FIELD NOTES / Android
Sending your phone for NetHunter preparation: a practical checklist
What to record, back up and agree before sending an existing Android phone for preparation, plus what to keep when it comes back.
A customer-owned NetHunter preparation service turns an eligible phone you already have into a portable environment for Linux security tools. It can make sense when your handset suits the work you want to do and you do not need to buy another one. The service price covers the agreed preparation; it does not include replacement hardware.
The most useful preparation happens before you post the phone: identify the exact device, establish the intended configuration and make sure your personal data can survive an installation that may erase it. Use this checklist alongside the current order terms and your written sending instructions.
Record the phone you actually own
Collect the model identifier, regional or carrier variant, current Android version and ROM/build number. If it is already modified, include the root method and kernel information you have. A retail family name or a photo of the back cover may leave important details unresolved.
For Full NetHunter, the official kernel registry is the starting point for matching the software reference to the device. For an installation decision, give the preparer your current configuration too. Do not install a different ROM simply to make your details look closer to a catalogue entry.
Include a short description of what you need: named applications, any external adapter and a particular feature that matters to your lab. If you are unsure which edition suits that brief, read the NetHunter editions guide before selecting a build.
Back up for recovery, not just for a tick box
Android’s bootloader documentation specifies a data reset during unlocking. Preparation may therefore remove the data currently on your phone. Treat the backup as something you need to recover from independently, rather than assume the device will come back with personal applications unchanged.
Google’s Android backup guidance notes that restoration varies with phone and Android version, and that a backup from a newer Android version cannot be restored onto an older one. That matters if the agreed configuration uses a different Android release.
Make your own list of what must remain available: photos, documents, contacts, messages, authenticator access and any application-specific exports. Check the relevant application’s backup method. Open a sample of copied files on another device and make sure you can still access the accounts you will need while the phone is away. Keep recovery material private.
Agree the work before packing
| Item to agree | What a clear record contains |
|---|---|
| Device | Exact model and any condition issue already present |
| Software | Chosen edition and, for Full NetHunter, the intended ROM/kernel configuration |
| Scope | Applications and any specifically agreed peripheral checks |
| Hardware | Whether you are sending only the handset or any agreed accessory |
| Timing | When work can begin and the separate preparation and return-delivery estimates |
| Return route | Confirmed return address and service reference |
If the exact configuration cannot be agreed, settle that before sending. The current pent.shop service terms provide an eligibility check before work and a refund if we cannot prepare the agreed eligible configuration. Keep the written specification with your payment record.
Wait for the address and sending instructions
Do not post a phone to a registered-office address simply because it appears in a website footer. Contact us for the service reference and confirmed instructions first. Customer-owned preparation currently uses a UK return address; a kit containing one of these services follows that same restriction.
Remove SIM cards, memory cards and personal accounts where appropriate under the agreed instructions. Do not put passwords, recovery codes or account credentials in the checkout form. If an access issue needs resolving, discuss the appropriate process before shipment.
Use protective packaging and a tracked service, retain proof of sending and keep a record of the phone’s condition. The delivery page explains sending costs, included standard UK return delivery and when preparation time starts. Preparation and carrier transit are separate periods.
Keep the handover after the phone returns
Check that the device and configuration match your written order. Keep the supplied version information, instructions and any recorded limitations. Start with the agreed ordinary checks before adding your own packages or changing system software; that gives you a useful reference point.
Use the phone as a dedicated working tool and retain independent copies of important project files. When asking for support, provide the order reference, current build and the first clear symptom. The Full NetHunter preparation catalogue and Lite preparation listing explain the available service routes; choose hardware-included products if you also need the handset.
Sources and further reading
Project documentation checked for this article on 12 September 2026. Software and hardware requirements can change; use the linked project references for your exact configuration. How we prepare these articles.
