How To Unlock Samsung Galaxy S21

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• #1

Here's a costless How-To on how i successfully Carrier/Sim unlocked my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G running the NEWEST Android update on bootloader 5 (USQU5BULJ)released in January of 2022 that was carrier locked to Verizon and now fully Unlocked.

DISCLAIMER:
*This does Non trip Knox or Void your warranty and does NOT require a root or a paid service. **This is the procedure I took, you may observe some of these steps are not needed only for the purpose or recreating my results, I'll be posting my verbal process.***This has ONLY BEEN TESTED ON SNAPDRAGON BASED SAMSUNG Milky way S21 ULTRA 5G SM-G998 U & U1, if you try information technology on a different model or phone you lot may (and likely will) receive unlike results!!!!

You can read more on how this method works to force a carrier update to your device, here, on the Official Android dev site.

Here's what yous'll need:
•ANY (activated or non) Sim from the carrier you wish to switch also.(or a manner to replicate the carriers cert from one)
•A computer
•Patched Odin
•BOTH the NEWEST U & U1 ROMs/Firmware - theres a full post on these and how to flash them here, Stock Firmware and ODIN Flashing Guide (XDA) or visit SamFW.com, it has both Odin and the ROM/Firmware files you volition need.
•(Optional?) Android ADB platform tools (Y'all tin find them on the official Android Developers page here or use any ADB software of your choice, fastboot is not required or used in this process. Link: Android Dev Platform Tools (Official)

Step one:
So allow's presume you have a Verizon or T-Mobile carrier locked phone, if you await at your baseband, which y'all can discover in Settings > Near > Software Info, yous should see this "SM-G998Uxxxxxxx"

Annotation:
Information technology Is Disquisitional that we wink the U1 rom Before putting in the desired carriers SIM, then reboot, let phone fully boot, Merely So should we insert the desired carriers SIM.

Step 1b:
Head over to your preferred site to get stock Samsung Roms (Refer to link above if y'all don't know where to observe) and download the U1 XAA rom and the U rom of the CARRIER Y'all WISH TO USE.

IMPORTANT! MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD BOTH THE "U" ROM FOR THE CARRIER YOU WISH TO SWITCH TO AND THE U1 UNLOCKED (XAA) ROM/Firmware.

IF You ALREADY Have U1 FIRMWARE
I.e "SM-G998U1xxxxxxx" - you tin skip to step 2, but I would recommend reading through the next part.

Put you device in download mode (Concur Vol upwards and Vol down and plug in the USB, which should be connected to your PC and now your phone at this point.)

Flash the U1 XAA Rom, place appropriate files in appropriate places in Odin, when y'all become to CSC, DO NOT apply the "HOME_CSC" use the other.

Leave the rest of Odin settings alone and hit Start, wait for it to cease and reboot.

Pace 2:
Once the phone boots, render to Settings>About>Software and confirm the device is now showing the "U1_XAA" in the Service Provider Software Version - information technology should say something like "SM-G998U1_XAA blah apathetic blah" - you just want to see the "U1" bit.

At present put in the Sim from the carrier you lot want. A pop-up should appear prompting you to restart your device.

! CRITICALLY

Of import Step !
We volition now initiate a reboot, just Earlier the device fully restarts, we demand to force information technology into RECOVERY Fashion, I was able to achieve this by holding the power and Vol Down buttons at the same time, starting to hold them directly later the "Samsung" Logo fades away upon initial restart. If you have trouble getting into recovery, please comment below.

One time in recovery, utilise the book keys to navigate to "Articulate Cache" select and execute. Now get to Manufacturing plant Data Reset/Wipe, select and execute. It should be the option directly above "Clear cache".

Once done, go upwards to "Reboot to Bootloader", Select & Execute.

AGAIN, Very Of import footstep! We MUST interrupt the kick process once more and force the telephone Dorsum into download mode this fourth dimension, and so in one case the phone attempts to reboot, we need to hold the Vol Down and Vol Upwardly buttons at the aforementioned fourth dimension and the USB

MUST be already plugged in, substantially it should remain plugged in throughout this process.

Nosotros should at present exist dorsum in download mode and be on "U1" as we have verified in the steps above.

Pace 3:
Now it's fourth dimension to flash the ROM/Firmware from the carrier you wish to use. Make SURE you lot have the SIM from the same carrier inserted during this process as mentioned at the outset. It doesn't demand to be a working or activated SIM, just simply one from the carrier yous wish to have this S21 piece of work on.

Wink all items from the "U" ROM/Firmware every bit you lot did earlier, ensuring to use the "U" ROM/Firmware for your desired carrier as described above. Same deal with CSC hither, Exercise NOT apply the "Home_CSC", employ the other.
BE SURE that you utilize the USERDATA file that comes with the "U" ROM/Firmware. Its Critical in society to get the phone working properly on the new carrier.

Start the Odin flashing procedure & await.
Phone volition Auto-Reboot.....

Done!

Yous should now be on the carrier y'all wish to use.
This tin can be (in theory, test at own risk) replicated for Whatever carrier supported past Samsung.

Delight comment your experiences/ issues etc below. Don't be afraid to ask for clarity of something.

PoC, results afterwards doing above process pictured in this screenshot.

Expert luck.
-k0mrade

Transport me Crypto if I helped?

Earlier process, this message would appear shortly after inserting a new SIM in testing devices:

After preforming higher up procedures I now find pictured beneath by running this activity:
com.samsung.ssu.unlock.MainActivity

And verify twice past checking my work in Settings>Well-nigh>Software Information> Service Provider Software Version & Carrier Configuration Version.

For anyone whos still having problem, try following the directions on this thread. Maybe they explicate it a bit better or their process omits/includes parts ive missed.

Culling Guide To Carrier Unlocking S21

Good Luck.

Last edited: Jun 13, 2022

• #3

Have you attempted this on lower bootloader revisions?

• #iv

Have you attempted this on lower bootloader revisions?

I take not. But am very interested to meet how it goes if you or anyone decides to give it a shot, it SHOULD piece of work on whatever BL considering the method of attack. Just I can't verify it does.

• #5

Hello. I did everything as in the guide. I downloaded U1 firmware for XAA, merely for some reason CCT remains on the phone. Also in the footstep where to insert the Sim, my phone does not ask me to reboot the device.

Last edited: Feb xi, 2022

• #6

Hi. I did everything as in the guide. I downloaded U1 firmware for XAA, but for some reason XAS remains on the telephone. Also in the stride where to insert the Sim, my phone does non inquire me to reboot the device.

Take y'all tried doing a normal reboot and forcing into recovery first, wipe cache, factory reset, reboot to Bootloader, then before full boot force into download style with your SIM from the carrier yous want to get to already inserted and downloading the "U" Firmware for the carrier you want and flashing it? What does Odin and/or your Baseband in settings say after doing above e process?

• #seven

Cheers for the guide! Is there any chance this process might besides work on other phones? I accept a Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro that I've been trying to unlock for months. I've called Verizon many times, and they merits they already unlocked it, but when I put some other sim in I still become the message "Lamentable, your device tin can't exist activated on another carrier'southward network correct at present. For assistance, contact Verizon at (800) 922-0204 or (888) 294-6804 (prepaid plans)."

• #8

Thank you for the guide! Is there whatsoever adventure this procedure might besides piece of work on other phones? I take a Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro that I've been trying to unlock for months. I've chosen Verizon many times, and they claim they already unlocked it, just when I put another sim in I yet get the bulletin "Deplorable, your device can't exist activated on some other carrier's network right now. For help, contact Verizon at (800) 922-0204 or (888) 294-6804 (prepaid plans)."

What's the Baseband Version?

• #10

@Proverbs2 it can be done with a computer, but non with the method listed above. It would take to exist done by a professional business that offers SIM unlocking, then it wouldn't be free. If you desire to have information technology done, don't practise whatever more than software updates until after information technology's unlocked

• #11

@Proverbs2 information technology tin can be washed with a computer, simply not with the method listed above. It would accept to exist done past a professional business that offers SIM unlocking, then information technology wouldn't be free. If you want to have it done, don't practice any more software updates until subsequently it's unlocked

Thank you! I tried paying a service to unlock it already, only they were unable to unlock information technology and refunded my money. I unlocked the bootloader and rooted the phone earlier getting the sim unlocked, unfortunately, so none of the usual methods seem to piece of work.

• #12

Thanks! I tried paying a service to unlock information technology already, but they were unable to unlock it and refunded my money. I unlocked the bootloader and rooted the phone before getting the sim unlocked, unfortunately, so none of the usual methods seem to work.

Yep and then you lot're screwed. It can't washed if Knox is tripped

• #13

Thanks for the guide! Is there any chance this process might also work on other phones? I have a Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro that I've been trying to unlock for months. I've called Verizon many times, and they claim they already unlocked it, but when I put another sim in I yet get the message "Lamentable, your device can't be activated on some other carrier'southward network right at present. For help, contact Verizon at (800) 922-0204 or (888) 294-6804 (prepaid plans)."

Hmm I take non tried information technology, but, in all reality, I used this exact same method YEARS ago on my S7 Edge and it worked then. I accept not tried it on some other Samsung but I'd imagine annihilation other so the newest flagship would probably be quite simple to fix every bit there should already plenty of resources available via Github and such. If yous take it on let me know, I'll practice what I can to assist.
If you lot want to test it out on your device, i run into no reason why it shouldnt piece of work if washed correctly, merely you may take to play with the order in which you interrupt the bootloader and force the update. Even if you lot have tripped Knox, there is indeed a way to completely disable Knox all together and not go locked out of the device. I did information technology on the S21 that I unlocked when I was mucking about on the telephone. But that's an entire different tutorial and I'd demand people to test it on other Samsung devices. But I'd be happy to share that besides if y'all'd like.

• #14

Thanks! I tried paying a service to unlock it already, but they were unable to unlock information technology and refunded my money. I unlocked the bootloader and rooted the phone before getting the sim unlocked, unfortunately, and then none of the usual methods seem to piece of work.

Is it still unlocked and rooted? That would make life another easier. Nosotros can repair the IMEI, baseband etc. It's worth a get if the phones just a paper weight right now imo. But ultimately up to you lot.

• #15

Hmm I accept not tried it, only, in all reality, I used this exact same method YEARS ago on my S7 Edge and it worked then. I take non tried it on another Samsung but I'd imagine anything other so the newest flagship would probably be quite uncomplicated to set every bit there should already plenty of resources bachelor via Github and such. If you accept it on let me know, I'll do what I can to help.
If yous want to test it out on your device, i see no reason why it shouldnt work if done correctly, but you may have to play with the guild in which you interrupt the bootloader and force the update. Even if you have tripped Knox, there is indeed a way to completely disable Knox all together and non get locked out of the device. I did it on the S21 that I unlocked when I was mucking almost on the phone. But that'southward an unabridged different tutorial and I'd need people to test it on other Samsung devices. But I'd exist happy to share that too if yous'd like.

Thank you! I'll give information technology a endeavor and study how it goes.

• #16

Good luck! Worst example, look up a program chosen "Samsung TFT Module", just be certain to scan it for viruses and bad lawmaking if yous accept the ability.unless you are able to find the 2022 update of information technology, yous'll have to settle for whatever version is bachelor. It'll likely be erstwhile, clunky and out-of-date, half the program defunct, simply a few key parts still piece of work, and quite well. Don't forget ADB drivers. Let us know how it goes!

Thank you! I'll requite information technology a try and written report how it goes.

• #17

Ok, I tried to follow each step carefully, only I had to make one modest modify to the procedure: after flashing the U1_XAA firmware, I had to power off the telephone in club to insert the SIM card. (In the XCover Pro, the SIM card slot is obstructed past the battery, so there is no way to insert the card without powering off the phone and removing the battery.) Later on inserting the bill of fare, I booted direct into recovery and followed the other steps from there.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for me: the telephone is still locked, showing the same message: "Sorry, your device can't exist activated on another carrier's network..." Perhaps that's because I wasn't able to perform that ane disquisitional step, inserting the sim card while the phone is turned on. Whatever suggestions for a workaround?

• #18

Take you tried doing a normal reboot and forcing into recovery first, wipe cache, manufacturing plant reset, reboot to Bootloader, then before full kick force into download mode with your SIM from the carrier you lot want to go to already inserted and downloading the "U" Firmware for the carrier yous want and flashing information technology? What does Odin and/or your Baseband in settings say later on doing above e procedure?

Aye, I followed the guide. The problem is that when I'yard on U1 my telephone doesn't ask me to reboot.

Last edited: February 11, 2022

• #19

Hello. I did all on VZW SQU3AUDB phone. Did all steps.
I have question. But in first start after stride 3 (i flash G998U VZW) i meet: Lamentable, your devic.... verizon bulletin

STEP3: Now information technology's fourth dimension to flash the ROM/Firmware from the carrier you wish to utilize

Information technology min - i need to flash not VZW ROM? some other? I need to utilize Ukrainia operator sim. Or i demand wink G998W or else?

tin can someone help me?

Last edited: Feb 11, 2022

• #20

Does my bootloader need to be unlocked

Similar threads

Source: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/carrier-sim-unlock-galaxy-s21-ultra-5g-sm-g998u-u1-qualcomm-snapdragon-usa-canada-no-root-free.4399585/

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