How to Install stock recovery on Samsung Galaxy devices

The recovery that comes installed by default on your phone with the firmware is called Stock recovery. You need stock recovery installed in order to take OTA updates.

If you installed a custom recovery like TWRP, CWM, etc. anytime on your device, then you need to install the stock recovery back for taking OTA updates as OTAs check for its presence and can install only then.

Here we have provided installation guides for various methods for Samsung Galaxy devices.

Usually, you will find stock recovery in these 3 formats: TAR, IMG and ZIP. Among Samsung devices, TAR and ZIP remains most popular formats you’d find stock recovery available for download.

We’ve provided below methods to install each of those 3 formats of stock recovery. Recovery comes in .IMG format actually, both TAR and ZIP format contain IMG recovery files only.

Recovery TAR is required for flashing via unofficial Samsung software called Odin, which makes installing recovery, recovery, boot, modem, etc. anything very easy — only thing is that it must be available in TAR format for Odin.

While, Recovery ZIPs are flashable only via custom recovery like TWRP, CWM, etc.

While, for Recovery IMG, on Samsung devices, you will need an app like Flashify from Google Play Store, which requires root access and installs recovery quite easily.

Upon flashing stock recovery via any method, the custom recovery is replaced with stock recovery, and you are able to take OTA updates.

Samsung Galaxy Recovery Installation Guides

Note: The guide for installing a recovery remains same for all Samsung devices. Yes, ALL Samsung devices. So, whether you own a new or old Galaxy phone or tablet, feel free to use the guide below.

Disclaimer!

You only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

Backup, backup, backup!

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

Method 1: Installing Recovery TAR

Download the recovery TAR on your PC. Search our site for it if you don’t have it already.

And also download the Odin PC software from here → Odin 3.10.6.

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.)

Extract the Odin file. You should get this file, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).

Disconnect your Galaxy device from PC if it is connected.

Boot your device into download mode:

Power off your device. Wait for 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
Press and hold the three buttons Volume down + Power + Home together until you see Warning screen.
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 to prevent problems.

Connect your 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.

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 device. Mostly, drivers are the problem (look at step 2 above).
You can try different USB ports on your PC too.

Load the recovery file into Odin. Click the AP button on Odin and the select the .TAR file from above.

Make sure Re-partition check box 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 recovery 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

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.

That’s it. You have successfully installed stock recovery back. Try to take the OTA update now, it should do all fine now.

Need help? Sure let us know via comments below.

Method 2: Installing Recovery IMG

Under this method, you need to use an Android app like Flashify (a good alternative is Rashr, BTW, in case Flashify doesn’t work for you).

Here’s how you do this.

Root your device first of all, if it’s not rooted, as Flashify needs root access for this to work. Check for root access with this app. For how to root your device, search this very site.

Download the recovery IMG. And transfer the recovery file to phone if you download it on PC.

Install Flashify android app, which would help you flash .IMG file of stock recovery on your device.

Open Flashify app, accept its warning, and let app look for root access. When it finds it, a pop-up will appear. Tap on Grant button to provide app root access.

Now, tap on Recovery image and then on ‘choose a file’ option. Select the .IMG file of stock recovery on your device that you downloaded earlier. Choose ‘Normal Android Way’ under the option ‘Pick up file as’.

Tap on Yup to confirm your action, and begin flashing device TWRP recovery..

Tap on Flash more to reach the main screen of the app.

Now tap on 3-dot menu at top right and select Reboot recovery.

That’s it. Here you have the stock recovery. Use the ‘reboot system now’ option to restart your device normally.

Try to take an OTA update now, it should work.

Need help? Well, just give us a shout in comments section below, we’ll be happy to help.

Method 3: Installing Recovery ZIP

Make sure you have a custom recovery (TWRP, CWM, PhilZ, Cyanogen, etc.) installed on your device. Actually, you must already have that as that’s the main reason you are looking for stock recovery now.

Download the recovery ZIP on your PC.

Transfer the recovery ZIP to your device if you downloaded it on PC. Remember the recovery’s location on your device.

Reboot into recovery mode on your device. For this:

Power off your device. Wait for 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
Press and hold the three buttons Volume up + Power + Home together until you see Samsung logo.

Step 5. In TWRP/CWM/any custom recovery, use the Install option and select the stock recovery file.

Confirm the installation and you will be done in a matter of seconds.

Restart your device and you’re done.

Go into Settings, About device, and check for the system update now. It should install all fine now.

Need help? Just let us know via comments if you need any help with this.