If you previously rooted your Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7 (SM-T555) and now want to restore it to stock firmware—perhaps to receive OTA updates, fix boot loops, or prepare for warranty service—this guide walks you through the unrooting process. You’ll remove root access, restore the original boot image and recovery, and relock the bootloader if desired. Before starting, back up any important data, as the process will wipe your device.
What You’ll Need
- A Windows PC (or a Mac with Odin alternatives, but Windows is easiest)
- USB cable compatible with your tablet
- Odin3 (latest version, e.g., 3.13.1) – download from a trusted source
- Stock firmware for SM-T555 – download from SamMobile, Frija, or similar; match your region and carrier
- Samsung USB drivers installed on your PC
- Backup of your personal data (photos, contacts, etc.)
- Sufficient battery charge (at least 50%)
Step-by-Step
- Back up your data. Unrooting via Odin will wipe your device. Copy photos, documents, and any other files to your PC or cloud storage. Use Samsung Smart Switch or manually copy files.
- Download and extract the stock firmware. Get the correct firmware for your exact model (SM-T555) and region. Extract the ZIP file; you should see files like
AP_...,BL_...,CP_...,CSC_...(orHOME_CSC_...). - Install Samsung USB drivers. If you haven’t already, install the drivers so your PC recognizes the tablet in Download Mode.
- Enable USB debugging (optional but helpful). Go to Settings > About tablet > tap Build number 7 times to unlock Developer options. Then enable USB debugging under Developer options.
- Power off the tablet. Completely shut down your device.
- Boot into Download Mode. Press and hold Volume Down + Home + Power simultaneously. When the warning screen appears, press Volume Up to continue into Download Mode.
- Open Odin3 on your PC. Run Odin3 as administrator. You should see a blue or yellow box indicating your device is detected (ID:COM).
- Load the firmware files into Odin. Click the buttons in Odin and select the corresponding files:
– BL →BL_...
– AP →AP_...
– CP →CP_...
– CSC →CSC_...(not HOME_CSC, unless you want to keep data – but for a clean unroot, use CSC)
Leave the PIT field empty unless you have a specific PIT file. - Check options. In Odin, ensure only Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time are checked. Do not check Re-Partition.
- Start the flash. Click the Start button. The process will take a few minutes. Do not unplug the USB cable or interrupt the process.
- Wait for completion. When the flash finishes, Odin will show a green PASS message, and the tablet will reboot automatically. The first boot may take longer than usual.
- Set up your device. After reboot, you’ll see the Android setup screen. Complete the setup as you would for a new device. Your tablet is now unrooted and running stock firmware.
- Optional: Relock the bootloader. If you want to relock the bootloader (for warranty or security), you can do so via Odin by flashing a stock
BLwith the FRP Lock option, but this is not necessary for unrooting. Many users leave it unlocked; note that relocking may require a factory reset again.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong firmware. Flashing a firmware meant for a different model (e.g., SM-T550) can brick your device. Always verify your exact model number (Settings > About tablet).
- Incorrect Odin settings. Checking Re-Partition without a PIT file can cause a soft-brick. Leave it unchecked.
- Interrupting the flash. Unplugging the USB cable or closing Odin mid-flash can leave your device in a bootloop. Be patient.
- Using HOME_CSC when you need a full wipe. HOME_CSC preserves data but may leave remnants of root. For a clean unroot, use the regular CSC file.
- Not installing Samsung drivers. If Odin doesn’t detect your device, it’s usually a driver issue.
Tips
- Always download firmware from reputable sources like SamMobile or Frija to avoid corrupted or malicious files.
- Before flashing, make sure your tablet has at least 50% battery to prevent power loss during the process.
- If you’re on a Mac, you can use Heimdall instead of Odin, but the steps differ slightly.
- After unrooting, you may want to factory reset from Settings to ensure all root-related files are gone.
- Keep a copy of the firmware on your PC for future use.
Troubleshooting
Odin doesn’t recognize the tablet. Reinstall Samsung USB drivers, try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0), or replace the USB cable. Ensure you’re in Download Mode (not just powered on).
Flash fails with “FAIL!” message. This often happens due to a bad firmware download or mismatched files. Redownload the firmware, verify the checksum if possible, and try again. Also, ensure you’re not using a USB hub.
Tablet stuck in boot loop after flashing. This usually indicates a corrupted firmware or a mismatch. Boot into Recovery Mode (Volume Up + Home + Power) and perform a factory reset. If that doesn’t work, reflash the firmware, this time using the HOME_CSC file (but note this may not wipe root remnants).
Tablet shows “Custom binary blocked by FRP lock.” This occurs when the bootloader is locked and the firmware isn’t official. You need to flash the correct stock firmware for your device’s region. If FRP is enabled, you may need to unlock the bootloader first (which voids warranty).
After unrooting, apps still detect root. Some root-related files might remain. Perform a factory reset from Settings > Backup & reset. If that doesn’t help, reflash the firmware using the CSC file (which wipes data) rather than HOME_CSC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will unrooting void my warranty? Unrooting restores the device to stock, but the bootloader may remain unlocked, which can void the warranty. Relocking the bootloader may restore warranty, but it’s not guaranteed. Check with Samsung’s policy.
Do I need to unlock the bootloader again after unrooting? If you flashed stock firmware, the bootloader remains unlocked unless you relock it. You can relock it via Odin, but it will wipe your data again.
Can I unroot without a PC? No, the standard method requires a PC with Odin. Some apps claim to unroot, but they only remove the SuperSU app, not the modified boot image.
Will unrooting delete my personal files? Yes, flashing with the CSC file will wipe all data. Back up everything before starting.
What if I don’t know my device’s region? Check the model number and the CSC code in Settings > About tablet > Software information. Use that to download the correct firmware.
Is it safe to unroot? Yes, if you follow the steps correctly, it’s safe. The main risk is using wrong firmware or interrupting the process, which can cause a soft-brick that is usually recoverable.
Related
General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.
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