Galaxy S4: Remove branding

If you don't want to see the logo of your mobile service provider constantly when you start your Galaxy S4, you can remove the branding. That's how it's done.

Step 1: prepare to remove branding on Galaxy S4

To remove the branding, you need to flash your smartphone. Like jailbreaking an iPhone, this process involves some risk. Since you intervene more deeply in the system of your smartphone, you can hardly exercise your warranty right in the event of damage.

1. First you need the right firmware for your Galaxy S4. You can find this, for example, on the SamMobile website.
2. Download the free Odin3 program and install it on your computer.
3. To start the program, right-click on the corresponding icon on your desktop. In the context menu, select the "Run as administrator" option.
4. Once the program has started, click the "PDA" button approximately in the middle. Then select the firmware and open it. If in doubt, you can recognize the firmware by the file extension ".tar.md5".
5. You can find detailed instructions on Odin including video here.

Step 2: put Galaxy S4 in download mode

To be able to work with Odin, you have to put your smartphone in download mode.

1. To do this, switch off the Galaxy S4 completely. You can tell whether the phone is really switched off by the short vibration and the switched off display.
2. Now press the buttons "Volume down", the "Home button" and the "Power button" at the same time. Press and hold all three buttons until a warning appears on the screen.
3. Confirm the warning by briefly pressing the "Volume up" button.

Step 3: connect Odin and Galaxy S4

1. Now connect the smartphone to your computer using the USB cable and wait until Odin recognizes the device.
2. The value "x: [COMx]" should now be in the "IP: COM" field, and the "Added !!" entry under "Message".
3. Click the "Start" button at the bottom right of the window. When the process is complete, Odin reports "PASS" back.
4. Your smartphone will now restart. However, shut it down again for the next step.

Step 4: put Galaxy S4 in recovery mode and remove branding

1. Now press the buttons "Volume up", the "Home button" and the "Power button" at the same time. Press and hold all three buttons until the Samsung logo appears on the screen.
2. Wait a moment until the recovery mode is fully loaded and you are in the main menu.
3. Navigate with the "Volume down" button to "wipe data / factory reset" and confirm your selection with the "Power button".
4. Use the "Volume down" button to go to "Yes - delete all user data" and confirm again with the "Power button".
5. Wait a moment and select the "wipe cache partition" option. The Galaxy S4 restarts and is free of branding.

We give you more information on removing brandings on Android smartphones in this practical tip. In addition, we go into more detail there on the question of what the manufacturer's guarantee will look like afterwards.