How to Flash Firmwares using Odin

For Samsung Galaxy devices, we can use Odin PC software to easily flash a firmware on the device. It’s super easy, and requires minimum of preparations, and is fun to do.

Odin is a Windows based flashing tool for Samsung Android devices, which can be used not only to flash a firmware in .tar or .tar.md5 format, but also to flash a modem or kernel. If you are willing to update your Samsung Galaxy device or simply want to install the firmware to go back to Stock — or even unbrick a soft-bricked device — Odin is your best friend.

Odin v3.10 is the latest version of the software, which is compatible with most, if not all, of the Samsung Android devices. For those of who are new to Odin, here is simple tutorial on how to use Odin for flashing firmwares.

Btw, you can also flash a kernel or modem file using this guide. It’s same procedure, although, for modem, you use CP button in place of AP button in step 9 below.

Downloads

Odin PC software | File: Odin3_v3.10.6.zip (1.6 MB)

Supported devices

Any Samsung Galaxy device
Don’t try on any device of any other company than Samsung, or Samsung’s own non-Android devices!

Disclamer: Installing an official firmware through Odin doesn’t void your device’s warranty, but it remains an unofficial process and thus you need to be cautious of it. In any case, you only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

Backup important files stored on your device before proceeding with the steps below, so that in case something goes wrong you’ll have backup of all your important files. Sometimes, Odin installation may delete everything on your device!

Step-by-step Guide

Download the Odin software from above. And make sure you have downloaded a firmware file for your device, after carefully checking the model no. as firmware is based on that strictly.
Install Samsung Galaxy driver (method 1 there!) first of all. Double click the .exe file of drivers to begin installation. (Not required if you have already done this.)
Extract the firmware file now. You can use a free software like 7-zip for this. Install 7-zip, then right click on firmware file and under 7-zip, select ‘Extract here’. You should get the a file in .tar.md5 format now. We will be loading this file into Odin in Step 9 below.
Extract the Odin file. You should get this file, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).
Disconnect your Samsung Galaxy device from PC if it is connected.
Boot your Samsung Galaxy device into download mode:
1. Power off your device. Wait 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
2. Press and hold the three buttons Volume Down + Power + Home together until you see warning screen.
3. Press Volume Up to continue to download mode.
Double click on extracted file of Odin, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe, to open the Odin window as shown below. Be careful with Odin, and do just as said below to prevent problems.
Connect your Samsung Galaxy device to PC now using USB cable. Odin should recognize your device. It’s a must. When it recognizes, you will see Added!! message appearing in the Log box in bottom left, and the first box under ID:COM will also show a no. and turn its background blue. Look at the pic below.
- You cannot proceed until you get the Added!! message, which confirms that Odin has recognized your device.
- If you don’t get Added!! message, you need to install/re-install drivers again, and use the original cable that came with the device. Mostly, drivers are the problem (look at step 2 above).
- You can try different USB ports on your PC too, btw.
Load the firmware file into Odin. Click the AP button on Odin and the select the .tar.md5 file from Step 3 above.
- Info: When you load files, Odin checks the md5 sum value of the firmware file, which takes time. So, simply wait until that’s done and the firmware file is loaded. Don’t worry if Odin gets unresponsive for a while, it’s normal. Binary size will also show up in Odin.
Make sure Re-partition checkbox is NOT selected, under the Options tab. Don’t use PIT tab either. Go back to Log tab btw, it will show the progress when you hit start button in next step.
Click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the firmware on your Samsung Galaxy device. Wait till installation is finished, after which your device will reboot automatically. You’ll get PASS message as show below upon successful installation from Odin.
- If Odin gets stuck at setup connection, then you need to do this all again. Disconnect your device, close Odin, boot device into download mode again, open Odin, and then select the firmware and flash it again as said above.
- If you get FAIL in the top left box, then also you need to flash the firmware again as stated just above.
First start of the device may take time, so wait patiently again. Check the Settings > About device to confirm new firmware.