How to Restore the Original Galaxy Note 9 Firmware

In the near future, I will be showing you how to install popular modifications to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. These mods disable certain features (like accepting OTA updates) and some people just like to experiment with them. So this tutorial will show you how to restore the software back to how it was originally.

There are a lot of popular modifications for Android that enhance and add features to the hardware we rightfully paid for. A big example of this is the ability to install a custom ROM on our smartphone. It should be as easy as a click of a button but there are a number of steps one must take before they can even begin to think about which ROM they want to use.

For this particular task, this involves unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery (the most popular one right now is called TWRP). If you purchased your Galaxy Note 9 in the United States then you will be unable to do either of these right now. If an exploit is released then it would be possible but the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.

Installing TWRP, Root and/or a Custom ROM

For those who purchased a Galaxy Note 9 with an Exynos chipset, the process of unlocking the bootloader is very easy. I even showed you how easy it was in this previous tutorial. Installing TWRP is a bit more difficult as is gaining root access to the smartphone. I will be showing you how to do this in a future guide though. the same can be said about installing a custom ROM too.

There are certain types of people who simply do not have the time or patience to install the mods mentioned above. And not many people tell you that if you have TWRP or root installed on Samsung’s stock software then you can no longer download and install new OTA updates like you normally would. So not only did you spend time installing those mods, but you also lost the ability to easily update your phone.

That doesn’t mean the Galaxy Note 9 cannot be updated to the latest version if you have TWRP, root, or a Custom ROM installed. It just means that you have to do these things manually in order to keep up with the latest updates. So while some people might like the idea of installing a custom recovery like TWRP, maintaining the phone with the latest version of Android may not be for them.

So, for those had fun but would like to go back to the stock Samsung Experience software (so you can accept those OTA updates again), then you’ll want to follow these instructions below. However, I do recommend that you create a backup of your data ahead of time so that you can restore the data once you have installed a fresh version of Samsung Experience.

12 steps may seem like a lot to some people but like most Android tutorials, it’s all about the setup process. The important parts are getting Odin downloaded and extracted. Then you need t make sure you are downloading the Samsung firmware that you want to install. As I mentioned in the video, this may be the exact version for your device, or it may be for a different version.

You do need to be careful though. If you purchased your Galaxy Note 9 from AT&T, Verizon, Rogers, Telus or any other specific wireless carrier then it could come with specific applications that you use. You may pay your phone bill with an application that one of these carriers installed. You may access your voicemail or use Advanced Messaging.

Don’t Mix and Match Galaxy Note 9 Firmware

So if you’re the type that uses one of those pre-installed wireless carrier applications then be sure to download the Samsung firmware for that specific device. You also want to download the firmware that matches your hardware. My Galaxy Note 9 has Samsung’s own Exynos chipset while the versions which are sold in the United States use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip.

So in my case, I don’t want to install firmware from any of these U.S. wireless carriers, the unlocked variant, or any one that was made for the Snapdragon SoC. Unless you have a specific reason to change things, I always recommend that you install the same firmware that was installed on your Galaxy Note 9 from the factory.

However, there are some modded versions of the Samsung Experience firmware which are available on XDA that remove apps/services (aka debloats them). There are some that add extra features too. But again, just make sure you’re installing a version that matches the chip that is currently inside your smartphone. If you’re not aware of which chip is inside your Galaxy Note 9 then use the AIDA64 app and look for the chip name.