After introducing the Night mode to the Galaxy S10 devices first, Samsung recently rolled out an update that brought the feature to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus as well.
The update that brought the night mode was dubbed as version CSF2, hence the software version for the Galaxy S9 is G960FXXU5CSF2 and that for the S9 Plus is G965FXXU5CSF2. Check out the comparison of night mode with auto mode here.
Yes, you can figure out from the software version that the update is only for the global variant of the S9 smartphones (SM-G960F and SM-G965F). The ones whose model no. ends with F or FD, that are not sold in the US (where S9 models end with U or U1).
If you haven’t received the Night mode update yet, you can download the CSF2 update from below and install it yourself on your S9/S9 Plus. The update also installs June security patches.
Related:
Here is how to install the June update build CSF2 that will also install the night mode feature on your Galaxy S9.
Downloads
- Galaxy S9
- For model no. SM-G960F/FD only – G960FXXU5CSF2
- For model no. SM-G960U/U1 (US variant): – Not available
- Galaxy S9 Plus
- For model no. SM-G965F/FD only – G965FXXU5CSF2
-
- For model no. SM-G965U/U1 (US variant): – Not available
Related: Galaxy S9 firmware download | Galaxy S9 Plus firmware download
How to force download Night mode update on Galaxy S9 and S9+
Compatibility: This section is compatible only with model Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.
Step by step guide:
Step 1. Download the CSF2 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:
- Power off your device. Wait for 6-7 seconds after the screen goes off.
- Press and hold the three buttons Volume down + Bixby + Power together until you see the Warning screen.
- 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.
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.
- 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 a regular CSC file, and it results in CSC on the device being different than that in the 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.
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.
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.
Some errors you may run into, and with the 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!
Once you install the June update (build CSF2), you should get the Night mode feature in the camera app of your Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. Let us know if you need any help.
