SamFirm tool: does it still work?
SamFirm was the go-to Windows app for downloading Samsung stock firmware. It no longer works, and the tools that replaced it can only fetch the newest build. Here is what still works and where to get older builds.
Short answer
- The original SamFirm (last version 0.5.0, by XDA member zxz0O0) is no longer maintained and does not download firmware anymore.
- Its successors (SamFirm_Reborn, Frija, Samloader, Bifrost) still download firmware, but Samsung's server now returns only the latest build for a model and region.
- For an older build, a specific region (CSC) or a carrier model, use the firmware archive on this site: search by model or browse all models.
samfirm.shop is a firmware archive website, not the SamFirm program. It is not affiliated with the SamFirm developers or with Samsung.
What SamFirm was
SamFirm asked Samsung's firmware update server (FUS) for a firmware package, the same way Samsung's own update software does. It downloaded the encrypted package, decrypted it and gave you the Odin files: BL, AP, CP, CSC and HOME_CSC. You then flashed them with Odin. It was free, portable and needed only the model number and region code, which made it the standard way to get stock firmware for years.
Why it stopped working
Samsung changed its update server several times, and SamFirm was never updated for it. Two changes matter today:
- Requests need more device data. SamFirm_Reborn, for example, added an IMEI or serial number field to keep working.
- The server always serves the latest available firmware, whatever version is requested. The Bifrost project notes this and has disabled manual version downloads, so older builds cannot be fetched with these tools.
SamFirm alternatives compared
| Tool | Platforms | Status | Older builds |
|---|---|---|---|
| SamFirm 0.5.0 | Windows | Unmaintained, no longer gets firmware from Samsung | No |
| SamFirm_Reborn | Windows (GUI and command line) | Community patch of SamFirm, asks for the IMEI or serial number | Latest only |
| Frija | Windows 10 and 11 (.NET runtime) | Popular SamFirm successor | Latest only |
| Samloader | Any OS with Python | Command line tool | Latest only |
| Bifrost | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (64-bit) | Graphical port of Samloader | Latest only, manual version download disabled |
Status is what each project states on its own page; check the project before you download, because Samsung's server changes break these tools from time to time. Firmware websites are compared in where to download Samsung firmware.
When you need an older build
The newest build is not always the one you need. Typical cases:
- Going back to an earlier build with the same bootloader binary after an update you do not like.
- Carrier models (for example Verizon or AT&T) and regions that a downloader does not serve well.
- Restoring the exact build a device shipped with, or the one a repair shop asks for.
- Recovering a phone or tablet that does not boot after a failed update.
This site keeps past builds per model and region. Find your model, open the build page, check that its bootloader binary is not lower than the one on your device, and download the package for your CSC. New builds appear on the latest firmware page.
You cannot flash a build with a lower bootloader binary than the one installed: Odin stops with "SW REV CHECK FAIL". The binary is the 5th character from the end of the build number.
Download tools and firmware safely
- Download tools only from their own project pages. Bundles named "SamFirm AIO" or "cracked" versions often add FRP bypass tools or malware.
- Firmware files are .tar.md5 archives: Odin checks each file's checksum before flashing and refuses a damaged one.
- Back up your data and follow the flashing guide before you start.
FAQ
Does SamFirm still work?
No. Version 0.5.0 is the last release of the original tool, and it no longer downloads firmware from Samsung's server. SamFirm_Reborn is a patched version that still works for the latest build.
Is samfirm.shop the SamFirm app?
No. It is a website with an archive of Samsung stock firmware. You do not install anything: you pick a build and download its package in the browser.
Can SamFirm, Frija or Bifrost download an older firmware?
Not anymore. Samsung's server returns the latest build for a model and region, whatever version is requested. Older builds are only available from archives like this one.
Do I need my IMEI to download firmware?
Current desktop downloaders ask for it because Samsung's server requires it. Downloading from this site does not need your IMEI.
Is the firmware official?
Yes. The packages are Samsung's own firmware files, unmodified, in the same Odin format the desktop tools produce.