[Completed] Upgrade Samsung Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850F) - XDA Assist

Hi,
I'm seeking for some help. I have a phone with an old android version on it (4.4.2). It looks like that I will never receive an update via OTA, so I tried to upgrade it by my own. I tried to use Kies but it told me that I have the most recent version. After that I installed Heimdall and JOdin and downloaded a firmware (5.0.2) from here. I tried to follow the instructions of JOdin but failed. Every one of them are using some kind of script to download and install the new firmware or I don't know. And I couldn't find a way to use the downloaded firmware (about 2 gigs).
Is there a way to upgrade my phone to an original samsung firmware via my Mac (El Capitano) ?
Thanks for your help in advance

emulgeator said:
Hi,
I'm seeking for some help. I have a phone with an old android version on it (4.4.2). It looks like that I will never receive an update via OTA, so I tried to upgrade it by my own. I tried to use Kies but it told me that I have the most recent version. After that I installed Heimdall and JOdin and downloaded a firmware (5.0.2) from here. I tried to follow the instructions of JOdin but failed. Every one of them are using some kind of script to download and install the new firmware or I don't know. And I couldn't find a way to use the downloaded firmware (about 2 gigs).
Is there a way to upgrade my phone to an original samsung firmware via my Mac (El Capitano) ?
Thanks for your help in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, flashing a new firmware on a Samsung device via a Mac is not that easy.
The flashing tool no. 1 is Odin ... which is for Windows only.
If your device is rooted, you may try on-device flashing with Mobile Odin or FlashFire app from Chainfire.
Alternatively you can install Odin in a Windows virtual box on your Mac.
For better help and advices, you can ask in the Galaxy Alpha Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting forum.

Related

[Q] How to downgrade to official GS2 firmware so I can upgrade using Kies?

Hi,
I flashed my phone to the latest ICS firmware at the time, which was lp6 i think. I want to downgrade it to another official one, like the unbranded UK version so when it is released in UK I can upgrade it using kies.
I tried many firmwares but only 1 was had the ability to be upgraded via kies according to the firmware listo on sammobile.com, I tried it but Kies states Your Device Does Not Support Updating Via Kies.
So just to test, I downloaded the latest o2 ICS firmware, I still get the same message.
Anyone know what I can do so kies recognises it?
All help will be appreciated, and thanks.
maybe trying to download last original gingerbread rom with 4 files and try to update from kies
hamadazh said:
maybe trying to download last original gingerbread rom with 4 files and try to update from kies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know which one it is? I can't seem to figure out which one it is.
if you know odin you can use a rom to flash back to gingerbread like 2.3.5 official frimware : )

[Q] Upgrade 4.0.4 to 4.1.2?

Howdy. I've got a Relay that I'm using on T-Mobile, which got upgraded OTA to Android v4.1.2 . But I have another, seemingly identical Relay that used to be on T-Mobile but doesn't have a SIM that is stuck on 4.0.4 . I use it for non-phone functions over Wifi. Using the phone settings it refuses to upgrade, saying "The device is up to date." I tried using a Windows machine with Samsung Kies installed (and upgraded), but Kies says "your device current firmware version is not supported to update firmware via Kies".
I'm not really interested in rooting the phone at this point. I just want to upgrade to Android v4.1.2 so I can have the same apps on both stock phones. Any ideas?
Matthew-XDA-DEV said:
Howdy. I've got a Relay that I'm using on T-Mobile, which got upgraded OTA to Android v4.1.2 . But I have another, seemingly identical Relay that used to be on T-Mobile but doesn't have a SIM that is stuck on 4.0.4 . I use it for non-phone functions over Wifi. Using the phone settings it refuses to upgrade, saying "The device is up to date." I tried using a Windows machine with Samsung Kies installed (and upgraded), but Kies says "your device current firmware version is not supported to update firmware via Kies".
I'm not really interested in rooting the phone at this point. I just want to upgrade to Android v4.1.2 so I can have the same apps on both stock phones. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has the phone been previously rooted or modified? Usually that's why Kies would refuse to upgrade one.
In any case you can manually update it. The files are sprinkled around in the forum.
Stock
Jax184 said:
Has the phone been previously rooted or modified? Usually that's why Kies would refuse to upgrade one.
In any case you can manually update it. The files are sprinkled around in the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone hasn't been previously rooted or modified.
Where can I find the instructions and files to manually update it?
Matthew-XDA-DEV said:
The phone hasn't been previously rooted or modified.
Where can I find the instructions and files to manually update it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i got mine, before i rooted it, i had no sim.. put it on wifi, then went into about.. upgrade and did ota.
i highly reccomend unlocking via free mode.
samfirmware and odin is the other option.
yohan4ws said:
when i got mine, before i rooted it, i had no sim.. put it on wifi, then went into about.. upgrade and did ota.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's got no SIM, but it is on Wifi, and About device > Software update is what says "The device is up to date".
yohan4ws said:
i highly reccomend unlocking via free mode.
samfirmware and odin is the other option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
samfirmware and odin are apps for installing a firmware from a desktop? I don't have to root the phone or anything? I can find a stock 4.1.2 firmware for the Relay?
Matthew-XDA-DEV said:
samfirmware and odin are apps for installing a firmware from a desktop? I don't have to root the phone or anything? I can find a stock 4.1.2 firmware for the Relay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you do not have to have root to use odin
look here, many useful links in one post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262750
odin-flashable stock 4.1.2:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40591848&postcount=1
Matthew-XDA-DEV said:
It's got no SIM, but it is on Wifi, and About device > Software update is what says "The device is up to date".
samfirmware and odin are apps for installing a firmware from a desktop? I don't have to root the phone or anything? I can find a stock 4.1.2 firmware for the Relay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
www.samfirmware.com is a place you can download firmwares for any Samsung Rom.
Odin is the program used to flash .tar images. You'll need Odin to flash things like stock firmwares and bootloaders like ClockworkMod (CWM)

Can a root device be upgraded?

Hi all
A week ago a rooted my Samsung Galaxy S6 device following this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/general/root-pingpongroot-s6-root-tool-t3103016
All was OK. At that point my device is using the Android Version: 5.0.2
The question I have is that now the version 5.1.1 (Lillipop) has been released, I would like to know if my rooted device can still be upgrading when the new version is released in my region (Mexico) by the phone provider. (Telcel). In case it cannot be updated automatically, I guess I will need to do it manually or unroot my device. In that scenario, Does someone know a good tutorial how to do that?
Regards!
@LesthadMK, sure you can update rooted devices. But it may not be possible via OTA update. You will have to download the full firmware and install it manually.
Because root makes changes to system partition, OTA fails when you have rooted. If you unroot and flash stock recovery and kernel back, then OTA may work. Otherwise, simply flash the full firmware, in .tar format using Odin software, and you're good.
It's good to have full firmware saved on PC anyway, as if in case you brick your device, you can fix it by installing your device's firmware manually.
If you need help with 5.1.1 firmware installation on your s6, let me know the build no. of your device.. I will guide you to page you need to look at.
Thanks for the help. I have download Odin in case I need to do it manually.
Also, mentioned that yesterday I read an article saying that using the Samsung software "Smart Switch" in an rooted device will upgrade the device to the newest version (which I don't know if it it's true or not) Any way this is the link I found:.... Well seems since I'm newby I cannot post some external links. So just google it as: How to Use Smart Switch to Update Your Galaxy S6—Even It's Rooted.
By other hand, this is the build number for my device: G920IDVU1AOE3, so if you can help me to know how to upgrade that version that would be very helpful
Regards!

[Completed] Samsung Galaxy Alpha (SM-G850F) + Kies 3

I am in desperate need of assistance:
I downloaded and installed the latest versin of Kies 3 (3.12.03), because I wanted to update my firmware. I last updated the firmware last summer (2015) when Lollipop became available for my device. It wored flawlessly back then.
Well, it simply doesn't work this time. It either hangs itself when I connect the phone after Kies 3 was launched, or it greys out completely (the whole application) when I select "Firmware upgrade and initialization".
I already tried upgrading via Odin, but the md5 I downloaded seems incompatible with my device, leading to a "Failed!" result (I picked the UK version since I have my phone in English, and no, I didn't buy it with a provider, I bought it brand-free).
Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
XDA Visitor said:
I am in desperate need of assistance:
I downloaded and installed the latest versin of Kies 3 (3.12.03), because I wanted to update my firmware. I last updated the firmware last summer (2015) when Lollipop became available for my device. It wored flawlessly back then.
Well, it simply doesn't work this time. It either hangs itself when I connect the phone after Kies 3 was launched, or it greys out completely (the whole application) when I select "Firmware upgrade and initialization".
I already tried upgrading via Odin, but the md5 I downloaded seems incompatible with my device, leading to a "Failed!" result (I picked the UK version since I have my phone in English, and no, I didn't buy it with a provider, I bought it brand-free).
Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings,
Thank you for using XDA Assist.
Please have a look at the Galaxy Alpha homepage:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-alpha
If you create an XDA account, you can post your question here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-alpha/help
You'll receive expert advice from those that own the device, there.
Good luck and welcome to XDA!

How to really downgrade Galaxy S6 SM-G920F firmware from 7.0 to 5.0.2/5.1.1/6.0.1?

Hello
I've been reading forums and downloading files for days. Many of the links in the posts no longer work. Posts are 5 years and older. There are no new ones. At least not one that actually works. Downgrade I mean. That's why I wrote this question and I'm asking for help - how to really downgrade my Galaxy S6 G920F.
Thanks for the help.
PSA: Downgrading WILL void your warranty!
What have you already done (what method, software) have you already tried?
The 100% surefire way to downgrade your phone (or any android phone really), is to:
1. Backup your phone data.
2. Switch the phone into download mode, connect to PC, boot into TWRP recovery through fastboot
3. Wipe your 7.0 firmware and all data
4. Flash android 5.02 ROM
For a samsung phones ODIN + Freya is also an option. Odin is a samsung's firmware flashing tool, Freya is a 3rd party program that can download the stock firmware android for you. All of these tools are available online, and you can ask on a samsung subsection of XDA about how to use them - people can give you up to date links.

			
				
I'm laughing because you write quite a lot in three days. Of course, this method does not work.
Is there anyone willing to help?
Totesnochill said:
PSA: Downgrading WILL void your warranty!
What have you already done (what method, software) have you already tried?
The 100% surefire way to downgrade your phone (or any android phone really), is to:
1. Backup your phone data.
2. Switch the phone into download mode, connect to PC, boot into TWRP recovery through fastboot
3. Wipe your 7.0 firmware and all data
4. Flash android 5.02 ROM
For a samsung phones ODIN + Freya is also an option. Odin is a samsung's firmware flashing tool, Freya is a 3rd party program that can download the stock firmware android for you. All of these tools are available online, and you can ask on a samsung subsection of XDA about how to use them - people can give you up to date links.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is assuming they have TWRP.
Also, the part you mention about "boot into download mode, connect to PC then boot to TWRP via fastboot" is not correct because Samsung is not compatible with fastboot, adb works but fastboot does not. Some Samsung devices technically have a "fastboot mode" but it isn't functional, it doesn't respond to fastboot commands, it's basically useless.
Also, you can't flash a firmware that has a lower binary than the currently installed firmware so if the binary of the downgraded firmware is lower than the binary of the currently installed firmware, the downgraded firmware can't be flashed.
Samsung is making it harder and harder to downgrade their devices.
OK. I'm afraid I'm missing the point of what's being said.
I know it is possible and there are also posts about it, but they are old, the links in them do not work. I'm asking for an expert who knows how to do this, philosophizing about what it would be like if it somehow doesn't really help me and I'm not interested either
I'm only interested in a positive thought, help and not brainstorming, if you understand me?
No offense

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