How to Put Any Samsung Galaxy into Android Download Mode

Sep 13, 2014

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In today’s tutorial we intend to show you how to put any Samsung Galaxy or Android device into Android Download Mode. This mode is usually used when you Root your device or install a recovery console such as CWM recovery (ClockWorkMod Recovery) or any such tools in an attempt to install a custom Rom on your device.

What Android Devices Will I be able to put into Download Mode?

This will work with all standard Android devices and the Samsung Galaxy Line of phones such as: Galaxy S, Galaxy S2,GalaxyS3, GalaxyS4, Galaxy S5 and later. The galaxy Note series is the same as you might guess.

What is Android Download Mode and it’s importance?

Android download mode is a special a secondary system of your smart phone that allows custom files to be loaded, as you might guess this includes files for Rooting your Android, Custom recovery loaders and every ones favorite Android pass time of loading Custom ROMs.

Before you Proceed!

Make sure that you know what you are doing before proceeding and remember that you are responsible for any damage that might occur to your device by loading files in Download mode to your Android device.

Android Download Mode

[color-box] Do you have a Galaxy S8 or S8+? The method is slightly different on newer devices. Click here to see how to enter Download Mode on these newer devices right now.[/color-box]

How Place Your Android Device into Download Mode?

1. Power off your Android Phone.

2. Simultaneously hold down the Volume down + Power Button and the Physical Home button.

3.You will now be in download mode, its recommended that you let go of the button combo at first glance of the boot logo.

4. The following Warning should be displayed:

Press Volume up

Warning !!

A Custom OS can cause Critical problems in phone and installed applications.

If you want to download a custom OS, press the volume up key. Otherwise,press the volume down key to cancel.

Volume up: Continue

Volume down: Cancel (restart phone)

5. Now press Volume up and presto chango you are in Download mode as seen above and the device is simply waiting for you to use a tool such as Odin3 to flash the Recovery console such as CWM or root your device.

That was much easier than you thought right? Well should you have any questions or difficulties getting your Samsung Galaxy into download mode we would be elated and more than willing to chip in and help you in solving your problems. So without hesitation go ahead and leave us a comment.

Comments

24 responses to “How to Put Any Samsung Galaxy into Android Download Mode”

Kevin Allen

October 25, 2015

love what youre doing here, your posts are most helpful. thx

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  October 25, 2015
  
  Thank you kevin, I do try my best to offer detailed tutorials that can help anyone. You taking the time to share your appreciation makes it all the more worthwhile. Thank you for the kind words.
  
  Reply
Jay

June 29, 2016

Hi I am in download mode but by accident how do I get out without using it? Please help it Just says downloading I want to get out

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  June 29, 2016
  
  Its easy, simply hold down Power+Home button and Volume down/up at the same time and the phone will reboot.
  
  Reply
  1. Jacy
    
    January 22, 2017
    
    This is not working for my Samsung Galaxy tablet tab 4
    
    Reply
    1. Ricardo Gardener
      
      January 30, 2017
      
      It works for all devices even your Tab 4
      
      Reply
  2. dan
    
    February 5, 2017
    
    does not work on Galaxy note II found in this condition. Is not easy when condition is turned off charging phone found in this condition, no buttons manipulated.
    
    Reply
    1. Ricardo Gardener
      
      February 8, 2017
      
      It does work for putting your phone in the mode, if you mean to exit this mode I have separate tutorial on that.
      
      Reply
Jim Jones

November 15, 2016

I’ve got a problem with a n910t running cmremix 13. Anytime the battery dies or I have to turn the phone off and restart it(not reboot) I have to remove the battery, wait 1-5 minutes and hold the power key for at least a minute before I can get it to start. What could cause this? I’ve factory reset using twrp, wiped everything except micro SD(I’ve removed that) reflashed ROM/gapps with no luck.

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  August 3, 2017
  
  Might be hardware related seeing that flashing a fresh ROM should have fixed any and all software issues.
  
  Reply
DR

February 8, 2017

My Galaxy Light (SGH-T399) is stuck in a boot loop where holding all combinations of the volume up, volume down, power and home keys simultaneously, or not, cannot get the phone to go into any mode including one to download, program, wipe, reset or stop the boot looping. Certainly I have also tried taking out the battery and doing a hard reset with no resolution. It only shows the white Samsung Galaxy Light SGH-T399 name/logo for about 10 seconds and then goes dark for 2 seconds and repeat this loop endlessly.
What can I do to fix this? Thanks for your help

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  April 29, 2017
  
  Are your buttons working? did you try every possible button combination.
  
  Reply
ellytha

February 10, 2017

Are this work for my Samsung Galaxy tab 3 device?

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  February 16, 2017
  
  Yes it will work.
  
  Reply
Michelle Laing

August 12, 2017

you taught me something i never knew and one of my samsung phone has stated working after a year.was going to chuck 8 old phones today including this one. {great thanks}…. my secondhand phone arrived today from ebay & i didnt realize i bidded on a faulty samsung galaxy S111 instead of a working phone, grrraaa, it just has lines across the screen , i tried it with that one , all that you done worked up untill the download bit, it came back on with the android man in the centre of the lines with the lines now more faded. i dont know about the flushing part . seems a bit too much for me to try. atleast i have my camara working as i sell on line and was lost without it so thanks so much.. michelle

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  August 12, 2017
  
  Always happy to help out and best of luck.
  
  Reply
Jhawn

November 22, 2017

I woke up one morning to find my samsung galaxy tab 3 in download mode and I do not know how it reached there, can I please get some help pertaining to that situation?

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  November 22, 2017
  
  Read this article on how to get out of download mode.
  
  Reply
James

December 10, 2017

my galaxy s6 seems to have trouble charging when turned on, so it turned it off, then I pressed the home once, then again to see if the battery charge status came up, it didn’t, so I done the same thing with the power putton then the blue screen with “downloading, don’t turn off target” I don’t even press the volume buttons. please explain why if you can please? the same thing happened last week and that was the first time, ive had my phone coming up to 2 years now.

thanks.

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  December 12, 2017
  
  Clean the button on the phone make sure they are not stuck which may explain why you ended up in the mode.
  
  Reply
Harpreet

January 15, 2018

i dont know how i got into this mode. i tried the steps and the phone was seemingly fine. But this screen pops up again and again. what is wrong with my phone.

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  January 15, 2018
  
  Clean your buttons they might be stuck as a result of gunk between the buttons which keeps triggering you getting into the mode.
  
  Reply
Franco Vivona

September 28, 2018

I can’t get off the ” Downloading, do not get off target” mode with ANY of the suggested key manipulations( Power, Volume and Home buttons” combinations).
I was about to install a custom ROM. I downloaded the Flashify app and followed the instructions to flash the TWRP from the file on the SD card . Immediately after, that this problem started.

By pressing and holding the Power+Volume down and Home button, the tablet starts booting, but it reverts immediately after to the downloading screen. Is my tablet bricked? I hope not. I am really frustrated
Mine is a Samsung SM-T330 tablet.
Thanks for your help

Franco V.

Reply
1. Ricardo Gardener
  
  September 30, 2018
  
  You probably have a stuck button cleaning might help. Also did you flash anything at all? Finally make sure you are doing whats said onscreen to cancel the download mode.
  
  Reply