Samsung Android 5.1.1 update release continues in full flow, as today Galaxy Tab 4 8.0-inch LTE edition became the first tablet to run the 5.1 Android OS. The update comes in the form of build no. T335XXU1BOF8, and once installed, should prevent downgrade back to Android 5.0.

The update belongs to Switzerland, and if that’s where you are using your 8-incher Tab 4, you should be receiving the OTA update soon enough. The OTA update outside of Switzerland could be happening shortly too, depending on the success rate or feedback of this update.

if you don’t like waiting for the OTA rollout in Switzerland or any other country you’re in, you cna install this very Android 5.1.1 update on your Galaxy Tab 4 LTE, 8-inch one of course, after making sure that your tab’s model no. is exact SM-T355. For this, download the 5.1 update firmware from here, and then use the instructions given here Galaxy S6 to update your Tab 4, it would work all fine!

How to Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 LTE Android 5.1.1 update (SM-T355)

Downloads

Supported devices

  • SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 4 8.0-inch LTE edition (model no. SM-T355)
  • Don’t try this on any other Samsung Galaxy device with a different model no. than above!
  • Don’t try on any other device whatsoever!

Instructions

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!

METHOD 1 - USING ODIN PC SOFTWARE

This is a very simple method to upgrade to Android 5.1, as it requires no preparation. Just install and you are done. But, you won’t be able to downgrade back to Android 4.4! Moreover, root access isn’t available for Android 5.1 yet.

  1. Download the Odin software and firmware file from above.
    (Note: If you want the ability to downgrade to 4.4 and root thereafter, don’t use this method. Instead, look for method 2 on this page.)
  2. Install Samsung drivers (method 1 there!) first of all. Double click the .exe file of drivers to begin installation. (Not required if you have already done this.)
  3. 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’.
  4. You should get the a file in .tar.md5 format now (T335XXU1BOF8_T335OXA1BOF8_T335XXU1BOF3_HOME.tar.md5). We will be loading this file into Odin, to be installed on your Tab 4 (in step 10 below).
  5. Extract the Odin file. You should get this file, Odin3 v3.10.6.exe (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).
  6. Disconnect your Tab 4 from PC if it is connected.
  7. Boot Galaxy Tab 4 into download mode:
    1. Power off your Tab 4. 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.
  8. 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.
    Odin 3.10.6
  9. Connect your Tab 4 to PC now using USB cable. Odin should recognize your Tab 4. 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 device. Mostly, drivers are the problem (look at step 2 above).
    • You can try different USB ports on your PC too, btw.
      Odin 3.10.6 Added message
  10. Load the firmware file into Odin (that you got in step 4 above). Click the AP button on Odin and the select the file: T335XXU1BOF8_T335OXA1BOF8_T335XXU1BOF3_HOME.tar.md5
    • Info: When you load files, Odin checks the md5 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 3.10.6 Firmware loaded after md5 check
  11. 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.
    Re-partition Remains Off
  12. Click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the firmware on your Tab 4. Wait till installation is finished, after which your Tab 4 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 steps 6 to 12 again. For this, close Odin, disconnect your device, remove battery, insert it back after 5-6 seconds and then start from step 6 again.
    • Or, if you get FAIL in the top left box, you need to try flashing again, as stated just above.
      Odin 3.10.6 Pass Message Appears
  13. First start of the device may take time, so wait patiently again. Check the Settings > About device to confirm new firmware.

That’s it. Enjoy the T335XXU1BOF8 Android 5.1.1 firmware, or call it OF8 in short, on your Tab 4!

If you need any help with this, let us know via comments below and we will try our best to help you out.

METHOD 2 - USING FLASHFIRE ANDROID APP (NEEDS ROOT)

This method retains your device’s ability to downgrade easily when needed. So that you can also root your Galaxy S6 after downgrading, as root is available on Android 4.4 builds. But you need root access for this method.

  1. Make sure you have root access. You can use CF-Auto-Root.
    (Note: If you DO NOT want the ability to downgrade to 4.4 and root thereafter, don’t use this method. Instead, look for method 1 on this page that is easy and doesn’t require root access, but you will lose ability to downgrade, while we think root will be available soon anyway, more or less.)
  2. Download the firmware file from above.
  3. 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’.
  4. You should get the a file in .tar.md5 format now (T335XXU1BOF8_T335OXA1BOF8_T335XXU1BOF3_HOME.tar.md5). We will be loading this file into Odin, to be installed on your Tab 4 (in step 10 below).
  5. Connect your Tab 4 to PC, and transfer the tar file to device. Remember the location where you save it.
  6. It’s good to set the ‘Screen timeout’ to 10 minutes under Settings > Display.
  7. Disconnect the tab, and download the Flashfire android app that we will use to flash the firmware in tar format:
    1. Login into Google using the same Gmail ID that you are using on device. Go to Google+ page and join the community.
    2. Next, sign up here to be able to install the app from play store and receive updates.
    3. Use the play store link provided thereafter to get to pay store page of the app and install it. It may take hours before it shows up for you in play store. You can only wait.
  8. Open the Flashfire app. Provide it root permissions by tapping on Grant on the pop-up that shows up. And tap on Agree button on the Disclaimer pop-up that comes only one time. (Tip: Read the Instructions section, it’s helpful.)
  9. Tap on + sign, select ‘Flash firmware package’ and then select the firmware tar file (T335XXU1BOF8_T335OXA1BOF8_T335XXU1BOF3_HOME.tar.md5) from step 3 here.
    FlashFire Firmware partitions
  10. A pop-up will appear about md5 checksum, simply tap on OK button. Now, FlashFire will bring up of selection all available partitions in the .tar in a list you want to install on device. Select ALL partitions except Modem and Preload/Hidden partition. Then tap on the right checkmark button at right top corner.
    → Take care to NOT select Preload/Hidden and Modem partition, otherwise you could brick your device.
  11. On main screen, tap on EverRoot, and un-tick all options. Hit checkmark button, of course, then.
  12. Leave process cache as it is.
  13. Okay, you are all set to drop down the lightening. Hit the FLASH button at bottom now to start flashing process. Tap on OK to confirm.
    Important! Btw, it seems Flashfire reboots the device before completely finish the process. To prevent that, there’s a small trick, keep hitting volume up/down every few seconds. Take care of this!
  14. Once done, your Tab 4 will reboot automatically and you shall see downgrade-able Android 5.1.1 update running. If you find an issue wherein you get stuck with the setup, or it hangs on Samsung’s logo, then just do the factory reset from the recovery mode. Here’s how:
    1. Press and hold Power + Home + Volume down until screen goes off, and then quickly slide your finger from Volume down to Volume up while still holding the other two buttons while device tries to restart, to reboot into recovery mode.
    2. In recovery mode, use volume buttons to move the selection highlight to wipe data/factory reset option, and then press power button to select it. Confirm with Yes on next screen. When done, you will be back at recovery’s home screen.
    3. Select Reboot system now to restart the device. It will work alright this time around.

That would be it. Soon enough, you would have the Android 5.1 firmware running on your Tab 4. Enjoy! And do share this page with anyone who you think would find it useful.

If there is anything you wanna ask to us about Tab 4 in this regard, sure let us know via comments below.