OTA and Non-OTA Firmware for N986U and N986U1

[naim1234]

To clarify, these instructions apply to flashing an unlocked model with the U1 firmware to a carrier version of the firmware (U) and get the boot animations/network icons and other customizations built into the carrier's software. If you want to do this, the first thing you have to do out of the box is put in your active SIM, turn on the phone, and go through setup until it prompts you to reboot because carrier settings have been downloaded and need to be applied. Once this happens and the phone reboots, you can then flash the carrier firmware (U) over. If you decide to just flash it immediately without booting up with an active SIM first, you will not get all the customizations that come with your carrier's firmware version. These instructions were written because some people (myself included) were having an issue when we opened the box and just immediately flashed the firmware instead of going through initial setup and allowing the carrier settings process to occur in the U1 firmware that came with the phone.

I understand.. so if we later want to update the phone (new android OS, etc) would we have to do a wipe and reflash? or can we do OTA/flash without wiping?

---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------

To clarify, these instructions apply to flashing an unlocked model with the U1 firmware to a carrier version of the firmware (U) and get the boot animations/network icons and other customizations built into the carrier's software. If you want to do this, the first thing you have to do out of the box is put in your active SIM, turn on the phone, and go through setup until it prompts you to reboot because carrier settings have been downloaded and need to be applied. Once this happens and the phone reboots, you can then flash the carrier firmware (U) over. If you decide to just flash it immediately without booting up with an active SIM first, you will not get all the customizations that come with your carrier's firmware version. These instructions were written because some people (myself included) were having an issue when we opened the box and just immediately flashed the firmware instead of going through initial setup and allowing the carrier settings process to occur in the U1 firmware that came with the phone.

Also, by doing this would we still get unmetered Hotspot that unlocked phones provide? or would we be stuck with AT&T limitations ?

 

[hpnerd524]

I understand.. so if we later want to update the phone (new android OS, etc) would we have to do a wipe and reflash? or can we do OTA/flash without wiping?

---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------



Also, by doing this would we still get unmetered Hotspot that unlocked phones provide? or would we be stuck with AT&T limitations ?

Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong, but by flashing the carrier firmware, you should have no problem getting OTAs from your carrier and have them install like normal. Phones I've flashed in the past received OTA updates, and my Note 20 Ultra displays as a U model now despite it starting off as a U1 model. In regards to the hostpot, I've never really played around with that, but since flashing the AT&T firmware will effectively turn your phone into an AT&T branded model...it would come with any limitations you'd have if you purchased it from them...as it is their customized firmware. If you just simply apply the carrier settings and leave the U1 firmware I think you'd be fine in regards to hotspot, but I honestly am not 100% sure.

 

[dottat]

Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong, but by flashing the carrier firmware, you should have no problem getting OTAs from your carrier and have them install like normal. Phones I've flashed in the past received OTA updates, and my Note 20 Ultra displays as a U model now despite it starting off as a U1 model. In regards to the hostpot, I've never really played around with that, but since flashing the AT&T firmware will effectively turn your phone into an AT&T branded model...it would come with any limitations you'd have if you purchased it from them...as it is their customized firmware. If you just simply apply the carrier settings and leave the U1 firmware I think you'd be fine, but I honestly am not 100% sure.

If flashed properly it will ota fine. If you leave u1 and flash u CSC etc you will break ota updates. You can however still flash updates via Odin as long as full Odin images exist.

 

[Lostwarriorram]

If flashed properly it will ota fine. If you leave u1 and flash u CSC etc you will break ota updates. You can however still flash updates via Odin as long as full Odin images exist.

Could you elaborate a little bit.

Here is what I have understood after reading this thread and the U1 Device on ATT thread:

1. Boot the U1
2. Do not sign in to Google or Samsung
3. Insert ATT Sim Card
4. Download TMB Firmware from Frija or ATT Firmware from this thread post #2
5. User patched Odin v3.14.4 to patch just the ATT home CSC from the firmware that was downloaded in above step
6. Wifi Calling and VoLTE should start working.

Is this correct?

 

[dottat]

Could you elaborate a little bit.

Here is what I have understood after reading this thread and the U1 Device on ATT thread:

1. Boot the U1
2. Do not sign in to Google or Samsung
3. Insert ATT Sim Card
4. Download TMB Firmware from Frija or ATT Firmware from this thread post #2
5. User patched Odin v3.14.4 to patch just the ATT home CSC from the firmware that was downloaded in above step
6. Wifi Calling and VoLTE should start working.

Is this correct?

That's different. You are staying on u1 firmware with the U customization file flashed in that case. You aren't "patching" CSC, you are replacing it. Which leaves you on u1 firmware that cannot OTA because the CSC partition won't match what the U1 ota files will expect.

 

[Lostwarriorram]

That's different. You are staying on u1 firmware with the U customization file flashed in that case. You aren't "patching" CSC, you are replacing it. Which leaves you on u1 firmware that cannot OTA because the CSC partition won't match what the U1 ota files will expect.

Thank you. I am good for now. I meant replace when I mentioned patching. My bad for wrong choice of words. Looks like I will have to manually patch monthly.. sucks.. but I am glad all fancy ATT features like wifi calling, etc are working for now.

 

[unitz0mbie]

Thank you. I am good for now. I meant replace when I mentioned patching. My bad for wrong choice of words. Looks like I will have to manually patch monthly.. sucks.. but I am glad all fancy ATT features like wifi calling, etc are working for now.

I'll probably update manually when android 11 drops. We have all the features, just on july security patch

 

[kangi26]

Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong, but by flashing the carrier firmware, you should have no problem getting OTAs from your carrier and have them install like normal. Phones I've flashed in the past received OTA updates, and my Note 20 Ultra displays as a U model now despite it starting off as a U1 model. In regards to the hostpot, I've never really played around with that, but since flashing the AT&T firmware will effectively turn your phone into an AT&T branded model...it would come with any limitations you'd have if you purchased it from them...as it is their customized firmware. If you just simply apply the carrier settings and leave the U1 firmware I think you'd be fine in regards to hotspot, but I honestly am not 100% sure.

And to expand a little bit on what @dottat said. You have to keep in mind when flashing some of these firmwares that you can really flash almost any of these that we'll post here, but if you don't flash what is currently a firmware revision that is released by your carrier you will not get OTA.
So for example, my AT&T device is currently on ATGP if for some silly reason I flashed ATGM I would not get OTA to ATH4 (ATGM isnt a stock ATT firmware). This can be tough for ATT and VZW since they dont release their Firmware and we have to "match them" with one of the other carrier releases. It just so happens that the latest OTA for AT&T is ATH4, which is also the same for TMB/SPR/USC.

Make sense?

 

[naim1234]

That's different. You are staying on u1 firmware with the U customization file flashed in that case. You aren't "patching" CSC, you are replacing it. Which leaves you on u1 firmware that cannot OTA because the CSC partition won't match what the U1 ota files will expect.

If we flash updates..do we have to wipe the device completely? Or can we just update from Odin ?
How much bloat does the at&t version have anyway? With my note 10+ I remember I could delete a lot of the bloat and just a few apps remained

 

[dottat]

If we flash updates..do we have to wipe the device completely? Or can we just update from Odin ?

If TMobile you can flash updates fine with no wipe. Att ****s their users with a forced wipe via Odin flashing. They've done that forever. I feel bad for att guys because TMobile I can update all day long with no wipes.

 

[naim1234]

So I guess my best bet is to just flash the whole at&t firmware on the device if I want OTA and all features?

 

[zimgir124]

Been a long time since i've done any flashing, last time was back with the S8 so i'm a bit behind.

As far as flashing to U1 firmware i see you said "Flashed the U firmware again with the USERDATA file and set it up again" but where is this USERDATA file coming from?
I have a Verizon device so I'm assuming it comes from the carrier firmware download listed above? It is also said "The USERDATA file is Carrier agnostic" so i'm assuming i can maybe just use the USERDATA from one of those firmwares?

 

[NoteGarner2020]

Does samsung pay etc works if I flash ATT on Unlocked?

 

[jhous3s]

Anybody on the T-Mobile Version verify if NR-SA is available? I'm still on the unlocked firmware and I dont have NR-SA.

 

[LT1UltraZ]

Flashed the t-mobile on a unlocked 512gb. Everything working 100%

 

[dottat]

So I guess my best bet is to just flash the whole at&t firmware on the device if I want OTA and all features?

In this case the answer is yes. I am a tmb user that buys unlocked for various reasons each year however I always flash full firmware. And get ota and full carrier features. TMobile is not bad with their customization and bloat. Not like att. In fact aside from the splash screen it really isn't "tmobile'd". No real customized settings etc that are cumbersome.

 

[naim1234]

In this case the answer is yes. I am a tmb user that buys unlocked for various reasons each year however I always flash full firmware. And get ota and full carrier features. TMobile is not bad with their customization and bloat. Not like att. In fact aside from the splash screen it really isn't "tmobile'd". No real customized settings etc that are cumbersome.

Can anyone link me to the steps to fully flash the carrier software? Now I am deciding between whether or not to flash just the wifi calling/volte and keep unlocked or full carrier FW.. hmmm... decisions... Can anyone confirm if the note 20 ultra unlocked allows for unlimited tethering?

 

[dottat]

Can anyone link me to the steps to fully flash the carrier software? Now I am deciding between whether or not to flash just the wifi calling/volte and keep unlocked or full carrier FW.. hmmm... decisions... Can anyone confirm if the note 20 ultra unlocked allows for unlimited tethering?

Assign from the tethering ask I posted just a few posts above the simple steps I ran through after getting home with mine today.

 

[Digitaldeath187]

Mine came with U1ATGP

What's The difference between N986U
And N986U1 I have the last one

 

[unitz0mbie]

What's The difference between N986U
And N986U1 I have the last one

U1 means us unlocked.