ODIN TO STOCK, UPDATING, ROOTING, AND INSTALLING SAFESTRAP GUIDES
WARNING 1 -- ALL GUIDES BELOW WILL WIPE YOUR DEVICE. Make sure you have you data backed up before attempting.
WARNING 2 -- Follow these guide at your own risk. Everything worked for me, but... NOTHING IS 100% GUARANTEED.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone using an AT&T Galaxy S4 (SGH-I337) AND...
-- has the MF3, MK2, MLD, NB1, NC1, or NI1 bootloader
-- wants to return their phone back to stock.
-- was told to “Odin back to stock” in another thread.
-- thinks they bricked their phone
-- is bored and wants to start fresh before flashing another ROM.
Who SHOULD NOT use this guide?
-- SGH-I337 users with a MDB or MDL bootloader. (Don’t use this guide or you’ll be locked down for good.)
-- Anyone using another Galaxy S4 variant, such as T-Mobile, Verizon, i337m, etc...
-- Anyone using a Galaxy S4 Active. (You have your own forum here.)
-- Anyone who does not take the time to read the notes below and F.A.Q.'s in Post 2 before flashing.
NOTES
1. Make sure your PC can see the phone. If not, download the latest drivers from the Samsung website.
2. If you have bricked your phone, as long as you can reboot into download mode, the following guides should get you back up and running.
3. Safestrap is the only recovery mentioned because SAFESTRAP IS THE ONLY RECOVERY WE CAN USE!!!
UPDATE, ROOT, AND INSTALLING SAFESTRAP
These guides will walk you through flashing the factory stock image, upgrading to the selected firmware update, rooting, and installing Safestrap recovery.
NI1 ROOTED WITH SAFESTRAP
Can be performed from ANY base...
Thanks to @muniz_ri as these are based off his instructions.
CLIFF NOTES...
1. Odin to NB1
2. Take NI1 Update
3. Odin NC1 kernel
4. Root with Towelroot
5. Install Safestrap recovery
6. Odin NI5 kernel
FILES YOU WILL NEED...
Odin -- Odin v3.09 -- XDA thread. Download from here.
Stock NB1 OTA -- I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
NI1 update -- I337_NB1toNI1_OTA.zip -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
Towelroot v3 -- tr.apk -- from here. Thanks @geohot
Safestrap v3.72 -- Safestrap-JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk -- from here. Thanks @Hashcode
NC1 Kernel -- I337_NC1_Stock_Kernel.tar.md5 -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
NI1 Kernel -- I337_NI1_Stock_Kernel.tar.md5 -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
STEP 1 - FLASH NB1 OTA in ODIN
on phone...
1. Power off phone
2. Boot into Download Mode
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume down buttons
--- when you see "Warning!" screen, release both buttons
--- press volume up to continue
3. Connect phone to PC via usb cable
on pc...
4. Extract .tar.md5 from Stock NB1 OTA file
5. Right click Odin and run "as administrator"
6. Click AP button and select extracted .tar.md5 file
7. Click Start
8. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NB1!!!
STEP 2 - UPDATE TO NI1
OPTION 1... Over the Air
1. Go into Phone Settings > More > About Device > Software Update > Check for updates
2. Follow prompts to download and install NI1 update
3. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NI1!!!
OPTION 2... Manually Flash NI1 Update via Stock Recovery
1. Copy I337_NB1toNI1_OTA.zip to your External SdCard
2. Unplug and power off phone
3. Boot into Stock Recovery
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume up buttons
--- when you see the blue "RECOVERY BOOTING..." message in the top left corner, release power button
--- when you see the android guy, release volume up button
4. Select "apply update from external storage"
5. Browse to location of I337_NB1toNI1_OTA.zip and select it
6. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NI1!!!
STEP 3 - ROOT AND INSTALL RECOVERY
1. Reboot into Download Mode
2. In Odin, and flash NC1 Kernel file in the AP slot
3. Phone will reboot
4. Upload Towelroot and ss files to External SDcard
5. Go into Settings > More > Security
--- check "Unknown sources"
--- uncheck "Verify apps"
6. Open My Files app, browse to tr.apk, click it, and install.
7. Open Towelroot and click make it ra1n... You are now rooted!!!
8. Open My Files app, browse to Safestrap-JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk, click it, and install.
9. Open Safestrap and click Install Recovery... You now have recovery!!!
10. Reboot into Download Mode
11. In Odin, and flash NI1 Kernel file in the AP slot
12. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now Rooted on NI1!!!
*** If you encounter issues installing the safestrap recovery... install SELinux Mode Changer from the Play Store and switch the mode to Permissive. Then try rooting or installing safestrap again. ***
You are now ready to flash a KitKat ROM. See Post 2 in the Index for list of compatible ROMs and installation instructions. Make sure to use the ATT_NI1_modules as you are on the NI1 kernel now.
NC1 ROOTED WITH SAFESTRAP
Can be performed from ANY base...
Thanks to @Maribou as these are based off his instructions.
CLIFF NOTES...
1. Odin to NB1
2. Take NC1 Update
3. Root with Towelroot
4. Install Safestrap recovery
FILES YOU WILL NEED...
Odin -- Odin v3.09 -- XDA thread. Download from here.
NB1 OTA -- I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
NC1 update -- 2400258.zip -- from Post #1948. Thanks @Maribou
Towelroot v3 -- tr.apk -- from here. Thanks @geohot
Safestrap v3.72 -- Safestrap-JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk -- from here. Thanks @Hashcode
STEP 1 - FLASH NB1 OTA in ODIN
on phone...
1. Power off phone
2. Boot into Download Mode
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume down buttons
--- when you see "Warning!" screen, release both buttons
--- press volume up to continue
3. Connect phone to PC via usb cable
on pc...
4. Extract .tar.md5 from NB1 OTA .rar file
5. Right click Odin and run "as administrator"
6. Click AP button and select extracted .tar.md5 file
7. Click Start
8. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NB1!!!
STEP 2 - FLASH NC1 UPDATE via STOCK RECOVERY
1. Copy 2400258.zip to your External SdCard
2. Unplug and power off phone
3. Boot into Stock Recovery
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume up buttons
--- when you see the blue "RECOVERY BOOTING..." message in the top left corner, release power button
--- when you see the android guy, release volume up button
4. Select "apply update from external storage"
5. Browse to location of 2400258.zip and select it
6. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NC1!!!
STEP 3 - ROOT AND INSTALL RECOVERY
1. Upload all files to External SDcard
2. Go into Settings > More > Security
--- check "Unknown sources"
--- uncheck "Verify apps"
3. Open My Files app, browse to tr.apk, click it, and install.
4. Open Towelroot and click make it ra1n... You are now rooted!!!
5. Open My Files app, browse to Safestrap-JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk, click it, and install.
6. Open Safestrap and click Install Recovery... You now have recovery!!!
*** If you encounter issues installing the safestrap recovery... install SELinux Mode Changer from the Play Store and switch the mode to Permissive. Then try rooting or installing safestrap again. ***
You are now ready to flash a KitKat ROM. See Post 2 in the Index for list of compatible ROMs and installation instructions. Make sure to use the ATT_NC1_modules as you are on the NC1 kernel now.
NB1 ROOTED WITH SAFESTRAP
Can be performed from ANY base...
CLIFF NOTES...
1. Odin to NB1
2. Root with Towelroot
3. Install Safestrap recovery
FILES YOU WILL NEED...
Odin -- Odin v3.09 -- XDA thread. Download from here.
Rootable NB1 OTA -- I337UCUFNB1_Rootable_Full_Odin.rar -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
Towelroot v3 -- tr.apk -- from here. Thanks @geohot
Safestrap v3.72 -- Safestrap-JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk -- from here. Thanks @Hashcode
STEP 1 - FLASH NB1 OTA in ODIN
on phone...
1. Power off phone
2. Boot into Download Mode
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume down buttons
--- when you see "Warning!" screen, release both buttons
--- press volume up to continue
3. Connect phone to PC via usb cable
on pc...
4. Extract .tar.md5 from Rootable NB1 OTA .rar file
5. Right click Odin and run "as administrator"
6. Click AP button and select extracted .tar.md5 file
7. Click Start
8. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NB1!!!
STEP 2 - ROOT AND INSTALL RECOVERY
1. Upload all files to External SDcard
2. Go into Settings > More > Security
--- check "Unknown sources"
--- uncheck "Verify apps"
3. Open My Files app, browse to tr.apk, click it, and install.
4. Open Towelroot and click make it ra1n... You are now rooted!!!
5. Open My Files app, browse to Safestrap-JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk, click it, and install.
6. Open Safestrap and click Install Recovery... You now have recovery!!!
*** If you encounter issues installing the safestrap recovery... install SELinux Mode Changer from the Play Store and switch the mode to Permissive. Then try rooting or installing safestrap again. ***
You are now ready to flash a KitKat ROM. See Post 2 in the Index for list of compatible ROMs and installation instructions. Make sure to use the ATT_NC1_modules as you are on the NC1 kernel now. (In order to for Towelroot to work, the NC1 Kernel was added to the NB1 odin file. That said, the NB1 and NC1 kernels are very similar and either module should work.)
MK2 ROOTED WITH SAFESTRAP
Can only be used if you are on MLD, MK2, or earlier base...
CLIFF NOTES...
1. Odin to MK2
2. Root with Saferoot
3. Install Safestrap recovery
FILES YOU WILL NEED...
Odin -- Odin v3.09 -- XDA thread. Download from here.
MK2 OTA -- I337MK2_Combined_Odin_Tar -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
Saferoot -- saferoot.zip -- from here. Thanks @k1mu
Safestrap v3.71 -- Safestrap-JFLTEATT-3.71.apk -- from here. Thanks @Hashcode
STEP 1 - FLASH MK2 FIRMWARE IN ODIN
on phone...
1. power off phone
2. boot into Download Mode
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume down buttons
--- when you see "Warning!" screen, release both buttons
--- press volume up to continue
3. connect phone to PC via usb cable
ON PC...
4. extract .tar.md5 from MK2 OTA .rar file
5. Right click Odin and run "as administrator"
6. click AP button and select extracted .tar.md5 file
7. click Start
8. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK MK2!!!
STEP 2 - ROOT WITH SAFEROOT
on phone...
1. Go to Settings > More > About Phone... Tap Build Number repeatedly until developer mode is enabled.
2. Go to Settings > More > Developer Options... Enable USB debugging
3. Connect phone to PC
on pc...
4. On PC, unzip saferoot.zip, and browse to folder.
5. Run install.bat and follow prompts. (phone will reboot) You are now rooted!!!
STEP 3 - INSTALL SAFESTRAP RECOVERY
1. Copy safestrap file to extSdCard
Open My Files app, browse to Safestrap-JFLTEATT-3.71.apk, click it, and install.
2. Open Safestrap and click Install Recovery... You now have recovery!!!
You are now ready to flash a 4.3 Jelly Bean ROM. See Post 3 in the Index for list of compatible ROMs and installation instructions. Make sure to use the MK2 modules.
To run KitKat ROMs... Install Safestrap 3.72 instead of v3.71 and see Post 2 in the Index for KitKat ROM install instructions. After installing a KitKat ROM, remember flash the MLD modules. (To make KitKat ROMs possible, the Magic Tool flashes the MLD kernel.)
ODIN TO STOCK
These Guides will return your phone to factory stock image. May need this if you no longer require root, are taking your phone in for service, or selling it.
MK2 STOCK
Can only be used if you are on MLD, MK2, or earlier base...
FILES YOU WILL NEED...
Odin -- Odin v3.09 -- XDA thread. Download from here.
MK2 OTA -- I337MK2_Combined_Odin_Tar -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
ON PHONE...
1. power off phone
2. boot into Download Mode
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume down buttons
--- when you see "Warning!" screen, release both buttons
--- press volume up to continue
3. connect phone to PC via usb cable
ON PC...
4. extract .tar.md5 from MK2 OTA .rar file
5. Right click Odin and run "as administrator"
6. click AP button and select extracted .tar.md5 file
7. click Start
8. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK MK2!!!
NB1 STOCK
Can be performed from ANY base...
FILES YOU WILL NEED...
Odin -- Odin v3.09 -- XDA thread. Download from here.
NB1 OTA -- I337UCUFNB1_4.4_Stock_Odin_tar -- from here. Thanks @muniz_ri
ON PHONE...
1. power off phone
2. boot into Download Mode
--- press and hold BOTH power and volume down buttons
--- when you see "Warning!" screen, release both buttons
--- press volume up to continue
3. connect phone to PC via usb cable
on pc...
4. extract .tar.md5 from NB1 OTA .rar file
5. Right click Odin and run "as administrator"
6. click AP button and select extracted .tar.md5 file
7. click Start
8. Phone will reboot when complete... You are now on STOCK NB1!!!
If you wish to upgrade to latest update...
Go into Phone Settings > More > About Device > Software Update
Thank you to all the members who posted these files in the first place. All links above are to the threads where their files are located. I did this specifically so they can get the thanks they deserve.