[Galaxy Tab S2 Android Development] pflyaz:
Tab S2 T710 and T810 Upgrade Procedure Using LineageOS 18.1 ROM by retiredtab

These installation instructions work for both Tab S2 T710 and T810. I have both devices and have tested on both. I am a Windows guy, so these instructions assume a Windows PC. I am a lifelong techie guy and an Android enthusiast. But I am not developer, so these instructions should work for any competent newbie who is a decent techie, but I realize there may be alternative approaches for those who have deeper tech knowledge than me.

Step 1 – Preparation

Update your Tab S2 to the latest stock software.

Install a micro-SD card into your Tab S2.

Enable Developer Options – tap Build Number seven times.

In Developer Options, turn on USB debugging.

Connect your TGab S2 to your PC via USB and download onto the micro-SD card three files:

Retiredtab’s latest Lineage 18.1 ROM from lpedia-sf - Browse /gts28wifi at SourceForge.net (T710) or retiredtab - Browse /SM-T810/18.1 at SourceForge.net (T810)

open_gapps-arm-11.0-pico-20220215.zip from The Open GApps Project

Magisk-v24.3.apk from Release Magisk v24.3 · topjohnwu/Magisk · GitHub

Download to your PC TWRP_3.5.2_9_SM-T710_20210719_Unofficial.tar from retiredtab - Browse /SM-T710/TWRP at SourceForge.net (T710) or twrp-3.5.2_9-0-gts210wifi.img.tar from Download TWRP for gts210wifi (T810)

Download to your PC Odin, from https://technastic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Odin3_v3.14.4.zip, and extract the zip.

Comments:

I saw retiredtab’s comments about OpenGApps quality. However, this version works well for me. I had previously tried the latest MindTheGapps (which hung) and BiTGapps (which doesn’t include the Google restore functionality that I use.)

Magisk is optional if you want/like root. I do!

Step 2 – Install TWRP Recovery

Power off your Tab S2.

Launch Odin on your PC and press OK.

Power up your Tab S2 into Download mode by holding down Home+VolDown+Power.

Then at the Warning screen hit VolUp.

Connect your Tab S2 via USB to your PC, and you should see Added!! in Odin.

Click AP in Odin and select the downloaded TWRP.

In Odin Options, uncheck Auto Reboot.

Click Log tab again.

Click Start in Odin.

Installed TWRP only takes a couple of seconds.

You will see progress in the Log, and Pass at the top of Odin when done.

Step 3 – First boot into TWRP.

This part is tricky!

Power down your Tab S2 by holding down VolDown+VolUp+Power.

IMMEDIATELY the screen goes blank, hold down Home+VolUp+Power.

Keep holding down until you see the TWRP home page.

If you end up booting into Android rather than TWRP then you will have to repeat steps 2 and 3 again.

Step 4 – Backup your stock ROM

In TWRP, select Backup, Select Storage to choose your micro-SD card, check all the boxes, and then swipe Backup.

Step 5 – Install ROM and GApps.

In TWRP, select Wipe, then Advanced Wipe.

Select all partitions except Micro SD Card.

Swipe to Wipe.

Back, Back again, then Format Data

Type yes, and hit check.

Back, Back, Back, and select Install.

Select your micro-SD storage.

Select the Lineage-18.1 ROM.

Add more Zips, and select open_gapps.

Swipe to confirm Flash.

Installation took about 3 minutes.

Wipe Cache/Dalvik, and Swipe to Wipe

Reboot System

Step 6 – Build your Android 11 Tab S2

First boot into Lineage was less than a minute, and then the Lineage boot animation took less than 2 minutes before “Hello” appeared.

On each build I’ve done I see “Speech services by Google keeps stopping” error once Hello appeared.

I assume this is one of the known OpenGApps bugs.

Clicking Close App makes it go away, and later Google replaces the module anyway.

Set up your Android device per your preference. I have loads of Apps so it takes me a long time. If you are less of a pack-rat, it shouldn’t take long!

At the end of the initialization process, be sure not to choose the Replace Lineage recovery option, otherwise TWRP goes away.

I have found that, by not installing Magisk initially, Google restores all my Apps, including the sensitive ones such as Peacock, Netflix, Disney+, etc. And when I check Google Play/Settings and scroll to the bottom, I see “Device is certified”.

I recommend leaving tablet completely alone until Google has finished its “Copy Apps and Data” from my other tablet. When I get impatient and fiddle around as it’s copying I’ve seen crashes.

Once all copying is done, do your unique Android setup. My go-to Android settings are:

Nova Prime Launcher (actually, gets selected during the copy process, but I load my layout from backup at this time)

Microsoft Swiftkey

Default USB = File Transfer

Window/Transition/Animator Scale all set to Animation Off

Screen timeout 30 minutes, and screen saver Clock

Battery %age next to icon

FX File Explorer

Microsoft Edge as default browser (with AdBlock enabled and Google as search and sync to my PC)

Raindrop, for all my bookmarks

Advanced restart menu (to allow reboot into TWRP).

Step 7 – Make Root

Restart Tab S2 into TWRP.

In TWRP, Install Magisk-v24.3.apk.

Reboot System

In Android install Magisk-v24.3.apk.

Open Magisk and select zygisk in settings.

Restart again.

You now have root. I test by enabling root in FX File Explorer and granting root.

Step 8 – All done!

I do a final and full TWRP backup once the device is solid.

Note:

I found the fingerprint reader sometimes works to unlock the Tab S2. Per other discussions on this thread, looks like I got lucky!