Install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 and Root it

Android 6.0 Marshmallow followed its way towards a lucky Galaxy Note 5 user under the tag of T-Mobile. The firmware has been transformed into an Odin-flashable file and is now available for all the T-Mobile users. In order to install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920T, follow the step-by-step instructions in the succeeding guide. After installing Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your T-Mobile Note 5, you can also root it using the method explained in the end.

The title may have got you surprised, if so, then you’re not alone. We were surprised to after seeing the Android 6.0 Marshmallow coming out for the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5. Samsung is all set to roll out the official Marshmallow update for Galaxy Note 5 somewhere around December, 2015. The update making its way to a lone T-Mobile note 5 user isn’t less then a surprise at all. Now that the update is out, it doesn’t make a sense to wait for the update anymore if you’re an Android power user. You can flash the leaked update on your Note 5 and use Android Marshmallow in a full swing. The new update brings all the core enhancements that Google made in this firmware. Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 brings a handful of goodies. Let’s have a look into the new features.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings some minor cosmetical changes in the TouchWiz UI. Samsung changed the stock colour palette of the TouchWiz UI. It’s white now instead of green. Clock, file manager, calendar and music applications have a slightly new UI now. Settings applications is also seeing a revamped UI. Samsung has bundled up some handy settings under a new tab named as “useful settings” in the settings app. Samsung has also revamped the phone application, the power menu also comes with a new look. Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings enhanced battery stats and better battery management. You will also find the new app permissions feature in this update. Apart from these enhancements, Android 6.0 Marshmallow comes with latest security enhancements making Android a more intact OS. The Marshmallow build comes with a lot of other enhancements, you may want to check those out after installing this firmware on your T-Mobile Note 5.

Let’s go ahead now and flash this latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow test firmware on our beloved T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 and root it.

Precautions and preparations

• This guide is intended for T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920T only. Do not try this on any other Android device. Flashing a file on an incompatible device will result in bricking it.
• Charge your phone up to 50% to avoid power issues during flashing process.
• Backup your important contacts, call logs, sms messages and media content before proceeding.
• Don’t forget to create a Nandroid backup and also backup its EFS partition.
• If there’s OEM Unlock option in your phone, then enable it first. Enable OEM Unlock on your phone. To do so on your phone, go to settings > about device > tap the build number for 7 times to enable developer options. Get back to the settings and open developer options. Under developer options turn on “OEM unlock.“
• Turn off Windows Firewall before connecting your device to your PC.
• Uninstall Samsung Kies if you have already installed it.
• Make sure that you’re using original data cable to establish connection between your phone and your computer.
• Follow this guide carefully to avoid any mishaps and get the process done successfully.

Required downloads and installations

• Download and install Samsung USB drivers on your computer.
• Download and extract Odin3 v3.10.6
• Download ALL_N920TUVU2DOK5-M_CL6256935.zip file and extract it on your desktop. You will get multiple files like AP, BL and CP.

Install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5

• Make sure that you’ve installed and downloaded the stuff linked above.

1. Open Odin3 V3.10.6.exe that you extracted on your PC.
2. Put your Galaxy Note 5  in download mode now. To do so, turn it off completely. Now turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Down + Home + Power Key. Once your phone boots up, press the Volume Up key to continue.
3. Connect your phone to your PC now. The ID:COM box in the top-left corner of Odin3 should  turn blue. This indicates that your phone is connected properly.
4. Now load the files in Odin one by one as follows.
   • Click on the PIT tab and load the PIT file that you got after extracting the firmware.zip file.
   • Click the BL tab and select the BL_N920TUVU2DOK5_CL6256935.tar.md5 file.
   • Click the AP tab and select the AP_N920TUVU2DOK5_CL6256935.tar.md5 file.
   • Click the CP tab and select the CP_N920TUVU2DOK5_CL6256935.tar.md5 file.
5. Make sure that your Odin3 looks like this. The only option ticked should be F. Reset Time.
6. Now you’re all set to flash the test firmware. Just click the start button in Odin3 and sit back.
7. Once the process box above ID:COM box shows green light and flashing process is finished, disconnect your device.
8. Now reboot your device. To do so, press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Power Key. It will reboot in a few seconds.
9. As it boots up, checkout the all new Android 6.0 Marshmallow running on your T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920T.

Image Courtesy: XDA Developers

How To Root Galaxy Note 5 SM-N920T Running Android 6.0 Marshmallow

1. Download SuperSu.zip file and copy it to your T-Mobile Note 5’s internal storage.
2. Download this custom kernel.tar file and place it on your desktop.
3. Put your Galaxy Note 5 in download mode using the method explained in step 2 above.
4. Open Odin3.exe now and click on the AP tab. Select the kernel.tar file in the AP tab now.
5. Connect your Galaxy Note 5 to your PC now.
6. As soon as Odin detects your device, click on start.
7. This will flash custom kernel on your device.
8. Now you need to flash a custom recovery on your Galaxy Note 5. To do so, download this philz_advanced_cwm_recovery.tar.md5 file.
9. Flash the recovery on your Galaxy Note 5 using step 2 – 5.
10. Once you’ve flashed the file, boot your Galaxy Note 5 into recovery mode. To do so, turn off your device, now turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Up + Home + Power Key.
11. Once your’e in recovery mode, tap “Install Zip > Choose Zip from SD card > locate SuperSu.zip and flash it.”.
12. Now reboot your device. Your Note 5 will be rooted on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. That’s all.

Thanks to Danon.brown and Manh_It  for their great efforts on this firmware and its root. If you liked their work, we recommend a donation to the developers.