Originally written by The Droid Guru Staff, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published June 19, 2017. Updated October 24, 2026.
Odin3 v3.14.4 is the newest Odin for Windows, and it flashes firmware on every current Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet. If it gives you trouble, the patched Odin3 v3.13.1 from XDA is the usual fallback. On Linux there’s Odin4, and on a Mac you’d use Heimdall instead.
This page used to be a long list of old download links, and most of them had died. I rewrote it so it tells you which version to use, how to install it safely, and what each slot in Odin does.
Key points
- Odin is Samsung’s internal flashing tool for Windows. Samsung never released it to the public, so every copy online is a leaked build.
- Odin3 v3.14.4 is the latest Windows version. Use it for firmware from the last few years.
- Patched Odin3 v3.13.1 is the version most XDA guides recommend when the normal build fails.
- Odin4 v1.2.1 runs on Linux. There’s no Odin for macOS, so Mac users need Heimdall.
- You also need the Samsung USB driver on your PC, and the phone has to be in Download mode.
What is Odin?
Odin is a Windows program that Samsung’s service centers use to flash firmware on Galaxy devices. It writes the firmware files straight to the phone while it sits in Download mode.
You’d use it to install a firmware update by hand, downgrade, fix a bootloop or a soft brick, or flash a custom recovery like TWRP. It reads .tar and .tar.md5 files, not .zip files.
Samsung has never published Odin on its own website. The versions you find online are leaks that the community keeps passing around. Wikipedia’s Odin page has a good history of the tool and its versions.
Which Odin version should I download?
Download Odin3 v3.14.4 for any Galaxy phone or tablet that shipped with Android 10 or newer. If Odin hangs or refuses your firmware, try patched Odin3 v3.13.1. Only reach for older builds like 3.12.7 or 3.10.7 when you’re flashing very old firmware on an old device.
| Odin version | Platform | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Odin3 v3.14.4 | Windows | The latest build. Current Galaxy S, A, M, Z and Tab firmware |
| Odin3 v3.13.1 (patched) | Windows | Fallback when 3.14.4 fails, and for flashing firmware from a different region |
| Odin3 v3.12.7 | Windows | Older Oreo and Pie era firmware |
| Odin3 v3.10.7 | Windows | Very old Lollipop and Marshmallow firmware |
| Odin4 v1.2.1 | Linux | Command line flashing on Linux |
| Heimdall | Windows, Mac and Linux | The open-source option, mainly for Mac users |
A newer Odin flashes older firmware just fine in most cases, so start with the newest one. The old versions are only worth keeping if a specific guide for an old phone asks for them.
Where can I download Odin safely?
There’s no official Samsung download, so get Odin from a site you already trust, like the XDA Forums Odin threads. Avoid sites that wrap Odin in an installer or a “download manager”. The real Odin is a plain ZIP with an .exe and an .ini file inside.
Before you run it, upload the ZIP to VirusTotal and check the result. A real Odin ZIP is only a few megabytes. If yours is much bigger or asks you to install anything, delete it.
How to install Odin3 on Windows
Odin doesn’t install like a normal program. You unzip it and run the .exe. Here’s how.
- Download the Odin ZIP file to your Windows PC.
- Right-click the ZIP and extract it with Windows Explorer, 7-Zip or WinRAR.
- Open the extracted folder. You should see the Odin .exe file and an .ini file.
- Right-click the Odin .exe file and choose Run as administrator.
- Windows asks if you want to allow the app to make changes. Click Yes.
- Odin opens to its main window. That’s it, Odin is ready to use.
The screenshots above show an older Odin build, but the steps are the same on 3.14.4. Newer versions show BL, AP, CP and CSC buttons in place of the old PDA, Phone and Bootloader labels.
Install the Samsung USB driver before you connect the phone. Without it, Odin won’t show the blue “COM” box when the phone is plugged in.
What do BL, AP, CP, CSC and USERDATA mean in Odin?
Each file in a Samsung firmware package goes into its own Odin slot. BL is the bootloader, AP is the Android system, CP is the modem, and CSC holds the region and carrier settings. Load every file into its matching button before you press Start.
| Odin slot | File name starts with | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| BL | BL_ | The bootloader |
| AP | AP_ | Android itself: system, boot and recovery |
| CP | CP_ | The modem and radio firmware (Wi-Fi only tablets don’t have it) |
| CSC | CSC_ or HOME_CSC_ | Region and carrier settings |
| USERDATA | USERDATA_ | Preloaded data on some models. Leave it empty if your firmware doesn’t have it |
There’s one choice that matters a lot. Put the CSC file in the CSC slot and Odin wipes your phone. Put the HOME_CSC file there and Odin keeps your apps and data.
Use CSC for a clean install, a downgrade or when you’re coming back from a custom ROM. Use HOME_CSC when you’re only updating to newer firmware of the same region.
I walk through the whole flashing process in my guide on how to flash stock Samsung firmware with Odin. You can grab the firmware itself with Bifrost, which downloads it straight from Samsung’s servers.
Which Odin settings should I leave alone?
Leave Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time ticked, and leave everything else unticked. Never tick Re-Partition unless a guide for your exact model tells you to, and you have the matching PIT file. A wrong PIT can hard brick the phone.
In the Options tab you’ll see these:
- Auto Reboot: restarts the phone after a successful flash. Keep it on.
- F. Reset Time: resets the flash counter timer. Keep it on.
- Re-Partition: rewrites the partition table. Keep it off.
- Nand Erase: wipes the storage. Keep it off unless you know why you need it.
Is there Odin for Mac or Linux?
There’s no Odin for macOS. On Linux you can use Odin4 v1.2.1, a command line build that leaked in 2022. On a Mac, use Heimdall, an open-source tool that flashes Samsung firmware on Windows, Mac and Linux.
The original Heimdall project hasn’t seen a release in years. The maintained fork is Heimdall by Henrik Grimler, and it works with newer Galaxy devices. The original GitHub repo is still there if a guide points to it.
Heimdall uses the extracted .img files from the firmware, not the .tar.md5 files, so it takes a little more work than Odin. If you have any Windows PC around, Odin is the easier route.
How do I put my Samsung phone in Download mode?
Turn the phone off, then hold Volume Up and Volume Down together while you plug in a USB cable connected to your PC. When the warning screen appears, press Volume Up to continue.
That’s the method for most Galaxy phones from the last few years, like the Galaxy S25, Galaxy A56 and Galaxy Z Fold7. Older phones with a Home button use Volume Down + Home + Power.
Once the phone is in Download mode, Odin should show a blue box with “COM” and a number in the top left. If it doesn’t, reinstall the USB driver or try another cable and port.
Does Odin still work on One UI 8.5?
Odin still flashes firmware on most Galaxy phones running One UI 8.5. The one open question is the Galaxy S26 series and the Galaxy Z Fold7, where a March 2026 report said Download mode is blocked. Samsung hasn’t confirmed that.
Android Authority reported the claim from a tipster. A follow-up from the same tipster said Download mode still opens on those phones once you turn on Maintenance mode first.
Separately, One UI 8.5 removed most of the stock recovery menu, including Wipe cache partition and Apply update from ADB, as 9to5Google reported. That doesn’t affect Odin, since Odin works through Download mode, not recovery.
FAQ
Is Odin safe to use?
Odin itself is safe if you got a clean copy and you flash firmware made for your exact model. The risk comes from flashing the wrong firmware, unplugging the cable mid-flash or ticking options like Re-Partition by mistake.
Does flashing with Odin void my warranty?
Flashing official Samsung firmware with Odin doesn’t trip Knox, so your warranty and Samsung Pay stay intact. Flashing anything unofficial, like TWRP or a patched boot image, trips the Knox counter for good.
Why does Odin get stuck at “SetupConnection”?
That’s almost always a driver or cable problem. Reinstall the Samsung USB driver, use the original cable, try a USB port on the back of the PC and close Samsung Smart Switch before you flash. I cover the other common errors in my guide on Odin firmware flashing errors.
Can I update my Galaxy phone without Odin?
Yes. Most people never need Odin. Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install on the phone, or use Samsung Smart Switch on a PC or Mac to update and back up the phone through Samsung’s own tool.
Can Odin flash a ZIP file?
No. Odin only reads .tar and .tar.md5 files. Samsung firmware downloads come as a ZIP, so extract it first and load the files inside it.
Related guides
- How to flash stock Samsung firmware with Odin
- How to fix Odin firmware flashing errors
- Download the Samsung USB driver
- Download Samsung firmware with Bifrost
- How to enable Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlock
That’s it. Grab Odin3 v3.14.4, run it as administrator, and keep the patched 3.13.1 around in case you need it.
Not sure which Odin or firmware fits your phone? Leave a comment with your Galaxy model number (like SM-S938B) and what you’re trying to flash, and I’ll help you pick the right files.
