Some people are unaware of the CSC Region code associated with their device. While this isn’t something the ordinary client would need to know, it can benefit fans.
When an OEM develops firmware for a smartphone, they do it with a specific geographical location in mind.
It might be due to various factors such as language obstacles, national regulations, local collaborations, and so on. Numerous factors influence the decision of firms to develop region-specific (and, in some cases, carrier-specific) firmware for their mobile phones and tablets.
What Is A CSC Region Code?
CSC is an abbreviation for country-specific code, and it is most commonly associated with Samsung Galaxy smartphones in the Android community.
Samsung manufactures various software for different nations; thus, we must first determine what firmware we are running on our device to transfer the software ourselves.
However, this can occasionally extend beyond establishing a code for a single nation. For example, the United States appears to be a logical CSC region code for Samsung cellphones marketed in the United States.
The company can break down these larger markets into firmware images exclusive to cellular carriers in some cases. In reality, the CSC region codes for AT&T (ATT), T-Mobile (TMB), and Verizon Wireless (VZW) are used on many popular handsets marketed in the United States today (among others).
In Europe, in addition to the country’s CSC, local CSCs of mobile providers are also similar. All phones of a specific model have the same model number. Still, they all have separate CSCs because unique software for mobile carriers is only available in certain regions (in some countries).
The essential thing to remember is that all OTA updates use the CSC region code to determine whether or not your Samsung device has been approved for a new software update that includes a new Android or security patch.
How to Check Samsung Region Code
Samsung servers look up the CSC code of your Samsung device and compare it to the geolocation where it is being used to determine if it is compromised. The CSC of a Samsung Galaxy phone firmware contains the codename of the nation or territory for which the firmware was developed and released.
To obtain legitimate updates, you can notify Samsung servers that your phone is indeed located in a different nation or area by changing the setting on your phone. In a similar vein, if you flash the firmware intended for a foreign country onto your device, you will not be able to get any further updates unless you reinstall the appropriate software.
To find the CSC on your phone:
1. Use Download Mode
If you are unfamiliar with Download Mode, it is necessary to boot your device into it. It might be difficult for individuals who are not familiar with it. It’s something that everyone should be familiar with (in my view), and it’s simple once you get the feel of it.
On the other hand, Samsung often changes how these covert boot modes may get accessed. When using the Samsung Galaxy S10 Download Mode, you must hold down the Volume Down and Bixby keys while connecting the device to a USB port.
When using Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Download Mode, you must press the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons simultaneously while connecting the device to a computer via a USB cord.
Alternatively, you may conduct a Google online search using the name of your smartphone and the phrases “Download Mode” to locate a tutorial that can assist you. To accomplish this, you must first boot your device into Download Mode, which shows a large amount of text on the screen.
This wall of text has a line that begins with the letters Carrier ID. It is the line that you are looking for. Following that text, however, you should be able to see your 3-letter CSC region code!
2. Go to About Phone
The About Phone function may get used to determine the correct CSC code for any Galaxy. Follow these prompts:
1. Open the Settings program on your phone.
2. Scroll down and select the “About Phone” option from the drop-down menu.
3. Select the “Software Information” option from the drop-down menu.
4. And check for the “Service Provider SW Ver.” section under “Service Provider.”
5. You’ll find the CSC code in this section.
3. Use the Phone Dial Method
If you have a Samsung smartphone, you will find that it comes pre-installed with a phone dialer. It is beneficial because using a dialer code to determine your smartphone’s region CSC code is one of the easiest ways to determine its region CSC code.
These codes are often seen on Android devices, and they are used for debugging services or for gathering information about the device.
To find the CSC:
1. Open the dialer on your phone.
2. When you dial *#1234#, you should see that the dialer menu has disappeared.
3. A black screen will replace it with some firmware information.
4. Take a look at the CSC section; it should be located after the model number.
Carriers CSC Code List
Samsung CSC refers to Consumer Software Country Specific or Customization Code. It is a code used when it comes to Samsung firmware binaries, and from here, you will find specific firmware, system configurations, and localizations, among other settings.
This is because Samsung creates such products specific to countries. So, you may get the same model of phone in a country, but different CSCs, for different regions.
The United States is one of these cases. The United States is a large country, and you will find different CSC codes for various regions.
The truth is that very few common Samsung users know about the CSC code and even how to find it. For this reason, only enthusiasts who are deeply concerned about the phone, settings, elements, updates, and other things will know about this code.
The Country Specific Code/ CSC code provided by Samsung is crucial as it provides the company with the ability to design and provide updates directed to users in specific region. This is because different regions use different network providers among other differences that are crucial when it comes to Firmware updates.
So, knowing your CSC will come in handy when you need to dig deep into your phone and update the entire firmware provided by the manufacturer. You must have the code for Samsung to provide you with the right update according to your location.
Below, you will find the United States Carrier CSC codes list. However, note that things are subject to change. They include the following.
United States Carriers CSC Code List
- BST – Unkown
- LRA – Bluegrass Cellular
- ACG – Nexttech / C-Spire
- GCF – Unknown
- ATT – AT&T
- CCT – Comcast
- TMB – T-Mobile
- USC – USA
- XAS – Unkown
- VMU – Virgin Mobile USA
- TFN – Tracfone
- VZW – Verizon Wireless
- SPR – Sprint
- XAA – USA Unbranded
Canada Carriers CSC Code List
- BWA – SaskTel
- RWC – Rogers
- TLS – Telus
- VTR – Videotron
- BMC – Bell Mobile
- CHR – Canada Unbranded
- FMC – Fido Mobile
- XAC – Canada Unbranded
- KDO – Koodo Mobile
- GLW – Globalive Wind Mobile
- MTB – Belarus
- ESK – EastLink
- VMC – Virgin Mobile Canada
Vodafone Carriers CSC Code List
- CYV – Cyprus Vodafone branded
- ATL – Spain Vodafone branded
- MTL – Bulgaria MTL branded
- SIM- Slovenia Si. Mobile branded
- VD2 – Germany Vodafone branded
- AFV – Albania Vodafone branded
- ATL – Spain Vodafone branded
- VDC – the Czech Republic Vodafone branded
- VGR – Greece Vodafone branded
- SWC – Switzerland Swisscom branded
- OMN – Italy Vodafone branded
- MOB – Austria A1 branded
- CNX – Romania Vodafone branded
- VIP – Croatia VIP-Net branded
- XFV – South Africa Vodafone branded
- VOD – United Kingdom Vodafone branded
- VGR – Greece Vodafone branded
- VDI – Ireland Vodafone branded
- VDH – Hungary Vodafone branded
- PRO – Belgium Proximus branded
- VDF – Netherlands Vodafone branded
Global List of CSC for Samsung Galaxy Android Global
Global list of CSC for Samsung Galaxy Android, cover codes for all the countries where Samsung sells its phones. So, whichever country you are in, note that there is a CSC code for your Samsung phone. Here is the list.
Afghanistan – AFG
Algeria – TMC
Argentina – ARO
Argentina (Claro) – CTI
Argentina – ANC
Argentina (Personal) – PSN
Argentina (Movistar) – UFN
Austria (A1) – MOB
Austria – TTR
Austria (3 Hutchison) – DRE
Austria (T-Mobile) – MAX
Austria (Telering) – TRG
Australia (Optus) – OPS
Australia – XSA
Australia (Vodafone) – VAU
Australia (Telstra) – TEL
Baltic – SEB
Bangladesh – BNG
Belgium (Proximus) – PRO
Bolivia – BVO
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH TELECOM) – BHT
Bosnia and Herzegovina – TEB
Brazil (Claro) – ZTA
Brazil (Oi) – ZTR
Brazil – ZTO
Brazil (VIVO) – ZVV
Brazil (TIM) – ZTM
Bulgaria – BGL
Bulgaria – GBL
Bulgaria (VVT) – VVT
Bulgaria (MTL) – MTL
Cambodia – CAM
Caucasus Countries – CAU
Chile – CRC
Chile – CHO
Chile (Entel PCS) – CHE
Chile (Nextel) – CHX
Chile (Claro) – CHL
Chile (VTR) – CHV
Chile (Telefonica) – CHT
China (China Telecom) – CTC
China (Open China) – CHC
China (China Mobile) – CHM
Colombia (Comcel) – COM
Colombia (Movistar) – COB
Colombia (ETB) – COE
Colombia – COO
Costa Rica – ICE
Croatia (TELE2) – TWO
Croatia (Bonbon) – DHR
Croatia (VIPNET) – VIP
Croatia (T-Mobile) – CRO
Cyprus – CYV
Cyprus (Cytamobile Vodafone) – CYO
Czech Republic (T-Mobile) – TMZ
Czech Republic (Vodafone) – VDC
Czech Republic – ETL
Czech Republic (O2C) – O2C
Dominican Republic (Orange) – DOR
Dominican Republic – CDR
Ecuador – ECO
Ecuador – EBE
Egypt – EGY
Fiji (Vodafone) – VFJ
France – XEF
France (SFR) – SFR
France (Orange) – FTM
France (Bouygues) – BOG
Germany (O2) – VIA
Germany (T-Mobile) – DTM
Germany (Vodafone) – VD2
Germany (1&1) – XEG
Germany – DBT
Germany (Congstar) – DDE
Greece (Cosmote) – COS
Greece – EUR
Greece (Vodafone) – VGR
Guatemala – PGU
Guatemala – TGU
Guatemala (Tigo) – CGU
Hong Kong – TGY
Hungary (Telenor) – PAN
Hungary (T-mobile) – TMH
Hungary – XEH
Hungary (VDH) – VDH
India – INS
India – INU
Indonesia – XID
Indonesia – XSE
Iran – THR
Iraq – MID
Ireland (Three) – 3IE
Ireland (Meteor) – MET
Ireland – TSI
Ireland (Vodafone) – VDI
Israel (Cellcom) – CEL
Israel – ILO
Israel (Orange/Partner) – PTR
Israel (Pelephone) – PCL
Italy (H3G) – HUI
Italy – ITV
Italy (TIM) – TIM
Italy (Wind) – WIN
Italy (Vodafone) – OMN
Jamaica – CWW
Jamaica – JDI
Kazakhstan – SKZ
Kenya – KEN
Kenya – AFR
Korea (LG Uplus) – LUC
Korea (SK Telecom) – SKC
Libya – BTC
Luxembourg – LUX
Macedonia – VIM
Macedonia (T-Mobile) – MBM
Malaysia – XME
Mauritius – MRU
Mexico (Telcel) – TCE
Mexico (Movistar) – TMM
Montenegro – TMT
Morocco (MWD) – MWD
Morocco (MAT) – MAT
Nepal – NPL
Netherlands (Vodafone) – VDF
Netherlands (Ben NL) – DNL
Netherlands (T-Mobile) – TNL
Netherlands – PHN
New Zealand – TNZ
New Zealand – NZC
New Zealand (Vodafone) – VNZ
Nigeria – ECT
Nordic Countries – NEE
Norway (Telenor) – TEN
Open Austria – ATO
Panama – PBS
Pakistan (PAK) – PAK
Panama – TPA
Panama (Claro) – CPA
Panama (Cable & Wireless) – PCW
Papua New Guinea – PNG
Paraguay (Tigo) – TGP
Paraguay (Claro) – CTP
Paraguay (Personal) – PSP
Paraguay (Tigo) – TGP
Peru (SAM) – SAM
Peru (Nextel) – PNT
Peru (Viettel) – PVT
Peru – PET
Philippines (Globe) – GLB
Philippines ( Sun Cellular) – XTE
Philippines (Smart) – SMA
Philippines (Globe) – GLB
Philippines (Open Line) – SMA
Poland – XEO
Poland (PLUS) – PLS
Poland (T-mobile) – TPL
Poland (Orange) – IDE
Poland (Heyah) – DPL
Poland (Play) – PRT
Portugal – MEO
Portugal (Vodafone) – TCL
Portugal (TPH) – TPH
Portugal (Optimus) – OPT
Puerto Rico – PCT
Romania – ROM
Romania (Vodafone) – CNX
Romania (Orange) – ORO
Romania (Cosmote) – COA
Russia – SER
Saudi Arabia – ACR
Saudi Arabia – KSA
Saudi Arabia (STC) – XFU
Saudi Arabia – WTL
Serbia (VIP) – TOP
Serbia (Telenor) – MSR
Serbia (Telekom) – TSR
Singapore – MM1
Singapore (StarHub) – STH
Singapore – XSP
Singapore (SingTel) – SIN
Slovakia – TMS
Slovakia – SIO
Slovenia (Si.Mobil) – SIM
Slovenia (Mobitel) – MOT
South Africa – XFA
South Africa – XFE
South Africa (Vodafone) – XFV
South America (Open Line) – NBS
South America (Moviestar) – CRM
southeast Europe – SEE
Spain (Orange) – AMO
Spain (Vodafone) – ATL
Spain – PHE
Spain (Movistar) – XEC
Sri Lanka – SLK
Sweden (Tre) – HTS
Sweden – VDS
Switzerland (Swisscom) – SWC
Switzerland – AUT
Taiwan – BRI
Thailand – THL
Trinidad and Tobago – EON
Trinidad and Tobago – TTT
Tunisia – TUN
Ukraine (Kyivstar) – SEK
United Arab Emirates – LYS
United Arab Emirates – XSG
United Kingdom – BTU
United Kingdom – VIR
United Kingdom (O2) – O2UU
United Kingdom (EE) – EVR
United Kingdom (H3G) – H3G
United Kingdom/Ireland – XEU
United Kingdom (Vodafone) – VOD
Uruguay – UFU
Uruguay (Claro) – CTU
Uruguay – UPO
Uzbekistan – CAC
Vietnam – XXV
Zambia (MTN Zambia) – MTZ
How to Use PDA/CSC to Download Samsung Firmware Update File
As earlier mentioned at the beginning of the article, the CSC code is used as a product code in Samsung phones to acquire and download firmware updates. As a result, there are specific steps you can follow to download the firmware update file into your phone.
There are several websites that will allow you to download the Samsung firmware update. These websites include SamFirm, Sam Mobile, and Updato.
In this article, you will get steps to follow to download the update through SamFirm. It is a tool that is easy and quick to use. SamFirm in full means Samsung Firmware.
1. The first step is to download the SamFirm tool.
2. Install and launch the tool once you have downloaded it to your computer.
3. You will find a text box requiring you to provide details of your model, and this is where you put the model number of your Samsung device. Get the model number by going to Settings on your phone, then scroll and open the About Phone option.
4. You will also need to fill the region field. The region field requires you to fill in your CSC code according to your region. Again, you can refer to the list of CSC codes above or check it using the steps explained earlier.
5. The next step is to click and check for the updates by clicking the “Check Update” key on the system.
6. Once you check the update, the SamFirm tool will show details of the updates available. You will get three versions of CP, AP, and CSC and will also indicate their size.
7. The next step is to download the file. The file will be downloaded in zip format.
8. When you unzip the files, you will get Home CSC, CP, CSC, AP, and BL files.
Can You Flash Different Country Firmware Samsung?
Yes. This is possible. You can flash different country firmware Samsung. However, it is crucial to note that, at first, the firmware is specific to a country. This means that the process has to be specific, and you have to be very careful to avoid messing with the system.
In some cases, you may need to change the CSC. This happens in cases where you get a phone built for a different country. If the network and other services are having problems, you may need to change the CSC. You may also be moving to a new country with your phone and decide to change the CSC to be able to receive necessary updates.
You may experience a few changes when installing the firmware, but they are minor. As long as your network carrier in the country does not have a huge difference, you will be okay.
How To Change Region On Samsung Phones
Changing region on Samsung phones is not so difficult. All you have to do is follow very precise instructions, and you will be able to do this. People may want to change regions for various reasons, and it is completely okay. One of them is if you are shifting from one country to the other.
Here are the steps you should follow.
1. Open your phone and go to your Play Store application.
2. Click on the Menu. The menu is on the top left. Click the three lines.
3. Navigate and tap on the “Account” option.
4. Then on the menu, tap on “Country” and Profiles.
5. Here you will be given options to select a new country for your device. Follow the instructions and then update the payment method.
6. The next step is to reboot your Samsung phone. Once you reboot the device, the region details will have been updated. You can proceed to install any other apps you want.
The Takeaway
The firmware build number for Samsung devices is divided into two portions designated as PDA and CSC. The PDA contains the update build number with Android system modifications, whereas the CSC includes updates that are specific to a particular nation.
If you are only getting legitimate Samsung OTA updates, you do not need to worry about CSC.
On the other hand, advanced users who root their Samsung smartphone using the current TWRP recovery may find that they need to restore their device to its factory state at some time to upgrade their device’s firmware manually.