[Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Guides, News, & Discussion] Mr. Orange 645:
For simplicity sake, NO discussion of the leaked "D" builds. This thread is ONLY for the official beta z builds.

Before posting questions, please read this whole thread, including the OP.

This thread is for the US models, ONLY. For discussion about the International N950F Pie Beta, please go to [MENTION=1586120]henklbr[/MENTION] thread: https://xdaforums.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/galaxy-note-8-sm-n950f-official-oneui-t3890126

UPDATE February 19th, 2019: Samsung released beta 2, N950U1UEU5ZSBB

Huge thanks to [MENTION=4394312]Nickitt[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2414915]jester450[/MENTION] who were so kind to provide the ZSBB update zip!

Just download and flash over ZSAB from SD Card:

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=1395089523397901568 md5:1cadf77f8d7a565c64f3b28940f9fc85

UPDATE: March 12th, 2019 - Samsung released US Beta #3 N950U1UEU5ZSC2

If you haven't received it yet, be sure to do a manual check for updates in settings. If you can't get the OTA, you can download it from the following link and sideload it in Recovery:

https://firmware.science/download?url=00000/0000/SS-N950U1UEU5ZSBB-to-EU5ZSC2-UP

WARNING: If you use ATT, then sideloading an OTA will force a factory reset. It's an ATT thing. This is only if you sideload it.

On January 24th, 2019, Samsung silently released the One UI public beta for the US Unlocked Note 8 (N950U1). This followed weeks of speculation after beta builds were seen on the Samsung FOTA testing site, and following the release of the official beta for the international N950F. The US beta build is currently N950U1UEU5ZSAB. To register for the beta, make sure you have the most recent version of the Samsung+ app installed. You will need the beta version of Samsung+. You can either sign up for the beta version in the Google PlayStore and wait for it to update, or you can download it directly from apkmirror at this link: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/samsu...elease/samsung-11-6-0-0-android-apk-download/

This beta is only open to the Unlocked N950U1. Carrier branded models are not currently eligible, but there is a work around. The beta only requires that you be running the N950U1 firmware. It does not check to see if your device was originally a carrier branded model. You must be running N950U1UEU5CRL2 for the N950U1. No other firmware version will work.

NOTE: If you flash the N950U1 firmware, you will lose carrier features such as Video calling from the stock dialer, RCS (enhanced) text messaging, WiFi calling, and VoLTE. The exception is with T-Mobile, you'll still maintain WiFi calling and VoLTE. Visual voicemail for your carrier will have to be downloaded from the PlayStore, if possible.

To register for and install the official Z Beta on your Factory Unlocked N950U1:

This guide is assuming you are already on the most recent build CRL2 for the N950U1, and you have ADB, Fastboot, and Samsung drivers set up and working on your PC.

Step 1.

Open the Samsung+ app, and there should be a banner in the center of the screen for the One UI experience. If it doesn't appear, clear the cache for the app, force stop it, and restart your phone.

Step 2.

If the banner appears, click on it, accept on the next page that opens. It will go back to the Samsung+ home screen and the banner will be gone. But you'll see a brief toast message thanking you for signing up.

Step 3.

Then go into settings and perform a manual check for software updates. If it doesn't appear, reboot into recovery, clear cache, and restart the phone. Check for the update again and it should appear.

Step 4.

Let the update download and install. This will not wipe your device, since it's an official OTA; however I personally recommend a FDR when moving up to a new version of Android. YMMV

Step 5.

DONE.

Step 6.

As of February 19th, 2019, Samsung pushed beta 2. Manually check for a software update to N950U1UEU5ZSBB. If it doesn't appear, you can download it here: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=1395089523397901568 md5:1cadf77f8d7a565c64f3b28940f9fc85. Sideload it over N950U1UEU5ZSAB in Recovery. It is an OTA so it will not wipe your data.

WARNING: If you use ATT, then sideloading an OTA will force a factory reset. It's an ATT thing.

Before you ask. Yes you can flash N950U1 firmware on your (whatever US carrier) device. You can also flash it on the Canadian N950W!! They are all the same device hardware wise. No it will NOT trip Knox. No, you can NOT flash this on a N9500. No, you can NOT flash this on a N950F (You already have your own beta, why are you in this thread? O.o)

To flash the N950U1 firmware on your N950U or N950W and register for the official beta:

This guide is assuming you already have ADB, Fastboot, and Samsung drivers set up and working on your PC.

Step 1.

This will wipe your device, so perform a back up.

Step 2.

Download the latest N950U1 firmware, version CRL2 using this link:

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=1395089523397886161 MD5: dc5acb4ab31c6fc22e595a47e6e0b3c5

Step 3.

Extract the zip file you just downloaded into a folder where you can find it easily.

Step 4.

Download patched ODIN v. 3.13.1_3B https://xdaforums.com/android/software/patched-odin-3-13-1-t3762572

Step 5.

Open Patched ODIN and fill in the slots with the corresponding files you just downloaded from SamFirm. Use CSC_OYN, not HOME_CSC. ODIN will lock up when you load up the AP file. Just wait it out. Trust me.

Step 6.

Put your Note 8 in Download mode and attach to your PC.

Step 7.

If ODIN say "ADDED!" in the log window, it recognized your phone. Hit START and go have a cup of coffee, or a beer. This will take a while.

THIS WILL WIPE YOUR PHONE. You did a backup, right? ;)

Step 8.

Once ODIN completes and says "PASS," let the phone boot up and go through the setup wizard.

Step 9.

Follow the steps above to get registered for the official beta.

Step 10.

DONE

If for some reason you can't get registered for the beta, don't fret! There's a work around for that too!!

Step 1.

Follow the steps above to make sure you're on N950U1 build CRL2.

Step 2.

Then go to https://firmware.science and download the ZSAB update zip. Just choose Note 8 N950U1 as your model, and CRL2 as your current build.

Step 3.

Once it's downloaded, either flash it in recovery from SD Card, or sideload it via ADB.

Step 4.

DONE

Step 5.

As of February 19th, 2019, Samsung pushed beta 2. Manually check for a software update to N950U1UEU5ZSBB. If it doesn't appear, you can download it here: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=1395089523397901568 md5:1cadf77f8d7a565c64f3b28940f9fc85. Sideload it over N950U1UEU5ZSAB in Recovery. It is an OTA so it will not wipe your data.

WARNING: If you use ATT, then sideloading an OTA will force a factory reset. It's an ATT thing.

Before you ask, no you cannot just flash it from CRK1 or any build other than CRL2. And no it won't work if you're on carrier branded firmware. It has to be done from CRL2 for the N950U1.

NOTE: If you decide to downgrade back to Oreo, you will need to do a factory reset first. Otherwise you'll get a bootloop after flashing Oreo.

Thank you to [MENTION=4394312]Nickitt[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2414915]jester450[/MENTION] for the ZSBB update zip!

A special thanks to [MENTION=1586120]henklbr[/MENTION] for the idea for this thread. His discussions for the international Note 9 and Note 8 betas are a source of great information, and I hope this thread will be the same for the US Note 8!

Also thank you to [MENTION=8352198]Mike15678[/MENTION] and [MENTION=5649240]BlueFox721[/MENTION] for their detailed carrier switching threads. I"ve been following their threads since the S8+, and have used that foundation of information on my Note 8 and Note 9. Without them, I would not know how to switch to the U1 firmware on my carrier device and would not be able to teach others how to do it and get on this official beta.