Unlocking/rooting an A21?

[SpectreCular]

I have a brand new Galaxy A21 (SM-S215DL). In Developer Options, there is NO OEM Unlock toggle (not even a grayed out one; it simply does NOT exist anywhere in settings). I have tried several different variants of the date/time trick to try to get it to appear, and none of them worked. But while in Download Mode, KG Status is shown as `CHECKING`, so doesn't that mean it should at least be visible? Do I even need to unlock my bootloader? Is it even possible?

Using Frija, I managed to get what I believe to be the correct stock firmware for my device. I also grabbed both of the latest official and patched versions of Odin. Flashing the stock firmware works, but flashing the patched Magisk AP fails with an AUTH error for file `vbmeta.img`, which leads me to believe that I actually DO need to unlock my bootloader... but if that's the case, I'm having trouble figuring out how to do so without the OEM toggle.

Is there anything else can I try?

 

[furballi]

I have a brand new Galaxy A21 (SM-S215DL). In Developer Options, there is NO OEM Unlock toggle (not even a grayed out one; it simply does NOT exist anywhere in settings). I have tried several different variants of the date/time trick to try to get it to appear, and none of them worked. But while in Download Mode, KG Status is shown as `CHECKING`, so doesn't that mean it should at least be visible? Do I even need to unlock my bootloader? Is it even possible?

Using Frija, I managed to get what I believe to be the correct stock firmware for my device. I also grabbed both of the latest official and patched versions of Odin. Flashing the stock firmware works, but flashing the patched Magisk AP fails with an AUTH error for file `vbmeta.img`, which leads me to believe that I actually DO need to unlock my bootloader... but if that's the case, I'm having trouble figuring out how to do so without the OEM toggle.

Is there anything else can I try?

I also have the Samsung A21 from T Mobile (SM-A21UZKATMB). The phone is unlocked by T Mobile but there is no OEM bootloader unlock button under the Developer mode. Changing the date (forward and backward in time), then run the software update did not solve the OEM bootloader unlock button problem. I suspect the carrier (T Mobile) has disabled this function. You will need to unlock the bootloader to install the stock firmware.

To those who have enabled the OEM bootloader in the A21. Is your phone locked to a carrier in the USA like Verizon or T Mobile?

 

[namdrop22]

I also have the SM215DL, using straight talk utilizing verizon service, I also cannot unlock the bootloader. Everything you guys did, I did. Nothing worked.

 

[Seriousfreedom]

samsung has done this to all A series phones intended for the U.S. from what i understand

 

[REALSkulldreamz]

Where there's a will, there's a way... someone has messed with my phone too do doesn't that mean that they're altering the data/data partition to r/w. Did you guys try fastboot flashing unlock vs. fastboot oem unlock. I'm going to contact Samsung about this and let u all know what's up.

 

[REALSkulldreamz]

And also why would there be a usb debugging port if this phone can't be modded? Idon't know the answer but maybe someone more expediency could come in and help us out. I also wonder if the flash_image command or just dd it would bypass it?

 

[MaBo2020]

... there is NO way, to root the A21(s), see here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/root-possibility.4130739/page-12#post-84944589

 

[thatha]

... there is NO way, to root the A21(s), see here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/root-possibility.4130739/page-12#post-84944589

I confirm that I have rooted my A21S sucessfully using this modified magisk (U3 Rom). No need to patch the whole AP.tar file, just patch boot.img file only. I upload my patched boot.img for those who need it. Just flash it via odin in AP slot. Thank you very much @grccorps.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachments/boot-tar.5299081/

 

[MaBo2020]

I confirm that I have rooted my A21S sucessfully using this modified magisk (U3 Rom). No need to patch the whole AP.tar file, just patch boot.img file only. I upload my patched boot.img for those who need it. Just flash it via odin in AP slot. Thank you very much @grccorps.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachments/boot-tar.5299081/

... exactly Step-by-Step, how u do it with downloadlinks of all Software, what u used !
Many Peoples writes, that they have rooted the A21s, but no one shows, how ! With the newest Firmware u cant rooted the Phone, because there is no working TWRP, SuperSU or MAGISK - Version out for this Phone !

 

[thatha]

... exactly Step-by-Step, how u do it with downloadlinks of all Software, what u used !
Many Peoples writes, that they have rooted the A21s, but no one shows, how ! With the newest Firmware u cant rooted the Phone, because there is no working TWRP, SuperSU or MAGISK - Version out for this Phone !

Extract boot.img from AP.tar, then use modified-magisk to patched it

 

[MaBo2020]

... this Methode is not working, i try it many Times, no RootAcess ! Again: if u have newer Firmware on this Phone (End 2020 - until now) u cant root this Phone ! Maybe on ure Phone an older Firmware ...

 

[thatha]

And this is my U5 patched boot.img

... this Methode is not working, i try it many Times, no RootAcess ! Again: if u have newer Firmware on this Phone (End 2020 - until now) u cant root this Phone ! Maybe on ure Phone an older Firmware ...

I have just made a post here, you can try it

[SHARING] HOW TO ROOT A21S STOCK ROM WITH MAGISK

Hello friends I just want to share how to root A21S stock rom in case anybody needs it: 1. Unlock bootloader 2. (On PC) Extract boot.img.lz4 from AP...tar file, then copy it to phone 3. (On phone) Install ZArchiver to extract boot.img from...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[MaBo2020]

... and u shure, it its for the A21s or for A21 ?

 

[mobile_sensei]

The only hope of getting root on this phone is if you find a Dev who's interested enough to build a bootstrap recovery. I've not looked at the firmware & have no idea if there's an exploit that would work for that purpose.
Bootstrap recovery was the only way of getting root/custom recovery back in the days of Motorola D2 & Droid X, the original Droid X. Motorola was THE phone for development... Liberty ROM, Gummy ROM, Simply Stunning, etc.
I would not hold out hopes for that to happen here.

Peace - MS

 

[iBowToAndroid]

samsung has done this to all A series phones intended for the U.S. from what i understand

No, Samsung has done this to ALL North American models ever since the Galaxy S8. The bootloaders are not user-unlockable, like they are on international models. However, some models can be rooted via a software exploit if they're running very old firmware, or some models can even be bootloader unlocked via special files, if their firmware version is old enough

 

[o.class.jav]

I have a brand new Galaxy A21 (SM-S215DL). In Developer Options, there is NO OEM Unlock toggle (not even a grayed out one; it simply does NOT exist anywhere in settings). I have tried several different variants of the date/time trick to try to get it to appear, and none of them worked. But while in Download Mode, KG Status is shown as `CHECKING`, so doesn't that mean it should at least be visible? Do I even need to unlock my bootloader? Is it even possible?

Using Frija, I managed to get what I believe to be the correct stock firmware for my device. I also grabbed both of the latest official and patched versions of Odin. Flashing the stock firmware works, but flashing the patched Magisk AP fails with an AUTH error for file `vbmeta.img`, which leads me to believe that I actually DO need to unlock my bootloader... but if that's the case, I'm having trouble figuring out how to do so without the OEM toggle.

Is there anything else can I try?

Mine is rooted. But you have to buy a token.

 

[[email protected]]

Mine is rooted. But you have to buy a token.

what token??

 

[o.class.jav]

what token??

The one generated by the SamPwns steady.bin flash.

 

[[email protected]]

{Mod edit: Quoted post removed}

and where does one get 'TWRP' for the Samsung Galaxy A21S?? Thanks for the post its very detailed with very clear instructions, and i agree with you this is the tried and tested and perfect way of rooting your phone, only problem is that this is an unperect world a world where 'TWRP' for the SM-A217F does not exist

 

[Nazo]

I just received a refurbished SM-S215DL (A21,) not as my provider's solution to the VoLTE soon to be required for 4G devices thing and right now it's a pretty severe downgrade for me since it lacks a lot of basic functionality I'm used to from my 2017 phone running LineageOS. Obviously it's pretty unlikely or probably outright impossible to ever see a real LineageOS ROM for this thing (and even if someone ever does it probably would be insanely unstable or incomplete,) but if I could at least root it (even if I have to manually patch or something) it would really help me out a lot. Has just nothing really been found short of sending some unknown person online some very very key device details and money (which I don't have or I'd be buying something else anyway)? (Also kind of suspicious that whatever method they're using isn't something available to the public anyway...)