Which version on S9 from /e/ shop?

/e/OS Devices /e/OS SmartPhones
1

Hi,

I already bought an S7edge from the /e/shop (happy with it, just unfortunately still on Nougat) and now I am thinking about buying an S9 for my wife.

I somehow couldn’t find the answer which Android and which /e/ version will be shipped. Is it alway the latest stable /e/ version for the device? (If so which one is it for the S9 at the Moment)?

Thanks in advance!

2

Hi @Manoj, do you maybe habe an answer or a link for me here?

3

2021-04-05T18:10:00Z

Hello @mailanmitch,

/e/-Galaxy S9 - Premium Refurbished from the e.solution.store will probably ship with /e/OS 'O’reo ‘stable’ version as it did months ago, because there is no official Android 10 'stable’ /e/OS ‘Q’ yet. All devices, new and refurbished, will basically be equipped with a /e/ OS ‘stable’ version.

My thesis is based on the /e/asy installer v.012.2-beta. This still downloads the same eight files as months ago:

twrp-3.2.3-0-starlte.img
twrp-3.2.3-0-starlte.img.sha256sum
no-verity-opt-encrypt-samsung-1.0.zip
no-verity-opt-encrypt-samsung-1.0.zip.sha256sum
VENDOR-27_ARI9.zip
VENDOR-27_ARI9.zip.sha256sum
e-latest-starlte.zip
e-latest-starlte.zip.sha256sum

Likewise, the /e/ Documentation Install /e/ on a Samsung Galaxy S9 - “starlte” according to the old pattern.

/e/ Documentation Install

Install /e/ on a Samsung Galaxy S9 - “starlte”

Tip: Please read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems later.

Warning: Downgrading Smartphones already on Android Q or LineageOS 17.x to Pie or other OS can cause instability or at worst brick some devices

Warning: Flash your device only if you know what you are doing and are OK taking the associated risk. The /e/ project and its project members deny any and all responsibility about the consequences of using /e/ software and or /e/ services.

Tip: Installing a custom recovery or unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your device! Take a backup of your data before proceeding!!

Requirements

  • Take a backup of all important data on your phone before proceeding.
  • A guide on backing up with TWRP is available here
  • Ensure your phone is charged more than 50%
  • Check that adb and fastboot are enabled on your PC. If not you can find the setup instructions here
  • Download all the files and images mentioned in the download section below before starting the installation
  • Make sure you have a working data cable to connect your device to the PC. There are cables which are only for charging and do not transfer data.
  • Enable USB debugging on your device. You can find the instructions here

**Caution:**Before following these instructions please ensure that the device is on the latest Android firmware.
For example to upgrade to /e/ Q the Android firmware should be Android 10 and for /e/ Pie it should be Android 9

Downloads for the starlte

Tip: Download of TWRP is not required if you already have it running on your phone

Alert: Please note some of the above links can lead to external sites

Preparing for installation using Heimdall

Samsung devices come with a unique boot mode called “Download mode”, which is very similar to “Fastboot mode” on some devices with unlocked bootloaders. Heimdall is a cross-platform, open-source tool for interfacing with Download mode on Samsung devices. The preferred method of installing a custom recovery is through this boot mode – rooting the stock firmware is neither necessary nor required.

Please note: On windows PC’s to run the installation using ODIN check this HOWTO. The steps given below explain how to install Heimdall and flash /e/OS

  1. Enable OEM unlock in the Developer options under device Settings.

It appears sometime that the OEM unlock option is missing from Development options, especially on new devices. Please connect your device to the wifi and check of system updates. After a reboot, the option should appear.

  1. Install Heimdall or if you prefer you can Build latest Heimdall suite
  2. Power off the device and connect the USB adapter to the computer (but not to the device, yet).
  3. Boot into download mode:
  • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Bixby + Power.Accept the disclaimer, then insert the USB cable into the device.
  1. Windows only: install the drivers. A more complete set of instructions can be found in the ZAdiag user guide.
  2. Run zadiag.exe from the Drivers folder of the Heimdall suite.
  3. Choose Options » List all devices from the menu.
  4. Select Samsung USB Composite Device or MSM8x60 or Gadget Serial or Device Name from the drop down menu. (If nothing relevant appears, try uninstalling any Samsung related Windows software, like Samsung Windows drivers and/or Kies).
  5. Click Replace Driver (having to select Install Driver from the drop down list built into the
  6. If you are prompted with a warning that the installer is unable to verify the publisher of the driver, select Install this driver anyway. You may receive two more prompts about security. Select the options that allow you to carry on.
  7. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
 heimdall print-pit
  1. If the device reboots, Heimdall is installed and working properly.

Patch the device

  1. Download the patch from here
  2. Install the patch
  3. On the device, go into Advanced > ADB Sideload, then swipe to begin sideload
  4. From the computer, please run adb sideload <patch file>

Installing a custom recovery

  1. Download a custom recovery - you can download TWRP.
  2. Power off the device and connect the USB adapter to the computer (but not to the device, yet).
  3. Boot into download mode:
  • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Bixby + Power.Accept the disclaimer, then insert the USB cable into the device.
  1. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window in the directory the recovery image is located, and type:
heimdall flash --RECOVERY twrp-x.x.x-x-starlte.img --no-reboot
  1. A blue transfer bar will appear on the device showing the recovery being transferred.
  2. Unplug the USB cable from your device.
  3. Manually reboot into recovery:
  • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up + Bixby + Power. When the blue text appears, release the buttons.

On some devices, installation can fail if vendors are not up-to-date. In this case, please:

  • Download those vendors
  • Install them
    • On the device, go into Advanced > ADB Sideload, then swipe to begin sideload
    • From the computer, please run adb sideload <vendors file>

Note: Be sure to reboot into recovery immediately after having installed the custom recovery. Otherwise the custom recovery will be overwritten and the device will reboot (appearing as though your custom recovery failed to install).

Tip: On some devices if the device does not boot into TWRP you could try it manually by following these steps

  • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up + Bixby + Power. When the blue text appears, release the buttons.

Installing /e/ from recovery

  1. Before proceeding ensure you have downloaded the /e/OS for your device, from the link given in the Downloads section above

  2. If you aren’t already in recovery mode, reboot into recovery mode by typing the below command in the console of an adb enabled PC

adb reboot recovery

Tip: You can also do this manually using the below key combination

  • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up + Bixby + Power. When the blue text appears, release the buttons.

  1. In TWRP return to main menu, then tap Wipe

  2. Now tap Format Data and continue with the formatting process.

Here a new screen may show where you will have to type `Yes’ and confirm the action by clicking a button.

Caution: Format Data will remove encryption as well as delete all files stored on the internal storage. Remember to take a backup first. Check Requirements section above.

  1. Return to the previous menu and tap Advanced Wipe.

  2. Select the Cache and System partitions to be wiped and then Swipe to Wipe

  3. Sideload the /e/ .zip package.

Tip: Sideload requires actions in two places to be done. One on your phone in the TWRP UI and secondly on the connected PC which should have adb enabled. Also note the sideload process while running may stop abruptly around 50%. The console would show a message Total xfer: 1.00x. This would mean that the transfer has successfully completed.

  • On the device in TWRP,

select Advanced, ADB Sideload, then swipe to begin sideload.

  • On the host machine, in the console , start the sideload of the package by typing
adb sideload filename.zip

Tip: Change the filename to the name of the file you downloaded

  1. Once installation has finished, return to the main menu, tap Reboot, and then System

Warning: Avoid installing any additional apps or services if suggested by the recovery. They may cause your device to bootloop, as well as attempt to access and or corrupt your data.

Success: Congratulations !! Your phone should now be booting into /e/OS !!

To find some troubleshooting tips… click here

Tip: If you find an issue with this installation document or to suggest any improvements , Please add your suggestions to this topic on our community forum

This documentation “” is a derivative of “install LineageOS on starlte” by The LineageOS Project, used under CC BY.

[

/e/ documentation

](https://doc.e.foundation/devices/starlte/install#)

Welcome to /e/ documentation! Download, install and compile /e/OS for your android smartphone | Main website | Community forums

“” is licensed under CC BY SA by e Foundation 2018-2021.

The procedure for installing Android 10 /e/OS ‘Q’ e-0.13-q-2021012097133-dev-starlte is different.

1 Like
4

Hello @SuzieQ , thanks a lot for your helpful answer.

Okay, then I’ll better wait until there is a stable Q version. Or maybe I dare buying an S9 my own and flash Q manually (I am pretty new to this flashing stuff, but I managed to get my old S4 mini running with /e/ via Odin a while ago).