Gemini Samsung Firmware MD5 Files Explained https://gemini.google.com/share/13d1d95b9234 Created with Thinking September 30, 2025 at 08:19 AM Published December 27, 2025 at 05:43 PM

i downloaded a zipfile from sammobile for my samsung file. it’s only got md5 files in it

The MD5 files you found in the Samsung firmware ZIP file from SamMobile are not just simple checksum files; they are the actual firmware files used for flashing with the tool Odin.

For Samsung firmware, files with the .md5 extension, or often .tar.md5, are compressed archives (TAR files) that have an MD5 checksum appended to the end to ensure the file’s integrity during the flashing process.

Here’s what you need to know and how to proceed:

Do Not Extract the MD5 Files

You should not try to open or extract the .md5 files with a standard file archiving program (like WinRAR, 7-Zip, or the built-in Windows/macOS extractor). The Odin flashing tool is designed to read and flash these files directly.

Using the Files with Odin

You’ll need a Windows PC and the Odin application to flash the firmware onto your Samsung device.

Single File Firmware: If your ZIP file contained one large .tar.md5 file, you will load this single file into the AP (or PDA) slot in Odin.

Multi-File Firmware (4 or 5 files): If your extracted ZIP contained multiple smaller .md5 files (usually labeled with codes like AP, BL, CP, CSC, and sometimes HOME_CSC), you will load each one into its corresponding slot in Odin:

    AP (Application Processor)

    BL (Bootloader)

    CP (Modem/Phone)

    CSC (Consumer Software Customization) or HOME_CSC

⚠️ Important CSC Note:

Using the CSC file will wipe your device's data (factory reset).

Using the HOME_CSC file will keep your data (though a data backup is still highly recommended).

Always follow the specific instructions provided by SamMobile or a reliable guide for your device model and the firmware you downloaded.

If You Need to View the Contents

If you specifically need to view the contents of the files, you can often rename the file by removing the .md5 extension, leaving it as a .tar file (e.g., rename AP_FILE.tar.md5 to AP_FILE.tar). Standard archive programs can then typically open the .tar file. However, do not flash a renamed file; use the original .tar.md5 with Odin.

i have kubuntu not windows

That’s an important detail. Since you’re running Kubuntu (which is based on Ubuntu/Debian Linux), the Windows-only Odin tool will not work directly.

The good news is that there are open-source, cross-platform alternatives that can handle those Samsung firmware files (.md5 or .tar.md5).

The primary tool for flashing Samsung firmware on Linux is Heimdall. Solution: Use Heimdall on Kubuntu

Heimdall is an open-source utility that uses the same protocol as Odin to communicate with a Samsung device in “Download Mode.” It should be available in the Kubuntu/Ubuntu repositories. Step 1: Install Heimdall

Open your terminal (Konsole) and run the following command to install Heimdall and its graphical front-end (GUI): Bash

sudo apt update sudo apt install heimdall-flash heimdall-frontend

Step 2: Prepare the Firmware Files

Heimdall typically requires the individual image files (.img, .bin, etc.) rather than the combined .tar.md5 file that Odin uses.

Rename the files: Samsung's .tar.md5 files are just standard TAR archives with a checksum appended. To extract them, you first need to remove the .md5 extension.

    For example, rename AP_G998BXXU9AWI3.tar.md5 to AP_G998BXXU9AWI3.tar.

Extract the files: Use your file manager or the tar command in the terminal to extract the contents of each .tar file.

    In the terminal: tar -xvf AP_G998BXXU9AWI3.tar

    This will give you the individual files like boot.img, system.img, modem.bin, etc.

Step 3: Flash with Heimdall

You can use either the command-line utility or the graphical frontend. Use the one you are most comfortable with. Option A: Heimdall Frontend (GUI)

Run the graphical application: heimdall-frontend

Put your Samsung phone into Download Mode (the key combination varies by model, usually Volume Down + Bixby + Power or Volume Down + Home + Power).

Connect your phone to your Kubuntu PC via USB.

In Heimdall Frontend, click Detect. Your device should be recognized.

Go to the Flash tab.

You will need to manually map the files you extracted to the corresponding partition names (e.g., AP_... contents go into AP, SYSTEM, BOOT, etc.). This part can be tricky and requires a specific guide for your phone model.

Click Start.

Option B: Heimdall Command Line

The command line is generally more reliable, but requires knowing the exact partition names for the files you extracted (e.g., AP contains files for partitions like SYSTEM, BOOT, VENDOR, etc.).

A basic command to flash a recovery image might look like this: Bash

sudo heimdall flash –RECOVERY recovery.img

⚠️ WARNING: Use Extreme Caution Flashing the wrong file or using the wrong partition names can permanently damage (brick) your device. You must find a reliable guide on XDA-Developers or another technical forum that specifically details which extracted firmware file maps to which partition name for your specific Samsung model when using Heimdall.

Fetched 8,763 kB in 1s (6,330 kB/s)

Reading package lists… Done

Building dependency tree… Done

Reading state information… Done

23 packages can be upgraded. Run ‘apt list –upgradable’ to see them.

Reading package lists… Done

Building dependency tree… Done

Reading state information… Done

Package heimdall-frontend is not available, but is referred to by another package.

This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or

is only available from another source

However the following packages replace it:

heimdall-flash-frontend

E: Package ‘heimdall-frontend’ has no installation candidate

valorantdigital@countach:~$

That’s a common issue with older tutorials or different Linux distributions. The package name for the graphical interface has changed.

The error message tells you exactly what the new package name is: heimdall-flash-frontend replaces heimdall-frontend.

Here is the correct command you should use on Kubuntu to install both the command-line tool and the graphical interface: Bash

sudo apt update sudo apt install heimdall-flash heimdall-flash-frontend

After running this command, you should have the necessary tools to flash your Samsung firmware using the .md5 files. You can then run the graphical program by typing: Bash

heimdall-frontend

Quick Review of Flashing Steps on Kubuntu

Install the Tool (Corrected):
Bash

sudo apt install heimdall-flash heimdall-flash-frontend

Prepare the Firmware:

    Rename: Remove the .md5 extension from the firmware file(s). (e.g., AP_FILE.tar.md5 becomes AP_FILE.tar).

    Extract: Use a file manager or the tar command (tar -xvf AP_FILE.tar) to extract the individual image files (like system.img, boot.img, etc.) from the .tar archive(s).

Flash using Heimdall:

    Boot your Samsung phone into Download Mode.

    Open the Heimdall Frontend application.

    Load the extracted image files into the correct partition slots. This step is critical, so be sure to find a guide specific to your phone model for the exact partition mapping.

    Click Start.

how do i start heimdall from the terminal

You can start the graphical user interface (GUI) for Heimdall or use the command-line tool directly from the terminal.

To Launch the Graphical Interface (GUI)

Since your system indicated that heimdall-frontend is replaced by heimdall-flash-frontend, the command to launch the GUI is likely the original name: Bash

heimdall-frontend

Note: If the above command fails, try the full package name, though it’s less common for the executable name to change: Bash

heimdall-flash-frontend

You may also need to run it with root privileges, especially for USB operations, though it might work without sudo if the correct udev rules are installed: Bash

sudo heimdall-frontend

To Use the Command-Line Tool (CLI)

The core command-line utility is named simply heimdall (or sometimes heimdall-flash). This is used for all flashing and device detection tasks. Check Connection/Detection

Before flashing anything, you must put your Samsung device into Download Mode and connect it via USB. Then, run the following command to check if Heimdall detects it: Bash

heimdall detect

View All Commands

To see a list of all available command-line options and functionality: Bash

heimdall help

Example: Getting the Partition Information Table (PIT)

A common initial step is to download the device’s PIT file: Bash

sudo heimdall download-pit –output pit.xml –no-reboot

Caution: When using the command-line tool, you are operating at a low level. Always consult a guide specific to your device and the firmware you are flashing to ensure you use the correct commands and partition names.

how do i know which to use

valorantdigital@countach:~/Desktop/A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MOWO5CYA8_MXO$ ll

total 4752080

drwxrwxr-x 2 valorantdigital valorantdigital 4096 Sep 29 13:42 ./

drwxr-xr-x 6 valorantdigital valorantdigital 12288 Sep 30 08:18 ../

-rw-rw-r– 1 valorantdigital valorantdigital 4266260602 Jan 18 2025 AP_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT_me

ta_OS13.tar.md5

-rw-rw-r– 1 valorantdigital valorantdigital 6758512 Jan 18 2025 BL_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.ta

r.md5

-rw-rw-r– 1 valorantdigital valorantdigital 63918189 Jan 18 2025 CP_A032MUBS5CYA6_CP28882437_MQB91391150_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.m

-rw-rw-r– 1 valorantdigital valorantdigital 264601784 Jan 18 2025 CSC_OWO_A032MOWO5CYA8_QB91450970_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5

-rw-rw-r– 1 valorantdigital valorantdigital 264540349 Jan 18 2025 HOME_CSC_OWO_A032MOWO5CYA8_QB91450970_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5

valorantdigital@countach:~/Desktop/A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MOWO5CYA8_MXO$

That’s a very clear list of standard Samsung firmware files! You should use all five files in the flashing process, but you need to know which of the two CSC files to use based on whether you want to wipe your data.

Here is a breakdown of what each file is and which one to choose for the CSC slot:

Files You Must Use (Required Partitions)

You have four mandatory components, each corresponding to a section in flashing tools like Heimdall or Odin. File Prefix Flashing Slot Name (in Heimdall/Odin) What it Contains AP AP (Application Processor / PDA) The main Android OS, System, Recovery, and Boot image files. This is usually the largest file. BL BL (Bootloader) The low-level boot code that starts the device. CP CP (Core Processor / Modem) The Radio/Modem firmware for cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. CSC or HOMECSC CSC (Consumer Software Customization) The regional and carrier-specific software, settings, and apps. This is where your choice matters.

The CSC Choice: CSC vs HOME_CSC

This is the only part where you have to make a decision based on your goal: File Name Purpose Result on Device CSC_…tar.md5 Clean Install / Repair / Change CSC Wipes all user data (photos, apps, settings, internal storage). It performs a full factory reset, leaving the phone in an “out-of-the-box” state. Use this if you are fixing a major problem (like a bootloop) or changing the phone’s region (CSC). HOMECSC…tar.md5 Update / Keep Data Attempts to keep your user data intact (photos, apps, settings). It only wipes the cache and installs the new system files. Use this if you are just updating the firmware and want to keep your data. Action Plan for Flashing with Heimdall

Step 1: Prep the Files

You must first remove the .md5 extension from all five files and then extract their contents.

Rename/Strip the .md5 extension:
Bash

for f in *.md5; do mv “$f” “${f%.md5}”; done

Extract the contents: You need to extract the individual image files (.img, .bin, etc.) from the .tar archives. Bash

for f in *.tar; do tar -xvf "$f"; done

Delete the .tar files once the contents are extracted.

Step 2: Flash using the Heimdall Frontend (GUI)

Open the GUI: Bash

heimdall-frontend

In the “Flash” tab, you will map the extracted image files to their correct partition names. You will manually browse for the specific file (e.g., boot.img, system.img) that was inside the main .tar archives.

You will select the files that came from the AP_...tar, BL_...tar, and CP_...tar archives into the corresponding partitions.

For the CSC partition, you will use the individual files that came from either the CSC_...tar (to wipe data) or the HOME_CSC_...tar (to keep data).

CRITICAL: Flashing Samsung firmware with Heimdall is an advanced process. You must find a reliable guide for your specific device model (Samsung A032M) that shows you the exact partition names you need to flash (which you get from the heimdall print-pit command) and which extracted file goes to which partition. The GUI makes this easier than the command line, but the mapping must be perfect.

i want to do a full wipe. fuck any existing data.

That is the safest approach, especially when dealing with firmware updates or when trying to fix a phone’s issues.

Since you want to do a full wipe (a factory reset), you must use the file labeled CSC_…tar.md5.

This file contains the instructions (the partition information and image files) that will format and erase all user data (photos, apps, settings, etc.) on the device during the flashing process.

Here is the updated action plan: Action Plan for a Full Wipe (Factory Reset) Component File to Use Notes Bootloader (BL) BLA032MUBS5CYA7…tar.md5 Mandatory Core Processor (CP) CPA032MUBS5CYA6…tar.md5 Mandatory Application Processor (AP) APA032MUBS5CYA7…tar.md5 Mandatory Consumer Software Customization (CSC) CSC_OWOA032MOWO5CYA8…tar.md5 This ensures a full wipe/factory reset. (Ignore) HOME_CSC_OWOA032MOWO5CYA8…tar.md5 Do not use this one. Step-by-Step for Heimdall (GUI Recommended)

Strip the .md5 extension from the four files you will use:
Bash

mv AP_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT_meta_OS13.tar.md5 AP_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT_meta_OS13.tar mv BL_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5 BL_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar mv CP_A032MUBS5CYA6_CP28882437_MQB91391150_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5 CP_A032MUBS5CYA6_CP28882437_MQB91391150_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar mv CSC_OWO_A032MOWO5CYA8_QB91450970_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5 CSC_OWO_A032MOWO5CYA8_QB91450970_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar

Extract the contents from the four .tar files: Bash

tar -xvf AP_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT_meta_OS13.tar tar -xvf BL_A032MUBS5CYA7_A032MUBS5CYA7_MQB91399455_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar tar -xvf CP_A032MUBS5CYA6_CP28882437_MQB91391150_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar tar -xvf CSC_OWO_A032MOWO5CYA8_QB91450970_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar

Launch the Heimdall Frontend: Bash

heimdall-frontend
# Or: sudo heimdall-frontend

Use the GUI: Navigate to the Flash tab and map the contents of the extracted files to their correct partition slots (e.g., the extracted boot.img goes to the BOOT partition, the extracted system.img goes to the SYSTEM partition, etc.). You will need to find a guide for your specific device model (A032M) to get the exact partition mapping.

Alternative: Command Line (For Experts)

If you prefer the command line, it skips the need to fully extract the files. The basic syntax is: Bash

sudo heimdall flash –AP –BL –CP –CSC

Note: Heimdall may require you to still extract and flash individual components rather than the full .tar.md5 file (like Odin does). If the above command fails, you must revert to the GUI process and map the extracted files individually.

ok, i’ll be back my phone is charging it somehow died (my samsung)

Understood. Take your time and get your phone charged up.

Samsung devices are usually safest to flash with a battery level of at least 50-60%, as the flashing process can sometimes take a while.

Let me know when you’re ready to proceed, and we can continue the process of flashing the firmware for a full wipe. Good luck!

ok. so give me the run down of what i need to do.

This is the comprehensive, step-by-step rundown for flashing the full wipe firmware onto your Samsung A032M using Heimdall on Kubuntu. ⚠️ Critical Warning

Flashing firmware is a high-risk operation. If done incorrectly, it can make your device unusable (brick it). Follow these steps precisely. Ensure your phone is charged to at least 50% before you begin. ⚙️ Phase 1: Preparation (Terminal)

You are currently in the directory with your five firmware files. You need to strip the .md5 extension and then extract the contents of the four files you plan to use. Step 1: Strip .md5 Extension

We need to remove the .md5 extension to turn them back into standard .tar archives. Bash

This command renames all files ending in .md5 to just .tar

for f in *.md5; do mv “$f” “${f%.md5}”; done

The four files you will use should now end in .tar

Step 2: Extract the Four Chosen Files

Now, extract the contents of the four files (AP, BL, CP, and the CSC for a full wipe). This unpacks all the actual image files (.img, .bin, etc.) that Heimdall needs. Bash

Extracting the four chosen files:

You can now ignore (and even delete) the original .tar files and the unused HOMECSC… file. 📱 Phase 2: Device & Partition Mapping Step 3: Boot into Download Mode (Odin Mode)

You must put your Samsung A032M into Download Mode:

Power off the phone completely.

Press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.

While holding the buttons, plug the phone into your Kubuntu PC via the USB cable.

Keep holding the buttons until you see a Warning Screen (usually with a yellow triangle).

Press Volume Up to confirm and enter the "Downloading..." screen.

Step 4: Get Partition Names (Critical)

Heimdall requires you to know the exact, case-sensitive names of the partitions on your phone.

While the phone is in Download Mode and connected, run this command in your terminal:
Bash

heimdall print-pit > A032M_PIT.txt

Open the resulting file (A032M_PIT.txt) with a text editor. Look for entries labeled Partition Name. These are the names you must use in Heimdall.

    You are looking for partition names that correspond to files you extracted, such as BOOTLOADER, BOOT, SYSTEM, MODEM, CACHE, USERDATA, etc.

💻 Phase 3: Flashing Step 5: Launch the Heimdall Frontend GUI

Run the graphical application (it’s much easier for this task than the command line): Bash

sudo heimdall-frontend

Step 6: Map and Flash the Files

Go to the Flash tab in the Heimdall Frontend.

In the PIT section, you typically don't need to load a PIT file unless you intend to re-partition (which is generally not recommended unless you are fixing a broken partition table). Leave this blank for now.

In the Partitions (Files) section, click Add.

A new entry will appear. You need to perform the following mapping for the extracted files:
Partition Name (from PIT file)  File to Load (extracted from .tar)  Source Archive
(BL part 1) Find the SBL or Primary Bootloader file Extracted from BL_...tar
(BL part 2) Find the secondary SBL file Extracted from BL_...tar
(CP part)   Find the MODEM or RADIO file    Extracted from CP_...tar
(AP/CSC parts)  Find boot.img, system.img, userdata.img, recovery.img, etc. Extracted from AP_...tar and CSC_...tar

You must match the extracted file (e.g., boot.img) to the exact partition name (e.g., BOOT) found in your A032M_PIT.txt file.

Once all files are mapped, ensure the 'Repartition' box is NOT checked.

Click the Start button.

What is the next immediate step you need help with? Do you need to run the heimdall print-pit command now, or do you want me to try and find a known partition mapping guide for the A032M first? Google Privacy Policy Opens in a new window Google Terms of Service Opens in a new window Your privacy & Gemini Apps Opens in a new window

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