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SM-J710F J7 2016 HOW TO FORCE BOOT INTO TWRP WITH A BROKEN HOME BUTTON?

SM-J710F (J7 2016): How to force boot into TWRP with a BROKEN Home Button?

Understanding the Core Challenge: Physical Button Failure on Samsung Devices

Navigating the world of Android modding and recovery can be a complex endeavor, and this complexity multiplies exponentially when physical hardware components fail. The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016), identified by the model number SM-J710F, is a resilient and popular device, but like any smartphone with moving parts, its physical buttons are points of failure. When the home button ceases to function, the standard methods for accessing the recovery partition are disrupted. This guide is meticulously crafted to address this specific, frustrating scenario.

The standard procedure for booting into a custom recovery like TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) on a Samsung device typically involves a precise key combination: holding the Volume Up + Home + Power buttons simultaneously. The failure of the home button breaks this chain, leaving the user unable to access the recovery environment needed for critical operations like flashing custom ROMs, creating full device backups (Nandroid backups), or rooting the device with Magisk.

Our objective here is to provide a comprehensive, multi-faceted solution to this problem. We will explore and detail methods that bypass the need for a functional home button entirely, using both software-based solutions that can be executed while the device is booted into the Android operating system and low-level techniques that leverage the device’s bootloader and ADB interfaces. This guide assumes you are attempting to boot into TWRP for the purpose of rooting your device, a process we at Magisk Modules specialize in facilitating. Our own Magisk Module Repository offers a vast collection of modules that require root access, and we want to ensure every user has the ability to achieve this, regardless of their device’s physical condition.

Prerequisites for All Methods

Before attempting any of the advanced procedures outlined in this guide, it is imperative to ensure your environment is properly prepared. While the methods are designed to circumvent the broken home button, they still require a baseline level of software access and configuration.

  1. Samsung USB Drivers: Your computer must have the correct Samsung USB drivers installed to recognize the device in both normal boot mode and Download Mode.
  2. ADB and Fastboot Platform Tools: You will need the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and Fastboot tools installed on your computer. These are essential for communicating with your device from a command-line interface.
  3. A Functional USB Cable: A reliable data cable is crucial for a stable connection between your device and computer.
  4. Sufficient Battery Charge: Ensure your device has at least a 60% charge to prevent it from shutting down during a critical flashing or boot process.
  5. Backup Your Data: While the methods below are generally safe, modifying system partitions always carries a risk. We strongly advise backing up all personal data, such as photos, contacts, and documents, as a precaution.

Method 1: Utilizing ADB Reboot Commands (Requires Root or USB Debugging)

This is the most straightforward software-based method to force the device into recovery mode without using any physical buttons. However, it has a prerequisite: USB Debugging must be enabled on your device. If you are locked out of your device and cannot enable USB Debugging, you should skip to the next method.

Enabling USB Debugging on a Locked Device

If your screen is functional and you can access your device’s settings, enabling USB Debugging is the first step.

  1. Navigate to Settings > About Phone.
  2. Tap on the Build Number seven times in quick succession. You will see a message indicating “You are now a developer.”
  3. Go back to the main Settings menu, enter the newly revealed Developer Options.
  4. Scroll down and find USB Debugging. Toggle it on and confirm the permission prompt.

Executing the ADB Reboot Command

With USB Debugging enabled, you can force the device into recovery mode using your computer.

  1. Connect your SM-J710F to your computer via the USB cable.
  2. Open the command prompt or terminal on your computer and navigate to the directory where your ADB and Fastboot tools are located.
  3. Open a command prompt in that directory (Shift + Right Click -> Open PowerShell window here / Open command window here).
  4. Verify the connection by typing the following command:
    adb devices
    You should see your device’s serial number listed with the word ‘device’ next to it. If it says ‘unauthorized,’ you must check your phone’s screen and authorize the computer.
  5. Once the device is recognized, type the following command to reboot directly into recovery:
    adb reboot recovery
    Your device will immediately restart and, if TWRP is correctly installed, boot directly into the TWRP interface, completely bypassing the need for the home button.

Method 2: Flashing TWRP Using Odin and the PA Partition (No Button Combination Required)

This is a powerful method that not only allows you to install TWRP but also gives you the ability to boot into it directly from the flashing process, again without using any hardware buttons. This is ideal for users who are either installing TWRP for the first time or reinstalling it.

What You Will Need

The Process: Flashing TWRP and Booting Immediately

  1. Boot into Download Mode: This is the only step where physical buttons are required, but it is a much more forgiving combination than the recovery boot combination.
    • Power off your SM-J710F completely.
    • Press and hold the Volume Down + Power buttons simultaneously.
    • When the Samsung logo appears, release the Power button but continue holding Volume Down.
    • You will be presented with a warning screen. Press Volume Up to continue and enter Download Mode.
  2. Configure Odin:
    • Extract and open Odin3 on your PC.
    • Connect your phone to the PC. The ID:COM box in Odin should turn blue or yellow, indicating a successful connection.
    • Click on the AP or PDA button (depending on your Odin version).
    • Navigate to and select your downloaded TWRP .tar file.
  3. Crucial Odin Options:
    • Ensure that only Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time are checked. DO NOT check Re-Partition.
    • IMPORTANT: The default behavior of Odin with Auto Reboot checked will attempt to reboot the phone directly into the stock recovery, which may overwrite TWRP. To prevent this, we will perform a slight modification to the process.
  4. The Odin Workaround for Booting into TWRP:
    • Instead of relying on a button combination after the flash, we can use a direct command. Once the flash is complete in Odin (you will see a green “PASS!” box), the phone will attempt to reboot.
    • As soon as you see the “PASS!” message in Odin, immediately disconnect the USB cable from the phone.
    • The phone will likely be in a bootloop or stay on the Samsung logo. This is normal. Now, we will force it into recovery without buttons.
    • With the phone’s screen on (even if frozen on the logo), reconnect the USB cable to the phone. Your computer should recognize the device.
    • Open a command prompt (with ADB tools) and run the command:
      adb reboot recovery
    • If ADB is not recognized because the device is not in Android, you can try another trick. After Odin flashes the image, immediately perform the following:
      • Disconnect the phone.
      • Press and hold Volume Up + Power. This is the standard recovery combination but without the home button. On some firmware versions, the home button check can be bypassed if you time it right after a flash.
      • If that fails, power the device off completely by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. Then, press and hold Volume Up + Power. When the Samsung logo appears, release only the Power button while keeping Volume Up held. This is the most common way to access recovery on Samsung devices without a home button and it often works if the standard triple-button combo fails.

Method 3: Using ADB to Flash TWRP Directly from Fastboot/Download Mode

This is a more advanced method for users who have already unlocked their bootloader (a prerequisite for rooting and flashing custom recoveries on most Samsung devices after the early Knox era, though the SM-J710F has an unlockable bootloader). This method involves flashing the TWRP image directly to the recovery partition using ADB commands while the device is in Download Mode or a similar low-level state.

Understanding the Partition Structure

On Samsung devices, the recovery partition is typically named recovery. We can push the TWRP image to this partition directly. This is highly effective and does not rely on button combinations post-flash.

Step-by-Step Command Line Flashing

  1. Enter Download Mode: As described in Method 2, power off your device and use the Volume Down + Power combination, then press Volume Up to enter Download Mode.
  2. Open Command Prompt: Connect your device to the PC. Open Odin, but do not load any files into it yet. The purpose of Odin here is simply to keep the drivers active. Open your command prompt or PowerShell window where ADB/Fastboot tools are located.
  3. Verify Connection in Fastboot/Download Mode: While Download Mode is primarily for Odin, some versions of the Samsung drivers allow ADB to interact with it for specific commands. Check with:
    fastboot devices
    or
    adb devices
    If your device is listed, proceed. If not, ensure your drivers are correctly installed.
  4. Flash the TWRP Image:
    • Make sure your TWRP file is in the same directory as your ADB/Fastboot tools or you know its full path.
    • Use the following command to flash TWRP to the recovery partition:
      fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.x.x-j7xelte.tar
      Note: You might need to use the adb command for Samsung devices depending on the specific protocol, but the fastboot command is standard for partition flashing. If fastboot doesn’t work, you may need to use a tool like Frija to download the stock firmware and then use Odin to flash only the recovery image from that firmware, followed by Method 2’s reboot trick.
  5. Booting into the Newly Flashed TWRP:
    • Once the flashing is complete, you must immediately boot into the recovery partition before the system has a chance to overwrite it with the stock recovery (some devices have a stock recovery protection mechanism).
    • Do NOT use the fastboot reboot command. Instead, use:
      fastboot reboot recovery
    • This command instructs the bootloader to reboot the device directly into the newly flashed recovery partition. Your SM-J710F will restart and boot straight into TWRP, completely bypassing the broken home button.

Method 4: The Persistent Notification Method (Requires Screen & Touch Functionality)

This is a creative software workaround that uses ADB over a network connection or a special persistent notification to execute a reboot command. This is useful if your USB port is faulty or you want a method that doesn’t require a computer after the initial setup.

Setting up ADB over Wi-Fi

  1. Connect your device to your computer via USB one last time.
  2. Open a command prompt and run:
    adb tcpip 5555
  3. Disconnect the USB cable.
  4. Find your phone’s IP address in Settings > About Phone > Status (or Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > tap on the connected network).
  5. Connect ADB to your device over the network:
    adb connect <YOUR_PHONE_IP_ADDRESS>:5555
  6. Now you can use ADB commands wirelessly. To reboot into recovery, simply run:
    adb reboot recovery
    This can be done from any computer on the same Wi-Fi network.

Post-Boot: Verifying TWRP and Rooting with Magisk

Once you have successfully booted into the TWRP interface using one of the methods above, you have unlocked the full potential of your SM-J710F. The primary reason most users seek to install TWRP on a 2016 device like the J7 is to gain root access using Magisk.

Flashing Magisk from TWRP

  1. Download the latest Magisk Installer zip file (e.g., Magisk-vXX.X.zip) from the official source. You can transfer this file to your device’s internal storage or an SD card before you begin, or you can use TWRP’s Download function if it’s available and you have a Wi-Fi connection.
  2. In the TWRP main menu, tap on Install.
  3. Navigate to the location of the Magisk-vXX.X.zip file.
  4. Swipe the slider to confirm the flash.
  5. Once the flashing process is complete, tap Reboot System.

Your device will now be rooted. You can verify this by looking for the Magisk Manager app in your app drawer. With root access, you can now explore our extensive Magisk Module Repository at Magisk Modules to enhance your device’s functionality with modules for audio, graphics, system tweaks, and more.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

By following these detailed methods, you can successfully bypass the hardware limitation of a broken home button and gain full control over your Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016). The path to customizing your device is still open, and with TWRP and Magisk, the possibilities are nearly limitless.

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