How to downgrade the Galaxy S5 from Lollipop to KitKat

f you've updated your Galaxy S5 to Android 5.0 Lollipop and are now experiencing some Lollipop problems on the Galaxy S5 which have made you want to downgrade back to KitKat, we can show just how easy it is to downgrade the Galaxy S5 from Android 5.0 Lollipop to Android 4.4 KitKat in a snap.

Lollipop not your cup of tea? Downgrade your Galaxy S5 back to Android KitKat. / © ANDROIDPIT

Important: While the procedure is the same for everyone, depending on which carrier-branded (or international) model Galaxy S5 you have, the firmware you download will be different. Select the firmware for the exact model number of your phone. Some Galaxy S5's were on Android 4.4.4 KitKat and others were on Android 4.4.2 KitKat before updating to Lollipop.
Go to Settings > About Device to see your model number and make sure you download the latest KitKat firmware for your specific device.

Check your model number and get the right firmware for your model Galaxy S5. / © ANDROIDPIT

Prerequisites:

• Download the Galaxy S5 firmware for your particular model onto your PC. (Follow the link and enter your model number, find the most recent version of Android (or the one you want to downgrade to) and download the zip file to your computer.)
• Download Samsung drivers on your PC (if you don't already have them installed).
• Download Odin v3.09 (on your PC).
• Charge your Galaxy S5 battery to 80%.
• Enable USB Debugging in Settings > Developer Options. (If you don't already have Developer Options enabled, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number until you see the notification that you now have developer access.)

Android 5.0 Lollipop isn't for everyone. So why not go back to KitKat? / © ANDROIDPIT

How to downgrade Galaxy S5 from Lollipop to KitKat

1. Make sure you have done a full backup of your apps and data via Samsung Kies or another backup program or app. We recommend Helium for a full backup on your PC without requiring root access.
Helium - App Sync and Backup 2. Extract the zipped firmware you downloaded for your particular Galaxy S5.
3. Turn off your Galaxy S5 and reboot in Download Mode (press Power, Home and Volume Down until you see the Android on its back and the ''Warning!'' message). Press Volume Up to proceed and enter Download Mode (aka Odin Mode).

This is Download Mode (aka Odin Mode) on the Galaxy S5. / © ANDROIDPIT

4. Launch Odin on your PC.
5. Connect your Galaxy S5 to your PC with a USB cable and wait for Odin to recognize it. You should see the ID:COM box turn blue. If your S5 isn't recognized, make sure you have the necessary Samsung drivers installed and try again.
6. Make sure that only ''Auto-Reboot'' and "F.Reset Time'' are checked in Odin.
7. Ensure that ''Re-Partition'' is NOT CHECKED.
8. Click the AP box in Odin and navigate to the tar.md5 file from the unzipped firmware you downloaded earlier. Again, make sure you have the right firmware for your model Galaxy S5!

Click the ''AP'' section in Odin and find the tar.md5 from the unzipped firmware file. / © ANDROIDPIT

9. Click ''Start'' in Odin and sit back, relax and let Odin do its thing. It might take a while. Do not disconnect or turn off your Galaxy S5.
10. You will see a green ''PASS'' message when the firmware has been installed correctly.
11. Your Galaxy S5 should now reboot and be running the version of Android KitKat to which you decided to downgrade.

 

Troubleshooting

If you encounter a boot loop (your Galaxy S5 gets stuck while restarting), you can turn it off, then press and hold Volume Up, Power and Home to enter recovery and clear the cache partition – use the volume keys to scroll and Power button to confirm.
If this still doesn't work, you can do a factory reset (wipe data) from recovery. This is where doing that backup earlier comes in handy.
Your Galaxy S5 should now restart with Android KitKat back on board. You can restore your apps and data from your backup and carry on as usual with lovely safe KitKat.
Are you happy to be back on KitKat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.