In this guide, we will show you the steps to boot any Samsung Galaxy device to the Download Mode. There are a plethora of tweaks that you could carry out on your Samsung devices. While its underlying OneUI is quite customizable in itself, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You could carry out tons of other modifications once you step into the custom development. Once you have unlocked the device’s bootloader, you could then flash a plethora of custom binaries.
These include flashing custom ROMs, custom recoveries, and even gaining access to the system partition via root. However, most of these tweaks (if not all) require your device to be booted to the Fastboot or Recovery Mode. But in the case of Samsung devices, there is no Fastboot or Bootloader Mode as such. Instead of that, you get the Download Mode (similar to the ones that Nokia and LG have to offer). So what exactly is the use of this Download Mode and how could you boot your Samsung device into this mode? Well, let’s check it out.
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Table of Contents
What is Download Mode in Samsung?
Download Mode is similar to what the Fastboot Mode in other devices (such as Pixel and OnePlus has to offer). Also known as the Odin Mode, it allows you to flash various types of files including BL, AP, CP, and CSC. All these could be installed onto your device using the dedicated Odin Tool. Along the same lines, you could also unlock the device’s bootloader, flash TWRP, or the Magisk patched boot.img file via this mode and the aforementioned tool.
Likewise, Download Mode also makes it possible to flash stock firmware onto your Samsung devices. This in turn will help you to recover your device from a soft-brick or boot-loop state. With such a plentitude of perks involved, no doubt this mode is a boon for the tech enthusiasts. However, it could also lead to some confusion among the users. The reason? Well, there is no universal hardware key combinations to boot your Samsung device to Download Mode.
Just to reiterate this fact, consider this: Home, Power and Volume Keys | Power and Volume Keys | Power, Bixby, and Volume Keys | Volume and Power-cum-Bixby Keys | Volume Up + Volume Down keys only. These are the various key combinations through which you could boot a Samsung device to Download Mode. Isn’t that confusing? This is where this guide shall help you out. Follow along for the detailed instructions set.
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How to Boot any Samsung Device to Download Mode?
Given below we have shared all the possible methods through which you could boot your Samsung device to Download Mode. Without further ado, let’s check them out.
Boot Samsung to Download Mode via Volume Keys
Some Samsung devices could be booted to Download Mode using only the Volume keys. Here’s how:
- To begin with, power off your device.
- Do not plug your device into the USB cable yet.
- But keep the other end of the USB cable connected to the PC.
- Now press and hold the Volume Up+ Volume Down keys.
- While holding both these keys, connect your device to the USB cable.
- The device will now boot to the Warning screen.
- Press the Volume Up key and the device will boot to the Download Mode.
Samsung Devices with Home, Power, and Volume Keys
Older Samsung Note and Galaxy devices that came with all three Home, Power, and Volume Keys could boot their device to download Mode as follows:
- Power off your device.
- Then press and hold the Home + Volume Down + Power keys for a few seconds.
- Now release all these keys and then press the Volume Up key to continue booting to Download Mode.
Samsung Devices with Power and Volume Keys (no Home Button)
If your device doesn’t have a dedicated Home button, then here’s what’s needs to be done:
- Turn off your device.
- Then press and hold the Volume Up + Volume Down + Power button for a few seconds.
Samsung Devices with Power, Bixby, and Volume Keys
if your device has a dedicated Bixby key, then follow the below steps:
- Power off your phone.
- Then press and hold the Volume Down + Bixby + Power key for a few seconds.
- You will now be instructed to press the Volume Up button, do so and your Samsung device will be booted to Download Mode.
Samsung Devices with Volume and Power-cum-Bixby Keys
If your device has a single key that acts both as a Powe button as well as the Bixby key (newest Galaxy and Note series devices), then proceed with the below steps:
- Power off your device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up and the Power keys for a few seconds.
- The device should now be booted to the Recovery Mode.
- Use the Volume keys to select the Reboot to Bootloader option and hit the Power key to confirm this decision.
- Your device will now be booted to Download Mode.
Boot Samsung Device to Download Mode via ADB Command
If your device’s Power, Home Bixby, or Volume Keys aren’t responding, then the above instructions might prove to be quite challenging. Fortunately, there exists another method to boot any Samsung device to Download Mode that doesn’t involve any buttons or hardware keys. This process will be carried out using just a single ADB Command, as mentioned below.
- First off, download and install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This will provide you with the necessary ADB and Fastboot binaries.
- Likewise, also enable USB debugging on your device. This will help your PC identify your device in ADB mode. So head over to Settings > About Phone > Software Information > Tap on Build Number 7 Times > Go back to Settings > Developer Options > USB Debugging.
- Once done, head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
- Finally, type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your Samsung device to Download Mode:
adb reboot download
If you face the USB Unauthorized message, then please refer to this fix: How to Fix Unauthorized Device with ADB Commands [3 methods]. Moreover, do not use the adb reboot bootloader command as it will boot your device to Fastboot/Bootloader Mode which is completely different from Download Mode. The files that are to be flashed in Download Mode cannot be flashed in Fastboot Mode and vice versa.
With this, we conclude the guide on how to boot any Samsung Galaxy device to the Download Mode. We have also shared the universal method that doesn’t require any hardware keys. With that said, if you have any queries, do let us know in the comments section below.