How to Install,Return Back Original Stock ROM/Firmware on Samsung Galaxy S3 (S III GT-I9300, U.S and Canada)

This is the step by step procedure on how to manually install back the original firmware or Stock ROM on Samsung Galaxy S3 I9300 International, U.S.A and Canada variants. Installing or flashing the stock ROM is useful in some other part like, if you want to return back your Galaxy S3 to its original factory firmware settings if somehow having done some modding like rooting and installing a custom ROM. This is also useful for fixing soft-bricks if somehow you messed up somewhere and end up with a soft bricked Galaxy S3, this guide might also help you to recover your Galaxy S3 and bring back to life in no time as long as you can still access the download mode.

Instead of using Kies, which is only capable for upgrading the software, this method is also widely used by Galaxy S3 advance users for upgrading or by downgrading purposes and tweaking their devices by installing other regions firmware.  Some other reasons, if Kies will ignores your device from updating, like if your device was bought on other country and you can't upgrade it anymore in your local region like Kies only says "Your device does not support software upgrading via Kies" when you tried connecting it, this method is also been useful to manually upgrade your Galaxy S3.

[caption id="attachment_1910" align="aligncenter" width="598"] Samsung Galaxy S3, the successor to the hugely popular Galaxy S2 has launched around the world. Powered with Android 4.0.4  Ice Cream Sandwich OS, built with lightning fast Exynos 4 1.4GHz quad-core processor.[/caption]

What is a Stock ROM?

Stock ROMs are the firmware that has been released from Samsung Kies official firmware server. These are being pulled from Kies by an Android firmware experts and carefully re-bundled it to make it flashable by using Odin flasher tool, via CWM and some prepared tool like chainfires' Mobile Odin. This guide here tackles an Odin flashable stock ROM only, you might also see other methods like flashing via CWM and Mobile Odin (whuch is to be added soon).

Stock ROMs contains the binary and image files of the whole software packaged, like these:
* Sbl.bin
* cache.img
* factoryfs.img
* hidden.img
* modem.bin
* param.lfs
* zImage

Inside the stock ROM bundled, those binary and images files are packed in three different formats.
The PDA, CSC and PHONE.
Some full packaged stock ROM comes in multiple package this includes with BOOTLOADER image and PIT files, but in flashing it's been safe not to use these files.
PDA - This the software/firmware build number version and consists to a code of numbers and letters
CSC - (Consumer Software Customization) Refers to the specific country or carriers for that said firmware is being build.
This where it contains the default settings of each specific geographical region, carrier network providers and network data connections.

Phone - This renders the specific Baseband or device modem data (GSM/HSPDA).

PIT - the PIT file refers as 'Partition Information Table'. This is only useful for fixing bricked devices if somehow something changed with the partition table layout of the phone's system memory. But in normal flashing, you should not use this file, or you may screw up your phone if handed carelessly.

FAQ about flashing stock ROM

Q: Does it safe to flash stock ROM?
A: There is a risk danger in flashing firmware either original stock ROM and or custom ROMs on the device. Any unwanted interruption occurred will cause your device into softbricks. If it is your first time heard about this method,  it is highly recommended to search more and learn about flashing stock ROM before you proceed.

Q: Does Flashing will remove all my data stored on the device.
A: Yes and NO. There are two types of stock ROM, the wiped and non-wiped version. It is highly recommended that you should back-up all your important data stored in the phone’s memory like contacts, messages before flashing.

Q: Do I Need to ROOT or UNROOT my phone before flashing stock ROM?
A: NO need to root or unroot yor device, but you will loose root once flashing is made. So, you need to re-root your device again.

Q: Does Flashing stock ROM to my phone will erase the network lock?
A: NO. Your network (or SIM) lock will still remain active.

Q: Does Flashing stock ROM will remove root on my phone?
A: Yes. If you currently have rooted, your phone will return back to original factory settings after flashing. You need to re-root again to install any 3rd party applications.

Q: Does flashing an operator specific firmware will restrict my open phone to that operator’s network?
A: NO. Your phone still remain open for any Operator SIM. Operator specific builds usually containing “only specific country or carrier provider” logo, bloatwares, wallpapers and/or browser settings, etc.

Disclaimer: We shall not be held responsible if anything happens to your device by following this guide. You may proceed at your own risk, your phone is not a toy for us, it is your own personal property, it is up to you to decide on what and how to do about it.

Important Reminders before Flashing Galaxy S3 Stock ROM

- Make sure that your Galaxy S3's battery is fully charge.
- Stock ROM packages comes in two formats the 'Full-Wipe' (delete your stored data after flashing) and the 'Non-Wipe' (it doesn’t delete your phone’s stored data) but it is highly recommended to make a back up all important files stored from your phone’s internal memory – contacts, messages, etc.  before flashing no-matter if it is Full-WIpe or Non-Wipe,  just to be safe and ensure that your stored data are in  safe  if something went wrong during the flashing process.
- Remember or back up the APN settings of your device. ( This only done if you try to install other regions stock ROM.
- Use a PC or laptop that runs in Windows OS, with a good and perfectly working USB serial port.  Odin will not work on MAC OS.
- Use the supplied USB cable for your Galaxy S3.
- Enable USB debugging from your phone’s settings. Go to Settings > Applications > Development, and tick the box that says ‘Enable USB Debugging’.
- Do a “Hard Reset” if you have a lot of 3rd party applications installed from your phone, this is useful to gain a smooth flashing. (Just make sure that you already back up all your important files before resetting your device.
- Ensure that KIES is closed and not running in the system tray! Kies will interrupt and doesn't like Odin, it will block you from flashing.

Step 1: Download the needed tools for flashing

Odin Flasher Tool

(Grab here)
Odin3_v3.07
Odin3_v3.09

Samsung Galaxy S3 USB Driver

(only needed if you haven’t installed Kies on your PC)
Download/USB Driver

Grab your Samsung Galaxy S3 Original Firmware or Stock ROM according to your phone's Country/Carrier of origin. I can't put it all up here, so you may find the most latest build.

Warning! Choose and install only the right stock ROM on each specified Galaxy S3 model number, DO NOT install to other model numbers for it will harm your device or resulting to possible bricks.

Stock ROM are case sensitive and may result to undesired outcomes if used improperly.. Each stock ROM was built to a specific product code variant. International version GT-I9300 stock ROM cannot be used on U.S and Canada variants. Some compatible stock ROMs are SGH-I747 U.S and SGH-I747M Canada. The T-Mo SGH-T999 is also compatible with Canadian SGH-T999V. Others are just to be used on each assigned product codes like the I535 and L710.

GT-I9300/ I9300T (Europe/Australia/New Zealand/Asia/Middle East/Latin America)
GT-I9300 (International Original Stock ROM) or just request one on our comment form below. 

Update: You may find stock ROMs for U.S. Galaxy S3 here. The old download host has been shutdown for good.

SGH-1747 (U.S AT&T)
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-I747_ATT_I747UCDLK3_I747ATTDLK3
July 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-I747_ATT_I747UCALG1_I747ATTALG1
May 2012, Factory Stock: SGH-I747_ATT_I747UCALEM_I747ATTALEM

SGH-T999 (U.S T-Mobile) 
January 2013 4.1.1 Jelly Bean Update: SGH-T999_TMB_T999UVDLJC_T999TMBDLJC
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-T999_TMB_T999UVDLJA_T999TMBDLJA
November 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-T999_TMB_T999UVALJ4_T999TMBALJ4
August 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-T999_TMB_T999UVALH2_T999TMBALH2
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-T999_TMB_T999UVALEM_T999TMBALEM

SCH-I535 (U.S Verizon) (You also need to re-lock the bootloader if you want to completely restore back to stock).  
December 2012 4.1.1 Jelly bean Update: SCH-I535_VZW_I535VRBLK3_I535VZWBLK3
August 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SCH-I535_VZW_I535VRALG1_I535VZWALG1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SCH-I535_VZW_I535VRALF2_I535VZWALF2

SPH-L710 (U.S Sprint)
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update:SPH-L710_SPR_L710VPBLJ7_L710SPRLJ7
November 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update:  SPH-L710_SPR_L710VPALI3_L710SPRALI3
May 2012 Factory Stock:SPH-L710_SPR_L710VPALEN_L710SPRALEN

SGH-I747M (Canada)
Bell (also works on Virgin Mobile)
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-I747M_BMC_I747MVLDLK4_I747MOYCDLK4
August 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-I747M_BMC_I747MVLALH1_I747MOYCALH1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-I747M_BMC_I747MVLALE8_I747MOYCALE8

Rogers
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update:SGH-I747M_RWC_I747MVLDLK4_I747MOYADLK4
August 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-I747M_RWC_I747MVLALH1_I747MOYAALH1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-I747M_RWC_I747MVLALE8_I747MOYAALE8

Telus
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-I747M_TLS_I747MVLDLK4_I747MOYBDLK4
August 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-I747M_TLS_I747MVLALH1_I747MOYBALH1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-I747M_TLS_I747MVLALE8_I747MOYBALE8

Sasktel
December 2012 Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-I747M_BWA_I747MVLDLK4_I747MOYCDLK4
August 2012 ICS 4.0.4 Update: SGH-I747M_BWA_I747MVLALH1_I747MOYCALH1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-I747M_BWA_I747MVLALE8_I747MOYCALE8

SGH-T999V (Canada)
Wind
December 2012 Jelly bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-T999V_GLW_T999VVLDLL1_T999VYVLDLL1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-T999V_GLW_T999VVLALE6_T999VYVLALE6

Mobilicity
December 2012 Jelly bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-T999V_MCT_T999VVLDLL1_T999VYVLDLL1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-T999V_MCT_T999VVLALE6_T999VYVLALE6

Videotron
December 2012 Jelly bean 4.1.1 Update: SGH-T999V_VTR_T999VVLDLL1_T999VYVLDLL1
May 2012 Factory Stock: SGH-T999V_VTR_T999VVLALE6_T999VYVLALE6

Step 2: Extract the downloaded stock ROM

You need to extract the downloaded file which is packed in zip or rar files, so that you'll get the tar.md5 file.

Step 3: Run and Configure Odin

Run Odin downloader Odin3_v3.04 on your PC desktop. Watch out the check-boxes options on the right top of Odin, ensure that the ‘RE-PARTITION’ is unchecked, only  the ‘AUTO-REBOOT and ‘F.RESET TIME’ checkboxes are both remained checked.

Step 6: Reboot your Galaxy S3 into Download Mode

To reboot the Galaxy S3 into  download mode , you need to turn the power off.  After it completely shut off,  just  press and hold the Volume Down key,  Home button and the Power ON/OFF button simultaneously.

You should then prompted into a warning screen and asking you  to press volume up if you want to continue or volume down to cancel, just simply press volume up to get into download mode. The download mode then displays an Android robot and say's "Downloading.. Do not turn off target!!"

Step 5: Connect your Phone to PC or Laptop

Once you already reboot the phone in download mode,  simply connect the phone to your PC or laptop USB.
In Odin window - the ID:COM box will turn to blue color and indicates the COM port number and a word "Added" on a log box will prompt you that the device is already detected or recognized by Odin.



Your COM port number might be different from mine. If you do not see a COM port number then there's something missing or wrong. You may read again from the top of this post.

Step 6: Load the binary .tar.md5 file

Single Packaged Stock ROM
If the stock ROM is pack in One .tar.md5 file only the PDA, CSC and Phone modem are already included to it. Now, you need to just simply click on the PDA button, then browse to the folder where the .tar or .tar.md5 you have previously extracted and then select and load it.
Just like this image below, I used United Kingdom unbranded Galaxy S3 stock ROM on this guide, so it came as I9300XXLE8_I9300OXAALE8_I9300XXLE8_HOME.tar.md5.

Build numbers varies on each product code, specific geographical region and network CSC (Consumer Software Customization) codes. Like for example in US variant like AT&T Galaxy S3 I747 it also comes such this:
I747UCALG1_I747ATTALG1_I747UCLG1_Home.tar.md5



Note: Do not put a 'PIT' file.

Stock ROM with Multiple Files with PDA, CSC and PHONE files
If the files came with three individual .tar like PDA, CSC and PHONE
packages, you'll need to load each specific file formats on each designated buttons.

PDA button - select the .tar file associated with a name CODE after the build number like - CODE_I9300xxxxx_xxxxx_.tar

CSC button - .tar file associated with a name 'CSC' after the build number like - CSC_XXX_I9300xxxxx_xxxxx_.tar

PHONE button - .tar file associated with a name 'MODEM' after the build number like - MODEM_I9300xxxxx_xxxxx_.tar



Note: Again, DO NOT load or put a 'PIT' file.

Step 7: Start Flashing or Installing the stock ROM

Once if all set and ready to fire-up, hit the "START" button in Odin to begin flashing the stock ROM.
Do not ever interrupt the phone while already in flashing progress, like disconnecting the cable or turning off the device. Just wait until it completely finish.

Step 8: Watch out for the word PASS!!

When the Stock ROM installation successfully completes, you will then see a word "PASS" in Odin. This indicates that the flashing was already finish, and on the log box it says "All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)". The phone will just then automatically reboot, then it's to remove it from PC or laptop USB connection.

Confirm your fresh firmware installed by typing *#1234# or
Go to Settings>About Phone>Firmware info.
You can also do factory reset by dialing *2767*3855#.
Check and reconfigure your APN settings when data networks connection issues encountered. This only happens if you installed other regions stock ROM.

Possible errors that you may encountered, this is based on my own experience while flashing stock ROM on Samsung Android devices. These are just a few hints on how to resolved it.

Q: I got an error message that says "Set-up connection Failed" ?
A: 1. Check your USB connection from the phone to PC,
2. Connect to another PC USB port
3. Check and try to another USB cable
4. Re-install the USB driver.

Q: Odin just suddenly stuck in the middle of nowhere while in flashing progress, It isn't responding at all?
A: Check for possible program that might interrupt the process, like disabling the anti-virus and closing any running programs.
Try to use another PC or laptop,

Q: I experienced bootloop or the phone just stuck on Welcome Logo (phone always stop at bootanimation) and it won't boot normally?
A: You can fix it via recovery mode option, do this:
Boot in recovery mode
1. Press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power button.
2. Use volume keys to select, Up and Down and Power or Home key to select the option
3. Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset using the Home button.
4. Next select the Wipe Cache Partition
5. Lastly, select Reboot System Now to reboot your Galaxy S3 in Normal mode.

Q: My Galaxy S III is now soft-bricked, what should I do then.
A: For 3 years, never been happened to me soft-bricking my older phones using Odin, I was once got soft-bricks using ROM manager. But if somehow this happens to your device, here's how.

If you can still access the phone in Download Mode, then you can recover it by repeating the flashing procedure again.
If not, that's seriously bad. The only option is to send it to your nearest service center. Folks at service will recover it by forcing to re-flash the firmware via JTAG.

That's it! you have now learned how to install Samsung Galaxy S3 stock ROM. You can use this procedure again and again, using any future stock ROM that only match with your device.
All other questions and suggestions are most welcome, just let me know by leaving a message on the comment form below. Enjoy!.