[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Guides, News, & Discussion] ExileTM:
Welcome to this easy guide (only for SM-N960N)
​

Time needed: 15 / 60min (depends on your internet connection)

Ease of operation: Very easy

Don't be fooled by the length of this guide ... the operations to be done are quick and easy.

PREMISE

:

NB: I state immediately that this procedure does not restore the state of Knox to 0x0 if by chance you have brought it to 0x1.

To date, this is an irreversible process.

In the next few lines, we will see how to go back to Android 8.0.1 on our beloved Note9. Set up your own CSC and have all the features of variant N (such as FM Radio, call recording, network speed on status bar, etc...).

In this guide, I won't go into detail, and I'll assume you already know how to flash via Odin and install Custom ROMs.

NB: By "downgrade" to Android 8, I don't mean the original stock firmware from Samsung, but a CustomROM based on Android 8.0.1, where it is very similar to the original, with no changes except some more features in the CSC. This, for those like me, looking for a CustomROM that is as similar as possible to the original, without too many "invasive" modifications.

I remind you that this guide is valid only and exclusively for the model with code SM-N960N (Korean variant).

It is not possible to perform this guide for the SM-N960F model, as the SW REV are too different between the various firmwares.

Without chatting, I'll list the material you need with the correct firmware to use to be able to downgrade to Android 8.1.0

MATERIAL REQUIRED

:

Phone already unlocked with ROOT and Knox 0x1

TWRP recovery (TWRP-3.6.2_9-0-crownlte)

Latest version of Odin link

Samsung USB Driver link

Original Android 9 Stock Firmware (Link later)

2 Custom ROM (Link later)

File Manager zip (example 7zip) link

PC with Microsoft Windows 7-8-8.1-10-11

USB type C cable

1 - We download the 3 software packages:

We should download the original Android 9 firmware, as well as two CustomROMs that you will find on XDA. Download exactly the versions that I give you, otherwise I cannot guarantee the functioning of the procedure described here.

- Original Android 9 SM-N960N Firmware: N960NKSU3CSG3

- First CustomROM (only used to set your own CSC): SuperStable SP3.0 by Dovanchuc7521

- Second DevBase CustomROM for only SM-N960N (Android 8.1.0): N960NKSU2BRL5_DevBase_v6.0 by _alexndr

2 - Flash Stock Firmware whit Odin:

Now that we have everything, we can start by flashing the original firmware via Odin, filling each box with its own package BL, AP, USERDATA, etc...

As CSC select package CSC_OMC_xxx_N960NOKR3CSG3........... so do a clean install going to delete all data!

To do something right, you can also insert the PIT file (extracting it with 7zip from the CSC_OMC package) and inserting it in the appropriate box.

3 - Unlock OEM and install TWRP Recovery:

At the end of the procedure, restart the phone and start for the first time, safely skip the wizard (without connecting to wifi or the 4G network).

Now, even if you have the Bootloader (OEM Unlock) already unlocked, you will have to redo the same procedure, then activate the developer options and connect to a wifi network (this last step is very important). Once connected to a wifi network, open and close the Developer Options menu several times until the OEM unlocking item reappears, which should normally already be active (when it appears).

Once this is done you can restart in Download mode (Bixby+VolumeDown+Insert USB Cable).

Install the TWRP custom recovery via Odin by entering it in the AP box and unchecking the Automatic Restart box.

Once installed, reboot into Recovery, holding down Power+Bixby+VolumUP and when the Note9 logo appears, only release the Power key, continuing to hold down the other two keys (Bixby and VolumUP)

4 - Install the first Custom ROM:

When you are inside the TWRP recovery, the first thing to do is a format given by the appropriate function, typing "yes" on the keyboard to confirm. You don't need to format other partitions.

We install the SuperStable SP3.0 ROM (Android 9), setting our favorite CSC.

In the wizard, you can leave everything as it is, just changing the CSC. At the end of the procedure, make a first start, until you enter the configuration wizard. Once in the initial configuration, restart the phone in Recovery.

5 - Install the second Custom ROM:

Now that you are in recovery, do a quick Wipe and install the second CustomROM N960NKSU2BRL5_DevBase_v6.0 (Android 8.1.0), which will be our version of Android 8.0.1 that we will then use.

This ROM is based on the BRL5 version with all stock, and only some features included in the CSC.

Also this ROM will keep your CSC that you selected with the previous SusperStable ROM installation.

At the end of the procedure, restart the device and wait for the first boot.

6 - We fix network and SIM errors:

At first start, as you will notice, the 4G network will not work, because no SIM is detected and if you go to the options, the IMEI will not even appear. In this step we are going to fix everything.

First of all, open Odin, restart your phone in Download Mode and connect your phone to PC.

In Odin, in the CP box, let's put the related original firmware package N960NKSU3CSG3 again. All other boxes must be empty!! Flash the CP package (which contains the files related to the modem) and reboot.

7 - Enjoy!

Now you will have Android 8.1.0 with your CSC, all the features of the SM-N960N variant (like FM Radio) and with some features like network speed on status bar, ROOT with Magisk*, call recording, etc..

NB: *

Since I have not tested

, I advise you to NEVER update Magisk Manager, as Magisk itself may not work properly, or new programs may not accept SuperSU permissions or those that already have that permission may not work as they should.

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