How to install Samsung Galaxy stock ROM [New Method – 2018]

Samsung has changed the way we used to flash the firmware files. Back in the day, there used to be only one .tar file that could flash a particular firmware on a phone via Odin. Nowadays, the Samsung stock firmware, especially the Android Oreo builds, come in 5 different files. When you unpack a firmware, you get the AP, BL, CP, CSC and HOME_CSC files. All these files have to be selected in their respective tab in order to be installed.

The old single-file method works for the old phones and the old firmware files (Android Nougat, Android Marshmallow and below). If you are using a new Galaxy handset from the year 2017 or the year 2018, you are probably going to get multiple firmware files. That is because the most of the phones released between 2017 and 2018 run on Android Oreo. The number of files will probably remain the same for Android Pie and the future Android versions.

Flashing different files on your Galaxy handset is not an issue. A little bit of problem is only the confusion that comes up when an average user has to select a firmware file in its respective tab.  At times, the users have no idea what file needs to go where or what file has what purpose. This is why I decided to do this guide.

As we discuss the method to install Samsung Galaxy Stock ROM on Android phones, we will also take a look at why do you need a stock ROM. We will also take a look at how a new stock firmware can improve your phone and in what situations it can come in handy.

Samsung Galaxy Stock ROM or Stock Firmware

Here are all the reasons that will indicate the installation of stock firmware on your Samsung Galaxy phone.

1. Manually updating your Samsung Galaxy
   1. Samsung rolls out the Software updates region-wise. When you do not want to wait for a software update to hit your region via OTA, the best method to get the update quickly is via Odin. The firmware files often make it to the internet with the very first rollout.
2. Reinstall Samsung Galaxy firmware
   1. If the phone acts weird, it slows down, hangs, or something else goes wrong, installing the stock ROM is your best option.
3. Restore the phone to factory settings
   1. Installing new firmware on the phone wipes all previous settings. It freshens up your device giving it a whole new start.
4. Unbrick the phone
   1. Soft-bricked your phone? no worries. If your experiment has failed bricked your device, the stock ROM installation guide is here to the rescue.
5. Unroot Galaxy Phones
   1. The best method to unroot a rooted Galaxy handset is to flash a stock ROM.
6. Uninstall a custom ROM
   1. Want to get rid of a custom ROM? Install Stock operating system is what can bring everything back.
7. Fix Bootloop
   1. Was your phone caught up in a bootloop? Getting out of the bootloop is going to be very easy with the help of a new ROM on your phone.
8. Downgrade the phone
   1. To downgrade the phone, you need the manual method.

Those were just a few of the main reasons to install a stock firmware on your Samsung Galaxy phone. While you follow the procedure, bear in mind that flashing a stock ROM does not void the warranty of your phone. It does not even touch the Knox counter of your phone. So whatever the state of your Knox counter was prior to flashing the firmware, it will be retained. For example, flashing the stock OS will not reset your phone’s Knox counter to 0 nor it will trip it further. It will stay where it was.

What Samsung phones is this guide valid for?

Every single Samsung Galaxy phone that exists, because, I will also give you guys a flashback of the old firmware installation method. I am also going to link several versions of Odin that will help you with even an old Samsung Galaxy phone. Just follow all the steps carefully.

Install stock ROM on Samsung Galaxy – [New Method 2018]

Preparations to install Stock firmware on Samsung Galaxy

• This guide is valid for only Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Do not try this on any other phone.
• Before flashing the software, charge your Samsung Galaxy phone up to 50% to avoid any power issue.
• Backup each and everything on your Samsung phone as there is a chance of losing your data.
• Use OEM data cable to connect the phone to the computer.
• Enable OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging mode on your Galaxy phone.
  • To do so, open Settings > About device > Tap build number for 7 times. This will enable Developer Options.
  • Now go back to Settings > Developer Options > Tap the radio buttons in front of OEM Unlocking and USB Debugging in order to enable both.
• Turn off Samsung Kies and Samsung Smart Switch while using Odin.
• Follow rest of the instructions carefully.

Required downloads

• Samsung USB Drivers
• Odin 3.13.1 – For a device released in 2017 and above | Also, for Android Oreo.
  • Extract to get the Odin.exe file.
• Firmware File [Open the site, type in the model number of your phone to find its firmware]
  • To find the firmware of your phone, open Settings > About device.
  • Unpack the downloaded firmware file to get AP, CP, BL, CSC and HOME_CSC file.

Understanding the files

1. AP: The main firmware file including the system and other such images.
2. BL: The file containing your phone’s bootloader.
3. CP: Previously known as “phone“, the file containing Modem for your device and all the MAC addresses.
4. CSC: Stands for Consumer Software Customization. It specifies the features that your phone will get depending on your geographical location.
5. HOME_CSC: Another CSC file, with a little bit of modification.

CSC and HOME_CSC, which file to select?

The CSC tab can consume only one file. So which one should you select? This is the part where most of the users get confused. So let’s understand in a few simple words.

1. CSC: Selecting this file will wipe all of your data including internal storage, applications, contacts, call logs and everything else that is there on your phone.
2. HOME_CSC: This will only reset the basic settings of your phone. It will NOT wipe your data or anything else.

Flashing Samsung Galaxy Stock ROM

Boot your phone in Download Mode in order to flash Samsung Galaxy Stock ROM

So, first of all, you have to boot your phone into the download mode. Here is how you can boot different Samsung phones into the download mode.

Old Samsung Phones with Home button:

Turn off the phone. Press and hold Volume Down + Home + Power buttons concurrently. Keep the keys pressed unless you see a warning on the screen. Press Volume Up to continue into download mode.

Samsung phones without Home button and with Bixby button:

Power down the phone completely. Press and hold Volume Down + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously. Keep the buttons pressed unless you see a warning on the screen. Now press Volume Up to continue.

Samsung phones without the home and Bixby button – Like Galaxy A8, A6 and other midrange and low-end phones:

Power down the phone completely. Press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Home button. Keep the keys pressed unless you see a warning sign on the screen. Press Volume Up now to continue into the download mode.

New phones like the Galaxy Note 9:

Plug the data cable into your computer. Now turn off your Galaxy Note 9. Press and hold Volume Down + Bixby button. While keeping the keys pressed, plug in the other end of the USB Type-C cable into the phone. It will now boot into the download mode. Press Volume Up key to continue.

Install Samsung Galaxy Stock Firmware now

1. Open Odin3 v3.13.1.exe file on your computer.
2. Now in Odin, click on the AP tab and select the AP file.
3. Select BL file in the BL tab.
4. Similarly, select the CP file in the CP tab.
5. In the CSC tab, select the CSC or HOME_CSC file as per your choice.
6. Click on Options in Odin, the only options checked should be F.Reset.Time and Auto-Reboot.
7. Boot your phone into the Download Mode and connect it to the PC.
8. Odin will show “Added” message in the log box upon successful connection.
9. Now your phone is ready for firmware flashing.
10. Click on the “Start” button in Odin.
11. Firmware installation will start now. It will take up to 5 minutes. Wait patiently.
12. Your phone will reboot automatically once the installation is done.
13. Disconnect it and enjoy new firmware.

Installing Stock Firmware on old Samsung Galaxy phones

I have already posted a number of guides on how to flash stock firmware on Samsung Galaxy phones. For old phones, you can follow these guides: How To Flash Stock Firmware On Samsung Galaxy With Odin.

Conclusion

That’s all I had to share. The purpose of doing such a detailed guide is to make this process as easy as possible. If you still have something that you cannot understand, feel free to reach out to me. Furthermore, don’t forget to stay in contact with us.