[Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] djibe89:
[GUIDE/TUTORIAL/HOWTO] Samsung Galaxy S3 International i9300 Any version to Android 9

This detailed step-by-step guide helps you transform your Samsung Galaxy S3 International i9300 to a powerful one with Android 9 Pie / LineageOS 16.

Verify your phone is i9300 before going further: in Android, go to Settings > About > Check model is GT-I9300.

If not, quit this tutorial.

CHANGELOG ------------------------

v7. Moved to Android 9 Pie + Wifi fix

v6. Updated links and Samsung USB drivers, revert TWRP to 3.2.3-0 for correct Install (3.4 crashes with failed to map..), switched to Magisk root, removed F2FS format

v5. Updated links and pack (removed hybrid kernel, updated TWRP 3.3.1-0), added Android Pie alternative, backup IMEI partition

v4. Pack refresh : Hybrid kernel v13, OpenGapps download link

v3. Pack refresh : Hybrid kernel v11.2, TWRP recovery 3.2.3-0, Boeffla config 2.5.20

v2. Moved to Android 7.1, new pack, custom kernel, latest Odin + kernel

v1. Initial release for Android 6

1) DOWNLOAD

- djibe Galaxy S3 i9300 pack: http://bit.ly/djibe-galaxys3-pack

(contains preconfigured Odin 3.13.1 + Samsung USB drivers + TWRP 3.2.3-0 recovery + Magisk 21.1 + wifi-fix-semcosh).

Unzip files.

+ ROM LineageOS 16 Unofficial: https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-unofficial-9-0-0-lineageos-16-0-beta-20-09-2020.3875899/

Download (select latest build): https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=8889791610682941485

Or LineageOS 14.1: https://github.com/Mibo5354/i9300_builds/releases

+ OpenGApps ARM 9 pico: https://opengapps.org/?arch=arm&api=9.0&variant=pico

+ a microSD card. Copy ROM, Gapps, Magisk + wifi-fix-semcosh on microSD card (FAT32 format) and insert it in phone.

+ Charge phone to 100 %

2) BACKUP DATA

Install Samsung drivers (you unzipped earlier).

Then plug phone to PC in File transfer mode.

Collect all .jpg or .mp4

Use apps like Backupyourmobile ans SMS Backup & Restore to backup texts, contacts, etc.

Check that backup is located on microSD card.

Then copy the backup on your PC.

3) FLASH TWRP 3.2 RECOVERY

Shut down phone.

Remove back cover.

Boot in Download Mode : hold Home + Power + Volume- for 3 seconds and release.

Confirm with Volume+.

Connect phone in USB, wait for bootloader drivers installation.

Then launch Odin.exe (included in my archive) and wait for Odin indicator ID:COM to become blue.

In options: Verify Auto Reboot and Re-Partition are NOT ticked while F. Reset Time is ticked.

On right panel > AP > select twrp-3.2.3-0-i9300.img.tar

### Don't use other menus like BL, CP or CSC (I desactivated them but we never know).

### Warranty will be Void after next click ###

Click Start.

Power Off phone when PASS! green message appears.

### If Odin is stuck at Initializing step (Odin fails to flash TWRP) : use a different usb port AND cable and try again > reinstall Samsung USB drivers > uninstall Samsung Kies > use a different version of Odin > use a different PC.

Wait a few seconds, then unplug phone and remove battery.

4) BACKUP IMEI PARTITION AND PARTITIONS (NANDROID BACKUP)

Insert battery and boot in Recovery Mode : Hold Home + Power + Volume+ until you see the Samsung logo then release and wait a few seconds for TWRP recovery to boot.

If it asks for Keep System Read Only ? -> Swipe to Allow Modifications.

Go to Backup > you can select the partitions you want to save.

Select at least EFS partition to backup your IMEI. If a flash fails and partition is damaged you will still be able to restore this partition and use the phone.

If IMEI is lost during a flash, phone won't be able to reach cellphone networks.

I prefer to backup EFS, Boot, Data and System.

Now type Select Storage > Select Micro SD card and confirm with OK

Now Swipe to Backup and wait during process.

Go to Home screen and continue with next chapter.

5) WIPE PARTITIONS

Go to Wipe > Format Data

Type yes and confirm with bottom right Check icon.

Then go to Wipe > Advanced wipe,

select Dalvik, Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage (if you really made a backup from step 2), then Swipe to Wipe,

then back.

Go back to TWRP Home screen > Reboot > Recovery and Swipe to confirm.

At reboot, if TWRP asks for Keep System Read Only ? > Swipe to Allow Modifications.

6) FLASH ROM, GAPPS, WIFI-FIX

Back to TWRP Home menu. Then tap on Install > choose LOS*.zip,

(if you don't see the files, tap on Select Storage and make sure Micro SDCard is active).

then Add more Zips > open_gapps*.zip,

then Add more Zips > wifi-fix-semcosh.zip,

then Swipe to confirm Flash.

Wait for operation to end.

Tap Wipe cache/dalvik, swipe to confirm,

then Reboot System.

Wait for the phone to boot during 10 minutes.

6) ROOT ACCESS

Configure Android.

Then shutdown phone.

Boot in recovery mode: Hold Power + Home + Volume+ until Samsung logo is displayed and release buttons.

Go to Install > select Magisk.

Swipe to flash then reboot System.

No extra steps for root. Magisk starts with Android.

Open Magisk Manager app to manage root permissions.

8) EXTRA

You can use GPS Status & Toolbox app for faster GPS fix.

For faster phone, go to Settings > About.

Tap 7 times on Build number.

Now go to Settings > System > Avdanced > Developer options.

Set Windows animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale to 0.5x.

Still in Developer options, set Default USB configuration to File transfer.

For better battery use Dark mode.

Go to Settings > Display > Style > Style > Dark.

You can chose between Dark mode Default or Black right below.

Enjoy,

djibe

Thanks : SparXFusion, @rINanDO, @ChronoMonochrome, @pascua28, @ciyanogen, @hgunduz295, @theandroid02, @ComicoX, @side

Team InFusion, JDC Team, LineageOS team, TWRP team