Update [December 25, 2018]: Samsung today started seeding Android Pie OTA update for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ handsets in Europe, and some other regions. The update also brings the One UI, Samsung’s new custom user interface for its Android phones, which is a huge thing.

The update has come out only for the global variant: SM-G960F in the case of S9, and SM-G965F as regards Galaxy S9+.

Update [January 04, 2019]: Stable Android Pie update is still not available for S9 and S9 Plus models sold in the US, whose model numbers end with U. Though, we have newer beta builds available for downloads, CRLM for the Galaxy S9 (G960U/U1), released on December 27, 2018, and CSA1 for the Galaxy S9 Plus (SM-G965u/U1), released on January 2, 2019. Find them in the downloads section below.

Related:

The firmware files of the Android Pie update are now available for download too (provided below), so you can install the One UI update on your S9 and S9+ (F model only) right away by following the guide given below.

The stable release hasn’t hit the US yet, where the models U and U1 of the S9 handsets are still running the beta update, the fourth iteration at that.

One UI update

Warning!

Do not try anything given on this page if you do not completely know what you are doing. In case any damage occurs, we won’t be held responsible.

Compatibility

This guide is compatible only for the Galaxy S9 and S9+. Do not try this on any other device as you might end up damaging your device and permanently brick it.

Make appropriate backup all your important data, music and video files, and everything else as there are chances your devices will be wiped while doing this.

Downloads

  • Galaxy S9
    • For model no. SM-G960F/FD only (stable release):
    • For model no. SM-G960U/U1 (US models):
  • Galaxy S9 Plus
    • For model no. SM-G965F/FD only (stable release):
    • For model no. SM-G965U/U1 (US models):

Related: Galaxy S9 firmware download | Galaxy S9 Plus firmware download

Galaxy S9 One UI

How to install Android 9 Pie update on Galaxy S9 and S9+ [One UI update]

Compatibility: This section is compatible only with model SM-G960F of the Galaxy S9, and SM-G965F of the Galaxy S9 Plus.

Step by step guide:

Step 1. Download the Android Pie firmware from the downloads section above – software version CRLI/CSAB. Make sure you have downloaded the correct firmware file on your PC. Remember, this is only for the Galaxy S9 model no. SM-G960F and Galaxy S9 model no. SM-G965F.

Step 2. Install Samsung USB driver (method 1 on the linked page) first of all. Double-click the .exe file of drivers to begin the installation. (Not required if you have already done this.)

Step 3. Also, download Odin PC software (latest version).

Step 4. Extract the firmware file now. You can use 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 files in .tar.md5 format now. (You may a bunch of files, and you will find text like AP, BL, CP or CSC etc. written at the beginning of those files.) We will be loading this file into Odin, to be installed on the device.

Step 5. Extract the Odin file. You should get the Odin exe file (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).

Step 6. Disconnect your Galaxy S9 from PC if it is connected.

Step 7. Boot your Galaxy S9 into download mode:

  1. Power off your device. Wait for 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
  2. Press and hold the three buttons Volume down + Bixby + Power together until you see the Warning screen.
  3. Press Volume Up to continue to download mode.

Step 8. Double click on Odin .exe file (from step 5) to open the Odin window as shown below. Be careful with Odin, and do just as said to prevent problems.

Odin-3.10.6

Step 9. Connect your device now using the 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 the bottom left, and the first box under ID:COM will also show a no. and turn its background blue. Look at the pic below.

Odin-3.10.6-Added-message

  • 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.

Step 10. Load the firmware files into Odin. Click the AP button on Odin and the select the .tar.md5 file from above. See the screenshot below to find how the Odin window will look like after you have loaded the files.

  • Click on BL tab, and select the file beginning with BL text.
  • Click on AP tab, and select the file beginning with AP text.
  • Click on CP tab, and select the file beginning with CP text.
  • [Different!] Click on CSC tab, and select the file beginning with HOME_CSC text. If HOME_CSC file isn’t available, then select the file beginning with CSC text.

About CSC file: Using the HOME_CSC file won’t reset your device, and data on the phone shouldn’t be deleted. However, when we select regular CSC file, and it results in CSC on the device being different than that in CSC file, your phone will be formatted automatically. You can even choose to ignore loading the CSC file, that may do alright too. But if it doesn’t work out, repeat the whole process and select CSC file this time around.

  • Info: When you load files, Odin checks the md5 sum of 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.

odin load files

Step 11. Click on Options tab, and make sure Re-partition checkbox is NOT selected. Don’t use PIT tab, ever.

Go back to the Log tab now, as it will show the progress of the firmware installation when you hit the start button in the next step.

Odin options auto reboot

Step 12. Verify that everything is okay as mentioned above. When satisfied, click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the firmware on your device.

Wait till installation is finished, after which your device will reboot automatically. You’ll get PASS message as shown below upon successful installation from Odin.

Odin-3.10.6-Pass-Message-Appears

Some errors you may run into, and with respective solution.

  • 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 file and flash it again as said above.
  • If you get FAIL in the top left box, then also you need to flash the file again as stated just above.

Done!

Do let us know if you need any help in this regard.