Samsung Firmware Restore

Samsung Firmware Restore Plus Unbrick

In this tutorial I will be covering two programs that can restore your Samsung phone or tablet. The first program is Odin, a great tool that interfaces with a Samsung device while it is in download mode. The Second program is Kies or Kies 3, another great tool offered by Samsung to help customers manage their tablet or phone. Kies can do a lot more then just restore your device, but in this post I will only be covering the restore and update functions. (NOTE) Odin program is designed only for Windows PC. Samsung Kies works with Windows or mac. Lets start with Odin Instructions, which is my preferred way of unbricking and restoring my devices.

Flashing Firmware with Odin Requirements

1. Samsung phone or tablet

2. USB cable to connect device to your computer

3. Samsung Drivers downloaded and installed

4. Download Odin v3.09

5.  Download your devices latest firmware. (NOTE) The best way to find out what device and firmware you need is to go into phone settings, then about phone. Look at System Version plus build number. Between these you should be able to figure out the firmware you will need. Another good thing to find out is the device code name. Normally a quick Google search can accomplish this task. If you don’t know this info and your device is bricked, then start Googling it. You can get your Samsung firmware from my server or SamMobile.com

 

Instructions

(NOTE) Before you start this process, it is a good idea to backup all your data and fully charge your device. Also, this process will wipe all your data off the device and return it to like new. There are some customized firmware out there that removes the wiping data part of the restore, if you can find them. I check XDA developers site if I am looking for the NO WIPE FIRMWARE

1. Extract (unzip) the firmware file to desktop.

2. Extract Odin zip-file to desktop also.

odin folder

4. Open Odin v3.09

odin

5. Reboot phone into Download Mode (press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons) from the powered off state.

6. Connect your device to the PC and wait until your drivers install and you get a blue sign in Odin. You should see a com plus a number.   For example: COM 4 Added in the odin program.

odin connected

7. Add the firmware file by pressing the AP / PDA. After selecting your firmware file, Odin will check the MD5 to make sure you have a good download.

odin AP

8. Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked.

9. Click the start button, sit back and wait a few minutes. (NOTE) most firmware restore will take about 10 minutes to flash and then the device will reboot and you need to give it another 10 minutes to boot up. Once the device is fully booted, you can close Odin and unplug your device. DO NOT unplug the device while flashing firmware as this could hard brick your Samsung device.

 

 

Flashing Firmware with Kies Requirements

1. Samsung phone or tablet

2. USB cable to connect device to your computer

3. Download and install Kies or Kies 3 software whichever your device needs.

4. Find your Device Model number and IMEI number. You can find your device model number in download mode. It will be called Product Name or model. The IMEI number can be found under the back cover; sometimes under the battery on the device. (NOTE) if you have a tablet you will need your Serial Number which should be printed somewhere on the back of the device.

Instructions

(NOTE) Before you start this process it is a good idea to backup all your data and fully charge your device. Also this process will wipe all your data off the device and return it to like new. There are some customized firmware out there that removes the wiping data part of the restore, if you can find them. I check XDA developers site if I am looking for the NO WIPE FIRMWARE

1. Reboot phone into Download Mode (press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons) from the powered off state.

3. Connect your device to the PC and wait until your drivers install. This might take a couple minutes. (NOTE) The Samsung drivers got installed when you installed kies software.

4. Start the Kies program you downloaded and installed on your computer.

Kies recovery

5. Click on Tools on the top bar of kies and select Fimware upgrade and initialization. Then enter your model and IMEI numbers, then click OK.

Kies Download firmware

6. You will now see this screen below and just click start Upgrade to restore the device. Kies will find the right firmware for your device and start to download it. This step will take some time; you may have to come back in a hour if your internet connection is slow. Most new devices have 1.5GB firmware files so this is going to take awhile.

Kies Start upgrade

(NOTE) Do not unplug the usb cable from the device during the Firmware Download or it will freeze and you will have to start the download all over again.

Kies firmware downloading

kies firmware updatekies restored device

Once the firmware is at 100% the device will reboot and it may boot to recovery and install your cell radios or may just reboot. Sit back and wait another 5 to 10 minutes and your device will finish booting up and you will be fully restored and/or unbricked. Go through the setup on the device and enjoy your fixed device 🙂

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  Check out the rest of my site for tons of great videos on many Samsung devices.

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Super Fans always leave a comment :-)

22 thoughts on “Samsung Firmware Restore”

  1. My Samsung Galaxy NOTE 3 is on loop on the Samsung logo and it will not let me hard reset it and when I used Kies it says DOESN’T SUPPORT INITIALIZING. My model is SM-N9005? Please help

    Reply
  2. My Galaxy Mega 6.3 i9205 is totally unresponsive. Kies doen’t recognize it and I’ve tried the various combinations of buttons presses to get the screen up to reset it but nothing happens. I know the battery is fine because it’s being used in another galaxy mega I bought to replace this one. Where can I find the software to put on a micro sd card to try that method as I had some success before when I tried it? Is it possible to download it from my other mega 6.3? Please help.
    Paul

    Reply
  3. Just bought a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge off Craigslist factory reset it it just to find out there was a protection of a Google account on the phone is there any possible method to bypass or fully reset the phone please I’m in dire need of your help

    Reply
  4. please i need help on my samsung j7 prime SM-G610Y i cant use kies or kies3 or smart switch for my device because if i enter the s/n: it keeps saying that check your s/n and model number and try again

    Reply
  5. I have the s5 using keis it asked for S/n not imei number. S/n is not under the battery. Can’t start the phone and go into settings to get it. AT&T is no help since I closed my account with them 2 years ago. Any suggestions

    Reply
  6. My Samsung Galaxy Y is on loop on the Samsung logo and it will not let me hard reset it and when I used Kies it says DOESN’T SUPPORT INITIALIZING. My model is GT-S5360.

    Reply

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