A common problem with every Samsung device, at least for some people, is that when flashing custom ROMs, kernels or other modifications, the EFS data which stores the device IMEI and allows it to connect to the network gets erased or changed, which disables all network connections. Hence it’s always recommended to keep a backup of the EFS partition of the device so it can be restored later on if needed.

For Samsung Galaxy S3 owners that flash custom ROMs etc on their phone, a new tool has been released by XDA Senior Member as i9000 which allows backing up and restoring the EFS data on any variant of the Galaxy S3 with a single click, which you can keep as a backup in case things go awry and you lose the IMEI or if gets changed and needs to be restored to the original.

Let’s take a look at how the one-click tool can be used to backup or restore the EFS on a Galaxy S3.

Compatibility

This hack and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Galaxy S3 and its variants. Do not try this on any device other than a Galaxy S3.

Warning!

The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to your device, we won’t be held liable

How to Backup and Restore EFS on Galaxy S3

Backup EFS:

  1. Make sure your Galaxy S3 is rooted. You can use this guide for the international Galaxy S3 to root, this guide for AT&T Galaxy S3, this guide for Verizon Galaxy S3, this guide for T-Mobike Galaxy S3, and this guide for the Sprint Galaxy S3.
  2. Download and install the software Kies on your computer, which will install the necessary drivers for the phone. Skip if you already have Kies/the drivers installed on the computer.
    Download Kies
  3. Download the EFS Backup tool from the source page. Be sure to download the .rar file.
  4. Extract the contents of the downloaded file to a convenient location on your computer.
  5. Enable USB debugging on the phone from Settings » Developer options.
  6. Connect the phone to the computer.
  7. Go to the folder where you extracted the tool’s file.
  8. Double-click on the Backup_EFS file, then follow onscreen instructions to backup your Galaxy S3’s EFS folder to the computer, which will be saved in the same folder in the .img format.

Restore EFS:

  • To restore EFS if needed, simply double-click the Restore_EFS file and follow onscreen instructions to restore the EFS data. Make sure the backed up EFS file is in the same folder as the tool’s folder.

So, using the one click tool, you can backup as well as restore the EFS aka IMEI data on your Galaxy S3. Make sure to keep the EFS backup safe so it can be used later if required.