Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Samsung Galaxy S8 (Exynos)Have you ever thought about what websites such as XDA-Developers are all about when you’re browsing about online? There are entire blogs and forums dedicated to the Android operating system, and in particular, customizing it. Each device has a different bunch of options available for changing things up a little bit. When most people think about customization, they think about custom ROMs.

If you have one of the more bought devices out there, then there will probably be many custom ROMs to choose from. If, however, your device didn’t sell very well, then you might only get a few options, or maybe none at all. In addition, the custom ROMs, while they might be made by the same name, could have different features and slightly vary from version to version on various devices as well—a bit like that official version of Android that you’re used to seeing, really.

The Samsung Galaxy S8, being the flagship for one of the premier manufacturers of smartphones, is likely going to be one of those devices that has many custom ROMs made available for it. When it all gets down to it, you’ll need to check the different threads on XDA-Developers for your phone carrier network, as the list of custom ROMs is likely to change again based on who you are subscribed.

Assuming custom ROMs are your thing, you’ll probably want to install a custom recovery image to help get them flashed. It’s technically possible to do it with root access instead, but you wouldn’t be flashing them manually that way, and that takes away a lot of the fun for the many Android enthusiasts.

Details of Note

  • The custom recovery images available in this guide are only to be installed on the Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone. Most devices have a custom recovery image developed specifically for it, and you shouldn’t install one that is intended for another device unless advised it is okay by a professional.
  • The Samsung Galaxy S8 is a dm-verity device, meaning that swiping to allow system modifications results in your device being unable to boot if it is using the stock kernel. To get around dm-verity’s boot prevention, you must first install a kernel that has dm-verity disabled in the fstab.
  • The codename for the Samsung Galaxy S8 with Exynos processor TWRP recovery image is “dreamlte.” You will see that codename in the TWRP image file path and also from your About Device menu so you know you are flashing the right file on the right device.
  • You can visit the official support thread over at XDA-Developers if you run into any problems along the way.

Files Required

How to Install TWRP Recovery on Samsung Galaxy S8 (Exynos)

Note: The Odin flashing tool is really easy to use, but it only works on the Windows operating system. You won’t get the flashing tool to load on a Mac or Linux computer. It doesn’t really matter what version of the Windows operating system that you’re using as long as it is something above Windows XP.

1. Download and install the Samsung USB drivers on the computer if you don’t have them already.

2. Download the firmware (.tar) file from the links above directly to the computer. Extract the file by right-clicking on it and choosing the option to extract. When you do, you’ll see the tar.md5 file inside. That’s the file you’ll be using to do the flashing.

3. Download the Odin flashing tool. It doesn’t really matter what version, but the latest is the most up to date so grab that one. Extract the Odin file and then double-click on the Odin executable file (.exe) that is found from within the Odin folder after extraction. You should now have the Odin interface open on the computer and waiting for you to connect to it.

4. Boot the Samsung mobile device into the Download Mode by first powering it down and then rebooting by holding the Volume Down + Home + Power keys at the same time.

5. A yellow warning triangle will come up on the device’s display. At this time you need to press the Volume Up button. You’ll then see the device getting into the Download Mode. It’s then ready for the flashing.

6. When in Download Mode, connect the Samsung mobile device to the computer with the USB cable.

7. If you have installed the USB drivers correctly, the Odin flashing tool should detect your device. You can tell this by observing the ID: COM port lighting up with a color, usually yellow or blue.

It doesn’t matter what color, it’s the lighting up that counts.

8. After the device is picked up by Odin, click on the PDA or AP button, depending on what button your version of the Odin flashing tool has.

9. Navigate to the stock ROM folder and upload the tar.md5 file to this location in Odin.

10. Without changing any of the default settings, click on the Start button in Odin, and the flashing then begins.

11. Wait until Odin shows a Pass message before disconnecting your device.

You can now close the Odin flashing tool and continue using your computer if you like.

The custom recovery and stock recovery are always interchangeable. There are no limits as to how many times you can flash one or the other; the only thing you need to know is that only one of them can be installed at any given time. There’s also no need to stress about trying to figure out how to flash the stock version back. You should find you can flash it with the same method as you used for the custom recovery. All you need to do first is get your hands on the stock recovery file, which can usually be found inside the official firmware files for the same device. Or if you wanted, it’s also possible to just flash the full stock firmware on your device using the flashing tool, and it too will install the stock recovery at the same time.

That’s all.