Samsung S9 "starlte" upgrade from /e/OS/3.0-s official to /e/OS/3.0-t community

I managed to update a Samsung S9 starlte to the latest Android S build via the OTA test channel, and wonder if I have to follow the steps described in the installation docs to upgrade to the Android T (Android 13) community build.
Or is a dirty flash with adb sideloading the community T build sufficient?
Thank you for any help or suggestion.

Regain your privacy! Adopt /e/OS the deGoogled mobile OS and online servicesphone

Sorry for bothering you. I found the answer myself. I flashed the latest community build recovery using heimdall command, and installed the the latest T-community build (/e/OS/3.0-t-20250531…) via adb sideload, omitting the wiping and formatting steps. All data were kept, no data was lost. No restore from backup needed.

3 Likes

Since your bootloader was not locked, it was possible to dirty flash without data loss

1 Like

Small question for you. Are you using a work profile created by Shelter or Insular ?

Thanks for the Info. Samsung S9 bootloader probably cannot be locked under /e/OS according to documentation. At least I have no idea how to do that.

No, until now I did neither use Shelter nor Insular, at least not on the Samsung S9.

Having ‘official’ (stable) implies sometimes that bootloader is locked, I have no overview of old and current lockable devices. Just giving some thoughts for others when they read your journey if they use other device

This topic was automatically closed after 180 days. New replies are no longer allowed.