How to download Android Pie update on Galaxy S9 and S9+ manually [One UI]

One UI update download

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.

Posted by
Kapil Malani

A die-hard Liverpool FC fan, Kapil is a big fan of Batman, Android and street Cricket. In that order, probably. Email: [email protected]

37 Comments

  1. facebook-718080959

    This work with sprint s9+?

  2. Marjan Stojanović

    Is knox flash counter activated if we use this method? Adb or view stock recovery?

  3. Will this work on SM-G965N, please advise, thanks

  4. Can you please tell me if this works on s9+ G965F
    version BRJ1

  5. luis andres garcia

    He works with the firmware ARJ5 out this week. Or just let it with ARJ2
    Grace.

  6. How long does it take for patching system image after verification?

  7. i installed beta but how to register beta program and theme not working on my s9 plus

  8. Ota will work after this manually update? Beta 2 version will automatically update or not when beta 2 releases??

  9. I have updated to Beta one using the above method, but Google Play Store mentions the device as “Unregistered”. Is it something I should be worrying about ?

  10. Installed beta to yestrday from xda they fixed many bugs but while installing with sd card method u will need new card old card gives error while flashing also dont forget to flash hotfix file comes along with beta 2

  11. Heard that One UI beta 2 is now live. Would you also be able to post the OTA zip for that?

  12. Hi, I had sideladed the Beta versions of the S9 Android Pie. Can I go back to the stable version and receive ITA updates? If yes how can I do that ?

  13. For S9 model SM-G960F you have linked the incorrect firmware. The linked firmware for this regular S9 model SM-G960F is – G960FXXU2CRLI but when we follow that link it downloads the file G965FXXU2CRLI which is actually for S9+ mode SM-G965F. Can you check this?

  14. This for exynos models?

  15. Worked for me. Thanks very much

  16. Will the SM-G965F / DS ( Dual Sim ) be supported? My S9+ is a local Philippine unit 😊.

  17. I can use this version for my S9+ 965F-DS with Romanian firmware? And guarantee void?

  18. hey guys Q: i have the SM-G965F Baseband :G960FXXS2BRK3 december 1 patch, for some reason i still dont have the android 9 version , does it matter if i download the one with TNL or PHN, TNL is tmobile netherlands, and PHN is just Netherlands,

  19. Hello, I am in the UK and have updated using the stable release firmware for my Samsung S9 (SM-G960F).

    Whenever my phone restarts however I get a AutoPreconfig ‘New Service Provider’ notification. I can clear it but it just comes back. How do I stop this from happening please?

    Thank you.

  20. I’m in the US but my samsung S9+ is an international version, G965F. I’ve been checking the Pie update, via phone and PC/SmartSwitch since 12/25/2018.
    As of today, 1/8/2019…. almost 2 weeks… no update available!

  21. Can this be downloaded for s9+ in India?

  22. This works very well on my S9 from Sweden, the only downside was the download speed of the firmware. It took like 4 hours even though I had cable. Thank you for the easy to follow instructions!

  23. Is there a chance of bricking the phone when using the SD card method? I have a snapdragon model, SM-G960U1 on verizon

  24. Hi! I did this for the SM-G960F/DS, it booted up normally to the “Optimizing android apps xx of xx” then after that it proceeded to display “Starting android” with a loading bar below it. But then it shut off and it seems to be stuck in a boot loop. Any suggestions?

  25. S9+ Indonesia Sippp..

  26. Thanks worked perfectly! S9+ Ireland SM-G960F

  27. I have Galaxy s9 plus and I’m running VDF/VDF/XFV service provider on my phone and I’m not getting pie update

  28. Alejandro Hernandez

    I have an s9 Plus. i followed the instructions and Odin shows Pass!, but after it restarts it has the same Version. No changes. What am I missing. Thanks!

  29. Worked great on my USA Galaxy S9 (SM-G960U1), thanks!
    For some reason it now shows SM-G960U instead, is there a difference? Why did it change?

  30. I have USA Glaaxy S9 SM-G960U will this work on that and also will this wipe everything on my phone?

  31. I got FAIL going to try again I think it got stuck or I may need to use original samsung usb cord I have no idea.

  32. Okay so I did use my original Samsung USB did it all over again. The ap file got stuck for about 2 minutes. After that install took about 10 minutes and I absolutely love it.

    Thanks so much. Just follow the instructions use original USB cable and all should be great.

  33. I have went step by step and I have gotten “failed” each time. Using the right package for my phone.. stock usb cord, and now my phone is not responding to anything and smart switch will not even recognize it to do an emergency recovery.. what do i do now….G965USQU3CSAB_G965UOYN3CSAB_CCT.. is what I downloaded 2 times.. It got stuck on setup connection 2 times and now its pretty much a brick…

  34. G960FXXU2CSB3 it is new Pie update and Can I update my phone using Odin. Baseband version of my phone is G960FXXU2CRLI

  35. done successfully.
    Let me use it for 24 hours and i will post my thoughts 🙂

  36. Steve Bruce Purnell

    I have installed without any problems.
    Phone is acting completely normally.
    Reason why I used this method of installing Pie is because my phone refused to update automatically and was showing a security patch dated Dec 18.
    I’ve just been into settings to see the same date on security patch. Is this normal?

    P.S. Thank you ‘The Android Soul’ for direction/info 🙂

    1. Good to hear that. It’s also cool that you now know how to install a firmware because soon you will get to install Android 10 on the S9 (in the next month or two). 👍

Comments are closed.