Flashing Samsung Android devices using the Odin program. Firmware for Samsung phones

You have one of the Galaxy Tab or Galaxy Note class tablets in your hands and you find out that the company has released an Android OS update for this device, but the smartphone does not react to this in any way, and no entry appears about the possibility of updating the operating system. Even checking manually in the “about tablet” section, which is located in the settings menu, does not produce results. Well, well, this happens. You can try to do the following: format the data of the Google Services Framework - the application responsible for updates, or no matter how trivial it may sound - flash the device yourself.

To delete Google Services Framework data, you need to open the settings menu of your tablet or smartphone and go to the “Applications” section, there is an “All” tab, in its list you should find this application and click on it. In the window that opens after this, click “Erase data”, and, of course, after that you need to restart the device.

If after this the device does not see the presence of OS updates, you need to update the Android version yourself.
What is needed for this?! That's what:

1) A personal computer with the Kies program, or rather with device drivers, which are usually installed along with this program.

2) Odin program. You can download it from this.

3) Actually the firmware itself for the tablet. It can be found and subsequently downloaded in the section. Be sure to register on it in order for the download to become available.

4) USB cable, which is needed to connect the device to the computer.

If everything listed above is available, you can proceed with the firmware.

It is important to remember that manual firmware may void the warranty on the device itself, and also that the developers of the Odin program and our website bear absolutely no responsibility for damage to the smartphone in the event of incorrect firmware.

Step-by-step instructions for flashing devices with an updated version of Android using the Odin program.

Preparatory stage for firmware:

1) Make sure your smartphone battery is charged at least 60%.
2) Disable all antivirus programs and applications on your PC.
3) Check if Kies is installed on your computer. Make sure it is not running. And the best thing is to simply end the program processes using the “Task Manager”.
4) If the Kies program is not installed, make sure that the company's USB drivers are installed on the PC to which the tablet will be connected.

Firmware process:

1. Disconnect the device from the PC, turn it off and restart it into download mode by simultaneously pressing the power key and the volume down rocker. When the bootloader menu appears, confirm by pressing the Volume Up button to enter the “Download” download mode.

2. Run the Odin program on your PC, and be sure to make sure that Auto Reboot and Reset Time are checked.

3. Connect your device to your PC.

4. The Odin program will fix your tablet and one of the ID:COM windows will turn into a separate color.

Thanks to the presence of a wide list of supporting software, firmware for a mobile phone or tablet becomes accessible to ordinary users. If you are going to install a new OS on a Samsung phone, then be sure to read the instructions for using the “One” program. What kind of software this is, how to use it and where to download it will be discussed below.

What is Odin and where to download it

Odin is a specialized utility that is used to flash the firmware of most Samsung smartphones and tablets. This is an official development created by programmers and engineers from Samsung, so its operation is completely safe if done correctly. There are 3 stable versions:

1.85 (for gadgets released before 2011);
3.07 (for models from 2011 to 2014);
3.10.6 (for devices 2014-2016).

For modern smartphones you can download the latest version. Please note that the software is provided in English. You can find the Russified “Odin” on the Internet, but its use is not recommended. There is a possibility of turning the gadget into a “brick”, so do not use modified versions from the developer.

You can download the utility from various forums and specialized sites. This resource provides a list of all versions for download. The program is included in a zip archive, so you will need an archiver on your computer to extract the installer. Remember that the software is only compatible with Samsung mobile gadgets running the Android operating system.

Types of firmware and where to download them for Samsung

Firmware for phones is divided into 2 groups: single-file and multi-file. As the name suggests, the former include everything you need in a single file. The latter with many components are practically never found, and can only be used in service centers. The extension for such files is .tar or tar.md5.

There are also official and custom ones. The latter are modified operating systems with added features or changes in design. They may come already with root rights. If you only need to return the gadget to working condition, use the official versions. Custom ones are suitable for advanced users.

You can download the axis on the Samsung support website or from the resources Find Firmware, Samsung Updates. Be sure to find out the full model of your smartphone to avoid installing an incompatible version.

Important rules for smartphone firmware

Before starting the procedure, you need to perform a number of important steps. First you need to install a USB driver on your computer/laptop. You can download it from various forums. An alternative option is to install the Kies program on your PC. This is official software from the developers that will automatically install all the necessary drivers.

If you do not have it, then you need to do the following:

After installing the drivers via Kies, the software must be completely disabled. Be sure to check through Task Manager that the process has been deleted. Next, it is recommended to take a backup of the EFS folder to avoid losing the IMEI. For additional security, write down the combination itself so that if it is lost, you can restore it.

Install Odin on your computer. The phone must be fully charged before starting the procedure. You will need a USB to microUSB cable to connect. It is advisable to use only the original one. We recommend flashing using a charged laptop or computer with an uninterruptible power supply. A power outage during the procedure can end extremely sadly. Also, the files must be located in a path that does not contain Russian letters. We recommend placing them directly on drive C or D.

If your smartphone is in working condition, make a backup copy of all important data: contacts, photos, videos, documents and more.

Step-by-step firmware instructions

Let's move on to the most difficult part - flashing. The whole process consists of adding the appropriate files to Odin, but there may be pitfalls, which we will discuss later.

Putting your phone into download mode

A mandatory step is to transfer the smartphone to a special mode. Factory mode is a system menu through which the software update process is launched. Activation of this mode in modern smartphones is done by pressing and simultaneously holding three buttons: home, volume down and turning on the device (the mobile device must be turned off). On some older models, it is enough to hold down only “volume -” and “power”.

You will see a warning. Agree to continue by selecting Continue through the volume buttons. A window should appear with information about the enabled mode.

Do not click other buttons or turn off the gadget.

Connecting to a PC and installing drivers

The second step is connecting the phone to the computer. Connect devices via USB. Be sure to use the USB 2.0 port on the back of the computer (directly from the motherboard). USB 3.0 specification ports have a 50% chance of working. If the drivers were installed correctly, a message will appear in the system tray that the device is ready for use.

If the driver is not installed, install it as an administrator. The process is similar to installing any typical program: just click next. Launch "One". If the device is recognized, you will see one of the COM ports active (highlighted in yellow/blue in the interface).

Installing firmware in Odin

All preparatory actions are over. So, by the time of this stage you should have:

downloaded a file or several for firmware, saved on the computer in one directory;
Samsung is connected via USB and switched to Download Mode;
Odin software of the required version is installed;
All important files have been backed up.

Only then begin the procedure. First remove Kies from your computer (via the “Programs and Features” menu).

Single-file firmware

This option is the easiest way, since you will have to take a minimum of steps. The instructions consist of the following points:

Be sure to check the functionality of the phone and the smoothness of menu switching. An update does not always provide a performance boost.

Multi-file firmware

This method is actually no different from the above, but with the exception that you will have to add several files to the program. The procedure consists of the following steps:

run the software as administrator and make sure that the phone is detected;
in the Options tab, leave the checkboxes as described in the previous section;
Upload files to the appropriate fields by clicking the buttons, and then click Start.

The main difficulty is where to load specific objects. The clue will lie in the names themselves. For example, if the object name contains BL, then it must be inserted into the BL field and so on.

The button names in Odin may vary, so be sure to check the following table:

Before clicking Start, check that all files are in place. Wait for the inscription "Pass" and turn off the device.

Firmware with PIT file

Sometimes it is necessary to repartition the memory. Odin allows you to do this, but only with a special PIT file. You can connect it using single-file and multi-file methods. The whole process boils down to the following steps:

Wait until it finishes, and then disconnect the gadget from USB. Enable Re-Partition only if there are serious problems with the gadget, when it does not boot, freezes on the screen with the model name, or memory errors are detected.

Individual software components: kernel, modem and recovery

If necessary, you can install individual components through this software. In some situations, updating the kernel will significantly improve performance and run demanding applications and games. Updating your modem may solve Wi-Fi problems. The only differences are in the files you will download. Kernel firmware usually has the word Kernel in its name.

The following will show an example of how to install custom TWRP recovery via ODIN. This is a special system menu that has a wider and more intuitive interface. Follow the instructions:

Important! You add the kernel file to the AP (PDA) line, and when flashing the modem firmware you must use the CP (Phone) field. These are the only differences.

Possible errors during the firmware and their elimination

The simplest problem is that the phone is not recognized by the program. Here you will need to install the latest version of drivers. Sometimes the phone does not want to go into Download Mode. An alternative method is to use ADB software. This is a special program for a computer that will help you go to the phone system menu. To interact with the gadget, it must be connected via USB.

If the firmware fails, but the phone still works without problems, try downloading a different version of Odin. Individual Samsungs are flashed only under a certain “One”. We advise you to study this issue in more detail on specialized forums.

If during the firmware update “Odin” displayed the message Fail, and the device shows no signs of life, then do not panic. Follow this procedure:

Remove the battery from the device. Let sit for up to 30 minutes.
Reinstall the battery. Enter the recovery menu (press the power button, volume up and home at the same time). If you successfully entered the menu, click on wipe data/factory reset, and then wait for the reboot.
If you cannot enter recovery, activate emergency mode. Hold the power + volume down + home buttons (for some Samsung these may be other combinations).
From the emergency menu, try flashing the 5-file service firmware via Odin.

When these tips do not work, contact a service center. You won't be able to restore the gadget yourself.

Now you know how to use Odin software and reflash Samsung mobile smartphones. Do not reflash Samsung unless absolutely necessary, since the operation is not 100% successful. Using a similar method, it is possible to carry out not only an update, but also a downgrade, for example, from Android 4.4.2 to 4.2.2. This may be relevant in cases where the system has automatically updated the OS, but the new version is unstable.

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Samsung products are in great demand almost all over the world. One of the most important factors that allowed this South Korean corporation to achieve such heights is high quality at an affordable price. Samsung smartphones and tablets, which are traditionally produced on Android, are especially successful.

Despite the high quality of this electronics, it can periodically fail, and this is often due to the fault of the people using them. How can this problem be solved? One of the best solutions can be a timely flashing of your favorite smartphone or tablet, which will eliminate many problems.

If you are interested, how to flash samsung phone yourself, then this article is for you.

Where to start flashing a Samsung phone?

Best done flashing a Samsung phone using a special program Odin, which is the best solution for many Android devices.

However, before moving directly to the process itself, it is necessary to perform certain preparatory work. The first step is to check the battery charge of your phone, which should be at least 80% so that the device does not turn off at the most inconvenient moment.

In addition to checking the phone's charge, you should download the Odin program itself to your computer. It is important to note that for this program to work properly, the operating system on your computer must be at least Windows XP.

You also need to download the firmware itself and ADB drivers, which are always available on specialized sites.

If you have completed all the preparatory work, then it’s time to start flashing the device.

Installing the driver

In order for the special Odin program to reflash your smartphone, you need to install special drivers for this. Everything is quite simple here, download the installer file and just run it (it’s best to do this as an administrator).

Sometimes it happens that the computer already has drivers needed to flash an Android device. If their version is not the latest, it is best to uninstall them and install the latest version.

Downloading a smartphone in Downloading mode

To start flashing your smartphone using the Odin program, you need to download it in Downloading mode. But before that, you should save all the information you need, since after flashing the Android device will start up as new and will not contain any old data.

After you boot your smartphone in Downloading mode, you should connect it to your computer using a USB cable.

Launch Odin

Before starting the Odin program, you should once again make sure that all the preparatory work has been completed correctly, and that you have installed the latest drivers so that no problems arise in the future.

To avoid any unforeseen situations during the actual firmware update via Odin, it is necessary to understand the program itself in as much detail as possible. This is not so difficult to do; to do this, simply unpack the archive with the program to any location convenient for you on the hard drive of your computer. Then simply run the Odin.exe file. after opening the program, you will see a large number of different settings and unfamiliar words. However, you should not worry about this, since to perform flashing you only need information regarding the existing firmware.

We flash the Android device's firmware via Odin

If the firmware you downloaded for your smartphone consists of only one file, then everything is extremely simple. In this case, click on the PDA button, after which in the window that appears you need to specify the path to the flashing file on the hard drive.

If the firmware consists of 3 files, then you need to perform the following steps: in the PDA line, select the file whose name contains the word CODE, in the PHONE line, indicate the file whose name contains the word PHONE, and in the CSC line, select the file whose name there is the word CSC.

After completing these steps, you need to make sure that the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time inscriptions in the program interface should contain checkmarks opposite them. You should also pay attention to the fact that there is no check mark next to the Re-Partition inscription. This is a very important point, since if Re-Partition is checked, then such a flashing can be fatal for your device, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a galaxy model or not, your smartphone will simply turn into a brick. That is why it is very important to pay attention to the Re-Partition clause.

You may notice that the program interface contains a large number of other settings, however, they are needed for advanced firmware. Most often, they are used only by those who develop custom versions of firmware for smartphones. That is why, if you just want to reflash your smartphone so that it works normally again, you should not pay attention to them.

After you make sure that all the checkboxes are checked and there is no checkmark next to the Re-Partition item, you can safely proceed to flashing your galaxy itself; to do this, you just need to click the Start button in the program interface.

The firmware has started

After you press the Start key, the firmware will begin. It is very important not to press any buttons during this, and also not to disconnect the computer or smartphone from the computer. This is a very important point, since failure to follow these rules may damage your smartphone.

When the smartphone is flashed, it will reboot on its own, and will boot into setup mode. You can perform the necessary step-by-step settings (the best help in this case is the phone's instructions), after which the device will boot into normal mode and be able to function correctly.

Bottom line

We hope that now you know how to flash a Samsung phone and you won’t have any problems with it.

Every smartphone user is not immune from failures in its operation, and sometimes from complete system failure. Often the only solution is to update the firmware of the mobile device. Among owners of phones based on Android OS, the Odin program is considered an indispensable tool for flashing the device. It is quite simple to use, but there are some nuances in the program settings.

Firmware is a cure for all diseases

A modern smartphone or tablet is a powerful computer equipped with a multi-core processor, a graphics accelerator, gigabytes of RAM and solid-state memory, as well as a variety of peripheral devices. It works under the control of an operating system (in our case, Android), and individual subsystems: radio module, camera, biometric sensors are also controlled by their own microprograms.

Firmware is a specialized distribution kit that contains all the software components necessary for the full operation of the “gadget”. To flash a device means to install this distribution into the device's memory. And there are usually only two main reasons for updating firmware - updating to a new version or restoring a broken smartphone. After the firmware has been correctly installed, we receive the device in a new condition, just like from a store.

The main reasons for flashing firmware are updating or restoring a broken smartphone

The flash memory of the smartphone, onto which the firmware and microprograms of the radio module are written, is designed for a limited number of write cycles. Therefore, you should not flash it several times a day in search of the perfect firmware. When the Flash memory cannot record, the device will have to be thrown away or disassembled into “organs”.

Types of firmware

There are several types of firmware for Android smartphones or tablets:

OTA firmware is loaded into the device over the air, via 3G or Wi-Fi cellular networks. It contains updates for individual programs or a newer version of the Android operating system. If installed correctly, user data, accounts and installed applications are saved. Such firmware is the easiest way to flash a smartphone, but also the most dangerous: often during this operation the device becomes a “brick” - it does not respond to keys, the sensor and does not display anything on the screen;
firmware in the form of a zip archive. Designed for installation into the device via Recovery - a built-in flash driver, which can be accessed by pressing a certain combination of buttons when turning it on. The firmware rewrites the system partition - installed programs and accounts are deleted;
single-file firmware for the Odin program. Contains an operating system with pre-installed applications. As in the previous version, programs and user accounts are deleted;
The 5-file firmware consists of the operating system, service firmware and partition tables of the device’s internal memory. Installing it deletes absolutely all user data from the phone’s memory, including those that were on the “internal” memory card.

Forewarned is forearmed: preparing the phone for firmware

During the production process, the manufacturer may make changes to the design of the smartphone/tablet. Therefore, devices released at different times may differ in hardware, despite the same appearance, model name and operating system. Before flashing the firmware, you need to identify the hardware revision of your device as accurately as possible. In most cases, this can be done by checking the serial number of the smartphone on specialized forums. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Win (GT-85520) smartphone has two hardware revisions and they require different firmware.

We list the criteria for successful smartphone firmware:

firmware downloaded from the network corresponding to the hardware revision of your device;
smartphone drivers and the Odin program itself, downloaded from a trusted source, ideally from the official Samsung website;
battery charged to at least 90%;
reliable, tested cable for connecting to a computer;
a computer that is maximally cleared of background processes and programs, ideally containing only the operating system and the Odin program.

Preparing the operating system

So, the phone is charged to the maximum, a reliable thick USB cable has been found, games have been unloaded from the computer and a thousand tabs in the browser have been closed. It remains to take the last preparatory steps before the firmware process itself:

Remember that a power surge, a pulled out computer power cord or a power outage will lead to an emergency termination of the firmware, and the device will become inoperable - a “brick”. Therefore, connect your desktop computer through an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and charge the laptop’s battery.

How to flash an Android device

Working with single-file and 5-file firmware differs slightly. The program has several buttons for selecting the appropriate firmware file:

BL - bootloader (bootloader) - load a file like APBOOT_xxxxx.tar.md5 (will be present only in 5-file firmware);
AP or PDA, depending on the Odin version - the main firmware file CODE_xxxxx.tar.md5 (in the case of a single file - the only one);
CP or PHONE - phone radio module file MODEM_xxxxx.tar.md5;
CSC - file of the form CSC_xxxxx.tar.md5;
PIT - PIT file, is included only in 5-file service firmware. When you select it in the program, additional settings for the breakdown of the device’s internal memory open. Firmware with this file will delete ALL DATA on the device, and if it fails, with a 99% probability it will be “bricked.”

Installing single-file factory firmware

Installation of 5-file service firmware

If the firmware recording is successful, the program will write PASS in the upper left corner of the window and reboot the smartphone.

Enable Re-Partition mode only in case of serious problems with the device: it does not boot, freezes on the screensaver, there are errors in the internal memory - files do not open or open with errors. Most of the devices that died during flashing were flashed with the 5-file service firmware and troubles happened during the re-partitioning of the internal memory. Firmware of the Android operating system kernel and Recovery files

After that:

Click the AP or PDA button in the program window and select the *.img file in the window that opens.
Click the Start button.

If your device has Android version 5 or higher, before flashing the firmware you need to perform several manipulations with the smartphone itself:

Loading custom firmware

Installing custom firmware via Odin is not the best method. The safest option is custom firmware compiled for installation from recovery. The risks of getting a “brick” are much lower than when flashing firmware via Odin. Don’t expect miracles from “custom” ones; they won’t make your old device a top-end one. And in terms of stability and power consumption, factory firmware will always be a leader.

Installing custom firmware is no different from installing single-file factory firmware:

Click the AP or PDA button in the program window and select a *.img file in the window that opens.
In the options block, enable the Auto Reboot mode.
Click the Start button.
If the firmware is successfully written, the program will write PASS in the upper left corner of the window and the smartphone will automatically reboot.

My smartphone is a “brick”

If the firmware completed with errors, the program will report this by writing Fail on a red background. But there are often situations when the firmware was successful, the smartphone went into reboot and never came out of it. Do not panic! The worst has already happened. Remove the battery from the device and let it sit for 20–30 minutes. Then return the battery to its place. Using button combinations, try to enter recovery (Power + VolumeUp + Home) or emergency mode (Power + VolumeDown + Home).

I managed to get into recovery - great! We execute the command wipe data/factory reset and try to reboot the smartphone. If we can only enter emergency mode, we try to flash the device with a 5-file service firmware. If it doesn’t help either, the smartphone has a direct route to the service center. It is no longer possible to restore it using software methods.

Video: restoring a smartphone after flashing

In this short article, we looked at the pros and cons of flashing firmware with the Odin program, assessed the risks and learned what to do if the situation develops abnormally. Do not forget that the program is intended for service centers, and not for smartphone users, and allows you not only to bring a junk device back to life, but also to send a previously working smartphone or tablet to digital paradise with a couple of keystrokes.

This time I will show you how to install stock firmware on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone or tablet, that is, restore the state of a new device. This method will also allow you to revive your gadget after an unsuccessful installation of custom firmware or get rid of problems with the operation of the device. You can also update your device to the latest software version if you can't wait for the over-the-air update. Everything is completely safe!

This method involves using the convenient Odin utility for Windows. Don't worry if you're not familiar with her. Thanks to the step-by-step instructions below, you will learn everything you need to successfully restore through Odin. It's worth noting that all data stored in the device's internal memory will be erased, so save it to your computer before you begin. You can also backup SMS, contacts, media files and more by checking our guide.

How to prepare for the Samsung Android device recovery process:

So, are you all set? Have you installed the drivers and rebooted your computer? Have you unpacked the Odin program archives and firmware? Is your smartphone/tablet charged? Then let's get started! Follow my instructions carefully and in 15 minutes you will receive a device with freshly installed software.

How to restore stock firmware on any Samsung device:

Step 1: Launch Odin on your computer.

Step 2: Put your mobile device into Download Mode. To do this, turn it off, and then press the buttons one by one “Volume down”, "Home" And “Nutrition“. Then press the button once “Volume up”, to continue.

Step 3: Connect the gadget to your computer via a USB cable.

Step 4: When a blue light appears in front of the connected port in the Odin program, click on the button "AP" and select the firmware file that you should have downloaded in advance.

Step 5: The Odin utility takes a few minutes to check the firmware. When it is ready, press the button "Start", which is located at the bottom of the window.

Step 6: After the process is completed, the device will reboot automatically.

Step 7: In a few minutes you should see the initial setup screen, where you need to select the interface language, connect to the network, add an account, and so on.

That's all! Now your gadget has stock software installed, which will receive official updates over the air.