How to Unroot Samsung Behold 2 T-Mobile

This guide walks you through removing root access from a Samsung Behold 2 (SGH-T939) on T-Mobile, restoring it to a stock, unrooted state. You’ll need a Windows PC, the original USB cable, and a few free tools. The process involves flashing the official firmware, which wipes all data, so back up anything important first.

What You’ll Need

• Windows PC (XP, Vista, 7, or 8; 10/11 may need older drivers)
• Original Samsung USB data cable (or any compatible micro-USB cable)
• Samsung USB drivers for the Behold 2 (install before connecting)
• Odin3 (version 1.85 or similar, for Samsung devices)
• The official T-Mobile firmware file for the Behold 2 (usually a .tar or .tar.md5 file)
• A full battery charge (above 50%)

Step-by-Step

1. Back up your data. Unrooting wipes the phone. Copy contacts, photos, and any files to your PC or SD card. Use Samsung Kies or a manual copy via USB mass storage.
2. Install the Samsung USB drivers. Download and run the driver installer. If you already had the phone connected, unplug it first. After installation, restart your PC.
3. Download the firmware. Find the official T-Mobile stock firmware for the SGH-T939. It is usually a single file named something like T939UVJH2.tar.md5. Verify the file checksum if possible to avoid corruption.
4. Extract Odin3. Unzip the Odin3 archive to a folder on your desktop. You should see Odin3.exe and possibly a few DLL files.
5. Boot the phone into Download Mode. Turn the phone off. Press and hold Volume Down + Camera + Power simultaneously. When a warning screen appears, press Volume Up to continue. You should see a green Android robot and “Downloading…” text.
6. Launch Odin3 as Administrator. Right-click Odin3.exe and select “Run as administrator”. If Windows asks for permission, click Yes.
7. Connect the phone to the PC. Use the USB cable. In Odin, the “ID:COM” box (top left) should turn blue or yellow, and a message like “Added!!” appears in the log. If not, reinstall drivers or try a different USB port.
8. Load the firmware into Odin. Click the PDA button (not “PHONE” or “CSC”). Browse to and select the firmware .tar.md5 file. Do not touch any other options—leave Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time checked, and everything else unchecked.
9. Start the flash. Click the Start button. The progress bar will move, and the phone may reboot once or twice. Wait until Odin shows a green “PASS!” message in the top-left box. This takes 2–5 minutes.
10. Disconnect and verify. Unplug the phone. It will boot into the stock firmware. To confirm root is gone, open an app like Root Checker (or run su in a terminal emulator). If you get a “not found” or “permission denied” error, unrooting succeeded.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong firmware. Flashing a different model’s firmware can brick the phone. Always match the exact model (SGH-T939) and carrier (T-Mobile).
• Forgetting to back up. The flash wipes all user data. If you skip the backup, your photos and contacts are gone.
• Interrupting the flash. Pulling the cable or closing Odin mid-flash can leave the phone in a boot loop or bricked state.
• Not running Odin as administrator. On Windows Vista/7/8, this can cause driver or permission errors.
• Using a USB hub. Connect directly to a rear port on the PC. Hubs can cause connection drops.

Tips

• Charge the phone fully before starting. A dead battery during flash is a common cause of bricks.
• Disable any antivirus or firewall temporarily—they can interfere with Odin’s USB communication.
• If the phone does not enter Download Mode, remove the battery, wait 10 seconds, then try again.
• Keep the original USB cable if possible; third-party cables may not support data transfer properly.
• After unrooting, do a factory reset from the phone’s settings (Settings > Privacy > Factory data reset) to clear any leftover root files. This is optional but recommended.

Troubleshooting

Odin doesn’t recognize the phone. Reinstall the Samsung drivers, try a different USB port, and ensure the phone is in Download Mode. If you see “device not recognized” in Windows, unplug and replug the cable.

Odin fails with “FAIL!” or “There is no PIT partition.” This usually means the firmware file is corrupt or the wrong one. Re-download the firmware and verify its MD5 checksum. Also, try a different Odin version (1.85 is stable for this device).

The phone is stuck in a boot loop after flashing. This can happen if the flash was incomplete. Re-enter Download Mode (same key combo) and reflash the firmware. If that fails, try a factory reset from Recovery Mode (Volume Up + Camera + Power).

The phone won’t power on at all. Remove the battery, wait 30 seconds, reinsert, and try powering on. If still dead, try holding the Download Mode combo for 20 seconds. If nothing works, the phone may be hard-bricked—seek professional repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will unrooting void my warranty?
A: Yes, rooting already voids the warranty, but flashing the stock firmware restores the phone to a state where the warranty can be reinstated (if the carrier accepts it).

Q: Do I need to unroot to receive OTA updates?
A: Yes, T-Mobile OTA updates often fail on rooted devices. Unrooting allows updates to install normally.

Q: Can I unroot without a PC?
A: No, the Behold 2 requires a PC with Odin to flash the stock firmware. There is no reliable on-device method.

Q: Will unrooting delete my apps?
A: Yes, the process wipes the phone’s internal storage. All apps and data are erased. Backup before starting.

Q: What if I only used a temporary root?
A: A temporary root (like using a one-click root that doesn’t flash a custom recovery) can often be removed by simply rebooting or using the app’s “unroot” option. But if you flashed a custom recovery, you must use Odin.

Q: Is it safe to unroot?
A: Yes, if you follow the steps exactly and use the correct firmware. The risk of bricking is low but not zero. Always ensure the battery is charged and the cable is secure.

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