If you’re a proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus (Exynos variant), you might be interested in enhancing your device’s capabilities by installing TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project) recovery. TWRP recovery allows you to perform advanced tasks on your device, such as flashing custom ROMs, making system backups, and more. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. So let’s dive in!
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are powerful smartphones with impressive features. However, if you want to take your device to the next level and customize it according to your preferences, installing TWRP recovery is the way to go. TWRP recovery is a custom recovery that allows you to install custom ROMs, mods, kernels, and more on your device. It provides advanced options for system backup and restore, partitioning, and file management. In this guide, we’ll provide you with detailed instructions on how to install TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus (Exynos variant).
What is TWRP Recovery?
TWRP, short for TeamWin Recovery Project, is a custom recovery for Android devices. It replaces the stock recovery that comes pre-installed on your device and provides a wide range of additional features and functionalities. TWRP recovery allows you to perform various tasks that are not possible with the stock recovery, such as installing custom ROMs, creating and restoring backups, wiping data and cache, and much more. It is a powerful tool that can greatly enhance your Android experience by giving you more control over your device.
Pre-Requisites
Before you proceed with the installation process, there are a few things you need to take care of. These pre-requisites will ensure a smooth and successful installation of TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.
Device Compatibility
First and foremost, make sure that you have the Exynos variant of the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. TWRP recovery is specifically designed for Exynos devices, and attempting to install it on a Snapdragon variant can result in bricking your device.
Backup your Data
Installing TWRP recovery involves modifying system files, which can potentially lead to data loss. It is essential to create a backup of your important data before proceeding with the installation process. You can use the built-in backup feature in TWRP recovery to create a full system backup, including your apps, settings, and data.
Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging
To enable the necessary settings for installing TWRP recovery, you need to enable Developer Options and USB Debugging on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. Follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your device.
- Scroll down and tap on About phone.
- Locate the Build number and tap on it seven times to enable Developer Options.
- Go back to the main Settings menu and tap on Developer Options.
- Scroll down and enable USB Debugging.
With these pre-requisites in place, you’re ready to proceed with the installation of TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.
Download Required Files
Before you can install TWRP recovery on your device, you need to gather the necessary files. Here’s a list of the files you’ll need:
- Odin: Odin is a Windows-based tool that allows you to flash firmware, custom recoveries, and other files on Samsung devices. You can download the latest version of Odin from the official website.
- Samsung USB Drivers: To connect your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus to your computer, you need to install the appropriate USB drivers. You can download the latest Samsung USB drivers from the official Samsung website.
- TWRP Recovery: The TWRP recovery file is specific to your device model and variant. You can download the latest TWRP recovery for your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus from the official TWRP website:
- S8 – https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxys8.html
- S8+ – https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxys8plus.html
Make sure to download the correct files for your device model and variant. Once you have downloaded these files, you’re ready to proceed to the next step.
Unlocking the Bootloader
Before you can install TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus, you need to unlock the bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader allows you to modify the system partitions of your device, which is necessary for installing custom recoveries, custom ROMs, and other modifications. Here’s how you can unlock the bootloader on your device:
Enabling OEM Unlocking
- Go to Settings on your device.
- Scroll down and tap on Developer Options.
- Locate the OEM unlocking option and enable it.
Booting into Download Mode
- Power off your device.
- Press and hold the Volume Down + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously until you see a warning screen.
- Press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode.
Flashing TWRP Recovery using Odin
- Launch Odin on your computer.
- Connect your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus to your computer using a USB cable.
- In Odin, click on the AP button and select the TWRP recovery file you downloaded earlier.
- Ensure that only the options “Auto Reboot” and “F. Reset Time” are selected in Odin.
- Click on the Start button to begin flashing TWRP recovery.
- Once the flashing process is complete, you will see a “PASS” message in Odin.
- Disconnect your device from the computer.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. Now, let’s proceed to the next step and boot into TWRP recovery.
Booting into TWRP Recovery
Booting into TWRP recovery is a simple process that allows you to access the advanced features and functions of TWRP. Here’s how you can boot into TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus:
- Power off your device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up + Bixby + Power buttons simultaneously until the Samsung logo appears.
- Release all the buttons when you see the TWRP recovery screen.
Now you’re in TWRP recovery mode and ready to explore its various features and functions. In the next section, we’ll discuss how to install Magisk, which allows you to root your device and access even more customization options.
Installing Magisk (Optional)
Magisk is a popular rooting solution that allows you to gain root access on your device while still passing SafetyNet checks. Rooting your device with Magisk gives you full control over your device and enables you to install modules, modify system files, and more. Here’s how you can install Magisk on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus:
Downloading Magisk
- Go to the official Magisk GitHub page.
- Download the latest Magisk ZIP file.
Flashing Magisk in TWRP
- Boot into TWRP recovery on your device.
- Tap on the Install button.
- Navigate to the location where you downloaded the Magisk ZIP file.
- Select the Magisk ZIP file and swipe the slider to confirm the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, tap on the Reboot System button.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Magisk on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. You now have root access on your device and can enjoy the full potential of customization options.
Navigating and Using TWRP Recovery
TWRP recovery offers a wide range of features and functions that can enhance your Android experience. In this section, we’ll explore some of the key features of TWRP recovery and how to use them effectively.
Backup and Restore
One of the most important features of TWRP recovery is the ability to create full system backups and restore them when needed. This allows you to safeguard your data and settings and revert to a previous state if anything goes wrong. To create a backup in TWRP recovery, follow these steps:
- Boot into TWRP recovery on your device.
- Tap on the Backup button.
- Select the partitions you want to backup (e.g., system, data, boot).
- Swipe the slider to begin the backup process.
- Once the backup is complete, tap on the Reboot System button.
To restore a backup in TWRP recovery, follow these steps:
- Boot into TWRP recovery on your device.
- Tap on the Restore button.
- Select the backup you want to restore.
- Select the partitions you want to restore.
- Swipe the slider to begin the restore process.
- Once the restore is complete, tap on the Reboot System button.
Installing Custom ROMs
TWRP recovery allows you to install custom ROMs on your device, giving you access to a wide range of features and customization options. Before installing a custom ROM, make sure to create a backup of your current ROM in case you want to revert to it later. To install a custom ROM in TWRP recovery, follow these steps:
- Boot into TWRP recovery on your device.
- Tap on the Install button.
- Navigate to the location where you downloaded the custom ROM ZIP file.
- Select the custom ROM ZIP file and swipe the slider to confirm the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, tap on the Reboot System button.
Flashing ZIP Files
In addition to custom ROMs, you can also flash other ZIP files in TWRP recovery, such as mods, kernels, and system patches. To flash a ZIP file in TWRP recovery, follow these steps:
- Boot into TWRP recovery on your device.
- Tap on the Install button.
- Navigate to the location where you downloaded the ZIP file.
- Select the ZIP file and swipe the slider to confirm the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, tap on the Reboot System button.
Wiping Data and Cache
If you’re experiencing issues with your device or want to start fresh, you can wipe the data and cache partitions in TWRP recovery. However, be aware that this will delete all your apps, settings, and data, so make sure to create a backup before proceeding. To wipe the data and cache partitions in TWRP recovery, follow these steps:
- Boot into TWRP recovery on your device.
- Tap on the Wipe button.
- Select the partitions you want to wipe (e.g., data, cache).
- Swipe the slider to begin the wiping process.
- Once the wiping is complete, tap on the Reboot System button.
Troubleshooting Tips
Despite its user-friendly interface, you may encounter some issues while using TWRP recovery. Here are some common issues and their possible solutions:
TWRP Stuck on Boot Logo
If TWRP recovery gets stuck on the boot logo and doesn’t load, try the following solutions:
- Reboot your device into TWRP recovery and wipe the cache partition.
- If the issue persists, try flashing an older version of TWRP recovery.
TWRP Can’t Mount Data Partition
If TWRP recovery can’t mount the data partition, follow these steps:
- Reboot your device into TWRP recovery.
- Tap on the Wipe button.
- Select the Advanced Wipe option.
- Select the data partition and wipe it.
- Reboot your device.
Failed to Mount /preload Message
If you get a “Failed to mount /preload” message in TWRP recovery, follow these steps:
- Reboot your device into TWRP recovery.
- Tap on the Wipe button.
- Select the Advanced Wipe option.
- Select the preload partition and wipe it.
- Reboot your device.
If you’re still experiencing issues with TWRP recovery, you can seek help from the XDA Developers community or consult the official TWRP website for further troubleshooting tips.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I install TWRP recovery on the Snapdragon variant of the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus?
No, TWRP recovery is specifically designed for the Exynos variant of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Attempting to install it on the Snapdragon variant can result in bricking your device.
Do I need to root my device to install TWRP recovery?
A: No, you don’t need to root your device to install TWRP recovery. However, if you want to gain root access and enjoy additional customization options, you can install Magisk after installing TWRP recovery.
Can I install custom ROMs without TWRP recovery?
Installing custom ROMs typically requires a custom recovery like TWRP. While it is possible to install custom ROMs using other methods, TWRP recovery provides a user-friendly interface and additional features that make the process easier and more efficient.
For more frequently asked questions and answers related to TWRP recovery, check out the official TWRP website.
Conclusion
Installing TWRP recovery on your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus (Exynos variant) opens up a world of possibilities for customization and advanced functionality. With TWRP recovery, you can install custom ROMs, flash mods, create system backups, and much more. This guide has provided you with detailed instructions and tips to successfully install and use TWRP recovery on your device. Remember to proceed with caution and backup your data before making any modifications to your device. Enjoy exploring the endless possibilities that TWRP recovery offers!
