Some times unfortunately a smartphone gets bricked when its flash memory is completely corrupted and as a result of which the device does not boot. The primary reason behind such bricking is a bad flash which damages the existing data of the device that handle bootloader, radio and others.

Brick for an Android device is divided into two types: hard brick and soft brick. Hard brick is highly unlikely when it comes to activities including rooting or flashing custom ROM. The devices usually get encountered with soft brick. A device cannot be recovered if it is hard-bricked whereas users can bring back the device to life if it is soft-bricked.

Samsung Galaxy S4
The Galaxy S4 runs on official Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean software. Samsung

Below are the tutorials to help the Samsung Galaxy S4 users to unbrick their devices which are soft-bricked. There are three methods to recover the Galaxy S4 if it is soft-bricked. But before following those, users are advised to ensure that their handsets meet following requirements.

IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held responsible for any damage to the device.

Pre-requisites

1) Install USB driver for Samsung Galaxy S4 to transfer files between the Android device and computer.

2) Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Press Menu>> Settings>> Applications. From there navigate and click on Development option and ensure the USB Debugging Mode is turned on.]

3) As the tutorial might wipe all data of the phone, create a backup. If the device is having any custom recoveries such as CWM/TWRP already installed then backup data using the recovery.

4) The battery of the phone should have charge above 80 per cent.

5) The device should be factory unlocked and not locked to a particular carrier.

6) The methods below works only on Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500/I9505. Applying these on any other variant might brick the device. Therefore, verify the model number of Galaxy device by navigating to Settings>> About Phone>> Model number and install files accordingly.

Here are three ways to recover the Galaxy S4 if it is soft-bricked.

Method 1: Recovering Samsung Galaxy S4 from a bootloop

Bootloop occurs when a smartphone is not able to boot properly and stuck on Bootanimation. This is a common issue. However, this can be fixed very easily by booting the device either into stock or custom recovery mode. Click here for step-by-step guide to recover Galaxy S4 caught in bootloop.

Method 2: By installing official firmware on Samsung Galaxy S4

If the first method fails to fix the bootloop or users are unable to boot the Galaxy S4 into the Android System or ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery then they can install official firmware on their handsets to overcome the issue. Users may follow our step-by-step guide to install official firmware on Galaxy S4.

Method 3: By flashing stock firmware and PIT file on Samsung Galaxy S4

If both these aforementioned method do not bring back the Galaxy S4 to normal state then users may follow this method. This is similar as installing official firmware but it involves flashing a PIT file along with the firmware. The pit file is used to re-partition the corrupt partition on Galaxy device. Follow the step-by-step guide below to unbrick Galaxy S4.

Step-1: Download correct official firmware for Samsung Galaxy S4 and then extract the zip file (Firmware download links: Galaxy S4 GT-I9505/ Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 )

Step-2: Download appropriate PIT file for Samsung Galaxy S4 to the computer. Then extract the downloaded zip file

Download links: I9500_pit_file.zip / I9505_pit_file.zip

Step-3: Download Odin3-v3.07.zip and extract the zip file

Step-4: Turn off the Galaxy S4. Then boot the device into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons together for two to three seconds until a warning screen appears. Then press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode

Step-5: Launch Odin on the computer

Step-6: Connect the Galaxy S4 to the computer using USB cable while it is in the Download Mode. Wait for some time until Odin detects the device. When the phone is connected successfully, the ID: COM port at Odin will turn blue. Also, the successful connection will be indicated by an Added message in Odin

Step-7: Now in Odin, click on the PDA button and navigate to the firmware folder and select the file with .tar.md5 extension

Step-8: Then click on the PIT button and navigate to the PIT folder and select the file with .pit extension

Step-9: Ensure the Re-Partition and F.Reset Time checkboxes are selected in Odin. But uncheck the Auto Reboot option

Step-10: Finally click the Start button in Odin. The installation process should begin now and would take about few minutes to complete

Step-11: When the installation process is completed, a PASS message will appear in Odin. Now unplug the USB cable from the phone

Step-12: Now remove the battery cover of the phone and pull out the battery. Wait for about one minute and then re-insert the battery again

Step-13: Boot the Galaxy S4 into Android System Recovery mode by pressing and holding Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together until the screen turns up and the Samsung logo blinks. Now release the Power button but keep pressing the Volume Up and Home buttons until the recovery mode menu appears

Note: In recovery mode, use the Volume buttons to scroll between options and use Power button to select the desired option.

Step-14: Go to wipe data/factory reset option and wipe it

Step-15: Then select wipe cache partition

Step-16: Finally reboot the phone by selecting reboot system now. The Galaxy S4 will boot now

As the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500/GT-I9505 boots up successfully it should be unbricked successfully.

[Source: Droid Views]

Samsung Android