The Android 7.0 Nougat official firmware is now rolling out older Samsung Galaxy A3 A310F. Though Galaxy A3 has been replaced with the 2017 models; it is still pushing out this major upgrade for its A3 2016 smartphone that previously ran Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Android 7.0 Nougat comes with a newer and refined UI along with updated apps. Also, it carries the Google’s additions added to 7.0 Nougat.
The Android 7.0 Nougat update is normally released over-the-air all for the Galaxy A310F Galaxy A3 devices, but these over-the-air updates are rolled out in stages and—not all users will get the new Android firmware files at the same time. First check with Samsung over-the-air update system or Samsung Smart Switch / Samsung KIES to see if the update is present for your device or you can choose to install the new update using ODIN by following the guide from below.
This step- by -step guide can be used also by users who are running a custom ROM on their devices, because the ODIN app is adept to flash official Android 7.0 firmware update over a custom ROM.
Before starting the flashing process, read all the following guidelines:
- Use the tutorial only with the Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 the SM – A310F models and don’t try to use it for other devices.
- Download from here the Samsung USB Drivers and install them drivers on your computer.
- For the installation process, use the ODIN 3.12.3 tool that is capable of flashing an official firmware over official or non-official older Android ROMs. For ODIN to work with your computer you need to install the Samsung USB drivers, and to enable the USB Debugging option of your smartphone.
- The USB Debugging option can be found on Developer Options that might be hidden, so you will have to go to Settings-> About Device-> Software Info and by tapping seven times on the Build Number section you can enable it.
- You can install Android 7.0 Nougat on your Samsung Galaxy A3 if it runs a rooted firmware, but you should know that you will lose the root access after the flashing process. Also, any custom Recovery will be replaced with stock Recovery image.
- The new Android 7.0 Nougat official update can be installed over a custom ROM, but a Factory Reset has to be applied after the update is done flashing. Factory Resetting the device wipes clean system partition. It removes the old custom ROM and allows the Galaxy A3 2016 smartphone to boot in normal mode. The Factory Reset process won’t wipe any data from the internal storage.
- If your Galaxy A3 smartphone runs an official Android firmware; no data will be lost during the installation process.
- Check the whole post and make sure you don’t skip any steps.
- This tutorial is meant to be used only by advanced users, and we cannot be blamed in case you brick the smartphone or if you lose data files in the installation process.
- Make sure your device is charged up to 80 % battery level. To avoid that your phone goes off while installing the Android firmware update file.
How to install Android 7.0 Nougat for Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
- Download from here the A310FXXU3CQE6 Android 7.0 firmware archive file.
- When the download is complete, extract the archived contents to obtain the A310FXXU3CQE6 tar.md5 firmware update file. Don’t extract the tar.md5 firmware file.
- Download from here the Odin 3.12.3 zip file, then unzip the contents.
- Power off the Galaxy A3 phone, then boot it in Download Mode.
- Launch Odin exe.
- Connect your smartphone to the computer using an USB cable and wait for ODIN to connect with your smartphone. If the Galaxy smartphone is not added, reinstall the Samsung USB drivers.
- Click the AP button in ODIN.
- In ODIN find and load the A310FXXU3CQE6 tar.md5 update file.
- Click START to begin the Android 7.0 Nougat firmware update installation and don’t press anything while waiting for the flashing process to be done.
- When the installation is completed you will see the PASS alert in ODIN, the Samsung device will reboot. You can unplug it from PC.
- Wait for the boot process to finish and use your default login info in order to regain control over your Samsung Galaxy A3 device.
Now you have completed the Android 7.0 official update on your Galaxy A3 2016 unlocked model.
- If the FAIL alert is displayed by ODIN, you will have to repeat the process once more. Make sure that you won’t skip any step, and that your Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 smartphone meets all requirements listed in this post.
- If the PASS alert is displayed by the ODIN app, but your Galaxy A3 2016 enters in a boot loop or it’s stuck at the boot animation, you have to Factory Reset it.
As mentioned above, Factory Resetting the device wipes clean system partition, and it removes the old ROM allowing the smartphone to boot successfully. If your Galaxy A3 device is running a custom ROM, you can use the steps from below to Factory Reset the device, to force it to boot in normal mode with stock Nougat OS firmware.
How to Factory Reset the Samsung Galaxy A3 device:
- Power off the smartphone.
- Boot it in Recovery Mode.
- Select ‘’wipe data/ factory reset’’ and confirm.
- Reboot the smartphone in normal mode.