guide to flashing.
disclaimer: proceed at your own risk, no one but u is responsible if your phone is damaged
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===============>Flashing Samsung FW to make the phone versatile=================>
===============>After the flash, my phone worked on VZ==========================>
Credit goes to @Larsion from this thread and also "gti" from Galaxy A54 topic for step by step instruction. U can only brick the phone if flashing process get shut off in middle or flashing incorrect firmware. As i ran my and it fairly straightforward, u shouldn't have any problem.\
Highly recommend you do these steps before flashing :
- Remove any sim cards
- Do a factory reset after removing simcards.
Enable developer mode/usb-debugging
u will need 2 files,
1. is the firmware which is here. Which is also the one i used for my S21 FE as factory unlock firmware: https://samfw.com/firmware/SM-G990U3/XAA
Select the latest version
2. will be Patched ODIN from here: https://xdaforums.com/t/patched-o...1.3762572/
Get the last file named "Odin3 v3.14.1_3B_PatcheD.zip".
Extract both files: FW files, remove the extension (the extension ends with "5").
Make sure ODIN runs as administrator (I used admin mode but the video below does not seems to use)
Enabling ur S21 FE USB debugging in developer setting. (Setting > about phone > software info > tap "Build number" 7 times). Then turn off the phone. After that, hold up+down volume button and press power button (or just connect the cable to the PC to power on) to boot into download mode
The two videos below doesn't seem to be working anymore - search and find another.
The rest can be found in this video which is pretty much change the firmware folder file extension, toss them into ODIN and click start
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v...san
or here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c...dro
It took 6mins to move the FW into the phone and reboot.
And few more minutes to boot into the new FW for the first time.
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THIS PHONE CANNOT BE UNLOCKED EARLY WITH EBAY CODES.
CANNOT BE USED ON TMOBILE OR OTHER CARRIERS UNTIL AFTER IT'S UNLOCKED.
NO HOTPSOT DATA included with the $40 metro plan
Check status of order:
https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/order-status
Handsets can go in and out of stock. If it only has "Find a Store" button with a new line it is out of stock for shipping. Keep checking.
To activate the phone, dial #686# to get the phone number assigned to you.
This deal is online only.
"Find a store" = temporarily out of stock for shipping.
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Answers to FAQ:
1. This is prepaid. No need to cancel. No credit check. No obligation. Don't sign up for autopay. Just stop paying. Most will pay the forced first monthly fee (with the initial order) and then stop paying. Service will automatically end. Sometimes, data continues to work (for free) for another month. YMMV.
2. Phones are locked to Metro ONLY for first 180 days and chances are slim to none that you can get them unlocked before 180 days to use on other carriers. (Unless you qualify for Army deployment exception as specified in the official unlock policy)
3. Phones will/should unlock after 180 days, even if you pay for only the first month at the time of purchase.
4. Ordering:
a. if the website says to find a store, that means the phone is temporarily OOS. Check again later.
b. order may not get through immediately. try again. try different browser.
c. no activation fee.
d. once u receive the package in mail....the Sim card is there, look in a brown/white bag that looks like packing material.
5. It is unclear if phone has to be in USA to unlock.
6. During first 30 days, make sure you activate the phone properly and make a call every 5-10 days.
a. It is possible that those folks who did not get their unlock in 180 days, never fully activated their phone.
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To have the phone unlock automatically in 180 days (6 months)
You need to have activated the phone 180 days ago.
You do not. repeat do NOT have to pay for service for 180 days.
The above has been true for most every Metro deal in the past. Both apple and Android.
Most people get the 1 month service. Then simply place phone in a drawer [or use as wi fi device]. Wait 6 months.
The sim can be left in the phone or stored safely.
It does not matter, as long as you DO NOT THROW AWAY THE SIM until you get a confirmed unlock
Phone should/will unlock in ~180 days + 6 -10 days.
Best chance of success as follows:
During the ~6-month wait.
YOU can use as a wifi device.
Keep sim in the phone.
When getting near the 180 days, have your phone connected to wi-fi.
Try to unlock the device, once 1-2 days from day 180 onwards.
- None of us knows when Metro is going to close this unofficial loophole, .
-However this has been in effect with Metro phone deals for the last ~4-5 years.
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https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/t...olicy.html
Please read the OFFICIAL Metro by Tmobile unlock policy.
"Once a device becomes eligible for unlocking (eligibility requirements are described below), Metro by T-Mobile will automatically and remotely unlock the device within two business days if the device supports remote unlock."
Unlock eligibility requirements
"We unlock mobile devices that meet the following eligibility criteria free of charge:
The device must be purchased from Metro by T-Mobile.
The device must not be reported as lost, stolen or blocked.
One hundred eighty (180) days must have passed since the device's activation date."
{180 days since activation. no mention of payment requirement during those 180 days}
Countless number of people have reported.
Both iphone + Android have auto unlocked ~180 days from purchase.
Even when paying for ONLY 1 month of service.
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How to activate:
In your shipment confirmation email, there's a link on the bottom that says track your status "here".
Click on that link, enter your order number and zip, it will show you shipment progress. At the very bottom of that page, there's a spot that says activate service. Just click on that and it will populate the phone number and activate the sim.
How to activate and avoid some common issues:
the URL:https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/order-status
- after you placed your order and received order confirmation email (subject should be We've received your Metro order!), you should be able to start tracking order and delivery status at the above URL
- once you received your phone, insert sim and power up the phone. for the initial phone software setup (not activation), I connected phone to wifi and skipped all of the google things so phone would say I'm only XX% through setup which doesn't really matter. I didn't have to download any app either. before next step I'm already at phone's "desktop" without google account or phone maker (ex. moto) account on the phone
- on your PC or whatever device you know website access would work, go to the same above URL
- enter your order info to track your order
- after page loaded the tracking info, scroll to the bottom and click on the button to start activate your phone/sim. go through the activation process which would setup an Metro online account if you don't already have one. make sure your phone is already powered up with sim inserted before you start the activation process!
- you should be able to do calls and texts if activation went through properly. I have both working within less than a minute where phone shows 5G UC icon and both wifi calling & VoLTE registered for Metro by T-Mobile. you should receive an email with subject You did it! Your phone is active within 24 hours. the email with subject Ready. Set. Activate will come some time later as well. I received both emails one day after I had already activated and started using the phone with full services
ALTERNATE method to activate your new phone
1. Use the order status page and enter the order# and zip, below the status is a link to activate.
2. Once you click this, you will see your new phone#.
3. Login to your account with your new phone# and the pin you created when creating the order
4. OTP is sent to the phone that is not yet setup - LOL
5. Setup the new phone
6. Repeat #3 and this time you can get the OTP on your new phone
7. Login - confirm auto billing option is OFF
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Thanks, OP.
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A54 does have slightly better hardware. But the software downgrade remains.
So for people who are thinking A54 is mostly the same thing. It isn't. If you just want to save money ($30 if they don't waive activation fees) it is fine, but do not expect the same experience as S21FE.
There are other manufacturers' mid-tier phones that don't struggle although having similar mid-range hardware.
The S21FE in particular does not have dual physical SIM or eSIM in the US. I'm not sure about the A54. The A53 did not have dual physical SIM or eSIM in the US, but I would not be surprised it to be added this year because iPhone SE had it since forever. But the key is to check reviews for US variants only.
The S21FE in particular does not have dual physical SIM or eSIM in the US. I'm not sure about the A54. The A53 did not have dual physical SIM or eSIM in the US, but I would not be surprised it to be added this year because iPhone SE had it since forever. But the key is to check reviews for US variants only.
But not sure about the carrier version, they usually block the dual sim function to save cost?
US modal blocked the SD card slot for 2nd SIM, so only can use it as SD card. I wonder why the rest of the world get dual physical sim and US only got 1 physical sim. Same as S series, over seas modal all have dual physicals sims but US modal has to use eSIM for dual sim setup.
Samsung's dual sim settings menu on US variant is weird too compare to oversea markets, can't choose individual sim for text/call/data, only primary and secondary.
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EDIT: Update to add that I checked a few more phones and did find a couple that showed the Add to Cart button. I guess they just happen to have quite a few out of stock online now.
The carriers definitely also disable dual SIM functionality on locked phones to prevent you from using their subsidized phones with other carriers. Metro and Cricket especially. Dual SIM promotes using services from other carriers.
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