Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) (samsung-gtowifi)

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Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019)
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019)
Codename samsung-gtowifi
Released 2019
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Original software Android
Original version 9
Extended version 11
Hardware
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 (MSM8937)
CPU Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Adreno 504
Display 800x1280
Storage 32GB
Memory 2GB
Architecture AArch64
Type tablet
Features
USB Networking
Broken
Flashing
Broken
Touchscreen
Works
Display
Partial
WiFi
Works
FDE
Mainline
Battery
Partial
3D Acceleration
Audio
Broken
Bluetooth
Broken
Camera
Broken
GPS
Internal storage
USB OTG
Sensors
Accelerometer
Magnetometer
Ambient Light
Proximity
Hall Effect
Barometer
Power Sensor
Misc
Built-in DVB
Camera Flash
Keyboard
Touchpad
USB-A
HDMI/DP
Ir RX
Stylus
Memory Card
Haptics
Ethernet
FOSS bootloader


Note If you have installed, or if your device shipped with, stock firmware newer than T290XXU3CVG3, you cannot use custom firmware due to a change Samsung made to the bootloader.

Contributors

  • Irihapeti
  • Oatm22

Users owning this device


Known problems with this port

  • On LightDM, the desktop won't work until you disable logind-check-graphical in /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf. (see Display manager#CanGraphical_issue)
  • Battery capacity doesn't update.
  • Device now kernel panics when connected to USB. Likely related to USB networking.

Download mode

  • Turn off the device.
  • Plug in a USB A to Micro-USB Data cable from a PC to the tablet while holding down both volume up and down buttons, releasing the buttons when the screen turns on.
  • If you are met with a blue screen, press the volume up button. If not, reboot and try again.

Volume up is the button closest to Power

Installation

Run pmbootstrap install, then pmbootstrap export.
Transfer the exported files to the device using your preferred method. (e.g. microSD, USB OTG, adb push)

Start TWRP and do the following

  • Wipe System and Data partitions.
  • Flash boot.img to Boot.
  • Go to Advanced > Terminal and run dd if=samsung-gtowifi.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p69 and be patient. Make sure you adapt the input file to wherever you copied it to.
  • Reboot. TWRP will warn you saying "No OS is installed!", you can ignore this.

/dev/block/mmcblk0p69 is the data partition, do not misspell this when installing or you may brick your device.

Note For Android to work again, you will need to flash stock firmware and wipe Data via (stock) recovery.
If not, or if you try to use TWRP, Android gets stuck on the boot animation.

See also