Database Develop

[GUIDE] EASY way to get into Download Mode (Consistent)

I have had a VERY hard time trying to get into Download Mode until now. ive discovered a consistent method to get into download mode. w/o trying a million diff reboots while holding buttons
***First you must have ROOT***
all disclaimers apply to this method as well as anything modifying system firmware. If ur phone turns into an evil handicapped rabbit and breaks a window, its not my fault!!
Download Terminal Emulator from the Market
open terminal emulator
**you may need to change to default android keyboard for proper inputting
1.) type "su" and press enter
a dialog box will appear asking for root access and say yes (obviously)
2.) type "reboot recovery" and press enter
at that moment, ur phone should reboot into Download Mode to load Alternate firmwares for like Eugene's Vibrant4 ROM etc......
this it what it should look like...
#su
#reboot download
Problem Solved --------
To de-rail any flaming of ignorance. the 1st pic is Download mode and the second one is Recovery Mode to clearly show that they are NOT the same!! they have 2 diff purposes

...or you can download and install quick boot from the market which you then can make a shortcut to reboot into recovery with just one click

boimarc89 said:
I have had a VERY hard time trying to get into Download Mode until now. ive discovered a consistent method to get into download mode. w/o trying a million diff reboots while holding buttons
***First you must have ROOT***
all disclaimers apply to this method as well as anything modifying system firmware. If ur phone turns into an evil handicapped rabbit and breaks a window, its not my fault!!
Download Terminal Emulator from the Market
open terminal emulator
**you may need to change to default android keyboard for proper inputting
1.) type "su" and press enter
a dialog box will appear asking for root access and say yes (obviously)
2.) type "reboot recovery" and press enter
at that moment, ur phone should reboot into Download Mode to load Alternate firmwares for like Eugene's Vibrant4 ROM etc......
this it what it should look like...
#su
#reboot download
Problem Solved --------
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery Mode != Download Mode

you can type adb reboot recovery
or you can type adb reboot download
each will boot you into the respective mode. No other commands needed.

This won't work if you've flashed a firmware that didn't complete and are unable to boot up. If ppl don't learn how to manually get into dl mode, whenever they're unable to boot up and get to a terminal they're going to freak

I posted a post already on how to get into download mode in this section (hardware style)

ths method is used because the hardware method for getting to Download mode (vol dwn+power) isnt consistent for EVERYBODY..theres eveb a video for showin a way to get into download mode on youtube but it didnt work of me and he even said it isnt a consistent method but it worked for him. and also Recovery mode is NOT download mode!!!!!!!!!!!!. they are to diff modes!!. the only purpose for Download mode is for using the Odin flasher. i have to de-rail the dudes who tryna flame me and didnt read up on this b4hand. in the gen questions forum, there a bunch of complaints about the download mode not comin up. i swear that ppl dont read. if u wanna keep a secret from ppl, put it in a book or long paragraph on how to do somethin

just wanted to post (with the caveat that i do not have the courage to actually flash my phone) that if you have Root Manager (which i posted in the "delete your crapware" thread as a non PC/ ABD method) it has a reboot widget that has three options: 1. Reboot 2. Reboot into Recovery 3. Reboot to BootLoader.
dont quote me because i dont know for sure, but i assume Reboot into Recovery = Recovery Mode and Reboot to BootLoader = Download Mode. Just sayin...

boimarc89 said:
ths method is used because the hardware method for getting to Download mode (vol dwn+power) isnt consistent for EVERYBODY..theres eveb a video for showin a way to get into download mode on youtube but it didnt work of me and he even said it isnt a consistent method but it worked for him. and also Recovery mode is NOT download mode!!!!!!!!!!!!. they are to diff modes!!. the only purpose for Download mode is for using the Odin flasher. i have to de-rail the dudes who tryna flame me and didnt read up on this b4hand. in the gen questions forum, there a bunch of complaints about the download mode not comin up. i swear that ppl dont read. if u wanna keep a secret from ppl, put it in a book or long paragraph on how to do somethin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason it is inconsistent is because it is 'different'. It is an odd and unexpected way of getting into download mode. That doesn't make it wrong.

I've never been able to get into recovery using hardware. I'm hesitant to get too adventurous with flashing until then. Just sayin'... this is crazy.

got my t-mobile galaxy s a few days ago, tried all of button combinations to get into download mode, non seem to work, the firmware is jg3.
i'm now trying adb and still cant get into download mode, it's rooted and has no prob going into recovery mode, but i'm struggling with download mode... any ideas?

I had the same issue. Tried every method discussed including the examples on you tube... None worked. Only thing that worked for me... And consistently worked is the following.
1) remove back cover and take our simm card and sd-card.
2) take out the battery
3) hold both the volume up and volume down buttons at the same time.
4) while holding down those 2 buttons put the battery back in
Should load download mode at this point. If it doesn't work, try the above with the phone pluged in to your usb.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I have found a consistent way to get into the recovery. With the phone off hold the down the volume up and down buttons and also hold down the power button. Don't just press the power button and release it. The vibrant logo will pop up but the phone wont boot into android. The phone will go black and the samsung logo will pop up again. Now release the power button and it will go into recovery. At least it does on mine, every time.

Randel77 said:
I have found a consistent way to get into the recovery. With the phone off hold the down the volume up and down buttons and also hold down the power button. Don't just press the power button and release it. The vibrant logo will pop up but the phone wont boot into android. The phone will go black and the samsung logo will pop up again. Now release the power button and it will go into recovery. At least it does on mine, every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, this works every time and on every vibrant i have rooted so far.
ive NEVER had an issue getting into recovery mode with the 30 or so Vibrants ive rooted, and ive NEVER had to use Odin.
seriously guys, this is soooo simple i really have no idea why anyone has problems with it...

I agree, this works every time and on every vibrant i have rooted so far.
I'm a DM for a tmobile retailer and i root probably 2 or 3 phones for customers every day. I keep all the files for vibrant/cliq/mt3g/mts/n1 on my SDcard so i can pop it in the customers phone and root.
ive NEVER had an issue getting into recovery mode with the 30 or so Vibrants ive rooted, and ive NEVER had to use Odin.
seriously guys, this sh!t is soooo simple i really have no idea why anyone has problems with it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread is for download mode.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Best way for me is to turn off the phone, hold down the vol buttons, then plug in the usb. Goes into downloading mode without a problem.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Download mode: powered off, plug in USB, wait till you see the charging screen, then hold down both volume up & down buttons, then press and hold the power button till you see the vibrant logo and let go of the power button while still holding both volume buttons till you see download mode.
Recovery mode: same button sequence method but done while fully powered off (even before you see the charging screen if you have it plugged in)
Basically you can only get into download mode while powered off and the charging screen is on

Vol Down + Power did not work for me. My Vibrant will only enter download mode if I press Vol Down + Vol Up and do not touch the power button.

With all the ways posted here to get into download mode is anyone wondering why OP posted this?
his way or "adb reboot download" are very consistent ways to get there while playing around with roms and the such.

I really dont know why there is SOOOO much bad info on booting into recovery and download mode.
It IS a little trickier than normal but this is the best way...... Step by Step for both methods. The youtube ways and a lot of forum posts, especially before the vibrant came out were for the i9000 and other versions, and do NOT work on the vibrant, this is the true way to do this.
Download mode:
1. Shut down phone (pull battery if stuck in some kind of install through odin or flashing from sd)
2. Plug phone in (or when rebooting with it plugged in) wait till you see the green charging icon.
3. Press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down
4. While holding Volume buttons, press and hold power button
5. As SOON as the green battery disappears let go of the power button ONLY!
6. You are now in download mode.
Recovery: (the same first steps as dl mode)
1. Shut down phone (pull battery if stuck in some kind of install through odin or flashing from sd)
2. Plug phone in (or when rebooting with it plugged in) wait till you see the green charging icon.
3. Press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down
4. While holding Volume buttons, press and hold power button
5. Hold all buttons until the "Samsung Vibrant" screen disappears then wait for the battery icon to start to appear (you see the little wait circle) then release all.
6. Wait a quick second and you will see recovery start to load.
So the difference between booting into download mode and booting into recovery is you are holding all the buttons longer for recovery and only releasing the power button as soon as the green battery disappears.
Another note is to make sure that you wait for the green battery to appear before you start these.
This is very easy to do once you know exactly what to do, I had a hell of a time figuring it out the first time because of all the bad info. It really is quite simple though.

HELP !! retore rom failed

Retore con2.3b6 with Rom Manager, flashed data back, reboot, now stopped at Samsung Recovery Utils mode, Installing Muti-CSC ..., been like this for an hour, be able to use volumn key move up and down, tried clear cache and re-install package, after reboot, goes back to the same screen. Tried to use odin but can't set to download mode anymore, eveytime reboot back to Samsung Recovery Utils.
Thanks for your help.

Possibly try this.
1. Pop the battery out
2. Start Odin on your PC.
3. After 30 seconds, insert battery. Do NOT power on.
4. Hold the volume up and volume down at same time.
5. Still holding the volume buttons, plug into USB. Release once it's in download mode.
Following these steps should force Odin to boot up the phone in download mode. At no point during this should you push the power button at all.

jeromekobriger said:
Possibly try this.
1. Pop the battery out
2. Start Odin on your PC.
3. After 30 seconds, insert battery. Do NOT power on.
4. Hold the volume up and volume down at same time.
5. Still holding the volume buttons, plug into USB. Release once it's in download mode.
Following these steps should force Odin to boot up the phone in download mode. At no point during this should you push the power button at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You saved me, flashing to stock now, thanks.
BTW, do you have idea what's cause the problem?

Sorry, wish I knew. I've never had much luck with restores in dg's roms. I'm running Axura RC1 now, and had one successful restore on it.

Hi guys,
Great to hear you sorted out download mode mate.
I have the same problem, and can get into download mode, but Odin stock JF6 just freezes at DO NOT TURN OFF TARGET. It doesn't proceed any further and I have left it as long as 10 minutes.
I have reflashed to stock many times previously and it only takes a second to start flashing.
I'm so worried that my phone is permanently soft bricked... :-(
Any ideas?

Its the lagfix Causing problems.
Captivate: Assonance v3.1

AreikUSA said:
Its the lagfix Causing problems.
Captivate: Assonance v3.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, but for now the reason why it wouldn't boot in the first place is irrelevant because my problem applies to any soft bricked phone.
Please see here for fix: (post)

[Q] Bootloader/Download Mode

Quick newbie question is the Bootloader mode option in QuickBoot app Download mode or something completely different?
A little confused between Bootloader mode and Download mode.
Thanks for your help

coldhandz said:
Quick newbie question is the Bootloader mode option in QuickBoot app Download mode or something completely different?
A little confused between Bootloader mode and Download mode.
Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader mode: To access this mode, turn off the SGS, and then press VOL UP + HOME pressed while pressing Power. Then you will enter recovery mode.
In recovery mode you can wipe the system and you can flash a file named update.zip (if you have installed a such file in the root directory of the internal memory). These update.zip files are usually made to root or modify the SGS, and if you want to install a custom ROM, it might be necessary.
If you have installed another recovery image, the bootloader/recovery menu might have some extra features, i.e. nandroid backup and access to other settings.
Download mode: To access this mode, turn off the SGS, take out SIM and SD card, then press VOL DOWN + HOME pressed while pressing Power. Then you will enter recovery mode. Then the phone will say "downloading", and then you should connect the USB cable to a PC running the Odin firmware tool. Read more about Odin and firmwares on samfirmware DOT com
Disclaimer: Not every SGS has this 3-buttom combo - if not, search forum for "3-buttom combo fix"
Hope this helps you.

Sparkle1975 said:
Bootloader mode: To access this mode, turn off the SGS, and then press VOL UP + HOME pressed while pressing Power. Then you will enter recovery mode.
In recovery mode you can wipe the system and you can flash a file named update.zip (if you have installed a such file in the root directory of the internal memory). These update.zip files are usually made to root or modify the SGS, and if you want to install a custom ROM, it might be necessary.
If you have installed another recovery image, the bootloader/recovery menu might have some extra features, i.e. nandroid backup and access to other settings.
Download mode: To access this mode, turn off the SGS, take out SIM and SD card, then press VOL DOWN + HOME pressed while pressing Power. Then you will enter recovery mode. Then the phone will say "downloading", and then you should connect the USB cable to a PC running the Odin firmware tool. Read more about Odin and firmwares on samfirmware DOT com
Disclaimer: Not every SGS has this 3-buttom combo - if not, search forum for "3-buttom combo fix"
Hope this helps you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Sparkle1975, I've searched the forums and read many times what you have copied and pasted.
In your answer you say that Bootloader mode is Recovery Mode.
(Bootloader mode: To access this mode, turn off the SGS, and then press VOL UP + HOME pressed while pressing Power. Then you will enter recovery mode.)
Within the app Quickboot it offers the options of reboot, recovery, bootloader and power off. Recovery and Bootloader appear to be different options.

Sparkle1975 said:
Disclaimer: Not every SGS has this 3-buttom combo - if not, search forum for "3-buttom combo fix"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just in case anyone else has the same problem as me:
For me VOL UP works, so I can get in to update mode, but VOL DOWN (download mode) does not work. If I enter update mode, then hold power until it reboots, quickly presses VOL DOWN+HOME (but not power) it enters download mode.
A few more steps, but it works.
Official swedish 2.3.3 firmware in mine.
Edit: This was tested a few times with the SIM and SD out. I haven't tried it with them in.

Help, choose wrong phone for ROM Manger and now stuck in Android Recovery Mode

Help guys.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S Captivate I897. Last night I installed the Clockworkmod ROM Manager in there and was messing around with it.
I choose my phone model to be the the I9000 and then I went into recovery mode to restore the previous ROM, but guess what? It went into recovery mode, the volume up and down buttons select the menu items and it asks me to hit the "OK key" to enter.
The Captivate doesn't have an OK key, it uses the power button. So the Android Recovery Mode here thinks the phone is a I9000 and I can't get it to do anything other than reboot into that mode.
I've tried using the ADB to try to get back into download mode but it's no longer reading the phone. The volume + power buttons to go into that mode has never worked for this phone either.
I'm at a loss at what to do. Is there anyway I can get out of recovery mode and into download mode or back to regular phone usage here? Would I need to take it to an android developer?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.

vancouverguy said:
Help guys.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S Captivate I897. Last night I installed the Clockworkmod ROM Manager in there and was messing around with it.
I choose my phone model to be the the I9000 and then I went into recovery mode to restore the previous ROM, but guess what? It went into recovery mode, the volume up and down buttons select the menu items and it asks me to hit the "OK key" to enter.
The Captivate doesn't have an OK key, it uses the power button. So the Android Recovery Mode here thinks the phone is a I9000 and I can't get it to do anything other than reboot into that mode.
I've tried using the ADB to try to get back into download mode but it's no longer reading the phone. The volume + power buttons to go into that mode has never worked for this phone either.
I'm at a loss at what to do. Is there anyway I can get out of recovery mode and into download mode or back to regular phone usage here? Would I need to take it to an android developer?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shut off the phone, open up odin(DG's flash to stock one) hold the power and the menu button. Once you see the ATT screen release the power while continuing to hold the volume buttons. Once odin recognizes your device flash to stock using the utility. Once this works donate to DG for saving your ass. Also, quit using ROM manager. Just use the update.zip method everyone else uses.

+1 for just using CWM update.zip It is sooo much easier/faster.

Thanks, but it didn't work. My Galaxy S is one of those where the volume + power buttons don't work to get it into download mode.
I did try power + menu as you suggest, but that doesn't work either.

try this
1. open odin.
2. With phone unplugged remove battery
3. with battery removed plug phone into pc via USB
4. with battery still removed simultaneously hold down Vol. + / - (forget about power button just hold down the two vol buttons)
5. While holding down the vol + / - insert the battery (keep the vol buttons down and hopefully DL screen comes up)

silverslotcar said:
+1 for just using CWM update.zip It is sooo much easier/faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot stress this enough.
Also, OP, if the above doesn't work, it might be USB jig time.

pwr isn't used to go into dload mode - that would turn your phone on.
Do this:
Open odin
Remove bat, sim, ext mem card
replace bat
hold vol -/+ and plug in data cable to computer
(should be download mode)
If that fails, then get yourself a jig... gotta search for the thread though - should cost a couple dollars. Then once you're back up... look up the thread to fix the 3 button combo.

You might try turning the phone off then hold VOLUME DOWN and POWER (not vol up/dwn/pwr) to get into download mode. Make sure to remove the sim and sd cards.

I bricked my phone over the weekend and had similar problem you did.the easiest way too get out in to download mode is a jig. Its easy and cheap to do.look on you tube under un brick captivate fort a tutorial.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Question about using update.zip to install clockwork recovery after flashing to stock (and avoiding Rom Manager):
Is rooting still required?

doreyu said:
Question about using update.zip to install clockwork recovery after flashing to stock (and avoiding Rom Manager):
Is rooting still required?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. No root needed

mcord11758 said:
Nope. No root needed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, great that would be hugely faster, thanks.

doreyu said:
Awesome, great that would be hugely faster, thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you learn that trick you are on stock for like 2 minutes before you flash

Yeah I'm kind of a lurk but I've been around for about a month just flashing everything, and I had no idea it could be done like this till today. Going to make my next one even faster.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Nothing seems to work.
I'm going to try the jig method Wednesday morning. Wish me luck!

I tried the jig and it didn't work.
What happened was that it got me back into recovery mode, not download mode. Tried it several times. So unless I'm hitting the wrong points on the phone usb plugin (other than the last two), I'm hooped.
I tried the direct resistor wire to points in usb plugin method. I didn't try the one where I cut open a mini-usb cable and use the plug as a dongle, although I think it may get the same result.
What do you guys think?

n7000 battery power button problem

I experienced power button problem, after flashing latest build (4.4.2 on note n7000) my phone rebooted and and once it got back in system I couldnt turn off screen from power button or shut down phone, so i tried to remove battery and start again. But it is the same. So i didnt know what to do, i installed reboot recovery app to try to flash earlier build and from philz kernel (touch based) flashed raw4 kernel and now in recovery my power button stilll dont work, I can not flash anything I cant reboot in sistem . What to do?
p.s. I tried removing a battery and as soon as i inserted it the phone boots in recovery automaticly (like the power buttton is pressed all the time ?), and still power button wont work
I can go into download mode with Volume up and home button (and again like power button is all the time presed but i am not pressing it) and i could go to download mode and i have odin 1.85 on my computer and i could flash raw5 kernel or asylum kernel just to boot in system and use OS, but RAW5 iz ZIP extension like ASYlum,( i guess i need tar file extensions for odin?) so i dont know what to do via odin? What do you think? And thank you so much.. for you time reading this.