Epic 4G Recovery or Download Mode

This article describes how to put your Samsung Epic 4G from Sprint into Android’s “recovery mode” or the phone’s “download mode.”

Recovery Mode

1. Turn your Epic 4G off
2. While the phone is off, hold down the “Volume Down” button, “Camera” button, and “Power” button and hold them
3. Now you will boot into Recovery Mode

Use the volume rocker to navigate through the menu options, use the “Home” button to select options, and the “Menu” button to toggle “manual mode.”

Recovery Mode allows you four options:

• reboot system now
• apply sdcard:update.zip
• wipe data/factory reset
• wipe cache partition

Reboot system now – This will simply reboot the device and bring you back to a powered on, normal state.

Apply sdcard:update.zip – This will take any “update.zip” file on the sdcard and apply the changes to the phone. Update.zip files are often used for root procedures, ROM installations, and device modifications as well as updates.

Wipe data/factory reset – This will wipe all of the data and applications on the phone and reset the Epic 4G to stock factory data and settings.

Wipe cache partition – This action wipes cached data on the phone’s memory. Some device modifications will request or require this action prior to installation

Download Mode

1. Turn your Epic 4G off
2. While the phone is off, hold down the “1″ key on the QWERTY keyboard while holding the “Power” button
3. Now you will boot into Download mode

Download mode is often used when flashing firmware updates. It can be used with the Odin 3 firmware program on Windows.

Thanks to chris5h for the directions.