⬆️Updating your device
This is a guide in updating your device automatically and manually.
Last updated
This is a guide in updating your device automatically and manually.
Last updated
Ensuring your device is fully-updated before installing custom firmware is important as this reduces the possibility of issues. Most developers have tested custom software using the latest version of the device's official software and as such may not experience issues you may experience when you are using older software.
This portion will guide you in installing updates on your device before installing a custom firmware.
Updating your device directly is the easiest way in keeping your device updated. Here are the steps in downloading updates directly from your Galaxy device. Ensure your device is charged to at least 60% before updating to avoid corruptions due to low battery.
Open the Settings app.
Find and tap Software updates.
Tap on Download and install.
If a new software update is available, tap Download.
Once the download has finished, you can choose to immediately install the update by tapping Install now or later by scheduling your update through tapping the Schedule install button.
Once your device starts updating, it will take a while.
Your device will automatically enter Android with a newer version of your device's official software.
A Galaxy device's Download Mode is used to install software using a PC with the necessary drivers. This is used by technicians and members of the community to install software directly onto the device without starting the Android OS.
This is useful in the case the device encountered a software corruption and cannot access Android.
A PC, preferably running Microsoft Windows(TM)
A good, supported USB cable, make sure the cable does not lose connection immediately when plugged in
Your device, preferably charged to at least 60%.
The Samsung USB drivers installed. Get it by clicking here.
Odin, a firmware installation tool from Samsung. Get it by clicking here.
There are many ways in order to download official firmware for use with Odin. Most may recommend SamFw or SamMobile. But this portion will guide you in downloading official firmware using Bifrost, a faster solution that downloads software updates directly from Samsung servers.
Most services will require your device's three-letter region code, also known as the Open Market Customization (OMC) or Consumer Software Customization (CSC). Here are the steps in getting your device's code.
Ensure you are running your device's official software before following the steps below.
Some custom firmwares (including Fresh) modifies your device's region code in order to enable certain features not available in your market and may not reflect the device's actual region code.
Open the Settings app.
Find and tap About phone.
Tap Software information.
Find the Service provider software version field.
Your three-letter region code is the first three-letters at the bottom-most caption of the Service provider software version field.
Some anti-virus software may detect Bifrost as malware due to heuristics.
As long as you are downloading Bifrost from its official GitHub repository, it is not a virus and your anti-virus software may have just detected it as "malware" due to its similarity in name to some certain viruses.
Download the latest available version of Bifrost at this link. Make sure to select the right file for the PC you are using.
Extract the entire .zip file to an easily-accessible location.
Open the Bifrost file. If using Linux, you may need to set it as "executable".
Fill in your device's model (without the "/DS", if there is) on the "Model" field.
Fill in your device's current region in the "Region" field. This is a three-letter code that can be retrieved by following the steps above.
Click Download once it has loaded a valid firmware. Save it somewhere with enough space (typically 5-6GB) and can be easily accessed. The download will take a while.
Once the download has finished (and it has successfully "decoded" the downloaded file), you should have a .zip file containing the downloaded firmware.
Extract the contents of the .zip file to somewhere easily accessible.
You are now ready to install official software using Odin.
If not yet done, completely turn off the device by long-pressing the power button and tapping Power off. Tap the icon again to confirm.
Extract the Odin ZIP on your PC to an easy to access location. Open the app as an administrator by right-clicking the Odin_vxx.x.x_.exe file and clicking Run as administrator.
Plug in the USB cable to your PC.
Once your device has turned off completely, press both volume up and volume down buttons, and plug in the USB cable to your phone.
Your device will turn on to a teal screen. This is your device's download mode.
Press the volume up button once. Your device's screen will now display multiple lines of text and the Odin will show a green box showing some device information.
Click the BL button and point it to the downloaded .tar.md5 file that starts with "BL_".
Click the AP button and point it to the downloaded .tar.md5 file that starts with "AP_".
Click the CP button and point it to the downloaded .tar.md5 file that starts with "CP_".
Click the CSC button and point it to the downloaded .tar.md5 file that starts with "HOME_CSC_".
On your device, long-press the volume up button.
On your PC, click Start.
Your device will automatically restart.
Your device will automatically enter Android with a newer version of your device's official software.
