Here’s a quick guide that shows you how to get Android Pie (Samsung One UI) on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. The below instructions only work with the SM-N960U model and not any other variant of the Note 9.
Required Downloads
- Required Android Oreo version (ARJ7):
- ARJ7 Oreo Download – Galaxy Note 9 (model no. N960U only)
- Android Pie beta based One UI build (CRKE):
- CRKE Android Pie beta download – Galaxy Note 9 (model no. N960U only)
How To Install Android 9 Pie Beta With One UI On Your Galaxy Note 9
There are two ways to get Android 9 Pie Beta on a Galaxy Note 9. You can do so via ADB or you can opt to use an SD card to do it. Here’s how both processes work.
ADB
- The software version ARJ7 must be installed on your Galaxy Note 9. To install ARJ7, do this:
- Download the ARJ7 update firmware file from the download section above.
- Install it on your Galaxy Note 9.
- Once you are Galaxy Note 9 is running software version ARJ7 (check the build no. in Settings > About phone), continue to next step below.
- Download the Android Pie beta update file for your device from downloads section above.
- Rename it to something like note-9-pie-beta2.zip so that it is easy to install it when needed.
- Enable USB debugging.
→ If OEM unlock is missing on your device, then there’s nothing to be done — you may not be able to install Android Pie using this method. You would have to wait for Samsung to officially push Pie to your device. - Connect your device to a PC now. Check your phone’s screen, if it requests that you “Allow USB debugging”, accept it by selecting OK/Yes.
- Open a command window on PC in the folder where you have the downloaded the Pie update file.
- For this, go to that folder, and then in the address bar, type cmd and hit the enter key. A command window will open with its address being this very folder with Android Pie update file.
- Reboot your device into recovery mode. Type this command in the command window and then hit the enter key to run it.
adb reboot recovery - Move the highlight to ‘Apply update from ADB’ option.
- Select the option ‘Apply update from ADB’ using the power button.
- Your Galaxy Note 9 will now enter ADB sideload mode.
- Install Android 9 Pie beta update by issuing the following command.
adb sideload note-9-pie-beta1.zip
- Give it time to install. Once done, the device reboots automatically. Do not disconnect before that happens.
- Once your Note 9 reboots, you should now be running Android 9 with One UI.
SD Card
- Make sure you have software version ARJ7 installed on your Galaxy Note 9. To install ARJ7, do this:
- Download the ARJ7 update firmware file from the download section above.
- Install it on your Galaxy Note 9.
- Once you are Galaxy Note 9 is running software version ARJ7 (check the build no. in Settings > About phone), continue to next step below.
- Download the Android Pie beta update file for your device from downloads section above.
- Rename it to something like note-9-pie-beta2.zip.
- Transfer it to the SDcard on your Note 9.
- Now, reboot the device into recovery mode. For this, power off your device, then wait for at least 7 seconds until the screen turns black and then press and hold the Bixby + Volume Up + Power buttons until you see a blue screen.
- Use the buttons (volume buttons) to highlight ‘Install update from SDcard’ option.
- Now, select the Install update from SDcard option using the power button.
- Select the Android 9 Pie update file you transferred to SDcard earlier.
- Select Yes on the next screen to confirm the installation.
- The Android 9 Pie OTA will be installed now. You will be back to recovery’s home screen once done.
- Select ‘reboot system now’ to restart the phone. And you’re done!
Those are the two easy ways to install Android 9 Beta with One UI on your Samsung Galaxy Note 9.