Samsung is the best brand for customers concerned about firmware updates. For several reasons. One is that Galaxy smartphones receive more Android OS updates than any other brand, including Google Pixel. The other is that Samsung is usually the first OEM to release new security patches, even ahead of Google.
Samsung also provides the ODIN tool for Android smartphone users who prefer manual updates. And as many of you who regularly check our homepage know, official Samsung firmware files for ODIN are available for download on our website. We cover software update stories and regularly discuss the latest firmware releases.
Right now, however, we’re doing something different. We explain what the letters and numbers associated with each firmware version mean. Once you learn this information, Samsung’s firmware versions will no longer look like seemingly random strings of letters and numbers. Instead, you’ll be able to read the hidden meaning behind the apparent randomness and get all the information you need at a glance.
Learn How to Read Samsung Firmware Numbers Easily
Each character or combination of characters contains specific information about the firmware and the target device. The easiest way to understand Samsung’s firmware numbering scheme is to break it down into four parts.
We will use the most recent Galaxy Note 10+ (LTE) update for reference. It has the firmware number N975FXXU8HVE6. We will break it down as follows: N975 | FXX | U8H | VE6.
There are different ways to cut Samsung firmware numbers into different sections. We chose this method because it is easier to remember, i.e. there are four sections containing 4-3-3-3 characters. N975 | FXX | U8H | VE6.
In addition, each section is defined by the type of information to which it relates, including the material (N975)availablity (FXX)update content (U8H), and when it was built (VE6).
REMARK: The 4-3-3-3 pattern works with Samsung firmware updates in most markets, except, for example, the United States, where unlocked Galaxy devices have an extra character in their firmware numbers.
Please remember that we are using the recent Galaxy Note 10+ firmware number as a reference. This firmware ID will vary depending on each Galaxy device and the update available.
Samsung Firmware Issue 1 Section 1 — N975 — Device Information
- NOT : The first character shows the Galaxy series. “N” is for the now canceled Galaxy Note series, “S” is for the Galaxy S series (although it was “G” before the Galaxy S22 arrived), “F” is for foldable devices,” E” stands for Galaxy F family, and “A” is for Galaxy A line, etc.
- 9: The second letter of the firmware number loosely represents the price of your Galaxy device within its range. “9” is for high-end phones such as Galaxy Note 10+ and Galaxy S22. It is shared between generations and models. For example, every firmware version of every Galaxy Fold released to date begins with the characters “F9”. A cheaper device from the same year as the Galaxy Note 10+, i.e. the Galaxy Note 10 Lite, has the model number (SM)-N770F. “N7” qualifies this phone as a Note (N) device that is not necessarily cheap (7) but does not cost as much as a flagship (9).
- seven: The third character reveals the generation of the Galaxy device intended to receive the update. The Galaxy Note 10+ was the 7th generation Galaxy Note (from when Samsung started counting with the current method). The meaning of this character is loosely applied across different Galaxy lineups. For example, the Galaxy S21 was the 9th generation, and the Galaxy S22 series was to be upgraded to a “0”. The Galaxy A53 (SM-A536) is considered the third generation of its series, since Samsung changed the naming scheme from “Galaxy A5” to “Galaxy A5x”.
- 5: The fourth and last digit in Section 1 has different meanings for different Galaxy ranges. For flagships, this usually means the higher the number, the larger the display. Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra have “1”, “6”, and “8” as the fourth character in their firmware versions/device numbers. This character also indicates whether the phone caps out at 4G LTE or has 5G capabilities. “0” and “5” are reserved for LTE devices, while 5G Galaxy phones can use characters such as “1”, “6” and “8”.
Samsung Firmware Number Section 2 — FXX — Market Availability
- F: The first character of the second section corresponds to the market region where the Galaxy device and its firmware update are available. Sometimes this letter changes depending on whether the device is 5G compatible or not. “F” and “B” denote international LTE and 5G models, respectively. “E” stands for Asian markets, although “N” is reserved for South Korea. “U” is for the United States, but Galaxy devices unlocked in the United States receive an additional character: “U1”. Variants such as “FN” and “FG” also exist in a few markets.
- XX: These two grouped characters contain additional information about the specific variant of your device in your market. “XX” is associated with international and European markets. US devices have “SQ” on them, but US unlocked devices have “EU” on them. You can always check the firmware version of your Galaxy device by opening the Settings app, then press “About the phone” and “Software Information”.
REMARK: It is important to keep in mind that the first two sections of your Samsung Galaxy device’s firmware number will never change, no matter how many updates you install. The rule is that when manually installing firmware updates, you should never try to apply updates whose first seven characters of the firmware number do not match your current version. (Firfirst eight characters for US unlocked and some other variants like FG, FN).
Samsung firmware number section 3 — U8H — the content of the update
- you: This character is always either an “S” or a “U”, no matter which Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet you use and where. It indicates if the current firmware update contains only an “S” security patch or if it brings additional “U” features. The latter means that the firmware update should add features or upgrades to core applications, UI, background systems, etc.
- 8: This is the bootloader number. A bootloader is crucial software that tells your Galaxy phone which programs to load on startup. It is analogous to the BIOS of Windows PCs. When it comes to this number, it’s important to remember that you can never revert to a firmware update that has a lower bootloader version than the current version. In other words, the “8” in the Galaxy Note 10+ firmware means that it is bootloader version 8 and users cannot revert to an update with version 7. or lower of the bootloader.
- H: This is another important but seemingly random character in Samsung’s firmware scheme. It reveals the number of major One UI and feature updates the device has received. Every new Galaxy device starts with an “A,” and that letter moves up a notch in the alphabet with every major update or new version of One UI it picks up along the way. The Galaxy Note 10+ comes with One UI 1.5 (A). It is now running One UI 4.1 and its firmware version has the letter “H”, which means it has received seven important and feature-rich updates.
Section 4 of Samsung firmware issue – VE6 – the update build history
- V: The penultimate character of Samsung’s firmware number represents the year the update was created. In Samsung’s firmware number parlance, “V” is the year 2022. “U” was 2021, and presumably, 2023 will be “W”. Sometimes this letter can indicate which version of Android OS a Galaxy device is running (or receiving via an update), but only for newer phones. This character simply represents the build year of the update and often, but not always, coincides with the latest version of the Android operating system available that year.
- E: Similarly, the penultimate character coincides with the month when the firmware was completed. “A” is for January, which means the letter “E” in our example represents May. Again, there’s always a chance that an update finalized one month will go live the next month. In addition, this letter does not always correspond to the security patch of the month that it represents. An update created in May may go live in June and contain an earlier security patch.
- 6: And the very last character of Samsung’s firmware number is a build identifier. This character is often represented by a number and sometimes by a letter. Each new update starts at build ID “1” or “A”. This character goes up a notch with each new release and resets to “1” or “A” with each new substantial firmware update released. However, a firmware update with build ID “8” does not necessarily mean that it is the 8th version released in a month. Some versions may enter development but may never be released. Their brief existence is often reflected in the build ID of the next update that reaches the public.
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