Your IMEI and cellular functionality are stored in the EFS partition. Use Partition Backup app or TWRP to back up EFS, modem, and persist.

Using Titanium Backup or a root uninstaller, remove these packages:

Q: Can I convert SCV38 to G960F to get Android 10 officially?
No. Android 10 for G960F requires Exynos 9810 drivers. SCV38 stuck with kernel 4.4.

Q: Will banking apps work after changing model name?
Likely not – SafetyNet detects hardware mismatch. Use Magisk Hide + Universal SafetyNet Fix.

Q: What’s the closest safe conversion?
Flash a custom S8 ROM themed like S9 – 95% visual similarity, 0% brick risk.

Alex navigated through the chaotic maze of developer forums where these files lived. He downloaded the specific Combination file for the G960J/SCV38.

"Step one," he whispered. "Break the chains."

He loaded the file into Odin’s AP slot. He took a deep breath. This was the point of no return. The factory binary would be overwritten. He hovered the mouse over the Start button and clicked.

The progress bar filled with a slow, agonizing yellow. The phone screen flickered with cryptic code. Bootloader... Kernel... System...

<ID:0/006> Write 'boot.img'...
<ID:0/006> Write 'system.img'...
<ID:0/006> All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)

The phone rebooted. Instead of the Samsung logo, a bright yellow screen appeared. Factory Mode. He was in. The security wall had been breached.

In the world of Samsung Galaxy S9 devices, model numbers are critical. The SCV38 is a Japan-exclusive variant of the Galaxy S9, typically released by carriers like au (KDDI). The SM-G960F is the internationally unlocked Exynos variant. Many advanced users seek to convert their SCV38 to G960F to unlock faster updates, remove carrier bloatware, and gain access to global custom ROMs.

But is a full conversion possible? What are the risks? This 2,500+ word guide explains everything you need to know, from hardware compatibility to step-by-step firmware flashing.

Alex sat down and cracked his knuckles. Converting a Samsung device wasn’t just a software update; it was brain surgery. It required crossing the "Security Binary" bridge.

He connected the USB cable and fired up Odin, the official Samsung flashing tool, just to check the status. The screen remained black, but the COM port lit up.

<ID:0/006> Added!!
<ID:0/006> Device: SM-G960J (SCV38)
<ID:0/006> Binary: 2

There it was. The SCV38 was essentially a G960J (Japanese Domestic Model). To turn it into a G960F, Alex couldn't just drag and drop a file. He had to change the very identity of the handset. This required the "Combination File"—a secret service mode firmware used by Samsung engineers.

If he messed this up, the phone wouldn't just be a brick; it would be a $300 paperweight with a permanent "Error: Binary 2" stamp.

Now the real work began. To finalize the conversion to G960F, he needed a standard international firmware package. But he couldn't just flash it yet. The security status of the phone was now "Custom," which would trip Samsung’s Knox security forever—a small price to pay for freedom, but a necessary evil.

Using a specialized tool on his PC, he sent a command to the phone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

adb shell su -c "cp -f /system/bin/lpm /system/bin/lpm.bak"

He was manipulating the power management files to prevent the phone from throwing a fit during the flash. It was delicate work. One wrong character in the command line, and the operating system would corrupt.

Next, he downloaded the G960FXXU8DTH5 firmware—a standard, unbranded international binary.

He rebooted the phone into Download Mode. The screen was a caution sign, a warning that the system had been modified. Alex ignored it. He loaded the G960F firmware into Odin.

AP: G960FXXU... BL: G960FXXU... CP: G960F...

He pressed Start.

The phone swallowed the new identity. It was like forcing a square peg into a round hole, but the Samsung bootloader was surprisingly resilient. The progress bar hit 100%.

<ID:0/006> PASS!