[Root] [guide] Samsung Galaxy A20 rooting guide

[physwizz]

Read the first 3 posts before you proceed.
For Android 10 go here
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a20/how-to/android-10-q-guide-a20-t4095589

For a20e go here

A20e Root,Kernel, TWRP and custom ROM

Root & TWRP from Xyn XDotnest https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a20/development/recovery-twrp-3-4-0-0-galaxy-a20e-a202f-t4141767 Orange Fox Recovery from @Royna...

forum.xda-developers.com

WARNING: Rooting your phone may be dangerous.
Rooting a device may void the warranty on the device. It may also make the device unstable or if not done properly, may completely brick the device. XDA-Developers or the author does not take any responsibility for your device. Root at your own risk and only if you understand what you are doing!

 

[physwizz]

Advantages of rooting:

Once you root your device you can install flashable zip files and custom ROMs.

You can backup all your apps and data using Titanium Backup.

You can customize your device according to your needs by deleting unwanted system apps and using Deathly Adiutor to modify the kernel.
View attachment 4802662
Disadvantages of Rooting:

Once you root your device, your device warranty will be void.

After rooting yourndevice may become unstable.

You may not be able to upgrade OTA in the future.

 

[physwizz]

This method should root your Samsung Galaxy SM-A205X (all models except SM-A205U and SM-A205DL).
It was developed for the U2 bootloader (June 2019 firmware)

This method does not work for the a20s (A207X)

This method can be used to root other Samsung phones including the a20e( post#77 post#180, post#256)


Quick Root and TWRP for A205xx
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a20/how-to/guide-quick-root-twrp-galaxy-a20-t4069423
You'll find it much quicker.

Repair Firmware
This site contains
1. Full repair firmware
2. Combination firmware
3. Fix dm verify
4. Root instructions and unpatched boot images
https://www.full-repair-firmware.com/search?q=A20

More firmware (some are even prerooted)
https://www.needromarab.com/1/122/SAMSUNG

Samfirm Tool for really fast downloads
https://samfirmtool.com/samfirm-v0-5-0

 

[physwizz]

Useful videos

Instructions

A. Prepare boot image

1. Download magisk manager apk
2. Download the exact firmware (including upgrade date) for your device from https://samfrew.com or https://www.samfirmware.net/ or https://www.full-repair-firmware.com/search?q=A20 or
https://samfw.com/
3. Use zarchiver to copy AP_20xxxxxxxx.md5 to download directory. It will extract it from the zip.
4. Rename AP_20xxxxxxxx.md5 to AP_20xxxxxxx.tar and extract using zarchiver
5. Copy boot.img.Iz4 to download directory and extract (resulting in boot.img)
6. Use magisk manager to patch boot.img (use top install) result magisk_patched.img
(If using Magisk (Canary) patch, options should be remove dm-verity and not via recovery, but allowing Persist Encrypt.)
7. Rename magisk_patched.img to boot.img
9. Use zarchiver to compress boot.img to boot.tar. If you have a A205xx June firmware (U2 bootloader), you can use my one of you're willing to take a risk. View attachment boot.zip. Just unzip it first.
9a. For a20e users, try this boot.img https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=81649257&postcount=260
10. Copy boot.tar to Windows pc or Windows Virtualbox.
11. On phone developer options in settings unlock OEM and enable usb debugging


(If using Linux
9. Don't compress `boot.img`
10. install heimdall flash with `sudo apt install heimdall-flash`, if you want front-end install it with `sudo apt install heimdall-flash-frontend`)

B. Unlock bootloader

Useful video

12. Backup data. It will be wiped.
13. Turn phone off
14. Hold vol- and vol+ and plug in power cable attached to pc then release vol up to enter unlock screen.
15. Follow the instructions to unlock
(You might need to long press vol up to unlock bootloader)
vol + to select yes to confirm.
17. Press power key to unlock bootloader.
18. Reboot and reactivate developer options and enable usb debugging. Don't enter too much data at this stage as you will lose it again later.

C. Flash boot image.

19. Turn phone on in bootloader (download) mode (Hold power and vol+ to enter recovery mode then select bootloader download mode)
20. Connect phone to computer.
21. Use Odin in Windows to add boot.tar to phone. (Select AP). Some people recommend adding the other firmware parts to their slots at the same time.
22. Restart phone
23. select bootloader
24. Select factory reset (this will wipe data)
25. Restart phone
26. install data
26. install magisk manager
27. If green phone is rooted.
View attachment 4802665
28. Of red select install/direct install
29. Advanced tick both.
30. Install root checker and verify root

If Something Goes Wrong
Go here

https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a20/how-to/crash-recovery-t4068369

If you get a DTBO error after updating Magisk, flash this vbmeta https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-dogButfxKGlx_x2tSROOBDiq90SDlmc/view

(If using Linux
To flash:
20. Detect device with `heimdall detect`
21. Flash the `boot.img` with `heimdall flash --BOOT {location of the boot.img, you can also just drop the file into terminal and terminal should auto-fill it}` ex: `heimdall flash --BOOT '/home/utku/Programlar/ext/boot.img'`

P.S: an easy way to boot into download mode is `adb reboot bootloader`)


If you want to remove the warning messages on the boot screen
try this.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a30/how-to/hide-bootloader-warning-unlocked-t3954589
The images shown on the A30 thread aren't suitable for the A20 so I have included some better ones here.

View attachment 4803752


You can use this param.tar to make these changes easier.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=80169262&postcount=91

You can now move on to install TWRP
This TWRP was originally designed for Android 9 but works perfectly with Android 10 and also has MTP built-in.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...overy-twrp-3-3-1-0-galaxy-a10-exynos-t4013481

physwizz collection

A collection of guides, kernels and ROMs. Guides Complete Guide to the A20 GSIs for the A20 Quick Root and TWRP for the A20 Making my First Kernel for the A20 A20 Rooting Guide Making Your Own ROM Making Your Own Version of QwizzROM-a20...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[physwizz]

Mine

Discussion page.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/samsung-galaxy-a20

 

[jajk]

On the lighter side of rooting....
From the A30 forum:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a30/how-to/hide-bootloader-warning-unlocked-t3954589
Works for A20 too

 

[physwizz]

On the lighter side of rooting....
From the A30 forum:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-a30/how-to/hide-bootloader-warning-unlocked-t3954589
Works for A20 too

Another reason to merge. This is a procedure for removing those annoying error messages on startup screens.

 

[jajk]

A205U owners complaining about not being able to oem unlock bootloader might want to study this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/patched-odin-3-13-1-t3762572
It looks like a way to switch to another unlockable firmware version.

 

[Dan225]

Please, need magisk_patched.img file for SM-A205F.

 

[jhjhjhjhjhjh]

A205U owners complaining about not being able to oem unlock bootloader might want to study this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/patched-odin-3-13-1-t3762572
It looks like a way to switch to another unlockable firmware version.

Yeah tried that option. Samsung has our model on a bootloader 2, means our device won't accept flashing from any other firmware but the original non-modded firmware only.
Tried prince Odin,patched Odin all versions, tried Heimdall etc..
Error is ...boot secure check failed..
I've tried to flash firmware a205G only with fail error Everytime.

Psa I've had my a205u for 10 days no OEM unlock option.

Main reason why I'm not buying another Samsung phone.
Bought a Moto g7 and the g7 power ..I rooted both within 10 min from purchase. Motorola emailed me my bootloader unlock code . Fastboot flashed and Bam good to go. I'm done .

 

[Articul8Madness]

Bought a Moto g7 and the g7 power ..I rooted both within 10 min from purchase. Motorola emailed me my bootloader unlock code . Fastboot flashed and Bam good to go. I'm done .

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS ALL DAY. I swapped mine out for the G7 Power and already done rooted, flashed, and wrote a guide while all the 205u users are waiting for the mythical OEM Unlock to magically appear which it ain't gonna. Sammy can kiss my techie ass...we are officially divorced. I won't even go back and buy an old Sammy like I wanted to (was thinking about getting that S7 edge). It's me and Moto for now.

 

[physwizz]

Yeah tried that option. Samsung has our model on a bootloader 2, means our device won't accept flashing from any other firmware but the original non-modded firmware only.
Tried prince Odin,patched Odin all versions, tried Heimdall etc..
Error is ...boot secure check failed..
I've tried to flash firmware a205G only with fail error Everytime.

Psa I've had my a205u for 10 days no OEM unlock option.

Main reason why I'm not buying another Samsung phone.
Bought a Moto g7 and the g7 power ..I rooted both within 10 min from purchase. Motorola emailed me my bootloader unlock code . Fastboot flashed and Bam good to go. I'm done .

Maybe Samsung has an issue with US tariffs.

 

[jajk]

Samsung have certainly turned an essentially good piece of hardware into a pile of rubbish with mega-invasive bloatware. I have barely started to strip back the garbage and the phone is springing to life. Need a working TWRP before getting too keen as the path back to functionality is long and arduous without a way of restoring partitions if anything gets screwed up. Here is what the phone looks like with Google Play junk removed plus a bit of Samsung bloat removed - not everyone is ready to kick the Alphabet addiction I know, but it has become an absolute monster that eats battery and cpu cycles....apart from the privacy invasion side of it
I am finding that many unknown, non-visible apps with innocent sounding names or "security" inferred in the name are likely to be ad server or data mining software - I got wise to this with my first and last Xiaomi device

 

[physwizz]

Samsung have certainly turned an essentially good piece of hardware into a pile of rubbish with mega-invasive bloatware. I have barely started to strip back the garbage and the phone is springing to life. Need a working TWRP before getting too keen as the path back to functionality is long and arduous without a way of restoring partitions if anything gets screwed up. Here is what the phone looks like with Google Play junk removed plus a bit of Samsung bloat removed - not everyone is ready to kick the Alphabet addiction I know, but it has become an absolute monster that eats battery and cpu cycles....apart from the privacy invasion side of it
I am finding that many unknown, non-visible apps with innocent sounding names or "security" inferred in the name are likely to be ad server or data mining software - I got wise to this with my first and last Xiaomi device

I used titanium backup first. Now I'll debloat.

 

[Articul8Madness]

Maybe Samsung has an issue with US tariffs.

The US doesn't have an issue with South Korea on tariffs, despite Trump's big mouth.

The problem is that Sammy wants to be essentially Apple Android. And that is what's driving this crap in the same of "security". Knox has been like the devil and even sentient since it came to power almost like Skynet. And all of this started when Verizon offered Sammy big bucks to lock it down ala Kyocera with the S5 era - which coincidentially is the last great breath of air they had to give.

They don't care about the developer models either - look in the forums, many of them are just as locked down.

Sammy knows ain't that many phone companies left in the US; Tmobile done bought out half the cell companies and AT&T got the other half in a duopoly, meaning they and other companies can continue this path of nanny phones on the general public that are going for more personalized computers they can't control than actual phones that work. Most Americans aren't going to turn to GooPhone nor will many XDA devs develop any type of TWRP or rom for those types. And that means they can dangle a bells and whistle carrot while their demographic signs their privacy away.

I ain't a fan of Lenovo-Moto, but at least they let half the phone companies unlock the variant to their devices. Sammy, on the other hand, does not and is playing Xiaomi type of games on that bootloader.

 

[physwizz]

The US doesn't have an issue with South Korea on tariffs, despite Trump's big mouth.

The problem is that Sammy wants to be essentially Apple Android. And that is what's driving this crap in the same of "security". Knox has been like the devil and even sentient since it came to power almost like Skynet. And all of this started when Verizon offered Sammy big bucks to lock it down ala Kyocera with the S5 era - which coincidentially is the last great breath of air they had to give.

They don't care about the developer models either - look in the forums, many of them are just as locked down.

Sammy knows ain't that many phone companies left in the US; Tmobile done bought out half the cell companies and AT&T got the other half in a duopoly, meaning they and other companies can continue this path of nanny phones on the general public that are going for more personalized computers they can't control than actual phones that work. Most Americans aren't going to turn to GooPhone nor will many XDA devs develop any type of TWRP or rom for those types. And that means they can dangle a bells and whistle carrot while their demographic signs their privacy away.

I ain't a fan of Lenovo-Moto, but at least they let half the phone companies unlock the variant to their devices. Sammy, on the other hand, does not and is playing Xiaomi type of games on that bootloader.

I find it strange that the US version is the only one that can't unlock the bootloader.
The rest of us are all unlocked and rooted.

 

[Articul8Madness]

I find it strange that the US version is the only one that can't unlock the bootloader.
The rest of us are all unlocked and rooted.

It aint strange, its common. Before it was locked exclusively to Verizon; after the S3 it became more and more carriers. Then the dev models started being locked up but "open".

 

[physwizz]

It aint strange, its common. Before it was locked exclusively to Verizon; after the S3 it became more and more carriers. Then the dev models started being locked up but "open".

Mine is locked to Vodafone but I can still unlock the bootloader.

 

[burningcreation]

Mine is locked to Vodafone but I can still unlock the bootloader.

Same here.

Did you mod your param.tar (to change the warnings at startup) file by any chance? Would you be able to attach it at all? I was gonna download the firmware but it's taking 9 hours.

Thanks.

 

[physwizz]

Same here.

Did you mod your param.tar (to change the warnings at startup) file by any chance? Would you be able to attach it at all? I was gonna download the firmware but it's taking 9 hours.

Thanks.

I've downloaded the 2 pics and I modified one to contain my name.
I will try the mods shortly.