[SOLVED] Upgrading Galaxy S5 G900A (AT&T variant) to Lollipop

[hmir]

Hi guys,

I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 AT&T variant running Android 4.4.2. I am not in the US, and I do not have an AT&T sim so I cannot upgrade it to Android 5 Lollipop over the air.

I have searched all over the internet and also on this forum, and I'm very confused because I've read some conflicting reports on the upgrade path for this device.

Some articles mention I need to upgrade to android 4.4.4 before I can upgrade to android 5. Others do not.

My bootloader is not rooted, nor do I want to root it. I mention this because I have read in multiple places the rooting the G900A is a huge pain in the ass, and also that once you upgrade, Lollipop's bootloader cannot be rooted.

http://hmir.sdf.org/android.png

I have attached a screenshot of the baseband, kernel and build information. I would be eternally grateful if you could help me with this upgrade.

Mir

 

[murtaza12]

[MENTION=24445]hmir[/MENTION]

The lollipop update for the 900A is trash. Poor battery life, terrible performance and it feels like you're using one of those 5k budget phones.

The Marshmallow update for the GS5 is available, and has much better performance than 5.0, so I'd suggest you flash that instead.

Keep in mind neither Lollipop nor Marshmallow can be rooted so if you want to stay rooted, you may want to stay on KitKat.

The link to the full Marshmallow Stock ROM is here and can be flashed via Odin:

G900A_G900AUCS4DQD1_ATT_USA_v6.0.1_IMEIAUTHORITY.COM.zip | by imeiauthority.com for Generic Device/Other

Sent from my SM-G955F

 

[hmir]

@hmir

The lollipop update for the 900A is trash. Poor battery life, terrible performance and it feels like you're using one of those 5k budget phones.

The Marshmallow update for the GS5 is available, and has much better performance than 5.0, so I'd suggest you flash that instead.

Keep in mind neither Lollipop nor Marshmallow can be rooted so if you want to stay rooted, you may want to stay on KitKat.

The link to the full Marshmallow Stock ROM is here and can be flashed via Odin:

G900A_G900AUCS4DQD1_ATT_USA_v6.0.1_IMEIAUTHORITY.COM.zip | by imeiauthority.com for Generic Device/Other

Sent from my SM-G955F

As mentioned in my original post, I'm not fussed about rooting the bootloader.

I have two questions regarding the marshmellow update.

a) Can I upgrade to it directly from Android 4.4.2?
b) Can I make a full backup of my current rom/system (4.4.2 Stock ROM) before I do it, and will I be able to revert back to it?

Edit; Actually I have another question. Once the Marshmallow ROM is installed, what happens when I do a full hardware factory reset? Does it go back to 4.4.2? or does it just reset the Marshmallow ROM?

 

[murtaza12]

As mentioned in my original post, I'm not fussed about rooting the bootloader.

I have two questions regarding the marshmellow update.

a) Can I upgrade to it directly from Android 4.4.2?
b) Can I make a full backup of my current rom/system before I do it, and will I be able to revert back to it?

If root isn't an issue then by all means flash the Marshmallow ROM.

1) Yes if you flash the ROM using Odin, you can upgrade directly from 4.4.2 since the full ROM upgrades everything, bootloader, recovery, system and modem.

2) No. There won't be any issues, you won't need to.
If you want to downgrade because of performance issues (if any), then even that isn't possible as Samsung has bootloader downgrade protection implemented.

Sent from my SM-G955F

 

[hmir]

If you want to downgrade because of performance issues (if any), then even that isn't possible as Samsung has bootloader downgrade protection implemented.

Sent from my SM-G955F

So to confirm, once I upgrade to Marshmallow, there is no going back to 4.4.2?

 

[murtaza12]

So to confirm, once I upgrade to Marshmallow, there is no going back to 4.4.2?

As far as I know, there is absolutely no way.
Once you upgrade, it's permanent. Samsung isn't too fond of downgrading because it opens the phone to some vulnerabilities that may have been patched in the version of software you're trying to downgrade from.

Sent from my SM-G955F

 

[Bazal]

If your Variant has official Marshmallow and you just can't update coz of not having Atnt Sim, just remove the sim and update it. Cheers!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[hmir]

As far as I know, there is absolutely no way.
Once you upgrade, it's permanent. Samsung isn't too fond of downgrading because it opens the phone to some vulnerabilities that may have been patched in the version of software you're trying to downgrade from.

Sent from my SM-G955F

Hey,

Replying to this thread after a long time. I've decided to move up to Marshmallow because I really need to change simple things like the dialer app for example. Could you please link me to a step by step guide for updating to marshamallow? I have already downloaded the Zip file.

I need the latest version of Odin. Do I also need Kies?

 

[murtaza12]

Hey,

Replying to this thread after a long time. I've decided to move up to Marshmallow because I really need to change simple things like the dialer app for example. Could you please link me to a step by step guide for updating to marshamallow? I have already downloaded the Zip file.

I need the latest version of Odin. Do I also need Kies?

NO. Kies will interfere with the process, don't install it at all.

Odin is only required.

Inside the ZIP file, are there 4 separate files or 1 extremely large file?

 

[hmir]

NO. Kies will interfere with the process, don't install it at all.

Odin is only required.

Inside the ZIP file, are there 4 separate files or 1 extremely large file?

Do I not require the USB drivers? See here Android USB Driver for Windows | SAMSUNG Developers


Also, my phone does not need to be rooted or bootloader unlocked for this method, correct?



Edit: I have downloaded the latest version of Odin 3.12.3 from Samsung Odin - Root Android download page for one click root

 

[murtaza12]

Do I not require the USB drivers? See here Android USB Driver for Windows | SAMSUNG Developers


Also, my phone does not need to be rooted or bootloader unlocked for this method, correct?



Edit: I have downloaded the latest version of Odin 3.12.3 from Samsung Odin - Root Android download page for one click root

The drivers will be installed when you connect your phone in Download Mode.

Odin 3.12 is fine, and no, neither root, nor unlocked bootloader are required because it's a signed Samsung file and it doesn't void warranty so it flashes like a normal software update.

 

[hmir]

The drivers will be installed when you connect your phone in Download Mode.

Odin 3.12 is fine, and no, neither root, nor unlocked bootloader are required because it's a signed Samsung file and it doesn't void warranty so it flashes like a normal software update.

The one thing that bothers me is that I believe the notification area has a white background instead of a darker background like I have on 4.4.2. Is this true? If true, can this be changed? I ask because I have poor vision and the white background stuff just really hurts my eyes, and I can't see anything.

 

[murtaza12]

The one thing that bothers me is that I believe the notification area has a white background instead of a darker background like I have on 4.4.2. Is this true? If true, can this be changed? I ask because I have poor vision and the white background stuff just really hurts my eyes, and I can't see anything.

It changes to blue and green.

Something like this. ^

 

[hmir]

It changes to blue and green.



Something like this. ^

Oh, okay, well that is the same colour combination I have on 4.4.2. It's okay for my eyes, at least it isn't a white background. Thanks for the screenshot. Is the settings page dark background as well like it is on 4.4.2.? See image below.

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

 

[murtaza12]

Oh, okay, well that is the same colour combination I have on 4.4.2. It's okay for my eyes, at least it isn't a white background. Thanks for the screenshot. Is the settings page dark background as well like it is on 4.4.2.? See image below.

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

No it isn't.

Unfortunately, after the Lollipop update, it's white everywhere.
Settings, phone dialer, messages, contacts and all SystemUI elements are white and blue.

And the iteration of TouchWiz on the S5 does not have theme support so you can't change it to black either.

 

[hmir]

it's white everywhere.
Settings, phone dialer,

With 4.4.2 you cannot change the dialer. Can you set the default dialer to something else like ExDialer? Wih 4.4.2 you can install the dialer, but it won't set as default dialer, and even if you use exdialer to make a call, it automatically swittches to the at&t defaut dialer.

 

[murtaza12]

With 4.4.2 you cannot change the dialer. Can you set the default dialer to something else like ExDialer? Wih 4.4.2 you can install the dialer, but it won't set as default dialer, and even if you use exdialer to make a call, it automatically swittches to the at&t defaut dialer.

Yes, in 6.0.1, you can set default apps.

It'll be under Settings > Default Applications
Or
Settings > Applications > *3 dot menu* > Default Applications

 

[hmir]

Yes, in 6.0.1, you can set default apps.

It'll be under Settings > Default Applications
Or
Settings > Applications > *3 dot menu* > Default Applications

Just to clarify, you can set default applications in 4.4.2 as well. For example I have Textra as m default messaging app. I have nova launcher as my default launcher. The problem is with the dialer. You cannot change the default at&t dialer. Did you not experience this issue when you were using 4.4.2?

 

[murtaza12]

Just to clarify, you can set default applications in 4.4.2 as well. For example I have Textra as m default messaging app. I have nova launcher as my default launcher. The problem is with the dialer. You cannot change the default at&t dialer. Did you not experience this issue when you were using 4.4.2?

I never had the AT&T S5, mine was the G900F international model so I used the stock dialer.
But if you're referring to the incall UI, that can not be changed at all.
Regardless of what android version you have.

 

[hmir]

I never had the AT&T S5, mine was the G900F international model so I used the stock dialer.
But if you're referring to the incall UI, that can not be changed at all.
Regardless of what android version you have.

I meant the default phone dialer app, which just wouldn't change from the default to another installed application such as Exdialer.

So after installing Exdialer, I could not set it as the default phone dialer app. And when I opened the application and dialed a number, as soon as I hit the button to make the call, it switches to the default phone dialer app instead.

Anything other type of application (such as messaging app or launcher or etc) I did not have a problem with changing from it's default app to some custom installed app.