Samsung Download Mode (Odin Mode): How to Enter and Exit

Download mode, also called Odin mode, is Samsung's way of installing firmware on a Galaxy phone or tablet from a computer. Samsung phones have no fastboot mode, so this is where you go to reinstall the official firmware, recover a phone that will not start, or flash files with Samsung's Odin tool. The screen is blue or dark with a large download arrow and the words "Downloading... Do not turn off target".

Way 1: from ADB

If the phone starts normally and USB debugging is on:

adb reboot download

The phone restarts straight into Download mode, with no warning screen to confirm. This only works on Samsung devices. Other brands ignore it or simply restart. The other reboot modes are in ADB reboot: recovery, bootloader, fastboot and download mode.

In ADBKit you can do the same from the power menu next to the screen: Boot modes › Download mode (Samsung). The connection ends when the phone leaves Android, which is expected.

Way 2: button combinations

Which keys you press depends on whether your phone has a Home button or a Bixby button.

Recent Galaxy phones (no Home or Bixby button)

This covers most models from about 2019 on, such as the Galaxy S20 and newer, the Note 10 and newer, and the A series.

1. Turn the phone off.
2. Hold Volume Up + Volume Down together.
3. Keep holding them and plug in a USB cable that is connected to a computer.
4. A blue warning screen appears. Let go of the buttons.
5. Press Volume Up to continue into Download mode.

Phones with a Bixby button (Galaxy S8, S9, S10, Note 8, Note 9)

1. Turn the phone off.
2. Hold Volume Down + Bixby + Power.
3. When the warning screen appears, let go and press Volume Up to continue.

Older phones with a physical Home button

1. Turn the phone off.
2. Hold Volume Down + Home + Power.
3. When the warning screen appears, let go and press Volume Up to continue.

If nothing happens, check that the cable is plugged into a computer, not a charger. The cable is required for the first method.

The warning screen

Before Download mode opens, the phone warns that a custom OS can cause problems. It offers two choices:

• Volume Up: continue to Download mode.
• Volume Down: cancel and restart the phone normally.

On some models a long press of Volume Up on this screen opens the device unlock mode, which unlocks the bootloader and erases the phone. Use a short press to simply continue.

What you can do there

Download mode itself does nothing until a computer sends it firmware. Windows tools such as Odin, or Samsung Smart Switch's emergency recovery, do the flashing. Before you flash anything:

• Use firmware for your exact model number (for example SM-S911B) and region. Wrong firmware can fail or leave the phone unable to start.
• Install the Samsung USB driver on Windows so the phone is detected.
• Charge the phone above 50 percent and do not unplug the cable while it is writing.

The screen also shows useful information at the top, such as the product name, whether the phone is locked or unlocked, and the current binary.

How to exit Download mode

• Before anything is flashed: hold Volume Down + Power (on recent phones, Volume Down + Side key) for about 7 to 10 seconds. The phone restarts normally.
• On the warning screen: press Volume Down to cancel.
• After flashing with Odin: the phone usually restarts by itself if "Auto Reboot" is ticked.

If it goes straight back to Download mode, hold Volume Down + Power until the screen goes black, then immediately switch to holding Volume Up + Power to open recovery instead. From recovery you can choose Reboot system now.

Download mode vs recovery vs fastboot

Related

• Fastboot mode on other Android phones
• ADB reboot modes
• What ADB is