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Odin (firmware flashing software)

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Odin
Developer(s)Samsung
Stable release
v3 - 3.14.1[1] (Windows)

v4 - 1.2.1 (Linux)

/ June 2022; 2 years ago (2022-06)
Operating system(v3) Windows (v4) Linux
Available inEnglish

Odin is a utility software program developed and used by Samsung internally which is used to communicate with Samsung devices in Odin mode (also called download mode) through the Thor (protocol). It can be used to flash a custom recovery firmware image (as opposed to the stock recovery firmware image) to a Samsung Android device. Odin is also used for unbricking certain Android devices.[2] Odin is the Samsung proprietary alternative to Fastboot.

There is no account of Samsung ever having officially openly released Odin,[3] though it is mentioned in the developer documents for Samsung Knox SDK[4] and some documents even instruct users to use Odin.[5] Some other docs on Knox SDK reference "engineering firmware",[6][7] which presumably can be a part of the Knox SDK along with Odin. Publicly available binaries are believed to be the result of leaks. The tool is not intended for end-users, but for Samsung's own personnel and approved repair centers.[8]

Usage

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Although none of the publicly available downloads are authorized by Samsung itself, XDA-Developers consider the files offered on their Forum (Patched Odin v3 3.14.1 for windows) (Odin v4 1.2.1 for linux) the safest option.

For the usage of Odin, the phone needs to be in Download mode. For this, some key combination need to be pressed, such as Power + Volume Down + Home, or Power + Volume Down + Bixby for later models.[9]

Heimdall

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Graphical user interface for Heimdall running on Ubuntu

Heimdall is a free/libre/open-source, cross-platform replacement for Odin which is based on libusb.[3] Heimdall can be used on Mac or Linux.[10] The name Heimdall, like Odin, is an allusion to Norse mythology; both Odin and Heimdall are among the deities of the Norse pantheon.[11][non-primary source needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Download Odinflash for Window". xda forums. 2024-08-15.
  2. ^ "Odin Download: Samsung Firmware Flash Tool". Magisk ZIP. 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  3. ^ a b Drake, Joshua J. (2014). Android hacker's handbook. Zach Lanier, Collin Mulliner, Pau Oliva, Stephen A. Ridley, Georg Wicherski. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley. p. 488. ISBN 978-1-118-60861-6. OCLC 875820167.
  4. ^ "Knox Glossary of Terms and Acronyms" (PDF). Samsung.com. Santa Clara, California: Samsung. 2013-10-17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  5. ^ "How Can I Change or Download the Device Firmware?". Samsung Enterprise Alliance Program. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13.
  6. ^ "How Can I Check If My Device Firmware is an Engineering or Commercial Build?". Samsung Enterprise Alliance Program. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13.
  7. ^ "How Can I Make My App Work Properly on a Device with Engineering Firmware?". Samsung Enterprise Alliance Program. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13.
  8. ^ Crider, Michael (5 February 2018). "How to Manually Update Your Samsung Phone with Odin". How-To Geek. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  9. ^ Dumitru, Bogdan. "Boot any Samsung Devices into Download Mode". Odin. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  10. ^ Shukla, Rakesh (2023-04-09). "Flash Samsung Firmware with Heimdall & JOdin3 on Mac". Technastic. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  11. ^ "Heimdall". Retrieved December 15, 2021.


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