This guide will get an Australian Samsung rom on your imported Samsung phone in no time
NOTE THIS PROCESS WILL ERASE ALL YOUR DATA so make sure everything is backed up first
THIS DOES NOT ROOT YOUR PHONE, THIS DOES NOT TRIP KNOX - so Samsung pay will work just fine
+++This will not work with the Hong Kong/Chinese Note 8 N9500 version as there are no Australian (or any international) ROMS+++
You can only flash the ROMS specified for your model of Samsung phone, ROMS are not interchangeable and flashing other versions will potentially damage (brick) your phone
I take no responsibility for any issues you have with this process - I've just provided this for information
Requirements:
Samsung phone
USB-C cable (the one that came with the phone will be fine)
Windows PC
Odin 3.12.x for windows – free download - only download through XDA forums
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/offici…
Adb USB drivers for windows – free download
http://developer.samsung.com/galaxy/others/android-usb-drive…
Samsung rom for your specific phone from sammobiles.com - search on sammobiles.com - ONLY DOWNLOAD THE AUSTRALIAN ROM FOR YOUR MODEL PHONE
Note it is best to choose the Australian rom for your specific carrier – i.e. if you use Telstra, you would download the Telstra rom etc.
(You can download the generic XSA rom if you want)
NOTE CHANGING THE ROM (in ODIN) WILL WIPE YOUR PHONE OF DATA so make sure everything is backed up first
THIS DOES NOT ROOT YOUR PHONE
ENABLE USB DEBUGGING ON YOUR PHONE
Go to the settings menu, and scroll down to "About phone." Tap it.
Scroll down to the "Software information" and "Build number."
Tap it seven (7) times.
Congratulations, you are now a developer
Go to "Settings" then "Developer options" then turn USB debugging on, make sure the USB configuration is MTP (media transfer protocol)
ADB DEVICES
Install the Samsung ADB drivers on your windows PC http://developer.samsung.com/galaxy/others/android-usb-drive…
Plug in phone via USB and allow the PC to recognise the phone
Authorise the PC by agreeing that your phone is able to receive a connection from the PC, now both are connected and authorised
CHECK THAT ADB IS WORKING:
Plug in your phone to the computer via USB
Open up the command prompt (the old ms dos prompt) in windows (type cmd into your search bar if you aren't sure where it is)
Assuming the adb DRIVERS installed in the location c:\adb, at the prompt type cd c:\ then cd adb (note if adb is located elsewhere in the c drive, search for the folder location in windows explorer)
At the c:\adb prompt type adb devices
This will start the adb daemon running
Then type adb devices again
This time is should say "list of devices attached" followed by a string of numbers and the word "authorised" or "device"
IF YOUR PHONE IS NOT AUTHORISED REPEAT THE EARLIER STEPS, FLASHING WILL NOT WORK IF THE PHONE IS NOT AUTHORISED PROPERLY
Download the firmware for your specific model phone and your specific carrier
Otherwise download the generic XSA firmware for your phone
Once the ROM is downloaded, unzip it and extract the files to the desktop – there should be a file starting with BL, a file starting with AP, CP and CSC and a file starting with HOME_CSC – delete or remove the HOME_CSC file we don’t need it
Install Odin on PC and open - don't plug in phone yet
In Odin click on the BL tab - select the extracted file starting with BL add that
Do the same for the AP, CP and CSC files - again do not install the HOME_CSC file
Once they are all in Odin, make sure these options are checked
F.reset time
Auto reboot
Repartition*
*When installing from another country CSC or a network CSC will need the system partition size changing
Reboot Phone in Download Mode (press and hold Bixby + Power + Volume Down buttons)
Press volume UP to continue into download mode
Now connect phone via USB and wait until you get a blue sign in the ID: COM box in Odin
DON'T PROCEED UNTIL YOU GET THE BLUE COLOUR IN THE ID:COM BOX in the Odin program, if it’s not blue, something isn't configured properly
ADDED FOR EXTRA INFORMATION - also in the log box in Odin it will say something like <ID:0/005> Added!! when the phone is plugged in and recognised
Make sure the firmware files are in their designated slots in Odin
Click the start button, sit back and wait few minutes, DO NOT DISCONNECT PHONE OR TURN OFF PC DURING THIS TIME
Odin will progress and will tell you when it is finished -it will go green and say PASS!
The phone will then reboot and install the new rom, this will take a while but it will happen on screen
Phone should now be on an Aussie stock rom – check your region in the settings
The benefits of this process are being able to use Samsung Pay and Voice over LTE and wifi calling with your carrier
check this video as well - make sure everything looks the same
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmddnaFlPhs
But it may SCREW your phone though! haha
Appreciate the effort in doing this write-up. It's a pretty simple process for someone with a bit of technical knowledge but I wouldn't advise anyone who isn't confident or doesn't at least have a basic understanding of computers to do it.
After all, this is a bargain hunter's forum with a large range of users from all walks of life rather than a tech forum where most people would have some sort of technical knowledge.
There's lots of information out there in the tech forums on how to flash ROMs and dare I say, if someone doesn't have the ability to even search and find the instructions, then I honestly don't believe they would have enough knowledge and understanding to try flash their phones.
A phone could easily turn into an expensive paperweight that won't be covered by warranty.