripping knox is that on the first boot screen it will always show this little message announcing the "set warranty bit" which can be 'kernel' (if you're just normally booting the phone) or 'recovery' if you're booting into recovery. It shows up everytime you turn on your phone. It looks like this:

 

[Aronuser]

You can add that your phone will be functionally the same, I bought a 9195 (after owning the 9190) that had knox and went ahead and flashed something else (knowing that it could trip it, guarantee doesn't cover me anyways) and while it is tripped I can still flash anything, use all of my apps, etc. I had an s3 before and knox was tripped and I still could do everything I used to do.

The only really annoying thing about tripping knox is that on the first boot screen it will always show this little message announcing the "set warranty bit" which can be 'kernel' (if you're just normally booting the phone) or 'recovery' if you're booting into recovery. It shows up everytime you turn on your phone. It looks like this:

Thank you I'll add the info to the OP and give you credits :good:

 

[Aronuser]

You can add that your phone will be functionally the same, I bought a 9195 (after owning the 9190) that had knox and went ahead and flashed something else (knowing that it could trip it, guarantee doesn't cover me anyways) and while it is tripped I can still flash anything, use all of my apps, etc. I had an s3 before and knox was tripped and I still could do everything I used to do.

The only really annoying thing about tripping knox is that on the first boot screen it will always show this little message announcing the "set warranty bit" which can be 'kernel' (if you're just normally booting the phone) or 'recovery' if you're booting into recovery. It shows up everytime you turn on your phone. It looks like this:

I've a question about that, I heard the knox app's will stop working. is this true or false?

 

[rpgdev]

I've a question about that, I heard the knox app's will stop working. is this true or false?

I know that sometimes on stock some persistent warning messages show up on the notification bar and to get rid of them you have to freeze some 'knox apps' or remove them from the system apps. I have yet to meet a useful 'knox app' but if there is let me know and next time I'm on stock I could try it out and report back.

 

[Flatric]

I've a question about that, I heard the knox app's will stop working. is this true or false?

On my phone Knox was tripped after rooting my phone and everytime I wanted to give an application root rights knox said there's something wrong and I should uninstall the app and reboot my phone.

 

[Razvan]

If you get warnings about applications doing not permitted actions, delete the following files from system/app, or let SuperSU fix it for you.

• KNOXAgent.apk
• KNOXStore.apk
• ContainerAgent.apk

From arco's root thread.

Powered by CM11 - M6 snapshot

 

[Aronuser]

On my phone Knox was tripped after rooting my phone and everytime I wanted to give an application root rights knox said there's something wrong and I should uninstall the app and reboot my phone.

Thanks for providing the info, I'll add it to the OP and give you credits :good:

 

[Aronuser]

From arco's root thread.

Powered by CM11 - M6 snapshot

Thank you, I'll add the info to the OP and give you credits. :good:


------------


To all further informations which can be added I'll add them too and give credits, but skip writing it down here

 

[issue5854]

KNOX tripped

Hi, I like that there is someone taking care for this device.

I have a GT-I9192 (A Duos version of S4 Mini) and rooted it so the KNOX is 0x1
Also a friend of mine has one too, and I updated his phone to the latest stock rom (not rooted or anything other, just update) with Odin, and his warranty bit shows 0x1
but a couple of days ago, his phone had a hardware damage (I think so) there is a problem with the screen so the phone shuts down after 3 or 4 minutes, and then doesn't restart. Went to Samsung Costumer Care and they say that the phone has been rooted, so it's out of the warranty.

also about the knox and eFuse thing, as I could understand in some other topics ( like this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2486346 ) the eFuse thing comes in use in Snapdragon N9000 and above chips, and this device has a Snapdragon 400

however, it would be very good if we could make a Knox reset...

 

[rpgdev]

however, it would be very good if we could make a Knox reset...

A knox reset isn't possible right now and probably won't be in a while (or ever). Tripping knox voids your warranty, in many people's cases (like mine) this isn't a problem because they aren't covered by it but if you are then you should probably think it twice before messing with something that could trip knox. There's no way around it sadly. I hope your friend can at least repair the device with a third party.