WARNING! This downgrade will NOT be successful on the new Verizon OE1 & OG5 & OK3 firmwares thanks to Verizon's new bootloader. See, here.
#1.0. Unfortunately, it appears that Verizon's own version of Android 5.0, Lollipop, is proving less than satisfactory and a growing number of its users have expressed a strong desire to return to the last version of KitKat, Android 4.4.4, until such time as Verizon can fix all the issues with their own version of the Lollipop firmware, whenever that may be.
#1.1. This is a step-by-step guide, with videos and screenshots, for absolute beginners to Android and the Galaxy S5. Please read posts #1 and #2 carefully and thoroughly as they will take you through the Verizon KitKat installation procedure and answer most of your queries.
#1.2. The following process is NOT rooting but merely re-installing the stock Verizon KitKat, Android 4.4.4 firmware to your phone. It does NOT affect your warranty and does NOT trip the Knox security warranty. This will NOT cancel the Verizon Lollipop auto update... there are procedures for that on this forum and elsewhere.
#1.3. Whilst this is a no-wipe flash and your data should be safe, as with any firmware flashing process, I strongly urge you to backup everything. See #2.1 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide. Do not come crying to me if a Factory Data Reset is required and you have not taken this precaution.
#1.4. This guide is for the Samsung Galaxy S5, SM-G900V, quad core phone for Verizon only and no other variant!
(If you are unsure of the model of your phone, go to... Settings > More > About device > Model number)
#1.5. What hardware do I need?
Galaxy S5, SM-G900V quad core phone
USB lead that came with the phone.
A Windows PC running, XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1 (N.B. This will not work on Apple Macs)
#1.6. What software do I need?
7-Zip (or similar... WinRAR or WinZip) to extract the .zip files on your PC. Download, here.
Odin3 v3.09. This is the PC programme that will install the Verizon KitKat, Android 4.4.4, firmware to your phone. Unzip the file and run Odin3 v3.09. Download, here.
Samsung Kies3. This is a PC Suite for the Samsung. Download and install to your PC as you will require the drivers that come bundled with it, to connect your phone to the PC and Odin3. Download for Windows, here.
When you have downloaded and installed Kies, connect your phone via the USB lead to ensure that it is working.
#1.7. Verizon stock firmware for Android 4.4.4, KitKat. See below for link...
Model: SM-G900V
Model name: GALAXY S5
Country: USA (Verizon)
Version: Android 4.4.4
Changelist: 3196895
Build date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 10:33:49 +0000
Product Code: VZW
PDA: G900VVRU1ANK2
CSC: G900VVZW1ANK2
MODEM: G900VVRU1ANK2
Alternative link...
PDA: G900VVRU1ANK2 CSC: G900VVZW1ANK2 CHANGELIST: 3196895 BUILD DATE: 17.11.2014
#1.8. Download the Verizon, Android 4.4.4 .zip file to your desktop and unzip it. To extract the file, just right click on it and select 7-Zip/WinRAR/Winzip and, "Extract here". This extracted .tar file is the one you will need. This is the .tar file that contains the Verizon Android 4.4.4 firmware for your phone. To avoid confusion you can now delete the original .zip file that it came with.
#1.9. Just to recap. You should by now have installed Samsung Kies3 and Odin3 on your PC and be able to connect via your USB lead. Also, you have the correct Verizon, Android 4.4.4, .tar file on your home screen.
You should now watch this short video which will take you through the actual firmware flashing process...
How to Flash Stock Firmware for Galaxy S5 [All Variants] by Odin3
#1.10. Put your phone into Download mode by turning it off completely and then press and hold the following buttons... Volume Down + Home (centre hard key) + (lastly) Power. Continue to hold these buttons until your phone boots into the Warning! screen asking you to press volume up if you want to continue or volume down to cancel. Press Volume Up.
#1.11. Right click on Odin3 and select, "Run as Administrator", to open it. Ensure that the Samsung Kies3 programme is NOT running at the same time as this can cause problems
With Odin3 displayed on your PC screen, click on the AP button and navigate to the .tar file, that you placed on your home screen, and select it.
Make sure that Re-Partition is unchecked and that Auto Reboot, F.ResetTime and AP are checked and that the AP box now contains your .tar file.
Connect your phone, still in Download mode, to the PC using the USB lead. If you have successfully connected to Odin3 you should see the ID:COM box in Odin turn light blue. See screenshot...
In Odin click the Start button and you should see a green progress bar above ID:COM and shortly after that the box above it will turn green with the word PASS! in it and your phone will automatically reboot. You will now have the Verizon KitKat firmware on your phone.
#1.12. Should you encounter any problems with re-booting, remove your battery and replace it and boot into Recovery mode and wipe the cache partition as per #1.3 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide.
#1.13. If wiping the cache partition in Recovery mode fails to boot your phone, you will need to perform a Factory Data Reset as per #2.3 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide.
See, also...
37 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide
S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide
Galaxy S5, Fake Clone or Genuine - Dummies Guide
GPS fix S5 - Dummies Guide
#1.0. Unfortunately, it appears that Verizon's own version of Android 5.0, Lollipop, is proving less than satisfactory and a growing number of its users have expressed a strong desire to return to the last version of KitKat, Android 4.4.4, until such time as Verizon can fix all the issues with their own version of the Lollipop firmware, whenever that may be.
#1.1. This is a step-by-step guide, with videos and screenshots, for absolute beginners to Android and the Galaxy S5. Please read posts #1 and #2 carefully and thoroughly as they will take you through the Verizon KitKat installation procedure and answer most of your queries.
#1.2. The following process is NOT rooting but merely re-installing the stock Verizon KitKat, Android 4.4.4 firmware to your phone. It does NOT affect your warranty and does NOT trip the Knox security warranty. This will NOT cancel the Verizon Lollipop auto update... there are procedures for that on this forum and elsewhere.
#1.3. Whilst this is a no-wipe flash and your data should be safe, as with any firmware flashing process, I strongly urge you to backup everything. See #2.1 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide. Do not come crying to me if a Factory Data Reset is required and you have not taken this precaution.
#1.4. This guide is for the Samsung Galaxy S5, SM-G900V, quad core phone for Verizon only and no other variant!
(If you are unsure of the model of your phone, go to... Settings > More > About device > Model number)
#1.5. What hardware do I need?
Galaxy S5, SM-G900V quad core phone
USB lead that came with the phone.
A Windows PC running, XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1 (N.B. This will not work on Apple Macs)
#1.6. What software do I need?
7-Zip (or similar... WinRAR or WinZip) to extract the .zip files on your PC. Download, here.
Odin3 v3.09. This is the PC programme that will install the Verizon KitKat, Android 4.4.4, firmware to your phone. Unzip the file and run Odin3 v3.09. Download, here.
Samsung Kies3. This is a PC Suite for the Samsung. Download and install to your PC as you will require the drivers that come bundled with it, to connect your phone to the PC and Odin3. Download for Windows, here.
When you have downloaded and installed Kies, connect your phone via the USB lead to ensure that it is working.
#1.7. Verizon stock firmware for Android 4.4.4, KitKat. See below for link...
Model: SM-G900V
Model name: GALAXY S5
Country: USA (Verizon)
Version: Android 4.4.4
Changelist: 3196895
Build date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 10:33:49 +0000
Product Code: VZW
PDA: G900VVRU1ANK2
CSC: G900VVZW1ANK2
MODEM: G900VVRU1ANK2
Alternative link...
PDA: G900VVRU1ANK2 CSC: G900VVZW1ANK2 CHANGELIST: 3196895 BUILD DATE: 17.11.2014
#1.8. Download the Verizon, Android 4.4.4 .zip file to your desktop and unzip it. To extract the file, just right click on it and select 7-Zip/WinRAR/Winzip and, "Extract here". This extracted .tar file is the one you will need. This is the .tar file that contains the Verizon Android 4.4.4 firmware for your phone. To avoid confusion you can now delete the original .zip file that it came with.
#1.9. Just to recap. You should by now have installed Samsung Kies3 and Odin3 on your PC and be able to connect via your USB lead. Also, you have the correct Verizon, Android 4.4.4, .tar file on your home screen.
You should now watch this short video which will take you through the actual firmware flashing process...
How to Flash Stock Firmware for Galaxy S5 [All Variants] by Odin3
#1.10. Put your phone into Download mode by turning it off completely and then press and hold the following buttons... Volume Down + Home (centre hard key) + (lastly) Power. Continue to hold these buttons until your phone boots into the Warning! screen asking you to press volume up if you want to continue or volume down to cancel. Press Volume Up.
#1.11. Right click on Odin3 and select, "Run as Administrator", to open it. Ensure that the Samsung Kies3 programme is NOT running at the same time as this can cause problems
With Odin3 displayed on your PC screen, click on the AP button and navigate to the .tar file, that you placed on your home screen, and select it.
Make sure that Re-Partition is unchecked and that Auto Reboot, F.ResetTime and AP are checked and that the AP box now contains your .tar file.
Connect your phone, still in Download mode, to the PC using the USB lead. If you have successfully connected to Odin3 you should see the ID:COM box in Odin turn light blue. See screenshot...
In Odin click the Start button and you should see a green progress bar above ID:COM and shortly after that the box above it will turn green with the word PASS! in it and your phone will automatically reboot. You will now have the Verizon KitKat firmware on your phone.
#1.12. Should you encounter any problems with re-booting, remove your battery and replace it and boot into Recovery mode and wipe the cache partition as per #1.3 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide.
#1.13. If wiping the cache partition in Recovery mode fails to boot your phone, you will need to perform a Factory Data Reset as per #2.3 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide.
See, also...
37 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide
S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide
Galaxy S5, Fake Clone or Genuine - Dummies Guide
GPS fix S5 - Dummies Guide
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