The purpose of this thread is to have one post with links to all of the following guides:
Unlock Bootloader by
@mingkee
TWRP Recovery by
@Magendanz
Custom ROM Nexus Stock by
@Magendanz - current release is
SM-T510 only
Custom ROM LineageOS 16.0 by
@Magendanz -
SM-T510 only
All credit to
@Magendanz and
@mingkee for those.
Below are my own observations which supplement but
do not replace the guides above. The original posts includes important information not quoted below. You
need to read the relevant guides above (depending on what you want to do), and you
may get some additional benefit from reading my thoughts below before following the guides above.
***
Contents
- Overview
- Downloads
- Buttons
- Unlock Bootloader
- Rooting
- How to use Odin
***
Overview
To root your device you need to first install the TWRP recovery.
@Magendanz includes TWRP in his ROMs, so you have two options, TWRP without custom ROM, or TWRP with custom ROM.
To be able to install a ROM or recovery you first need to unlock your bootloader.
WARNING - take note of the kernel version of the custom ROM or TWRP you intend to use, e.g. T510XXU2ASI4. Newer bootloader releases will sometimes prevent downgrading, so if you flash a firmware/ROM/TWRP with a later kernel version you may not be able to flash your desired custom ROM without problems, or flashing an older version than you are currently running may trigger anti-rollback mechanisms. Magendanz suggests matching the version exactly.
There are then two paths:
Original ROM:
- Read the TWRP instructions
- Download any zip you plan to flash (install) from TWRP (e.g. Multi-disable and Magisk) and save to your sdcard. Internal memory will be wiped (formatted) as a necessary step in installing TWRP (if you follow the instructions correctly). Note that the folder /sdcard is part of the devices internal memory, your actual sdcard data can be found in something like /storage/ABCD-1234 in Android, or external_sd in TWRP.
- Unlock Bootloader - Click to see original post:
- Install TWRP recovery .tar.md5 file via Odin by following the TWRP instructions.
Click to see instructions from the TWRP OP -
- [Optional] Install Magisk to get root - see Rooting section below
Don't forget to install Multi-disabler
before doing Format Data! (as described in the guide) - In TWRP tap
Install then select the Multi-disabler zip file.
Custom ROM [
Allow several hours for the custom ROM download]:
- Read the custom ROM instructions: Nexus Stock / LineageOS 16.0
- Download any zip you plan to flash (install) from TWRP (e.g. Magisk) and save to your sdcard. Internal memory will be wiped as a necessary step in installing TWRP (if you follow the instructions correctly). Note that the folder /sdcard is part of the devices internal memory, your actual sdcard data can be found in something like /storage/ABCD-1234 in Android, or external_sd in TWRP.
- Unlock Bootloader - Click to see original post:
- Install custom ROM .tar.md5 file (which includes TWRP) via Odin, by following the custom ROM instructions.
Click for instructions from OP for Nexus Stock -
Click for instructions from OP for LineageOS 16.0 -
Note that "wipe data" means Wipe -> Format Data
- [Optional] Install Magisk to get root - see Rooting section below
Dirty flash: If you had installed the custom ROM previously and are now updating to a newer version then all you need to do is use Odin to flash the latest tar.md5 file. It will enter TWRP after the flash, no need to Format Data, just reboot to system. Alternatively if the ROM developer provides a flashable zip, you can update with TWRP.
Some users have reported getting stuck on the boot animation after a dirty flash, I don't know if that still happens with the latest versions of
@Magendanz's ROMs. If it does the solution is to boot into recovery and flash
Multi-disabler.
For TWRP versions before v3.3.1-5 you MUST format the encrypted data partition after flashing TWRP or TWRP will hang on the splash screen. For later versions of TWRP you
should format the encrypted data partition after flashing TWRP so that TWRP can access the data partition.
You can use TWRP to flash zip files, e.g. to install newer versions of TWRP itself, or custom ROM zips, as follows:
1. Download the zip file
2. Boot into Recovery
3. Install -> Select the TWRP zip file
4. Reboot to System
You *cannot* use TWRP to flash tar.md5 files, and you must use Odin at least once to get TWRP installed in the first place.
***
Downloads
You may not need ALL of these downloads, this is just a handy list of some of the downloads mentioned in the guides
Samsung Smart Switch (for USB drivers)
Magisk - Download
Latest Stable zip file to flash in TWRP (see
Rooting below) and
Latest Magisk Manager to install as an app
Odin
Multi-disabler (required by TWRP only tar.md5)
Firmwares
SM-T510 SM-T515 - allow several hours, at least, for the firmware downloads to complete
WARNING - take note of the kernel version of the custom ROM you intend to use, e.g. T510XXU2ASI4 and your current version (Settings | About tablet). Newer bootloader releases will sometimes prevent downgrading, so if you flash a firmware with a later kernel version you may not be able to flash your desired custom ROM without problems, or flashing an older version than you are currently running may trigger anti-rollback mechanisms. Magendanz suggests matching the version exactly.
***
Buttons
- Power On: Hold the Power button for 3 seconds
- Boot to Recovery (Before unlocking bootloader) Power On and Press and hold Power and Volume Up until you see Recovery running.
- Boot to Recovery (After unlocking bootloader) Power On and then press Power and Volume Up as soon as you see the unlocked bootloader warning. No need to hold.
- Boot to Download: Press and hold Volume Up and Volume Down and connect to computer with USB cable.
Click to see
Unlock Bootloader original post...
After unlocking the bootloader every time you turn the device on a warning about the bootloader being unlocked will appear for ten seconds, unless you dismiss it by pressing the power button.
If you are holding the Power button and Volume Up to boot into recovery this warning screen will flash on and off briefly, at which point you can stop holding down the buttons. Recovery will start a few seconds later.
***
Rooting
Root can be achieved by flashing Magisk in TWRP (you also need to install the Magisk Manager app).
From Magisk 19.3 onwards there is no longer a need to use Magisk Manager to patch a tar.md5 file or anything like that.
You can even install Magisk the first time TWRP runs after flashing one of
@Magendanz's tar.md5 files in Odin.
To do so follow
@Magendanz's guide up to the point where you have Factory Reset/Wiped Data in TWRP then:
1. Reboot to Recovery
2. Install -> Select the Magisk zip file
3. Reboot to System
4. Install Magisk Manager
Otherwise you can start by installing the Magisk Manager app at any time.
Note: You will need to re-install Magisk after a TWRP update.
***
How to use Odin
Odin is a Windows tool for firmware flashing on Samsung devices via USB. Odin can be used to flash firmware, kernels, recoveries or ROMs to your device.
* Firmware zip (or rar) files need to be extracted and then install via Odin. Flashable zip files (e.g. new versions of TWRP or custom ROMs) can only be flashed from TWRP, not Odin, though you need to flash a TWRP tar.md5 file using Odin in the first place *
Preparing the device
- Charge the device to at least 80%.
- Bootloader unlocked
- In developer options, turn USB debugging on. Click on Build number in Settings several times until you see the toast notification "You are now a developer". Go to Developer Options and turn on the USB debugging option.
- In the stock ROM Build number can be found here: Settings | About Tablet | Software Information and the "Developer Options" menu item appears below About Tablet in the main Settings screen.
- The locations may be different in custom ROMs. In the Nexus based ROM the locations are Settings | About phone for Build number, and System | Advanced for Developer options
- Turn off the phone, hold down the Volumn Up and Volume Down buttons and connect the device to the computer with a USB cable (preferably the cable that came with the device). A warning will appear saying "A custom OS can cause critical problems in phone and installed applications".
- Press the Volume Up button briefly to continue.
The device is now in Download mode.
Install Odin version 3.13.3.
When you run it a dialog will pop up in English and Chinese. Click OK.
The Odin window looks like this:
View attachment 4853507
Above ID:COM on the left is the progress bar, below ID:COM is the connection indicator which changes colour (and shows the COM id) when your device is connected in Download mode.
Below that is the "Log" tab which gives verbose output showing what's happening. Normally you will not need to go near the Option or Pit tabs.
There are four buttons in the middle of the screen corresponding to the types of file that you can flash: BL (boot loader), AP (Application Processor, PDA), CP (Core Processor, phone/modem), CSC (Consumer Software Customization)
Depending on what you are flashing you will need to load one or more files. To load each file type click on the corresponding button and select the file to be flashed.
Odin will show the following in the "Log" while the file is being processed:
Code:
<OSM> Enter CS for MD5
<OSM> Check MD5... Do not unplug the cable...
<OSM> Please wait...
For AP_ files this can take some time, during which the button will remain greyed out. When the file has loaded the "Log" will say:
Code:
<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Successfully...
<OSM> Leaving CS...
... the button will be enabled again, the text field beside the button will be filled with the fullpath of the selected file, and the checkbox next to the button ticked.
@Magendanz's TWRP and ROM files are both single files flashed to AP, so just click the AP button and the select the tar.md5 file.
If you are flashing firmware ( e.g.
https://samfrew.com/model/SM-T510/ ) unzip the download into separate files and load each with the correspong button. The filenames begin with BL_..., AL_... etc so you'll know which is which.
There will be both a CSC_ and HOME_CSC_ file. You could flash HOME_CSC_ to keep your device's settings and data but normally you should use CSC_ for a clean install. If you have an SM-T515 then you'll have a CP_ file too, but if you have a SM-T510 then your firmware will not have a CP_ file because that's for the phone (SM-T510 is wifi only), so just leave CP alone, only load BL, AP and CSC.
Verify that your device is connected in download mode. The box below ID:COM should show the COM id of the connected device and there should be a line in the "log" saying something like <ID:0/008> Added!!
Click Start to flash the selected files.
DO NOT UNPLUG THE CABLE UNTIL THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE. You can follow the progress in Odin and on the Download screen on your device. To flash a ROM or firmware will take several minutes.
If you are flashing one of
@Magendanz's tar.md5 files then your device will reboot into TWRP once the install is complete. At that point continue following
@Magendanz's guide.
Note: You will need to turn on USB debugging again after flashing firmware, or a clean install of a ROM, before you can use Odin to flash again. Also check that
OEM unlock is still turned on.
Usunoro...
