If your Galaxy guide calls for Odin, start with the full model number and the matching firmware package. You can find the model under Settings > About phone, or Settings > About tablet on a Galaxy Tab. Samsung’s model number guide
I’ll show you how to check the ZIP, put the firmware files in Odin’s slots, and review the selections before you press Start. For a single file such as TWRP, use the recovery instructions for your exact model.
What you need before starting
- A Windows PC with a supported Samsung USB driver, connected to power. Check the current driver from Samsung Developers.
- The original USB cable, or any cable that carries data and not just charge
- The latest Samsung USB driver installed on the PC
- Your phone’s full model number and CSC code
- The firmware for that exact model, and a fresh backup of your data
Which Odin version should you use?
Choose an Odin package using a procedure for your exact Galaxy model and firmware. You can download v3.14.1 or v3.14.4, but neither version label is a compatibility list.
Our static comparison found matching .text sections in the 3.14.1 and 3.14.4 executables, while other files in their ZIPs differ. See the Odin archive comparison for the details before choosing a download.
If you own an older device, like a Galaxy S5 or Note 4, and v3.14.1 won’t flash it, try an older build from my Odin older versions list. v3.13.1 and v3.12.7 are the ones I reach for first.
Verify your Odin download
Samsung has never put Odin on a public download page. It’s an internal service tool, so every copy you find online is hosted by someone else, including this one. That’s why I always check the file before I run it.
- Download the Odin ZIP into a new, empty folder.
- Open PowerShell in that folder and run
Get-FileHash .\Odin3-v3.14.1.zip. - Compare the result with the SHA-256 listed on the download page. I also keep every hash in a public checksum list on GitHub.
- Scan the ZIP with Windows Security, then extract it. Don’t run Odin from inside the ZIP.
A real Odin package is a small ZIP with the Odin3 .exe, a .ini file and one or two DLLs. If a site gives you an installer, asks for a password, or shows fake Windows warnings, close it.
How to flash firmware with Odin
Follow these steps in order. If anything on your screen looks different from what I describe, stop and figure out why before you press Start.
- Go to Settings > About phone > Software information and note your full model number (for example SM-S928B, not just “Galaxy S24 Ultra”), your build number and your service provider (CSC) code.
- Back up everything you care about. Photos, chats, and the recovery codes for your two-factor apps. Then charge the phone to at least 60%.
- Install the Samsung USB driver on your PC and restart it. Close Smart Switch, Samsung Kies and any other phone software, because they can grab the USB connection. Odin only runs on Windows, so if you are on a Mac or Linux machine, use one of these Odin alternatives for Mac and Linux.
- Extract the Odin ZIP you verified above. Right-click Odin3 and choose Run as administrator.
- Download the firmware for your exact model and CSC, and extract it. You will get up to five files that start with BL, AP, CP, CSC and HOME_CSC. Keep them all from that one download. My Samsung firmware files guide explains what each one does.
- Boot the phone into Download Mode. On most newer Galaxy phones, turn it off, hold Volume Up and Volume Down together and plug in the USB cable. Then press Volume Up on the warning screen. Older phones with a Home or Bixby key use a different combo, and I cover every one of them in my Download Mode guide, along with the D2 error fix for One UI 8.5 and One UI 9.
- Look at Odin. The first ID:COM box should turn blue and the log should say Added!!. If it doesn’t, try another USB port (a rear port on a desktop), another cable, or reinstall the driver.
- Click BL and pick the BL file. Do the same for AP, CP and CSC. AP is the big one, so Odin can freeze for a minute while it checks it. That’s normal.
- For the CSC slot, choose CSC if you want a clean install that wipes the phone. Choose HOME_CSC if you want to keep your apps and data.
- Open the Options tab and use the settings for your exact model and procedure. See the Odin options example for a documented stock reinstall.
- Click Start. Don’t touch the cable or the PC until the box at the top turns green and says PASS.
The phone will restart on its own after PASS. That’s it.
What each step looks like
Here is what you should see on the phone and in Odin. Your window may look slightly different depending on the Odin version and your Windows theme.
Odin options explained
I checked the control labels inside the Odin 3.14.1 and Odin 3.14.4 downloads here. Both contain the labels below. For a stock reinstall example, see the /e/OS instructions for the Galaxy S9 and S9+. That procedure used Odin 3.14.4.
| Option | What to check |
|---|---|
| Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time | Check both for the linked stock reinstall. If you are installing a recovery, follow that recovery guide’s reboot instructions. |
| Re-Partition and PIT | Leave Re-Partition off and the PIT file unset for this example. If a repair guide calls for a PIT file, check that it names your exact model. |
| Nand Erase | Leave it off for this procedure. Read my CSC and HOME_CSC guide before deciding whether to reset the phone. |
| Flash Lock and DeviceInfo | I would leave these alone unless the instructions for your device call for a change. |
How to flash a single file like TWRP
You don’t always need the full firmware. Odin can also flash a single .tar file, like TWRP recovery or a patched boot image. Your bootloader needs to be unlocked for this. On most Galaxy phones, that’s Settings > Developer options > OEM unlocking.
- Boot into Download Mode and connect the phone, the same way as above.
- Open Options and untick Auto Reboot.
- Click AP and pick the TWRP .tar file. Leave BL, CP and CSC empty.
- Click Start and wait for PASS.
- Hold Volume Down and Power to leave Download Mode. As soon as the screen goes black, switch to Volume Up and Power to boot straight into TWRP.
Here’s why the last step matters. If the phone boots into Android first, stock firmware can replace TWRP with Samsung’s recovery, and you will have to flash it again.
What to expect after the flash
The first boot after a full firmware flash takes longer than usual. It can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, with the Samsung logo sitting there the whole time. Let it be.
If you used CSC, you will see the setup screen, just like a new phone. If you used HOME_CSC, you should land on your lock screen with your apps still there.
To confirm the flash worked, go to Settings > About phone > Software information and check that the build number matches the firmware you downloaded.
If the phone keeps restarting after a HOME_CSC flash, the old data is usually clashing with the new software. Boot into recovery (Volume Up and Power while connected to a PC), pick Wipe data/factory reset, and it should start normally. That wipes the phone, which is why the backup step matters.
Common Odin problems
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| No ID:COM or Added message | Reinstall the Samsung USB Driver, change USB port, try another data cable, and close Smart Switch. |
| AP appears frozen while loading | Wait. AP is normally several gigabytes and Odin can take time to calculate and load it. |
| FAIL in the Odin log | Save the log. Re-check the full model, bootloader revision, firmware archive, cable, and USB connection before retrying. My Odin errors guide explains each FAIL message. |
| Phone loops after PASS | First boot can take longer. If it never completes, use the device-specific recovery procedure or qualified support. |
Never improvise during a flash. Don’t pull the cable, don’t mix files from different firmware downloads, and don’t tick Re-Partition unless a repair guide for your exact model tells you to.
Odin tutorial FAQ
Does flashing with Odin void the warranty or trip Knox?
Flashing official Samsung firmware with Odin does not trip Knox. Knox only trips when you flash something unofficial, like TWRP, a patched boot image or a custom ROM, on an unlocked bootloader.
Will Odin delete my data?
It depends on the CSC file. CSC does a clean install and wipes the phone. HOME_CSC tries to keep your apps and files. Back up anyway, because a failed flash can still mean a reset. I explain how CSC and HOME_CSC differ in my firmware files guide.
Can I downgrade my firmware with Odin?
Usually only within the same bootloader version. The fifth character from the end of the build number is the bootloader revision, and Odin will refuse firmware with a lower one than your phone has.
Why is Odin stuck at “SetupConnection” or not detecting my phone?
That’s almost always the driver, cable or port. Reinstall the Samsung USB driver, switch to another port and cable, and close Smart Switch. My Odin errors guide covers the rest.
Can I use Odin on a Mac?
The Odin3 ZIPs used in this tutorial contain Windows executables. On a Mac or Linux PC, read my platform comparison and check each tool’s own requirements. A different program being available does not establish that your phone, firmware or installed software is supported.
Is NetOdin the same tool as Odin3?
No. This guide covers Odin3 with a USB connection. A 2020 Gear S3 Frontier study describes using NetOdin through the watch’s wireless AP mode. That example does not establish support for another watch or a Galaxy phone. I would check the exact model and guide before choosing either tool.
The Odin3 ZIPs linked here are not NetOdin downloads. I have not tested NetOdin on a watch, and I do not host a NetOdin package.
If Odin keeps giving you trouble, try Brokkr, a free open-source flasher that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. And if a patched Odin looks tempting, read what it can and can’t fix first.
If you run into any trouble while following this tutorial, drop me a line through the contact page. Tell me your phone’s model number and the last few lines of the Odin log, and I will help you figure it out.