Samsung Software Update Fail (Solved)

Samsung Update Failed (solved)

A long-term repeat client contacted me recently regarding a problem with his S23 Ultra – the Samsung Update failed. Android gets 2 types of update – the full OS update released annually via manufacturer & the monthly security updates direct from Google. His top of the range S23 Ultra had stopped receiving updates 2 months previous, right around the time we changed his IMEI – although to a factory-correct IMEI for his exact phone.

When checking for updates (Settings / Software Update) he had a small pop-up appear stating “registration failed” & of course, no security update would download. *Sigh* Between the two of us, even though separated by 160kms, wefixed the problem.

If your Samsung Galaxy has the Samsung Update Failed problem – here’s the solution. You’ll need the correct firmware for your phone – get it from SamFW.com, the excellent freeware 7zip file compression utility & Samsung’s Odin flashing utility. That & around 10-15 minutes of your time should solve this issue.

Samsung Update Failed (Solved)

Upon initial examination, my security-conscious mind leapt to the possibility of the NSA Triangulation spyware having been ported to Android with the same tell-tale symptom as the iPhone version – firmware update failure. 

Readers – you’d be naive to discount the possibility, even if my client quite justifiably did – considering that he’s not involved in international underworld organisations, nuclear activism, terrorism, war journalism, WIKI Leaks, nor is he a nation-state employee so obviously not a secret agent.

I researched the problem – in a very similar style to the iPhone Triangulation situation, there’s lots of internet posts referring to the problem without identifying a specific cause or, more importantly, a solution to the Samsung Update Failed problem. So, lots of problem, no solution. How very Samsung. 

There was, however, one clue to the origin of the Samsung Update Failed in this image below left:

Samsung Update Failed

#XNZ  is not the usual Service Provider software version information – that’s a faulty descriptor right there. Considering that your Samsung updates are tailored for local requirements & come from local servers, the Service Provider software version needs to be accurate for updates to be delivered successfully.

We tried a quick hopeful hack/solution – his SIM is supplied by OneNZ whose native CSC is VNZ, the firmware in his phone is XNZ – a generic unbranded firmware favoured by 2 Degrees but usable by any network provider – so he swapped a 2DM SIM in & rebooted, hoping that the SIM & Service Provider software version would align – but no, that would be far too easy. So don’t try this at home, it doesn’t change a thing.

Service Provider software version is a part of the firmware that’s customised to the service provider – including things like their logo on boot & their app baked in to the firmware.  When extracting from the large .tar.gz full firmware file, you’ll find 2 CSC binaries with .tar.md5 extension (namely CSC and Home_CSC ) inside, along with BL, AP, and CP. CSC stands for Country Specific Code & is presented on the installed OS as the Service Provider software version.

The difference between CSC & Home_CSC is:

  • CSC – If you flash the CSC file, it’ll perform a factory reset of your Galaxy device and wipe all data while installing a new firmware to bring your device to the same state as it was when you purchased it. Go with CSC if you want a clean installation. We did not want to do this to my client’s phone, all we needed to do was correct the CSC data.
  • HOME_CSC –  On the other hand, if you want to keep your Samsung phone’s data and settings even flashing the stock firmware, you can select the HOME_CSC file. So this, readers, is the file for us.
Samsung Update Failed (Solved)

Which we then load into Odin – Patched version isn’t necessary in this case but no harm in using it anyway. Put the S23 Ultra into Download mode (Phone off, hold Vol – & Power, connect to USB, release Power then release Volume on green boot screen. Now push Vol + to confirm your intention of messing with the OS & you’re ready to go. Open Odin, a live connection is indicated by the light blue COM4 field. Click on the CSC button, browse to the Home_CSC file & select it – it’ll load immediately – leaving us with the image above.

Hit Start – the operation is done in a few seconds, the phone will auto-reboot once completed.

The result of the CSC repair is displayed in the screenshots below – the Software Information page had lost the #XNZ statement & the Software Update page  has sprung to life!  The Samsung Update Failed problem affecting thousands of Samsung Galaxy phones is solved.

Samsung Update Failed (Fixed)
Samsung Update Failed Solution

Users of Samsung Galaxy phones with Samsung Update Failed problem should inspect the Software Information page – if the Service Provider software version does not have an extensive description, then your Samsung Update Failed problem is solved by following the guide on this page.