TCL Flip (4G) Guide for Codes & Loading Apps

Dear friends, after a ton of research and contact with experts in the field of rooting android flip phones such as the TCL Flip, I've compiled some resources to get people started on making this 4G dumbphone an absolute beast!

Codes These codes work on all models of the TCL Flip and TCL Flip 2 (I am currently using the 4058E):

Enable adb: *#*#DEBUG#*#* (*#*#33284#*#*)
Launcher list all apps: *#*#217703#*#*
barometer calibration: *#*#1013#*#*
carrier choose: *#*#22384#*#*
testing settings *#*#73884647#*#* (Seems to do nothing unless on a particular network?)
Enable APN editing: *#*#9663223#*#*

Enable Dev Mode

(There is an adb command to enable devmode on it but I can't find it right now but I do know it is on the apps4flip forum where it mentions how to do it https://forums.apps4flip.com/)

Install Apks Unfortunately ADB installation of APK's don't work on this device as some internal setting prohibits it. The only way to enable ADB installation and APK support is by rooting it. The device denies apk installs without flashing the modified boot.img with magisk because it checks a system property that you cannot set without root access.

so there are 2 ways to go about doing this, you can use Darth's method or NeutronScott's method

Darths method - https://forums.apps4flip.com/d/693-instructions-for-installing-a-kosher-rom-on-tcl-flip2classic-t408dl

NeutronScott's method - https://github.com/neutronscott/flip2/wiki

Once the phone is in fastboot mode you run fastboot flashing unlock on your command prompt (from adb directory). Make sure the neutron img is in the adb folder that you are running command prompt from (or it can be somewhere else you would just need to add the path to the img in the next command). Once its unlocked you run fastboot flash boot neutron.img again from command prompt. then you run fastboot reboot. once the phone is rebooted you can install apps via adb. I encourage you to introduce yourself in the thread https://forums.apps4flip.com/d/596-alcatel-tcl-flip-2-t408dl/. Darth has made a guide, but you may have already found that. I believe lgexhalter1 is working on a fool-proof script to flash.

Disclaimer and risks in flashing the device A "soft brick" can be repaired but there is the possibility of a hard brick. As far as I know, no one has found a hardware way to enter the preloader to reflash so we are dependent on the bootloader to enter fastboot. It's unlikely to brick if you don't flash over bootloader/security partitions. You can mess with super/system, recovery, and boot without worries. The "boot.img" is actually after the bootloader. I think it's fairly safe but it's your risk to accept.

Credits All credits from this post goes to Darth from the 'Apps4flip' forum and NeutronScott.