Update [February 13, 2018]: Android 8.0 Oreo firmware for the Galaxy S8 Plus is now available that won’t run into any issues when you try to install it using the Odin PC software. Though, you have to use the Prince Comsy edition of the Odin 3.12 here, which is also provided below. Find the Galaxy S8 Plus Oreo firmware in the table below.
Some S8 Plus users around the world have Android 8.0 running on their handsets now thanks to Oreo beta program in the US, UK, and Korea. But we still don’t have a firmware available with us — although, there is a hack that lets you install Android 8.0 manually on your S8 devices if it’s a US model that comes as model no. SM-G955U.
Anyway, we think Samsung would release the Android 8.0 for the public sometime in December, once they have successfully quashed the bugs reported under the beta program, and are sure that the Android Oreo OTA is ready for primetime.
That could result in Samsung Oreo firmware taking some time to become available for download. Meanwhile, we have Android 7.0 OS based firmware here, for global variants based on Exynos processor, as well Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered handsets in the US, for each carrier like AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and US Cellular.
Read: Galaxy S7 Edge Android Oreo news
Be sure to download the firmware meant for your region, and do check out a particular section for this below before installing the firmware.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Firmware
All the Galaxy S8 Plus models in the US come with the same model no. now, but their firmwares are available separately. But because their firmwares are cross-compatible, meaning you can flash a firmware meant strictly for T-Mobile Galaxy S8 Plus on AT&T S8 Plus, and that won’t cause any problem — your AT&T SIM would work just alright. Nonetheless, we have still segregated firmware for respective carrier models, because we can, and it feels safer too.
How to identify firmware exactly meant for your carrier in the USA?
Well, the US Galaxy S8 Plus comes with model no. SM-G955U for all carriers (SM-G955U1 is an unlocked device), so you have to find the SM-G955U firmware that ends with the code of your carrier. The carrier codes are as follows:
- ATT for AT&T
- SPR for Sprint
- TMB for T-Mobile
- VZW for Verizon Wireless
- USC for US Cellular
The other firmwares are as per your device’s model no., as usual, so no code-finding-in-firmware-name-exercise required for models other than SM-G955U (US model).
Note: Do not install SM-G955U1 firmware on SM-G955U device, or vice-versa. Also, Canadian Galaxy S8 Plus comes with model no. SM-G955W.
It’s common to not find many firmware for AT&T model of Samsung devices. Well, that’s the case with Samsung’s S8 Plus too, and thus you won’t find a particular firmware for AT&T variant above, but we do have one firmware for the AT&T Galaxy S8 Plus, given below.
- AT&T S8 Plus only – version G955USQS1AQF7 – G955USQS1AQF7_ATT_ATT.zip
- More firmwares will be added here when available.
How to download correct firmware file
This is the important part!
Be sure to check and find the correct the model no. of your Galaxy S8 Plus. Then based on your device’s model no., look for the appropriate firmware build from above.
You can identify the model no. using an app called Droid Info, or simply check it on its packaging box, or under Settings > About. Another solid trick would be to look at the packaging box of your device (in case you can’t power on the device because it is bricked).
Now that you know the model no., download the latest firmware from above for that model no. exactly.
Next, install the firmware on your Galaxy S8 Plus by following the guide linked right below.
Related Samsung firmware articles:
How to Install Firmware
First, read our disclaimer, then take backup and then follow the guide below to install the firmware.
Disclaimer: Installing an official firmware through Odin doesn’t void your device’s warranty, but it remains an unofficial process and thus you need to be cautious of it. In any case, you only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.
Backup, backup, backup! Create an appropriate backup of contacts, pictures, videos, songs and other important files stored on your device before proceeding with the steps below, so that in case something goes wrong you’ll have a backup of all your important files. Sometimes, firmware installation may delete everything on your device! Like, when you change the CSC of your device, knowingly or not.
Step-by-step Firmware Installation Guide
Let’s see how to install the firmware on your Galaxy S8 Plus. Make sure you have more than 30% battery on your device.
Step 1. Make sure you have downloaded the correct firmware file on your PC. See above for how to download correct firmware file for your Galaxy S8 Plus and download links.
Step 2. Install Samsung USB driver (method 1 on the linked page) first of all. Double-click the .exe file of drivers to begin the installation. (Not required if you have already done this.)
Step 3. Also, download Odin PC software (Prince Comsy edition 3.12).
Step 4. Extract the firmware file now. You can use a free software like 7-zip for this. Install 7-zip, then right click on firmware file and under 7-zip, select ‘Extract here’. You should get a file in .tar.md5 format now. (You may get 4 or more files, with AP, BL, CP or CSC etc. written at the beginning of those files.) We will be loading this file into Odin, to be installed on the device (in step 10 below).
Step 5. Extract the Odin file. You should get the Odin exe file (other files could be hidden, hence not visible).
Step 6. Disconnect your Galaxy S8 Plus from PC if it is connected.
Step 7. Boot into download mode:
- Power off your device. Wait for 6-7 seconds after screen goes off.
- Press and hold the three buttons Volume down + Home + Power together until you see the Warning screen.
- Press Volume Up to continue to download mode.
Step 8. Double click on Odin .exe file (from step 5) to open the Odin window as shown below. Be careful with Odin, and do just as said to prevent problems.
Step 9. Connect your device now using a USB cable. Odin should recognize your device. It’s a must. When it recognizes, you will see Added!! message appearing in the Log box in the bottom left, and the first box under ID:COM will also show a no. and turn its background blue. Look at the pic below.
- You cannot proceed until you get the Added!! message, which confirms that Odin has recognized your device.
- If you don’t get Added!! message, you need to install/re-install drivers again, and use the original cable that came with the device. Mostly, drivers are the problem (look at step 2 above).
- You can try different USB ports on your PC too.
Step 10. Load the firmware file into Odin. Click the AP button on Odin and the select the .tar.md5 file from above.
Load the firmware files(s) on your device. This depends on how many files you got in step 4 above upon extracting the firmware .zip file.
Case 1: If you got a single .tar/.tar.md5 file, then load this into AP tab of your Odin software. Then go to next step.
To load the file, click on AP tab, select the single firmware file starting with AP text, wait for it to load, and then skip to step 11, ignoring the rest of the part of this step.
Case 2: If you got more than one .tar/.tar.md5 file, then you must be having files starting with AP, CSC, Home_CSC, BL, CP, etc. stuff. In this case, choose the files as follows. Select the firmware files as follows.
- Click on BL tab, and select the file beginning with BL text.
- Click on AP tab, and select the file beginning with AP text.
- Click on CP tab, and select the file beginning with CP text.
- [Different] Click on CSC tab, and select the file beginning with HOME_CSC text. If HOME_CSC file isn’t available, then select the file beginning with CSC text.
About CSC file: Using the HOME_CSC file won’t reset your device, and data on the phone shouldn’t be deleted. However, when we select regular CSC file, and it results in CSC on the device being different than that in CSC file, your phone will be formatted automatically. You can even choose to ignore loading the CSC file, that may do alright too. But if it doesn’t work out, repeat the whole process and select CSC file this time around.
- Info: When you load files, Odin checks the md5 of firmware file, which takes time. So, simply wait until that’s done and the firmware file is loaded. Don’t worry if Odin gets unresponsive for a while, it’s normal. Binary size will also show up in Odin.
Step 11. Click on Options tab, and make sure Re-partition checkbox is NOT selected. Don’t use PIT tab, ever.
Go back to Log tab now, as it will show the progress of firmware installation when you hit the start button in next step.
Step 12. Verify that everything is okay as mentioned above. When satisfied, click the Start button on Odin now to start flashing the firmware on your device.
Wait till installation is finished, after which your device will reboot automatically. You’ll get PASS message as shown below upon successful installation from Odin.
Some errors you may run into, and with respective solution.
- If Odin gets stuck at setup connection, then you need to do this all again. Disconnect your device, close Odin, boot device into download mode again, open Odin, and then select the file and flash it again as said above.
- If you get FAIL in the top left box, then also you need to flash the file again as stated just above.
That’s it. Let device restart automatically.
First start of the device may take time, so wait patiently again. When it has, verify the installation. Check the Settings > About device, to confirm new build no. based on the firmware you just installed.
Need help? Sure let us know via comments below.
Firmware Benefits
You can use the firmware for a variety of purposes, which includes:
- Fix your Galaxy S8 Plus if it’s giving you force closes errors and restarts randomly.
- Unbrick your Galaxy S8 Plus if it’s boot looping and stuck at logo when restarting.
- Go Back to Stock on your Galaxy S8 Plus — helps when looking to sell the device, or fix installing OTA updates if broken.
- Restore Galaxy S8 Plus to factory state.
- Upgrade your Galaxy S8 Plus to newer Android version.
- Downgrade your Galaxy S8 Plus to lower build no. at same Android version.
- Unroot your Galaxy S8 Plus.
- Remove custom recovery like TWRP and CWM, if installed, on your Galaxy S8 Plus.
To perform any of the above, simply install the firmware meant for your device, as per its Galaxy S8 Plus firmware in Settings > About device.