Parallel imported Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, no software updates

[mustang7757]

Right, so I'm back here:

Latest Samsung Galaxy S20 firmware

Download the latest Samsung firmware for Galaxy S20 with model code SM-G980F. Check out our free download or super fast premium options.

www.sammobile.com

All the firmwares seem to be locked to a carrier though, there's no "Samsung" one or anything like that.
I did find firmwares for the A41 in the end ( https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-a41/firmware/ ) but they're all for European countries, even though I did read the A41 was meant to be released in the US; maybe it's wasn't?

Out of interest, this is what my A41 says (if anyone (Mustang?) feels like translating what ROM it's using I'd be grateful )

View attachment 364053
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View attachment 364054

The "Service provider software version" is - I think - the relevant part here...am I right?

This is international version and UK device unbranded

 

[TheEdge76]

Oh that explains it then. I guess there's no international/unbranded version for my handset then, is there? (sorry if that's a dumb question or been answered previously).

 

[mustang7757]

Oh that explains it then. I guess there's no international/unbranded version for my handset then, is there? (sorry if that's a dumb question or been answered previously).

I think your version can be flashed to other regions because the bootloader unlock , just be careful .
I haven't flashed a international but concept is exactly same as US version

 

[TheEdge76]

That's good-ish news by the sounds of it, thanks

I guess to take an analogy, I think of my current phone as being a region-locked DVD, but I'm playing it on a DVD player that plays all regions (and is region-unlocked). That's what I'd love to do with my S20.

Would be lovely if there was an Australian or NZ version of my firmware - that would be awesome! Short of asking anyone in NZ with an S20 what firmware their phone used, is there any way to find out what I could/should be looking for to try and get an NZ-equivalent version of firmware? Is that even possible?

 

[mustang7757]

That's good-ish news by the sounds of it, thanks

I guess to take an analogy, I think of my current phone as being a region-locked DVD, but I'm playing it on a DVD player that plays all regions (and is region-unlocked). That's what I'd love to do with my S20.

Would be lovely if there was an Australian or NZ version of my firmware - that would be awesome! Short of asking anyone in NZ with an S20 what firmware their phone used, is there any way to find out what I could/should be looking for to try and get an NZ-equivalent version of firmware? Is that even possible?

With the s20 on US only US firmware the international not compatible

 

[TheEdge76]

Oh that's not so good then.

In that case, is there any sort of app I could use to indicate what type of signal I'm getting (3G/4G/5G etc) and if I'm on wifi calling? If I can't do it with the normal phone setup maybe there's a third-party option then.

Otherwise, I'm going to try an unbranded XAA firmware on there and see how it goes
I found this page to give a good walkthrough of the process (for future generations that find this thread )

How to Use Odin to Flash Samsung Galaxy Stock Firmware

If you own a Samsung phone and enjoy rooting or modding your device, flashing official firmware can be very useful. Odin is Samsung's own internal program for loading such updates for testing purposes, and it's quite easy to use for your own custom modification needs.

android.gadgethacks.com

 

[TheEdge76]

Right, all done. I ended up going with this:

Download firmware updates for your Samsung mobile phone and tablet

Download the most recent firmware updates for your Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet for free. Browse our Samsung Galaxy firmware archive.

www.sammobile.com

However, still no network type in the top bar nor a Wifi calling indicator. However, as an experiment I tried turning on Bluetooth to see if that icon would appear, and it doesn't either! I would have thought that one would show up with any phone?

Is there a setting of some sort I'm missing? I'm used to having all these status icons in the top bar and it's a pain to not have them there.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Right, all done. I ended up going with this:

Download firmware updates for your Samsung mobile phone and tablet

Download the most recent firmware updates for your Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet for free. Browse our Samsung Galaxy firmware archive.

www.sammobile.com

However, still no network type in the top bar nor a Wifi calling indicator. However, as an experiment I tried turning on Bluetooth to see if that icon would appear, and it doesn't either! I would have thought that one would show up with any phone?

Is there a setting of some sort I'm missing? I'm used to having all these status icons in the top bar and it's a pain to not have them there.

Do you have Good Lock? If not then you can get it in Galaxy Store.

Open Good Lock, tap on Quick Star, tap on visibility of indicator icons, then select the ones you want to see.

 

[TheEdge76]

Thanks, great tip - I hadn't heard of this app before. I've installed it but sadly it's still missing the 4G or 5G (or wifi calling) indicators.

I did have another idea. If I could somehow roll back the firmware to the version installed when I walked out of the shop with it, then upgraded it gradually, would that work? Sort of like instead of going from Windows 95 to Windows 7, instead following a path of 95 > 98 > Me > XP > Vista > 7 (to use an analogy) - or would that eventually have the same result as I'm getting now?

 

[mustang7757]

I'm assuming something with the flash process didn't go well , did you do a one file flash to Odin or you used all 4 files from the firmware to the corresponding slot in Odin?

 

[TheEdge76]

I did the latter, all 4 at once - can that make a difference? I can redo it if possible (might need a quick guide on how to do it this way).

 

[mustang7757]

I did the latter, all 4 at once - can that make a difference? I can redo it if possible (might need a quick guide on how to do it this way).

You put each firmware that corresponding with Odin , so not the firmware in just AP?

 

[TheEdge76]

I think so...I can post a screenshot if that helps?

 

[mustang7757]

I think so...I can post a screenshot if that helps?

Yes please

 

[TheEdge76]

Will do so tonight after work (hello from Monday afternoon! )

 

[mustang7757]

Will do so tonight after work (hello from Monday afternoon! )

Sounds good

 

[mustang7757]

If you followed sammoble site to load all firmware into one slot AP that's wrong just so you know.

 

[TheEdge76]

If you followed sammoble site to load all firmware into one slot AP that's wrong just so you know.

Oh crap that sounds like exactly what I did - will post the screenshot when I can though so we can make sure I'm doing it properly. If I've missed a step then hopefully it's easy to resolve.

 

[mustang7757]

Oh crap that sounds like exactly what I did - will post the screenshot when I can though so we can make sure I'm doing it properly. If I've missed a step then hopefully it's easy to resolve.

Yeah sounds like it , ok no problem when you're ready.

 

[TheEdge76]

Right, here's how I've been doing it. I load up all these files here and then press Start and wait for it to finish and my phone to restart as well:

Is this correct or am I doing something wrong?