[Galaxy Tab S2 Android Development] pflyaz:
Tab S2 T810 Upgrade Procedure for the LineageOS 19.1 ROM by retiredtab

These installation instructions work for both Tab S2 T710 and T810, starting from a device running stock Android 7.0. I have both devices and have tested the procedure on both. I am a Windows guy, so these instructions assume a Windows PC. I am a lifelong techie guy and an Android enthusiast. My current “production” devices are Samsung S22 Ultra and Samsung Tab S7, but I do love the size and performance of the Tab S2 T710 so am extremely happy that @retiredtab and @lpedia have been successful at making Lineage 19.1 run on the Tab S2. But I am not developer, so these instructions will work for any competent newbie who’s looking for LOS 19.1 on their Tab S2 tablet. I do realize there may be alternative approaches for those who have deeper Android tech knowledge than me, but this procedure does work every time.

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

Retiredtab’s latest Lineage 19.1 ROM from lpedia-sf - Browse /gts28wifi-19.1 at SourceForge.net (T710) or retiredtab - Browse /SM-T810/19.1 at SourceForge.net (T810)

NikGapps-core-arm64-12.1-20220709-signed.zip from https://sourceforge.net/projects/nikgapps/files/Releases/NikGapps-SL/

Magisk-v25.2.apk from https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases

Magisk is optional if you want/like root.

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.

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.

Installing 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 Step 2 and Step 3 again.

Step 4 – Backup your stock ROM

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

Confirm your backup is good

In TWRP, select Wipe, then Advanced Wipe.

Select all partitions except Micro SD Card (and USB OTG).

Swipe to Wipe.

Back, Back again, then Format Data

Type yes, and tap check.

Back, Back, Back, and select Restore.

Select Micro SD card and your backup.

Restore all partitions and allow restore to complete.

Reboot to System, and confirm you are back to stock.

Step 5 – Install ROM and NikGApps

In TWRP, select Wipe, then Advanced Wipe.

Select all partitions except Micro SD Card (and USB OTG).

Swipe to Wipe.

Back, Back again, then Format Data

Type yes, and tap check.

Back, Back, Back, and select Install.

Select your micro-SD storage.

Select the Lineage-19.1 ROM.

Add more Zips, and select nikgapps.

Swipe to confirm Flash.

Install takes about 3 minutes.

Wipe Cache/Dalvik, and Swipe to Wipe.

Reboot System.

Step 6 – Build your Android 12 Tab S2

First boot into Lineage is less than a minute, and then the Lineage boot animation takes less than 1 minute before “Welcome to LineageOS” appears.

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

Set up your Android device per your preference. I am a mainstream Google/Google Play Apps user, and I have loads of Apps, so it takes me a long time to install my Apps and set the tablet up for daily use. If you are less of a pack-rat, it shouldn’t take long!

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

I recommend leaving tablet completely alone during the initial Apps and Data restore process. 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 initialization process, but I load my layout from backup at this time)

Microsoft Swiftkey

Screen timeout 30 minutes, and screen saver Clock

Dark theme off

Disable taskbar.

Plain dark blue wallpaper

Touch, screen locking, and charging sounds off

Battery %age next to icon

Default USB = File Transfer

Developer Options enabled, and USB and Rooted debugging selected

Window/Transition/Animator Scale all set to Animation Off

FX File Explorer

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

Raindrop, for all my cross-platform/device bookmarks

Advanced restart menu (to allow reboot into TWRP).

Step 7 – Make Root – Optional

Restart Tab S2 into TWRP.

In TWRP, install Magisk-v25.2.apk.

Reboot System

In Android install Magisk-v25.2.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! Enjoy!

I do a final and full TWRP backup once the device is solid on Lineage 19.1.