The Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Fan Edition) shipped with Android 7.1.1 Nougat and later picked up an official Android 8.0 Oreo update, and that was where Samsung stopped. If you are still using the phone and want something far newer, a community build of LineageOS 21 brings Android 14 to the Note FE’s Exynos hardware, years past official support.
This build is maintained on XDA and comes with signature spoofing and built-in OTA updates, so you can keep it current without reflashing from scratch each time. It is a custom ROM, though, so installing it means unlocking the bootloader and wiping the phone. Here is what you need and how to flash it.
About the Samsung Galaxy Note FE
The Galaxy Note FE has a 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560 display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and IP68 dust and water resistance. It runs on the octa-core Exynos 8890 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage that takes a microSD card up to 256GB. There is a 12MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, a 3,200mAh battery with fast and Qi wireless charging, plus an iris scanner and a fingerprint sensor. The phone is Exynos-only, sold as the SM-N935F internationally and as the SM-N935S, N935K, and N935L in Korea. Its LineageOS device codename is grandpplte.
What you get with LineageOS 21
LineageOS 21 is based on Android 14, so the Note FE gets the newer interface, the Material You styling, and the current app compatibility that comes with a modern Android base. This particular build also adds:
- Signature spoofing, which lets microG stand in for Google Play Services if you want a Google-free setup.
- OTA updates, so new builds install from the Updater app instead of a full manual reflash.
Since this is a community ROM rather than official firmware, the exact build, recovery version, and current list of what works and what does not are kept up to date on the XDA thread. Check it before you flash.
Read this before you flash
Unlocking the bootloader and flashing this ROM wipes the phone completely, so back up everything first. On Samsung devices this also trips the KNOX counter permanently, which voids the warranty and disables KNOX-based features such as Samsung Pay and Secure Folder. GetDroidTips is not responsible for any damage to your device. Proceed only if you understand that.
Download LineageOS 21 for Galaxy Note FE
The ROM, the matching recovery, and the install notes all live on the XDA thread. Always download the newest build from there, because older links go stale as the maintainer posts updates.
LineageOS 21 for Note FE (XDA)
You will want three things on hand:
- The latest LineageOS 21 zip for the Note FE (grandpplte) from the thread.
- The custom recovery the thread recommends (TWRP or LineageOS recovery for the Note FE).
- MindTheGapps for Android 14, if you want the Google apps. Skip this if you plan to use microG instead.
Requirements
Steps to install LineageOS 21 on the Galaxy Note FE
1. Enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging
On the phone, open Settings > About phone > Software information and tap Build number seven times to turn on Developer options. Then go into Developer options and turn on both OEM unlocking and USB debugging.
2. Unlock the bootloader
Unlock the bootloader so the phone will accept a custom recovery and ROM. This wipes the device and trips KNOX, as noted above. Follow the unlock method described in the XDA thread for the Note FE, since Samsung’s process has a few device-specific steps.
3. Flash the custom recovery with Odin
Put the phone into Download Mode, connect it to the PC, and load the recovery image into the AP slot in Odin, then start the flash. When it finishes, boot straight into recovery so stock firmware does not overwrite it.
How to flash with Odin
In recovery, format or wipe the data partition. This step is needed to clear the old encryption, and skipping it is the usual reason a fresh install will not boot.
5. Flash LineageOS and GApps
Sideload or install the LineageOS 21 zip from recovery. If you want the Google apps, flash MindTheGapps in the same session, before the first boot. If you prefer a Google-free phone, leave GApps out and set up microG later using the build’s signature spoofing.
6. Reboot
Reboot into the system. The first boot can take several minutes, so give it time before assuming anything went wrong. Once you are in, finish setup and restore your backup.
7. Get OTA updates
Later builds show up in the Updater app under Settings, so you can install them over the air instead of flashing manually each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Note FE models does this work on?
The Exynos Galaxy Note FE: the SM-N935F international model and the Korean SM-N935S, N935K, and N935L. The Note FE was never sold with a Snapdragon chip, so there is no other variant to worry about.
Will installing it erase my data?
Yes. Unlocking the bootloader and formatting data both wipe the phone, so back up anything you want to keep first.
Does flashing trip KNOX?
Yes, and it is permanent. Once KNOX trips, the warranty is void and KNOX-dependent features like Samsung Pay and Secure Folder stop working.
Can I use Google apps, or do I have to go Google-free?
Either works. Flash MindTheGapps for the normal Google experience, or skip it and run microG, which this build supports through signature spoofing.
Will I get updates?
Yes. The ROM supports OTA updates through the built-in Updater app, so you do not have to reflash from scratch for each new build.
Is this official LineageOS?
No. This is a community build maintained on XDA rather than an official LineageOS release, so the XDA thread is the place to check the current version, recovery, and any known issues.
Conclusion
LineageOS 21 is about as far forward as a Galaxy Note FE can go, taking a phone that stopped at Android 8.0 all the way to Android 14, with signature spoofing and OTA updates on top. As long as the bootloader is unlocked, you have a backup, and you use the current build from the XDA thread, the install is a standard recovery flash. Tell us in the comments how it runs on your Note FE, and flag any issue you hit so other readers know.
