How to Install Custom ROM on Samsung Galaxy S10 Without TWRP

Estimated read time 4 min read
Who is this for?

For people that can’t or don’t want to install TWRP on their devices. For example TWRP doesn’t work with the S10E Snapdragon G9700 the HK/CHG version.

Can I use this only with the G9700 phone?

No you can use any device, but this guide is tailored to the s10e g9700; because the TWRP version for this phone doesnt work with Android10.

Why not use Heimdall and do the guide entirely on Linux?

I use Manjaro [Arch] linux and tried to get Heimdall to work but couldn’t, so choose the path of least resistance, so ODIN and windows is what we got.

Recommended ROMs?

I’m not a fan of Google Apps so my recommendations are these (2) ROMs:

1. DOWNLOAD (No bloat, Stock Android 10 with FOSS Apps replacements of Gapps, you can install your own on top, Like I use Google Maps (the only Gapp I use)

2. DOWNLOAD (Lineage OS 17.1 – this is vanilla, you will have to install an App store like F-Droid or Aurora from the .apk files using ADB [FYI] – This is what I use as my daily driver!

NOTE – the proximity sensor doesn’t work with the S10E and PHH based ROMs – https://github.com/phhusson/treble_experimentations/issues/592#issuecomment-519853332

REQUIREMENTS:

STEPS TO INSTALL CUSTOM ROM ON S10 USING ODIN WITHOUT TWRP

Step 1: Get your phone Official Stock ROM – https://samfw.com/firmware/SM-G9700/TGY (this is the one for my phone)

Step 2: Extract the downloaded file (you’ll have the BL, AP, CP, CSC) .TAR.MD5 files

Step 3: Using 7zip extract just the AP .tar.md5 (it’ll have img.lz4 files: boot.img.lz4, vbmeta.img.lz4 & system.img.ext4.lz4)

Step 4: Download a clean vbmeta.img file from Google – https://dl.google.com/developers/and…gsi/vbmeta.img

Step 5: Now we need to compress the vbmeta.img file (just downloaded from google) using LZ4.

Step 6: Go into the /bin folder inside the script zip file provided (or download LZ4 from https://github.com/lz4/lz4/releases)

Step 7: Run this command – 

lz4.exe -B6 --content-size vbmeta.img vbmeta.img.lz4

Step 8: Done with vbmeta.img (keep the vbmeta.img.lz4 file)

Step 9: Now download your favorite Custom ROM (https://github.com/phhusson/treble_e…y-floss.img.xz)

Step 10: Using 7zip extract the .img.xz file & Rename the file inside to system.img.ext4 (this is the system OS without lz4 compression)

Step 11: Now we need to compress the system.img.ext4 file (just renamed) using LZ4.

Step 12: Run this command –

lz4.exe -B6 --content-size system.img.ext4 system.img.ext4.lz4

Step 13: Done with system.img.ext4 (keep the system.img.ext4.lz4 file)

Step 14: Want to Root the device? if yes continue on; if not skip to step 24

Step 15: Take the boot.img.lz4 extracted from the stock ROM (the AP.tar.md5 file)

Step 16: We need to decompress this file using LZ4.

Step 17: Run this command – 

lz4.exe -d boot.img.lz4 boot.img

Step 18: Transfer this boot.img file to a phone and run Magisk Manager (doesnt need to be a rooted phone) and patch the boot.img file

Step 19: Take the patched file on your phone and transfer to your computer

Step 20: Rename the patched Magisk file to boot.img

Step 21: Now we need to compress the boot.img file (just renamed) using LZ4.

Step 22: Run this command –

lz4.exe -B6 --content-size boot.img boot.img.lz4

Step 23: Done with the renamed Magisk patched (keep the boot.img.lz4 file)

Step 24: Replace the stock boot.img.lz4, vbmeta.img.lz4 & system.img.ext4.lz4 with the new customize files

Step 25: Extract the files from tar-md5-script-tool.zip

Step 26: Copy or Move all files below to the tar-md5-script-tool folder

Step 27: Files are: (we don’t need the meta-data folder with fota.zip)

boot.img.lz4
dqmdbg.img.ext4.lz4
dtbo.img.lz4
persist.img.ext4.lz4
recovery.img.lz4
system.img.ext4.lz4
userdata.img.ext4.lz4
vbmeta.img.lz4
vendor.img.ext4.lz4

Step 28: Now we are going to build the AP file to use with Odin

Step 29: Run the batch.bat file from the tar-md5-script-tool folder

Step 30: Once it finishes go to the /tar-md5-script-tool/temp-folder/

Step 31: Inside you will find the AP_TAR_MD5_CUSTOM_FILE_ODIN.tar.md5

Step 32: Flash the BL, CP, CSC (use HOME_CSC) from your Stock ROM & AP (using AP_TAR_MD5_CUSTOM_FILE_ODIN.tar.md5)

Step 33: Done

CREDITS: XDA-Developers Android Forums

Avatar for Jaskaran Singh

Jaskaran Singh

Jaskaran, a tech enthusiast from childhood, inspired by his father, began his tech journey by rooting Android phones. He now writes on various tech topics, aiming to simplify complex ideas for a broad audience. His writing is direct, concise, and flows effortlessly, making tech topics accessible and engaging.

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