How to restore IMEI Number on Samsung devices and Fix DRK issues?

Update: This guide is specific to Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge devices only. However, you can still follow this guide if you have the proper files for your Samsung phone as well. The two most important partitions on an Android device are EFS and IMEI partitions. The main function of EFS partition is to store the IMEI number, MAC address, baseband version, product code, system ID and NV data. Many times, when you are flashing a custom ROM or rooting your device, your EFS partition gets corrupted which can cause connectivity issues on your device. Some of the errors which you may get are “failed to connect to the internet” and “cannot connect to the network”. This can also cause your IMEI to appear as “unknown” or a bunch of zeroes.

Here in this guide, we will fix IMEI/DRK issues in your Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. For those with EFS issues, the Galaxy device can cause your IMEI to be lost or even the Baseband to show Unknown errors with a bunch of zeros. We will flash the combination firmware which in turn will install the factory binary that allows your S7 and S7 Edge to read your IMEI or DRK and restore it. The point to remember here is if your DRK is missing or is corrupted, then using this guide will only restore the IMEI.

Now, if you are someone who is facing IMEI and DRK issues with your Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, then following this guide will help you for sure. This tutorial will work for Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow firmware because the Factory binaries for Nougat are not yet available. The stock firmware for Marshmallow are listed below. Here is how to update Galaxy S7 & S7 Edge to Nougat.

Warning: We have taken all the care in writing the procedure for this tutorial. We at Android Sage are not responsible for anything that happens to your device as a result of following the procedure incorrectly. So if you really want to go ahead, proceed at your own risk.

Prerequisites

1. A copy of Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Stock Firmware saved on your computer.
2. Make sure you have enabled OEM Unlock and USB Debugging from the Developers option of your Galaxy S7/S7 Edge.
3. Remember to download all the files listed in the “Downloads” section below.
4. A USB Cable for connecting your device to PC.
5. Make sure your device is rooted.
6. Don’t forget to backup the EFS partition of your device.

Download tools to fix DRK and to restore IMEI on Galaxy S7 (Edge)

• Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Stock Firmware or download firmware from Samsung servers.
• Odin v3.12.3

The Combination Firmware (Factory Binary) relevant to the model number of your Galaxy S7/S7 Edge. Below are some of the models of S7/S7 Edge with the links to download Combination Firmware:

• S7 International [G930F/FD] – (Mirror)
• S7 Edge International [G935F/FD] – (Mirror)
• S7 Canada [G930W8] – (Mirror)
• S7 Edge Canada [G935W8] – (Mirror)
• S7 Edge AT&T [G935A] – (Mirror)

You will also need a Root Browser.

How to restore IMEI Number on Samsung Galaxy S7 (Edge) and fix DRK?

We can install this Combination Firmware (Factory Binary) using 2 methods. We will explain each of them here in a detailed manner.

Method 1

• Download all the files from the above “Downloads” section. Extract the .rar file and place it in a folder on your desktop.
• Switch off your Galaxy S7/S7 Edge and press Power+Volume Down+Home button together to boot into the download mode of your device.
• Connect your device to PC.
• After downloading Odin from the above link and extracting it, launch it on your desktop.
• Click on “AP” button and select the combination firmware you downloaded from the above link.
• Click on Start.

Note: If you are getting any errors while flashing the firmware, make sure you have downloaded the correct one from the link above. If you are still getting errors after cross-checking the firmware, then delete the “.md5” from the end of the file name and retry.

• After the combination file is flashed, you will be prompted to reboot your device. Reboot your S7/S7 Edge.
• When the rebooting is finished, press “IME” button at the bottom of the screen and check for your IMEI number by typing *#06#.
• Now, flash the stock firmware of your device which you downloaded earlier in a similar manner.

That’s it! You have successfully restored the IMEI of your Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge. If you still can’t see your IMEI number, that means your EFS partition is damaged. In that case, you need to follow Method 2 described below.

Method 2

• Make sure your Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge is rooted. If it is not, then simply download the CF Auto Root firmware of your specific model number and flash it in Odin. You can then use the Root Checker app to check the root status of your device.
• Make sure you have a backup of your EFS Partition on your desktop. If you still haven’t made the backup, then you can do so by using this app.
• Download “Root Browser” from the “Downloads” section on your device.
• Open Root Browser app on your device.
• Head to the /efs folder located in the root of the device.
• In the /efs folder, delete everything except “FactoryApp” and “prov_data” folders.
• Do a Full Reboot of your device.
• Switch off your Galaxy S7/S7 Edge and press Power+Volume Down+Home button together to boot into the download mode of your device.
• Connect your device to PC.
• Launch Odin.
• Click on “AP” button and select the combination firmware you downloaded from the above link.
• Click on Start.

Note: If you are getting any errors while flashing the firmware, make sure you have downloaded the correct one from the link above. If you are still getting errors after cross-checking the firmware, then delete the “.md5” from the end of the file name and retry.

• After the combination file is flashed, you will be prompted to reboot your device. Reboot your S7/S7 Edge.
• When the rebooting is finished, press “IME” button at the bottom of the screen and check for your IMEI number by typing *#06#.
• Now, flash the stock firmware of your device which you downloaded earlier in a similar manner.

That’s it! You have successfully restored the IMEI of your Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge.

What to do if you are still getting a DRK Error?

If you are still getting a DRK error, then you may have a corrupt Device Root Key (DRK). In that case, you need to flash no-verity zip in the TWRP. Now your S7/S7 Edge will work as normal. The only disadvantage of flashing a no-verity zip is you won’t get OTA updates. But you can still install firmware updates using Odin without the need to flash no-verity zip every time. Although, custom ROMs can be flashed as usual.