How to Unbrick or Restore Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100

Looks like you just got unlucky in your little Galaxy Note 2 hacking adventures — that is, little things like rooting, custom recoveries and custom ROMs — and now, you have a bricked device in your hand.

Well, what we can do now is try to restore your Galaxy Note 2 back to stock using a firmware so that all bad partitions on the device are fixed and it doesn’t bootloops and restarts normally.

And well, depending on what you were trying to do, and more importantly how, it could either be soft-bricked or hard-bricked — in latter case, as sad as it is, you maybe out of luck, man!

What’s Hard-brick and Soft-brick?

Even though rare, and when you are like set to be doomed, your Galaxy Note 2 might get hard-bricked. In which case, the Galaxy Note 2 won’t boot into download mode — it won’t respond to key combinations you are trying to make it to boot normally or to download or recovery mode.

Hard-brick results in one dead Android device. Yes, it’s sick, and worrying. You may have to look for a JTAG service locally; the person with good knowledge of that may be able to revive it. Oh, you can also try using USB Jig (look on ebay, perhaps!) to reboot the Galaxy Note 2 into download mode, but it may or may not work!

Hard-brick is rare, it may happen only when power supply gets disturbed of computer and/or Android device when something is being installed/updated on the device. Or, when you totally mis-do things totally recklessly. That’s why you have to be very careful with even the easiest steps.

Let’s see soft-brick now. Normally, a brick is a soft-brick, which means your device isn’t completely dead, that it is just not able to boot normally and gets stuck somewhere. And, download mode is working.

How to identify bricked Galaxy Note 2?

If your Android device can boot into download mode, then it means it’s a soft-brick. If it cannot, then it’s hard-bricked.

Cases of soft-brick:

  • Bootloop: Your Galaxy Note 2 is not restarting properly and gets stuck at logo, and reboots again and again on it. Mostly occurs when you flash something bad.
  • Corrupted but working: Your Galaxy Note 2 can’t power On, but is entering the Download mode and/or Recovery mode on pressing the key combinations. That is, it’s responding to key combos, at the least.
  • Any other case: As it doesn’t matter what happened, as long as you can access Download mode using the key combos specified in the unbrick Galaxy Note 2 guide below, you’re good — no reasons to worry!

Solution?

Just install the firmware using the guide below and your Galaxy Note 2 shall be up and running coolly soon enough! you must be able to enter download using the key combinations specified in the guide below.

Cases of Hard-brick:

  • Well, if you can’t enter download mode using the key combinations specified in the guide below, you got a worry — your device is hard-bricked. You can’t repair it yourself unless you are able to reboot it into download mode.

Solution?

You can try USB Jig to enter Download mode but there is no guarantee it would work. Your last hope is JTAG: find a local service provider who can us the JTAG for you and revive your dead hard bricked Galaxy Note 2. You can use Google to buy JTAG and try it yourself but we don’t recommend it at all, at it requires the skills of a knowledgeable person in Electronics.

Let’s see now how to unbrick or restore or fix a bricked Galaxy Note 2.

How to Restore Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to Unbrick and Fix it

  WARNING!

Warranty may be void of your device if you follow the procedures given on this page.

You only are responsible for your device. We won’t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

  SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 2 GT-N7100 OFFICIAL JELLY BEAN 4.3 FIRMWARE

Before you begin with guide instructions below, make sure your android device is adequately charged — at least 50% battery of the device.

  STEP 0: CHECK DEVICE MODEL NO.

To make sure your device is eligible with this, you must first confirm its model no. in ‘About device’ option under Settings. Another way to confirm model no. is by looking for it on the packaging box of your device. It must be GT-N7100!

Do not use the procedures discussed here on any other Galaxy Note 2 (including the Galaxy Note 2 variant at Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular and other International LTE variants) or any other device of Samsung or any other company. You have been warned!

  STEP 1: BACKUP YOUR DEVICE

Back up important data and stuff before you start playing around here as there are chances you might lose your apps and app-data (app settings, game progress, etc.), and in rare case, files on the internal memory, too.

For help on Backup and Restore, check out our exclusive page on that linked right below.

► ANDROID BACK UP AND RESTORE GUIDE: APPS AND TIPS

  STEP 2: INSTALL LATEST DRIVER

You must have proper and working driver installed on your windows computer to be able to successfully flash stock firmware on your Samsung Galaxy Note 2. In case you’re not sure, follow the link below for a definitive guide for installing driver for your Galaxy Note 2 on your computer.

► SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 2 DRIVERS INSTALLATION GUIDE

   STEP 3: INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

  DOWNLOADS

Download the Odin zip file and firmware file given below. Transfer both Odin and firmware file to a separate folder on your computer just to keep things tidy.

  ODIN ZIP FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: Latest Odin3 v3.09.zip (951 KB)

  FIRMWARE ZIP FILE

DOWNLOAD LINK | File name: N7100XXUEMK8_N7100OXAEMK1_XEF.zip (1.2 GB)

  STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

  Example video: If you haven’t used Odin before to install a stock firmware or anything else, then we suggest you first watch a video of that to get familiar with the process. The video demonstrates flashing of CWM Recovery on Galaxy S3, but since the procedure is same for flashing stock firmware also, the video will help: Click here to watch the video

Important Note: Backup important files stored on internal SD card of your device, so that in case a situation arises requiring you to do a factory reset after flashing stock firmware, which might format internal sd card too, your files will remain safe on PC.

  1. Extract/Unzip the Odin zip file, Latest Odin3 v3.09.zip on your computer (using 7-zip free software, preferably) to get this file: Odin3 v3.09.exe
  2. Extract/Unzip the Firmware zip file, N7100XXUEMK8_N7100OXAEMK1_XEF.zip on your computer (using 7-zip free software, preferably) to get this file: N7100XXUEMK8_N7100OXAEMK1_N7100XXUEMJ9_HOME.tar.md5
  3. Move the firmware file, N7100XXUEMK8_N7100OXAEMK1_N7100XXUEMJ9_HOME.tar.md5, in the same folder in which you extracted Latest Odin3 v3.09.zip (Just for your convenience, that is). So, now you’ll have the following files in that folder:
    • Odin3 v3.09.exe
    • N7100XXUEMK8_N7100OXAEMK1_N7100XXUEMJ9_HOME.tar.md5
  4. Disconnect the Galaxy Note 2 from PC if it is connected.
  5. Double-click the Odin3 v3.09.exe file to open Odin.
  6. Boot your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 into Download Mode:
    • Power off your phone first and wait for 6-7 seconds after display is off
    • Press and hold these 3 buttons together until you see Warning! screen: Volume Down + Power + Home
    • Press Volume Up now to continue to Download Mode
      Galaxy-Note-2-N7100-Download-Mode
  7. Connect your Galaxy Note 2 to PC. Odin window will show an Added!! message in bottom left box. Odin’s screen would look like this:
    Odin 3.09 - Samsung-Galaxy-Odin-Device-Added-Screenshot
    If you don’t get the Added! message, here are some troubleshooting tips:
    • Make sure you have installed driver for Galaxy Note 2 as said above.
    • If you have already installed driver, then uninstall them and re-install back.
    • Connect using a different USB port on your PC.
    • Try a different USB cable. The original cable that came with your phone should work best, if not, try any other cable that’s new and of good quality.
    • Reboot phone and PC and then try again.
  8. Load the firmware file (extracted in Step 2) into Odin as instructed below:
    • Click on the AP button on Odin and select the N7100XXUEMK8_N7100OXAEMK1_N7100XXUEMJ9_HOME.tar.md5 file (from step 2). Your Odin window should look something like the screenshot below:
      Odin 3.09
  9. Now in the Option section of Odin, make sure that Re-Partition box is unchecked. (Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time boxes remain checked, while all other boxes remain unchecked.)
  10. Double check the above two steps.
  11. Click the Start button to begin flashing stock firmware on your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100, and wait until you see a PASS! message in Odin’s top left box.
  12. When you get PASS! message, your phone will restart automatically. You can then disconnect your phone from PC.
    Odin 3.09 - Samsung-Galaxy-Odin-PASS-screenshot

If you see FAIL message instead of the PASS in Odin’s top left box, that’s a problem. Try this now: disconnect your Galaxy Note 2 from PC, close Odin, remove phone’s battery and put it back inside in 3-4 seconds, open Odin and then repeat from Step 6 of this guide again.

Also, If device is Stuck at setup connection or on any other process, then too, try this: disconnect your Note 2 from PC, close Odin, remove phone’s battery and put it back inside in 3-4 seconds, open Odin and then repeat from Step 6 of this guide again.

FEEDBACK US!

It was easy to flash stock Jelly Bean 4.3 firmware on your Samsung Galaxy Note 2, right? Let us know in comments below.

Your suggestions and queries, if any, are most welcomed!

52 Comments

  1. Thanks. I thought I was screwed bigtime! I can’t thanks this post enough!

  2. Thanks. I thought I was screwed bigtime! I can’t thanks this post enough!

  3. Thanks. I thought I was screwed bigtime! I can’t thanks this post enough!

  4. I have a question what if it doesnt connect to your phone i have the drivers installed and uninstalled, i have rooted y phone with twrp?

  5. I have a question what if it doesnt connect to your phone i have the drivers installed and uninstalled, i have rooted y phone with twrp?

  6. I have a question what if it doesnt connect to your phone i have the drivers installed and uninstalled, i have rooted y phone with twrp?

  7. Got my Soft-bricked Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100 unbricked, much like and thanks for this useful guide!

  8. Got my Soft-bricked Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100 unbricked, much like and thanks for this useful guide!

  9. Got my Soft-bricked Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100 unbricked, much like and thanks for this useful guide!

  10. Think the phone N7100 got soft bricked, does not boot beyond samsung logo, thanks for your detailed guide, hope to get it repaired soon.

  11. Think the phone N7100 got soft bricked, does not boot beyond samsung logo, thanks for your detailed guide, hope to get it repaired soon.

  12. Think the phone N7100 got soft bricked, does not boot beyond samsung logo, thanks for your detailed guide, hope to get it repaired soon.

  13. Thanks. I be save from bricked. Thanks a lot.Do you know how to fix imei null?

  14. Thanks. I be save from bricked. Thanks a lot.Do you know how to fix imei null?

  15. Thanks. I be save from bricked. Thanks a lot.Do you know how to fix imei null?

  16. i downloaded the file but it says file is currupt…what should i do???plz tell me anyone

  17. i downloaded the file but it says file is currupt…what should i do???plz tell me anyone

  18. i downloaded the file but it says file is currupt…what should i do???plz tell me anyone

  19. when i go to the website it says file not found

  20. Muhammad Khairuddin

    when i go to the website it says file not found

  21. Muhammad Khairuddin

    when i go to the website it says file not found

  22. It fails me everytime!! What should i do pls help!!

  23. It fails me everytime!! What should i do pls help!!

  24. It fails me everytime!! What should i do pls help!!

  25. It fails me everytime!! What should i do pls help!!

  26. Hello Please Help Me . I wana know how long it takes to complete this , coz mine is stucked @ recovery.img plsssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  27. Hello Please Help Me . I wana know how long it takes to complete this , coz mine is stucked @ recovery.img plsssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  28. Hello Please Help Me . I wana know how long it takes to complete this , coz mine is stucked @ recovery.img plsssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  29. download link doesnt work – instead downloads a 1.5mb .exe file. virus?

  30. download link doesnt work – instead downloads a 1.5mb .exe file. virus?

  31. download link doesnt work – instead downloads a 1.5mb .exe file. virus?

  32. I am having problems with the PIT file, not sure how to proceed.

  33. I am having problems with the PIT file, not sure how to proceed.

  34. I am having problems with the PIT file, not sure how to proceed.

  35. Is there a download site for the firmware that doesn’t load malware, browser highjackers, spyware, bogus toolbars and adware? Thanks

  36. Is there a download site for the firmware that doesn’t load malware, browser highjackers, spyware, bogus toolbars and adware? Thanks

  37. Is there a download site for the firmware that doesn’t load malware, browser highjackers, spyware, bogus toolbars and adware? Thanks

  38. where can i download the firmware? it seems like the zip download link above leads to no where…

    1. You can download it from sammobile. But it will take quite a while tho.

  39. where can i download the firmware? it seems like the zip download link above leads to no where…

    1. You can download it from sammobile. But it will take quite a while tho.

  40. I have done everything till pass appears but when my note 2 reboot it still stuck on samsung galaxy note 2 GT-n7100

  41. I have done everything till pass appears but when my note 2 reboot it still stuck on samsung galaxy note 2 GT-n7100

  42. Still not booting up. The android robot animation appears, than robot turned on it’s back with a red warning triangle on top, followed by Android system recovery , with lots of text lines saying that it can’t open/failed to mount various folders, like system, cache, data etc. There are also options to reboot system (which gets the phone back in the boot loop), and some other options which don’t make much sense to me. Don’t know what’s wrong with it. Not hard-bricked but still useless.

    1. hey are you solved the problem?

  43. Still not booting up. The android robot animation appears, than robot turned on it’s back with a red warning triangle on top, followed by Android system recovery , with lots of text lines saying that it can’t open/failed to mount various folders, like system, cache, data etc. There are also options to reboot system (which gets the phone back in the boot loop), and some other options which don’t make much sense to me. Don’t know what’s wrong with it. Not hard-bricked but still useless.

    1. hey are you solved the problem?

  44. Will this method work with the SGH-T889 T Mobile Note 2 model?

  45. Will this method work with the SGH-T889 T Mobile Note 2 model?

  46. Hi, yesterday my phone got bricked for no reason. Since then I’ve been tried to make a back up of my files and photos that I had in that device, but until now it couldn’t be possible. Softwares as Skipsoft, Yodot and Holo Back Up can do that kind of back up but it could’nt be performed because the usb debugging isn’t enabled. Can anyone help me to enable the usb debugging or tell me another way to save my photos, that are the most important files to save. Thanks!

  47. Bárbara Ramírez

    Hi, yesterday my phone got bricked for no reason. Since then I’ve been tried to make a back up of my files and photos that I had in that device, but until now it couldn’t be possible. Softwares as Skipsoft, Yodot and Holo Back Up can do that kind of back up but it could’nt be performed because the usb debugging isn’t enabled. Can anyone help me to enable the usb debugging or tell me another way to save my photos, that are the most important files to save. Thanks!

  48. Will this work with N7105 ?

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