Help finding the correct firmware for Galaxy S21+

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cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek

#303660 26-Feb-2023 13:18

Hi Team

I bought a Galaxy S21+ from an online retailer some time ago (out of warranty ago), I recently noticed that it has not been receiving OTA updates (says software up to date). So I tried Samsung SmartSwitch (windows) which also tells me that my software is up to date (last received update Oct 21 and is still on Android 11).

So I decided to go the Odin route to flash the firmware, done this is with older phones in the distant past with success, plenty on helpful guides out there on how to do this, however I'm not the expert and so need a little help. My problem is finding the correct firmware to use. Tried Frija with doesn't find anything, and the Samobile firmwares only list US carriers for my exact model. So I guess my question is, am I going to run into trouble if I use a firmware for one of the US carriers?

I've attached screenshots with the relevant info on versions, CSCs etc. Can anyone help me find a firmware that will not brick my phone?

Cheers

Linux

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#3042168 26-Feb-2023 13:32

What actually are you trying to achieve?

cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek

#3042169 26-Feb-2023 13:35

Thanks for your response. Hoping to get on to Android 13, and a more recent security patch level.

Cheers

Linux

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#3042170 26-Feb-2023 13:36

FYI your mobile number is showing in the screen shot

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#3042225 26-Feb-2023 14:28

Thar is odd it should just update to Android 13 are you sure this is a genuine Samsung handset?

robjg63

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#3042241 26-Feb-2023 15:00

That model ( SM-G996U) appears to be a USA model.

It looks like there should certainly be Android 13 and OneUI 5.X for it.

I have never been entirely sure with Android updates. They normally/often seem to be released by the carrier.

Life would be simple if they just came direct from the manufacturer, but I don't think this is always true - and especially not with Samsung.

Under service provider (on your screenshot), it says GCF/GCF/XAA.

This site: https://www.droidviews.com/how-to-change-csc-in-samsung-galaxy-phones/

says "XAA – USA (unbranded/unlocked/default)".

It also says:

Samsung servers check on the CSC code of your Samsung device and match it with the geolocation where it’s being used. If both these things match before sending OTA updates to your device. Suppose the CSC code of your Samsung device is INS (India) and you take it to the United Kingdom or Germany and use it there, you may not receive the official software updates from Samsung.

So probably explains why no updates....

That article reckons you can change the CSC (area) but I guess it depends on how 'American' the hardware is as to whether firmware from somewhere else will work....

Looking at the https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-s21-plus/firmware/SM-G996U/USC/#SM-G996U page, it looks like your firmware is G996USQS4AUIN from 2021-10-18.

I guess you could try the very latest at the top of that page 2023-01-29 and see what happens.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

cgreenwood

201 posts

Master Geek

#3042353 26-Feb-2023 21:16

Update and answer:

Thanks @ robjg63 for putting me on the right track. I think you're quite correct about the reason for not receiving OTA updates. I tried using a VPN to connect through the states on the phone and via the PC, but neither worked.

Reddit had the answer though: Turns out that the unbranded/unlocked US versions are listed under two model names, one with a 1 appended. So, my model number SM-G996U is also listed under SM-G996U1. When I used Freja with the latter, and XAA as the CSC, it found an android 13 firmware for me to flash (there's also some on Samobile). The caveat to this is that you need to use a patched Odin to do the flash (found on XDA), which I did, and it worked. Currently playing with my updated phone, Yay.

tripp

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#3042405 26-Feb-2023 22:16

cgreenwood:
Update and answer:

Thanks @ robjg63 for putting me on the right track. I think you're quite correct about the reason for not receiving OTA updates. I tried using a VPN to connect through the states on the phone and via the PC, but neither worked.

Reddit had the answer though: Turns out that the unbranded/unlocked US versions are listed under two model names, one with a 1 appended. So, my model number SM-G996U is also listed under SM-G996U1. When I used Freja with the latter, and XAA as the CSC, it found an android 13 firmware for me to flash (there's also some on Samobile). The caveat to this is that you need to use a patched Odin to do the flash (found on XDA), which I did, and it worked. Currently playing with my updated phone, Yay.

If I remember correct and it's still a "thing" US phones will only update if there is a US sim in it. Something the telcos demand over there.

Was a "thing" a few years ago with another set of phones when people would not get updates and they then put in a TMobile sim and update showed up. This is for the over the air via update on phone, you can still flash them with odin

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robjg63

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#3042549 27-Feb-2023 08:32

That would explain why my previous phone, a Galaxy a5 2017 (replaced December last year), got an android update and security patches for a while.

I bought it from Parallel Imported and it appeared to be a UAE (United Arab Emirates) model according to the software code.

But the updates came as normal here in NZ and it worked fine here.

It obviously wasn't worried about the SIM in my case.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler