UMIDIGI F1, F1 Play and S3 Pro: Repair IMEIs, MEID and Google certificate

bencebacsi

UMIDIGI F1, F1 Play and S3 Pro: Repair IMEIs, MEID and Google certificate

after full flash format or flashing an incompatible or badly assembled custom ROM

Updated: 2021, September 24

This guide is about how to repair your lost IMEI numbers and Google certificate on UMIDIGI F1, F1 Play and S3 Pro with a special version of MediaTek SN Writer tool, using a PC running Windows 10 OS with administrator rights.
Please note: By formatting the flash chip of your UMIDIGI device or installing a non-factory system software (''custom ROM'') on it, you instantly lose both your manufacturer's and seller's warranty. Therefore, the solution provided here does not offer further support, regardless of you are able to successfully use it or not.







What you need:

• Modify Windows hosts settings
• VCOM drivers: Windows 10 can automatically install it. Please make sure that your Windows is logged in with administrator rights and your computer has a working internet connection when first time connecting your phone.
• SN Writer TEE Tool with vturkey tool - Select the version that fits your phone:
  

F1 and F1 Play EU: SNWrier_1828-4.0.0-vturkey_F1_EEA.rar
F1 and F1 Play non EU: SNWrier_1828-4.0.0-vturkey_F1_nonEEA.rar
S3 Pro EU: SNWrier_1828-4.0.0-vturkey_S3Pro_EEA.rar
S3 Pro non EU: SNWrier_1828-4.0.0-vturkey_S3Pro_nonEEA.rar

EU versions:

Dual circle home button

Non EU versions:

Single circle home button


Let's get started step by step
(the driver installation process will be skipped in this tutorial since a Windows 10 PC connected to the internet can automatically install the compatible drivers)
You have to power off your phone before Step 8.!

• Brows for the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts file and open it in a text editor.
  Add 116.62.230.138 pl.trustkernel.com to the end of the list of hosts, then save the hosts file. If you are not allowed to save it locally, first save it in an other location, then copy the new one by overwriting the original file.
  
  
• Extract and open the folder of SNWrier_1828-4.0.0-vturkey, then open the application by double clicking SN Writer.exe.
  
  
• Click the System Config button, then select all items that you can see checkmarked below.
  
  You may uncheck the IMEI and MEID Options and keep only one item (as your choice) selected in the Write Options if your only target is to recover your Google certificate.
  
  
• Click the Save button.
  
  
• Enable AutoGen as shown on the picture below, then select the same items you selected on the System Config page except IMEI, since you need to enter your original IMEIs and MEID manually. (BT and Wifi addresses will be auto generated)
  
  .
  .
• Click the Start button.
  
  
  
• In the pop-up window, enter your original(!) IMEI_1, IMEI_2 and MEID numbers, then click OK.
  
  .
  .
• Connect your (powered off) phone to USB, without pressing any buton.
  The writing process will start automatically while your phone is switching into META mode.
  
  Troubleshooting: If the process gets stuck at this point what the screenshot shows above (Start searching kernel...), disconnect the USB cable for a few seconds, then reconnect it and the process will continue. If the flashing process still fails, start again the flashing but leave your phone connected. Press and hold the power button until the flashing process starts, then release it.
  
  
  
• After the writing process finished, you get the following screen, reporting the successful operation, and your phone automatically switches into charging mode.
  

Now you are DONE and may power on your phone.
Congratulations!


In case of a bad connection, not properly installed drivers or if something other trouble happens, you get the following screen.

Check your USB cable, use another USB port, when the phone switched to META mode, check your Windows device manager to see if a new serial port is correctly installed.

After reboot your phone, check the new IMEI and MEID numbers in Settings --> System --> Advanced --> About phone.


All the screenshots are captured and the guide is written by me for UMIDIGI users. Unauthorized copy of this content is prohibited. Please let me know if you find errors or missing info.
Thank you, bencebacsi

bencebacsi

kp25 replied at 2020-2-9 20:01
has anyone found a solution yet

This tutorial has been updated, please check it again. You need to edit the Windows hosts file.

basketmind

THANK YOU for this thread.
I tried it about ten times and it didn't work.
Always got this annoying "TEE PL failed with -19"-message (like others here too). Don't know what this means. But then I looked for another SN-Writer-version and so I installed the latest one (v1.1916.00) and SURPRISE...suddenly it worked and I could read "PASS", yeah.
Now I can see my real IMEI again on my phone but the red annoying Tee and Google text is still on my screen.
Asking myself if it's due to missing one number in my MEID (it just has 14 instead of 15 numbers because you just can insert 14 with SN-Writer).

So next step: Get rid off this horrible big letters and don't stop trying...
Wish me luck! ;)

Cristallx

Put only the first 14 characters in. The 15 character is a check digit and you don't need to put in. Later when you restored you MEID you gonna see you have again the same 15 characters.

lost_youth

Hello. before, I could manage to change IMEI by secret codes such as *#*#08#*#* . but I can't change on my new F1 Play ( non eu version ). This secret code works out,it opens the page where I can write down the IMEI numbers.  but although I save and it says that it succesfully change the IMEI, it doesn't change in fact. Do you know any other way for F1 play to change IMEI without programme but through secret codes?

Veiran

Worked perfectly! Thank you again, Bencebacsi!

DiUst

matmat13 replied at 2019-4-21 11:25
Hello it don't work there is an error

Log : \\SNWrier_1828-4.0.0-vturkey\tee_stuff\kph_log\kph.log

Support, I have this error too. Want help, please

DiUst

Problem solved

matmat13

DiUst replied at 2019-4-22 14:49
Edited by DiUst at 2019-4-23 01:03  

Problem solved

Hello how did you solve the problem please ??

matmat13

Ok thanks I will try ;)

matmat13

Yes it works with ROM V1.0_20190130

after you can upgrade normally ...

Luna4

Hello everyone, I read in other forums that you can suppress the message of "unloked" in the UMIDIGI F1 after unlocking the Bootloader.
My question is this, If it is true that such a tool exists and I believe that if it exists, someone can provide me the link to download it.
I would also be interested to know if eliminating that message has other consequences.
Thanks for your help.

bayker

I have a F1 Play and after restoring the imei numbers with the standart SN Writer, I have a red warning text on the upper corner of the screen. I tried the special vturkey version of the SN Writer but it gives "TEE PL Failed with -19" error. People mentioned that F1 (not Play) 2019013016 rom works with vturkey, so I copied the tee.img file and flashed from that rom. This time vturkey worked and showed green color but fingerprint sensor stopped working since F1 and F1 Play probably have different sensors. Also the red text did not disappear even after some time waiting. So I switched back to the original tee.img  of the F1 Play, fingerprint sensor is working again but the red text is still on my screen. Any help is appreciated.

bayker

I solved the problem with Umidigi F1 Play, IMEI and Certificates. Here are the steps I followed:

1) F1 Play roms and some later F1 roms do not work with the special version of the SN Writer program (vturkey version) mentioned in the first post. As some other people reported before, you have to use F1 (not Play) rom version 2019013016 (even for F1 Play).

2)Download the F1 version 2019013016 ROM and for F1 Play users download also a F1 Play ROM. I used 2019042520 F1 Play version.

3) F1 users can neglect this step and directly flash 2019013016 ROM from SP Flash tools as normal. F1 Play owners must do a trick. Open SP flash tools and select the scatter file for the F1 Play ROM that you downloaded and extracted previously. In my case this was 2019042520 F1 Play ROM. But since this rom does not work with SN writer, we will replace the contents from the F1 2019013016 ROM. To do that, keep the preloader of the 2019042520 F1 Play ROM the same, we will not change this. Replace all other files from the F1 2019013016 ROM. You can click the location section in SP flash tools and browse to the F1 version 2019013016 ROM folder and select the appropriate file. Then flash as you normally do. Switch to download mode and plug the phone while you are pressing the upper volume key.

4) After flashing the rom turn on the phone and do the initial android setup. I did not turn on wifi initially and skipped steps. But I created a fingerprint (I am not sure this was necessary). After seeing the android home screen, I entered my wifi password and connected (again I am not sure this was necessary). I also entered my google account. At this point a rom update may be downloaded, just cancel it. The red ugly warning text will be there, do not worry. The back camera and some other things may not work but do not worry this is normal for F1 Play owners since we are essentially using a F1 Rom. We will flash a F1 Play Rom later. After waiting few minutes I turned off my phone.

5) Now we can start with SN Writer (vturkey) special version. Download it from the link in the first post of this thread. Extract and follow the steps described in the first post. Select your IMEI, MEID etc. Press upper volume button for a few seconds and release while connecting the usb cable. After the steps, this time you will see the green text.

6) Turn on the phone. The ugly red warning text should have gone. Well done! Turn off the phone if you are F1 Play owner.

7) For F1 Play users, you have to download and flash a recent F1 Play ROM as you normally do as a last step. You can use the F1 Play rom that you previously downloaded (in my case this was 2019042520 version). Flash it and enjoy your phone!