How to Boot Samsung Devices into Download Mode or Odin Mode

All Android devices have a bootloader, fastboot, and recovery mode. While the bootloader or fastboot mode allows us to flash firmware and recovery files, you can wipe your device and flash OTA ‘update.zip’ via the recovery mode. Every user must know about the methods to boot into them. Today, we’ll see how we can boot into the Samsung Download Mode using hardware keys. Not just that, you can also use the Samsung Download Mode tool called 300K Tool and ADB command to get into the Bootloader or Odin Mode and Recovery Mode without keys.

What is Download Mode on Samsung?

While most Android devices have a regular bootloader and fastboot mode, OEMs like Samsung, Nokia, and LG phones come with the Download Mode. Having booted your phone in the Fastboot mode, you can flash stock firmware and factory images. However, you can’t execute Fastboot commands in the Download Mode. All devices with the Download Mode support firmware flashing via manufacturer-specific official tools like Samsung Odin, LG Flash Tool, Nokia OST Tool, etc.

The Download Mode on Samsung Galaxy devices is also known as the Odin Mode. When put in this mode, your Samsung phone or Tab can install firmware files BL, AP, CP, and CSC via the Odin Tool. By flashing the firmware files to your device, you can recover your phone from a boot loop, update or downgrade software, and restore it to stock. While Nokia phones often get stuck in the Download Mode after a software update failure, there’s no such issue on Samsung devices. While the Download Mode on Nokia devices supports Fastboot commands, Samsung devices don’t.

Enter Download Mode on Samsung Devices

There are 3 ways to boot Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets into the Download or Odin mode.

1. Using hardware key combination
2. Samsung 300K Tool or Samsung Download Mode tool
3. Using ADB command

The last two methods can boot your device into the Download Mode without pressing the keys or buttons. Also, learn how you can turn the Safe Mode on and off on your Samsung device.

1. Samsung Download Mode Key Combinations

This is probably the most popular way to enter Odin Mode on Samsung devices. It was the universal method until all Samsung phones and tablets had the Power, Home, and Volume keys. However, with the departure of the Home button and with the introduction of the Bixby button on some Galaxy devices, the hardware key combination to get into the Download Mode has not only changed but also varies from device to device.

On Samsung Devices with Home, Power, and Volume Keys

Older phones like Samsung Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note 7, etc. have Power, Home, and Volume buttons.

1. Turn off your phone or tablet.
2. Now press and hold the Home + Volume Down + Power keys simultaneously for 2-3 seconds.
3. Release the keys and then press the Volume Up key to continue to the Download Mode.

On Samsung Devices with Power and Volume Keys

Smartphones like Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018), etc. have just the Power and Volume (Up & Down) buttons. If you own one such Samsung device, follow the steps below.

1. Power off your Galaxy device.
2. Hold the Volume Up + Volume Down + Power buttons at the same time for 2-3 seconds.

On Samsung Devices with Power, Bixby, and Volume Keys

Samsung smartphones like Galaxy S8, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 9, etc. come with Power, Volume+, Volume-, and Bixby keys. On such devices, you can get into the Download Mode as follows.

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Press and hold the Volume Down + Bixby + Power keys together for 2-3 seconds.
3. On the next screen, you will be prompted to press the Volume Up button. Just do it.

On Samsung Devices with Volume and Power-cum-Bixby Keys

On Galaxy devices like the Galaxy S22, S21, Note 10, Galaxy A90, Galaxy A80, Galaxy A70, Galaxy A50, Galaxy A40, etc., Samsung has merged the Bixby and Power keys. To boot such devices into the Download Mode, follow these steps:

1. Power off your device.
2. Connect it to a PC using a USB cable.
3. When the charging animation stops, press and hold the Volume Up + Power buttons at the same time.
4. When you see the Samsung logo, release the buttons.
5. Your Samsung device will boot into the Recovery Mode. You can use the Volume up/down key to navigate and the Power button to select options in the Recovery Mode.
6. Highlight the Reboot to bootloader option in the recovery menu and press the Power key.
   

   Galaxy S22 Ultra recovery mode

7. Your Samsung device will boot into the Download Mode.

Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 Download Mode

I recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra but when I tried to boot my phone into the Download Mode, the Volume Up + Power button combination didn’t work for me. Samsung is changing the way we used to enter the download and recovery mode on Samsung devices.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, or Galaxy S23 Ultra, follow the steps below to boot your phone into the Download Mode. The method also works on the Galaxy S22, S21, and Galaxy Note 20.

1. Turn off your Galaxy S23.
2. Hold the Volume UP + Volume Down keys simultaneously and connect the phone to your computer using a USB cable. Keep the buttons pressed for 5-7 seconds.
3. You’ll see a Warning screen as shown below.
4. Press the Volume Up key to enter the Download mode.

Using the Volume Up + Volume Down keys only

In case the Power button on your Samsung phone or Galaxy Tab is not functioning, you can boot it into the Odin mode using the volume keys only.

• Turn off your Samsung device.
• Press and hold the Volume Up+ Volume Down keys simultaneously.
• Then plug the USB into your device.
• Ensure the USB cable is connected to a power source such as a charger or a PC.
• Keep the buttons pressed until you see the Warning screen and then press the volume up key to get into the Download mode.

2. Boot into Samsung Download Mode without Keys

There are actually 2 methods to get into the Download Mode without pressing the hardware keys on your device. Both these ways require a computer and a USB cable.

Enter Samsung Download Mode via ADB Command

One of the many things that we can do with ADB commands is to make your Samsung Galaxy device boot into the Download mode using your computer. The best part of the game is you can do that without pressing any key. This method works for all Android devices.

1. Install the latest Samsung USB driver if you don’t have it installed already.
2. Download the latest Platform Tools (ADB and Fastboot tools) for Windows, Mac, or Linux and save it on your desktop.
3. Extract the downloaded zip.
4. Open the extracted platform-tools folder.
5. Launch the command prompt. Place the mouse cursor at an empty spot inside the folder windows. Press the Shift key + right-click on the mouse and select Open PowerShell window here from the context menu. Alternatively, you can type “cmd” in the folder address bar and hit the Enter key to launch the command window.
6. Enable USB debugging on your Samsung device.
7. Connect your device to the computer via a USB cable and make sure your device screen is unlocked while you execute the commands.
8. Now, type the following command in the command window to check your device is properly connected.

   adb devices

9. If you get a string of alphanumeric values (the serial number of your phone) in the command window, it means ADB has recognized your device.

   Windows: adb reboot download
   macOS & Linux: ./adb reboot download
   

10. That’s it! Your Samsung Galaxy device will reboot into the Download Mode.
    

    Samsung Download or Odin mode

You are now all set to flash the stock Samsung firmware using Samsung Odin. If you haven’t downloaded the firmware yet, you can use the best Samsung firmware download tool named Frija.

3. Samsung Download Mode Tool

I really don’t have any idea why the developer named it like that but Samsung 300K is a great tool. It is a very small portable utility that makes your Samsung device reboot into the Download Mode with just a single click. Samsung 300K is a tiny executable (EXE) software that can boot your Samsung Galaxy phone into the Download Mode in a single click.

1. Download Samsung 300K Tool.zip.
2. Turn off the antivirus program on your Windows PC. Your antivirus software might report that the file has a virus but ignore it.
3. Now, unzip the file and open the extracted folder.
4. Turn on USB debugging on your Samsung device and connect your phone to the computer.
5. Double-click the Samsung 300K Tool.exe file to launch the program.
   

   Samsung 300K Tool

6. Now click the big Resistance icon on the left side of the program window.
7. The tool will reboot your phone or tablet in the Download Mode.

Note: If you entered the Download Mode on your Samsung device by mistake, you can exit by holding the Volume Down + Power buttons simultaneously for 7-8 seconds.

Read Next: CSC or HOME CSC – Which File Should You Flash in Odin?