Is it possible to downgrade my Samsung Galaxy s3?

Forums › Android › Is it possible to downgrade my Samsung Galaxy s3?

Madeline

57 posts

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#151840 7-Sep-2014 14:05

I accidentally upgraded my phone, and I don't know what to do. I know that it runs better but there are visual things that I am finding very hard to handle. The lock screen is smaller, the contacts have scary pictures that make me freak out. All my contacts are on the sim so I can't even give a different contact picture to them... I have nothing important on my phone...

My phone was gifted to me due to my disabilities (Including Autism) as a safety device, it is so important that is usable for me.

The first thing I tried was a factory reset but that did not work. Anything important like photos are on my desktop... I didn't use any apps but the ANZ banking app.

I live in Christchurch and if anyone knows how to fix this it would mean the world to me.

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Biddle Corp

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#1123652 7-Sep-2014 15:37

Not easily, no.

jeffnz

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#1123662 7-Sep-2014 15:51

Unless you made a backup you can't restore so only option available is to flash the original firmware but you would need to be a bit confdent in your ability to use a program called odin ( heaps of vid's on youtube) if you feel confident then we would need to know what version firmware you were on to get the proper info for you..

Failing that for contacts you can get something like Contacts + and change the pictures.

The lockscreen and other changes may be a case of trying to get used to them otherwise.

I would suggest you save your contacts to gmail this option is under settings in contacts that way if you change sim cards you can always restore contacts.

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Madeline

57 posts

Master Geek

#1123665 7-Sep-2014 15:57

I have already downloaded Odin, right now I am downloading the firmware from http://www.tsar3000.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=610:samsung-i9300-galaxy-s-iii-firmwares&catid=55:samsung&Itemid=82 which had a vodafone nz listing.

I have a friend on skype walking me through the process, Our big problem seems to be finding the firmware.

Hopefully this will work.

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#1123679 7-Sep-2014 16:15

Before you touch anything you need to accept that my tinkering with any of these settings there is a VERY real risk you could brick your phone. If you do that that, it's only going to be good for the rubbish.

Madeline

57 posts

Master Geek

#1123681 7-Sep-2014 16:19

Do you think it might just be a good idea to try sell the s3 and buy one on 4.1.2 (I am unsure if that's still possible, but hopefully it is) this is really really stressful but am trying to find a way to make it work as it did, not as it does now. I know you say there is a big risk, but when you say brick the phone, do you mean completely unrecoverable?

jeffnz

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#1123705 7-Sep-2014 17:22

If you follow instructions its fine but a bit nerve wracking first time. You can get firmware from Sammobile which is official but will need to register, it costs nothing and there are guides there. You will need to have your exact model to find the firmware.

Just follow the guide and you can't go wrong, will need to register to get downloads if required guide

if you are unsure don't do it, I'm sure there will be someone in CHCh that can help you or do it for you

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Yabanize

2350 posts

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#1123735 7-Sep-2014 17:53

Be careful you dont downgrade to a version with Sudden Death Syndrome

The latest 4.1.2 should be okay.

Good places to find firmware are http://sammobile.com/firmwares/1/ and http://samsungupdates.com

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mattwnz

20155 posts

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#1123759 7-Sep-2014 18:47

sbiddle: Before you touch anything you need to accept that my tinkering with any of these settings there is a VERY real risk you could brick your phone. If you do that that, it's only going to be good for the rubbish.

How likely is that though. I mean if it did brick it, could the right phone geek get it back? Just that I have jailbroken an ipod touch before and it was fine, but I believe even if that goes wrong, you can still restore it back to the offical iOS, which I have done too. Or is it more of a problem with phones?

Madeline

57 posts

Master Geek

#1123840 7-Sep-2014 20:47

-Sigh- well something went wrong. The phones rebooted, the OS is perfect, everythings back to the way it was... apart from I am displayed with the error "Not registered on network" when making a call. When forcing it to vodafone NZ i get "No Service" and texting gives a "No signal found for mobile networks"

So... guess that went badly.... Not sure where to go from here. Think I need to buy a new phone?

jeffnz

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#1123846 7-Sep-2014 20:54

Madeline: -Sigh- well something went wrong. The phones rebooted, the OS is perfect, everythings back to the way it was... apart from I am displayed with the error "Not registered on network" when making a call. When forcing it to vodafone NZ i get "No Service" and texting gives a "No signal found for mobile networks"

So... guess that went badly.... Not sure where to go from here. Think I need to buy a new phone?

go to network under settings , mobile networks and click on "access point names " and see if your vodafone default settings are there, if not try here and follow instructions, I'm not on Vodafone so not sure if this works

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